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23 - Recollections And Letters Of General Robert E. Lee by Robert E. Lee, Jr. · Recollections And Letters Of General Robert E. Lee

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Speaker 1: Chapter twenty three of Recollections and Letters of General Robert E.
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Speaker 1: Lee by Robert E. Lee Junior. This LibriVox recording is
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Speaker 1: in the public domain. Chapter twenty three, A round of
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Speaker 1: visits Baltimore, Alexandria. A war talk with cousin Cassius Lee, Ravensworth,
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Speaker 1: letters to doctor Buckler, declining invitation to Europe, to General Cooper,
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Speaker 1: to Missus Lee from the hot springs, tired of public places,
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Speaker 1: preference for country life. Judged by what he says of himself,
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Speaker 1: my father's trip south did him no permanent good. The
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Speaker 1: rest and change, the meeting with many old friends, the
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Speaker 1: great love and kindness shown him by all gave him
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Speaker 1: much pleasure, and for a time it was thought he
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Speaker 1: was better. But the main cause of his trouble was
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Speaker 1: not removed, though for a while held in check. During
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Speaker 1: the month of June he remained in Lexington, was present
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Speaker 1: at the final examinations of the college, and attended to
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Speaker 1: all his duties as usual. On July first, he went
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Speaker 1: to Baltimore in order to consult doctor Thomas H. Buckler
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Speaker 1: about his health. While there he stayed with mister Missus Taggart.
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Speaker 1: My mother had returned to Lexington after her visit to
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Speaker 1: Bremo together with my sister Agnes to her on July second,
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Speaker 1: he writes, Baltimore, Maryland, July second, eighteen seventy, my dear Mary.
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Speaker 1: I reached here yesterday evening at nine fifteen p m.
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Speaker 1: Found mister Taggart at the depot waiting for me, where
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Speaker 1: he had been since eight o'clock, thanks to his having
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Speaker 1: a punctual wife who regulates everything for him, so that
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Speaker 1: he had plenty of time for reflection. I believe, however,
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Speaker 1: the delay was occasioned by change of schedule that day,
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Speaker 1: of which missus Taggart was not advised. We arrived at
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Speaker 1: Alexandria at five p m. And were taken to Washington
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Speaker 1: and kept in the cars till seven forty five, when
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Speaker 1: we were sent on. It was the hottest day I
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Speaker 1: ever experienced, or I was in the hottest position I
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Speaker 1: ever occupied, both on board the packet and in the
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Speaker 1: railroad cars, or I was less able to stand it,
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Speaker 1: for I never recollect having suffered so much. Doctor Buckler
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Speaker 1: came in to see me this morning and examined me
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Speaker 1: stripped for two hours. He says he finds my lungs
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Speaker 1: working well the action of the heart a little too
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Speaker 1: much diffused, but nothing to injure. He is inclined to
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Speaker 1: think that my whole difficulty arises from rheumatic excitement, both
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Speaker 1: the first attack in front of Fredericksburg and the second
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Speaker 1: last winter. Says, I appear to have a rheumatic constitution.
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Speaker 1: Must guard against cold, keep out in the air, exercise,
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Speaker 1: et cetera. As the other physicians prescribe. He will see
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Speaker 1: me again. In the meantime. He has told me to
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Speaker 1: try lemon juice and watch the effect. I will endeavor
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Speaker 1: to get out to Washington Peters on the fourth, and
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Speaker 1: to good will, would as soon as doctor b is satisfied.
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Speaker 1: Mister missus Taggart are very well in send regards. The
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Speaker 1: messenger is waiting to take this to the office. It
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Speaker 1: is raining and I have not been out nor seen
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Speaker 1: any one out of the house. I hope all are
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Speaker 1: well with you, and regret that I was obliged to
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Speaker 1: come away. Tell the girls I was so overcome that
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Speaker 1: I could not get up this morning till eight a m.
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Speaker 1: Give much love to everybody, and believe me most truly
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Speaker 1: r e lee the advantages of early rising. My father,
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Speaker 1: ever held out to his daughters, so that he knew
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Speaker 1: they would enjoy hearing of his being late in getting
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Speaker 1: down in the morning. During this visit to Baltimore, he
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Speaker 1: took advantage of his proximity to many old friends to
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Speaker 1: visit them. His next letter is from Alexandria to my mother, Alexandria, Virginia,
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Speaker 1: July fifteenth, eighteen seventy. My dear Mary, I arrived here
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Speaker 1: last evening from Goodwood and was glad to hear from
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Speaker 1: Burke this morning that our Aunt Maria was as well
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Speaker 1: as usual. I wish to get out to Cassius Lee's
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Speaker 1: this afternoon, and we'll spend tomorrow on the Hill in
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Speaker 1: visiting General Cooper, mister Mason, the Bishop, et cetera. Footnote
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Speaker 1: Aunt em was Missus Fitzhugh of Ravensworth, and Burke, her
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Speaker 1: colored servant, Cassius Lee, my father's cousin, General S. S. Cooper,
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Speaker 1: Hagitant General of the C. S. Armies, Mister J. M. Mason,
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Speaker 1: Senator in U. S and C S. Congress, the Bishop
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Speaker 1: A Bishop Johns of Virginia, all at that time living
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Speaker 1: on the Hill or Seminary Hill, about two miles from Alexandria.
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Speaker 1: And note next week, I shall go to Ravensworth, and
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Speaker 1: from there think I shall proceed to Lexington. It is
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Speaker 1: so hot that I shall be obliged to forego my
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Speaker 1: visit to Nannie and the White House. It is intensely
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Speaker 1: hot here and I am unable to bear the heat. Now.
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Speaker 1: I took cold yesterday in the cars or elsewhere, and
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Speaker 1: am full of pains this morning, and was unable to
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Speaker 1: sleep last night. I have seen mister Smith. Footnote mister
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Speaker 1: Francis L. Smith was my father's lawyer. The matter referred to.
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Speaker 1: What caused the remark the prospect is not promising was
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Speaker 1: the chance of getting back the estate of Arlington from
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Speaker 1: the U. S. Government. Mister Smith and mister Cassius Lee
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Speaker 1: were my father's advisers in this matter. Nannie was the
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Speaker 1: widow of Captain S. S. Lee, my father's brother. And
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Speaker 1: note I have seen mister Smith this morning and had
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Speaker 1: with him a long business talk, and will see him
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Speaker 1: again after seeing Cassius. The prospect is not promising. I
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Speaker 1: got your letter at Charles's thank Agnes for hers all
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Speaker 1: were well here and on the West River, and sent
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Speaker 1: you all messages of love. I will give all particulars
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Speaker 1: when we meet I am at the mansion house, where
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Speaker 1: it is piping hot. I had felt better until I
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Speaker 1: caught fresh cold, but no one can avoid it in
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Speaker 1: such weather. Love to all. I cannot fix yet the
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Speaker 1: day of my return, but it will be the last
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Speaker 1: week in July. I hope Custus has got off, though
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Speaker 1: I shall not be able to see him. Most truly
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Speaker 1: and affectionately, R. E Lee, Missus R. E. Lee. Mister
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Speaker 1: Cassius Lee was my father's first cousin. They had been
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Speaker 1: children together, schoolmates in boyhood, and lifelong friends and neighbors.
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Speaker 1: He was my father's trusted adviser in all business matters,
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Speaker 1: and in him he had the greatest confidence. Mister Cazinov
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Speaker 1: Lee of Washington, d C. His son, has kindly furnished
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Speaker 1: me with some of his recollections of this visit, which
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Speaker 1: I give in his own words. It is greatly to
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Speaker 1: be regretted that an accurate and full account of this
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Speaker 1: visit was not preserved, for the conversations during those two
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Speaker 1: or three days were most interesting and would have filled
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Speaker 1: a volume. It was the review of a lifetime by
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Speaker 1: two old men. It is believed that General Lee never
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Speaker 1: talked after the war with as little reserve, as on
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Speaker 1: this occasion only my father and two of his boys
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Speaker 1: were present. I can remember his telling my father of
7:11
Speaker 1: meeting mister Leary, their old teacher at the Alexandria Academy
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Speaker 1: during his late visit to the South, which recalled many
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Speaker 1: incidents of their school life. They talked of the war,
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Speaker 1: and he told of the delay of Jackson in getting
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Speaker 1: on mc clellan's flank causing the fight at Mechanicsville, which fight,
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Speaker 1: he said, was unexpected, but was necessary to prevent mc
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Speaker 1: clellan from entering Richmond from the front of which most
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Speaker 1: of the troops had been moved. He thought that if
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Speaker 1: Jackson had been at Gettysburg, they would have gained a victory.
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Speaker 1: For said he, Jackson would have held the heights which
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Speaker 1: Yule took on the first day. He said that Ule
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Speaker 1: was a fine officer, but would never take the responsibility
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Speaker 1: of exceeding his orders, and having been ordered to Gettysburg,
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Speaker 1: he would not go farther and hold the heights beyond
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Speaker 1: the town. I asked him which of the federal generals
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Speaker 1: he considered the greatest, and he answered most emphatically mc clellan,
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Speaker 1: by all odds. He was asked why he did not
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Speaker 1: come to Washington after second manassaus because he replied, my
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Speaker 1: men had nothing to eat, and pointing to Fort Wade
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Speaker 1: in the rear of our home, he said, I could
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Speaker 1: not tell my men to take that fort when they
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Speaker 1: had had nothing to eat for three days. I went
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Speaker 1: to Maryland to feed my army. This led to a
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Speaker 1: statement of the mismanagement of the Confederate Commissary Department, of
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Speaker 1: which he gave numerous instances and mentioned his embarrassments in consequence.
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Speaker 1: He was also very severe in his criticism of the newspapers,
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Speaker 1: and said that patriotism did not seem to influence them
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Speaker 1: in the least, that movements of the army were published
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Speaker 1: which frustrated their plans, and as an instance, he told
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Speaker 1: of long streets being sent to the Western Army and
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Speaker 1: the efforts that were made to keep the movement secret,
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Speaker 1: but to no purpose, the papers having heralded it at
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Speaker 1: once to friends and foe alike. I also remember his
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Speaker 1: saying that he advocated putting the Negroes in the army,
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Speaker 1: and the arguments he advanced in favor of it. My
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Speaker 1: father remarked at table one day that he could not
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Speaker 1: have starved in the Confederate service, if he could have
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Speaker 1: gotten bread and milk, no, replied the general. But frequently
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Speaker 1: I could not get even that. His love of children
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Speaker 1: was most marked, and he never failed to show them
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Speaker 1: patient consideration. On the occasion of this visit, his answers
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Speaker 1: to all our boyish questions were given with as much
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Speaker 1: detail and as readily as if we had been the
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Speaker 1: most important men in the community. Several years after the war,
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Speaker 1: I remember that my sister, brother and myself, all young children,
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Speaker 1: drove over to Arlington Mills, and that while going there,
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Speaker 1: Colonel Lee rode up on a beautiful black horse. He
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Speaker 1: impressed my childish fancy then as the handsomest and finest
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Speaker 1: horseman I had ever seen, thoughough it of a soldier.
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Speaker 1: Upon seeing us, he at once stopped, spoke to each
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Speaker 1: of us, and took my sister, then about ten years
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Speaker 1: of age, upon his horse before him, and rode with
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Speaker 1: us for two miles, telling her I remember of his boy, Robbie,
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Speaker 1: who had a pony, and who should be her sweetheart.
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Speaker 1: Often have I seen him on the road or street
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Speaker 1: or elsewhere, And though I was only a boy, he
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Speaker 1: always stopped and had something pleasant to say to me.
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Speaker 1: The mister Leary mentioned here was my father's teacher when
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Speaker 1: a boy in Alexandria. His regard and esteem for him
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Speaker 1: was very high, as is shown in the following letter, Lexington, Virginia,
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Speaker 1: December fifteenth, eighteen sixty six. Mister William B. Leary, my
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Speaker 1: dear sir, your visit has recalled to me years long
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Speaker 1: since passed when I was under your tuition and received
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Speaker 1: daily your instruction imparting from you, I beg to express
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Speaker 1: the gratitude I have felt all my life for the
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Speaker 1: affectionate fidelity which characterized your teaching and conduct toward me.
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Speaker 1: Should any of my friends, wherever your lot may be cast,
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Speaker 1: desire to know your qualifications as a teacher, I hope
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Speaker 1: you will refer them to me, for that is the
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Speaker 1: subject on which I can speak knowingly and from experience.
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Speaker 1: Wishing you health, happiness, and prosperity, I am affectionately your friend. R. E. Lee.
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Speaker 1: His next letter is from Ravensworth, where he went after
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Speaker 1: his visit to the Seminary Hill, Ravensworth, Virginia, July twenty,
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Speaker 1: eighteen seventy. My dear Mary, I arrived here yesterday from
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Speaker 1: Alexandria and found Aunt Maria well in general health, but
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Speaker 1: less free to walk than when I last saw her.
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Speaker 1: She is cheerful and quiet, but seems indisposed to try
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Speaker 1: any of the healing baths, or indeed any of the
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Speaker 1: remedies resorted to in cases of similar character, and seems
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Speaker 1: to think nothing will be of avail. I hope in
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Speaker 1: time that she will be relieved. Her niece, Missus Goldsborough,
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Speaker 1: the daughter of her sister Wilhelmina, is with her. She
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Speaker 1: seems to be a nice little lady, has a big
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Speaker 1: boy of eight months, and is expecting her husband tomorrow,
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Speaker 1: so nothing need be said more on her account. Mister
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Speaker 1: Dickens was over last evening and reports all well with him.
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Speaker 1: All the family are to be over this evening, so
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Speaker 1: I cannot say more of them. Ravensworth is looking very well,
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Speaker 1: I mean the house and grounds, but little of the
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Speaker 1: farm seems to be cultivated and is growing up with pines.
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Speaker 1: I received your letter directed to Alexandria after my return
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Speaker 1: from my visit to Cassius. Also, Colonel Williamson's resolutions will
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Speaker 1: not build the church. It will require money. Mister Smith
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Speaker 1: did not give so favorable an account of mister Price,
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Speaker 1: as did mister Green. I did not see mister p
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Speaker 1: for it would have been of no avail without having
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Speaker 1: the plans, et cetera. And I cannot wait here to
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Speaker 1: receive them. I shall have to send them or to
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Speaker 1: invite him to Lexington after my return. I propose to
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Speaker 1: leave here if nothing prevents on Monday, twenty fifth instant.
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Speaker 1: If I go by Goshan, I hope to reach Lexington
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Speaker 1: that night or Tuesday morning after breakfast. I have heard
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Speaker 1: a rumor that the water has been withdrawn from the
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Speaker 1: canal above Lynchburg for the purpose of repairs. If that
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Speaker 1: is so, I shall have to go by Goshen. My
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Speaker 1: cold continues, but is better. The weather is very hot
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Speaker 1: and to me is almost insupportable. At six p m.
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Speaker 1: Yesterday the thermometer at Ravensworth Hall marked eighty six degrees.
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Speaker 1: This morning, when I first went out, it stood at
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Speaker 1: eighty four degrees. Thank Agnes for her letter. I cannot
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Speaker 1: respond at this time. The letter you forwarded from Missus
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Speaker 1: Podestead describes the sickness her children have passed through. She
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Speaker 1: is now with them at Capeon, and Miss Emily has
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Speaker 1: gone to visit Missus Barksdale and Greenbrier Missus p says
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Speaker 1: she will be ready to visit you any time after
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Speaker 1: the middle of August, that you will notify her. I
14:03
Speaker 1: am glad all are well with you, and hope the
14:06
Speaker 1: garden will give you some vegetables. I am anxious to
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Speaker 1: get back and see you all. Give much love to
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Speaker 1: the girls, including the missus Selden. Tell them they must
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Speaker 1: not leave till I return. That I am hurrying back
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Speaker 1: as fast as rheumatism will let me. I have abandoned
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Speaker 1: my visit to Nannie and the boys on the Pammicky.
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Speaker 1: Tell them it is too hot and that I am
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Speaker 1: too painful. Aunt em sends love to all, remember me
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Speaker 1: to all friends. I must leave details till I return,
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Speaker 1: most truly and affectionately. R. E Lee, Missus R. E Lee.
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Speaker 1: The building of the church here referred to was the
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Speaker 1: Episcopal Church in Lexington, which it was proposed to take
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Speaker 1: down and replace with a larger and better building. My
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Speaker 1: father was a vestryman and also a member of the
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Speaker 1: building committee. Doctor Buckler, whom my father had consulted in July,
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Speaker 1: was at this time on a visit to Baltimore, having
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Speaker 1: lived abroad with his family since eighteen sixty six. When
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Speaker 1: about to return to Paris, he wrote and asked my
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Speaker 1: father to accompany him. This invitation he was obliged to decline. Lexington, Virginia,
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Speaker 1: August five, eighteen seventy, My dear doctor, I have just
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Speaker 1: received your letter of the fourth inviting me to accompany
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Speaker 1: you across the Atlantic, and I return you my cordial
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Speaker 1: thanks for your client's solicitation for my health and comfort.
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Speaker 1: There is no one whom I would prefer to have
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Speaker 1: as a companion on the voyage, nor is there one
15:32
Speaker 1: I am sure who would take better care of me.
15:34
Speaker 1: But I cannot impose myself upon you. I have given
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Speaker 1: you sufficient trouble already, and you must cure me on
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Speaker 1: this side of the Atlantic. If you are the man
15:44
Speaker 1: I take you for, you will do so. You must
15:47
Speaker 1: present my warmest thanks to your wife for her remembrance
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Speaker 1: of me and her kind offer of the hospitalities of
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Speaker 1: her house. Should I ever be able to visit Europe,
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Speaker 1: I shall certainly accept them. But I hope she will
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Speaker 1: soon return to this country, and that you will bring
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Speaker 1: her up to the mountains to us. We are all
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Speaker 1: peaceable here now, and she will find that we are
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Speaker 1: not as bad as we have been reported to be,
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Speaker 1: and every one will extend to her a hearty welcome.
16:14
Speaker 1: Whereas Europe is now convulsed with the horrors of war
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Speaker 1: or the agony of its expectancy, and I fear for
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Speaker 1: a season is destined to feel the greatest calamity that
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Speaker 1: can befall a people. I am happy to inform you
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Speaker 1: that my health is better. I am pursuing your directions
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Speaker 1: and hope that I am deriving benefit from them. I
16:36
Speaker 1: have made my arrangements to visit the Hot Springs, Virginia
16:39
Speaker 1: on Monday next as you recommend, and trust I may
16:43
Speaker 1: find relief from them. My rheumatic pains continue, but have diminished,
16:48
Speaker 1: and that in my shoulder I think has lessened under
16:51
Speaker 1: the application of the blister. I shall endeavor to be
16:54
Speaker 1: well by the fall. The letter you enclosed to me
16:57
Speaker 1: was from Missus Smith on the Hudson, and not from
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Speaker 1: mister Henry White as you supposed. Goodbye, my dear doctor.
17:04
Speaker 1: May you have a prosperous voyage and find your family
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Speaker 1: all well on your arrival, and may your own health
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Speaker 1: be entirely restored. My family unite with me in every
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Speaker 1: kind wit, and I am most truly your friend. R. E. Lee,
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Speaker 1: Doctor Thomas H. Butler. This letter to General Cooper, Adjutant
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Speaker 1: General of the Confederate States Army, written at this time,
17:28
Speaker 1: explains itself and is one of many witnesses of my
17:31
Speaker 1: father's delicate consideration for old soldiers in distress. Lexington, Virginia,
17:37
Speaker 1: August fourth, eighteen seventy General S. Cooper, Alexandria, Virginia, My
17:43
Speaker 1: dear General, Impressed with all the people of the South
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Speaker 1: with your merits and services. I have with them, admired
17:50
Speaker 1: your manly efforts to support your family, and have regretted
17:54
Speaker 1: that more remunerative occupation, better suited to your capacities and
17:58
Speaker 1: former habits, had not presented itself. This has been a
18:02
Speaker 1: subject of conversation with some of us here and when
18:06
Speaker 1: in Savannah last spring, I presented it to General Lawton,
18:10
Speaker 1: Colonel Cole, and others, and suggested that efforts be made
18:14
Speaker 1: to raise a sum for the relief of any pressing necessity.
18:18
Speaker 1: The idea was cordially adopted, and it was hoped that
18:21
Speaker 1: an amount would be contributed that would enable you to
18:24
Speaker 1: receive some relaxation. I have received a letter from General
18:29
Speaker 1: Lawton regretting the smallness of the sum collected three hundred dollars,
18:33
Speaker 1: and explaining the delay that had occurred, the general poverty
18:37
Speaker 1: of the people, the many calls upon them, and the
18:40
Speaker 1: disposition to procrastinate when facts are not known to them personally.
18:45
Speaker 1: To this sum I have only been able to add
18:47
Speaker 1: one hundred dollars, but I hope it may enable you
18:50
Speaker 1: to supply some immediate want and prevent you from taxing
18:54
Speaker 1: your strength too much. You must also pardon me for
18:57
Speaker 1: my moving in this matter, and for the foregoing explanation
19:01
Speaker 1: which I feel obliged to make that you might understand
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Speaker 1: the subject. With my best wishes for your health and happiness,
19:07
Speaker 1: and for the useful prolongation of your honorable life. I
19:11
Speaker 1: am with true regard, your friend and servant. R. E. Lee.
19:16
Speaker 1: He remained at Lexington only for a short time, as
19:19
Speaker 1: it was decided that he should go to the Hot Springs, Virginia,
19:23
Speaker 1: where he could try their famous waters for his rheumatism.
19:26
Speaker 1: On the day of his arrival, he writes to my mother,
19:29
Speaker 1: Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia, August tenth, eighteen seventy. My
19:34
Speaker 1: dear Mary, we reached here this morning about nine thirty
19:37
Speaker 1: a m. Captain White and I after as pleasant a
19:40
Speaker 1: journey as we could have expected. After taking the cars
19:44
Speaker 1: at Goshen, the old route by Milborough rose up so
19:48
Speaker 1: strong before me that we determined to adhere to it.
19:51
Speaker 1: Reach the bath Alum about four p m. Where we
19:54
Speaker 1: passed the night and were in luck in finding several
19:57
Speaker 1: schools or parts of them rusticating on Alan water. Missus
20:02
Speaker 1: Heath was in charge of the detachment from Doctor Phillips
20:06
Speaker 1: footnote a well known girls school at Staunton end note.
20:10
Speaker 1: They presented a gay and happy appearance. This morning. We
20:14
Speaker 1: breakfast at the Worm and had the attention of Richard.
20:17
Speaker 1: There is a small party there, Admiral Lewis Goldsborough with
20:20
Speaker 1: his wife and Miss West amongst them. Here there is
20:24
Speaker 1: quite a company. Missus Lemmon from Baltimore, her daughter, Missus Dobbin,
20:29
Speaker 1: Missus General Walker, wife of the ex Secretary of War
20:33
Speaker 1: of the Confederacy, Missus and miss Sevant et cetera, et cetera.
20:38
Speaker 1: Doctor and Missus Cabell are here, and the Tardes and
20:41
Speaker 1: Missus Mack. Regret that you were not with me. I
20:44
Speaker 1: saw Missus Mays at the Worm, and her sister from Kentucky,
20:48
Speaker 1: Missus State Reverend doctor Mason and the danger Fields have
20:52
Speaker 1: a girls school in the village. The worm seems to
20:54
Speaker 1: be retrograding. I hope the new man, Edward has arrived.
20:59
Speaker 1: Tell him to take good care of the cow, and
21:01
Speaker 1: ask the girls to see to her and the garden,
21:04
Speaker 1: et cetera. I saw Missus Caskey at the baths. She
21:07
Speaker 1: looks very well. Her niece Gay is with her, a
21:11
Speaker 1: pretty little child. Missus Myers and her children are also there.
21:15
Speaker 1: Missus Asher also small company, but select all pleased with
21:20
Speaker 1: mister Brown footnote the manager of the hotel end note.
21:25
Speaker 1: Tell the girls, I have no one to rub me now,
21:28
Speaker 1: shall miss them in this and other ways much. Doctor
21:31
Speaker 1: Cabell says, I must continue my medicines and commence with
21:35
Speaker 1: the hot spout tomorrow. He has great confidence in the
21:38
Speaker 1: waters and says that ninety five out of a hundred
21:41
Speaker 1: patients that he has treated here have recovered. I shall
21:45
Speaker 1: alternate the spout with the boiler, But he says, the
21:48
Speaker 1: great error is that people become impatient and do not
21:52
Speaker 1: stay long enough. I hope I may be benefited, but
21:55
Speaker 1: it is a tedious prospect. I hope that you all
21:59
Speaker 1: will continue well if you wish to go to the
22:02
Speaker 1: baths or to come here. You must do so, and
22:04
Speaker 1: write me what you want if there is anything I
22:07
Speaker 1: can do or get for you. Give love to all
22:10
Speaker 1: the girls, and remembrances to all friends. Tell our neighbors
22:14
Speaker 1: that I was so occupied the last days I was
22:17
Speaker 1: in Lexington that I had not time to bid them adieu.
22:21
Speaker 1: If you want more money, let me know. God bless
22:24
Speaker 1: you and preserve you all. Good Bye, Dear Mary, most truly, R. E. Lee,
22:29
Speaker 1: missus M. Se Lee. The richard mentioned had been lately
22:34
Speaker 1: his house servant at Lexington, and Edward was a new
22:37
Speaker 1: man he had engaged for the garden and stable. The
22:40
Speaker 1: letters written to my mother and others of his family
22:43
Speaker 1: from the Hot Springs at this time were frequent, and
22:46
Speaker 1: I give them in full as they tell all we
22:49
Speaker 1: know now of his visit there, Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia.
22:54
Speaker 1: August fourteenth, eighteen seventy. My dear Mary, I received this
22:58
Speaker 1: morning the last letter forwarded by you. The first batch
23:01
Speaker 1: arrived yesterday. I am glad to hear that you all
23:05
Speaker 1: continue well. I hope my letter of the tenth announcing
23:08
Speaker 1: my arrival has reached you. It should have done so.
23:11
Speaker 1: It seems to me. Previously to your note of Friday,
23:14
Speaker 1: I have but little more to say than I had then.
23:17
Speaker 1: I have taken four baths hot spout, which seems to
23:21
Speaker 1: agree with me very well, but it is too soon
23:24
Speaker 1: yet to look for results. I receive the water on
23:27
Speaker 1: my shoulder, back and chest. The sensation is pleasant, and
23:31
Speaker 1: so far I have succeeded in preventing taking cold. The atmosphere, however,
23:36
Speaker 1: is damp and temperature variable. When the sun shines it
23:40
Speaker 1: is hot. But when it rains, which is the usual
23:43
Speaker 1: condition of the weather, the former the exception, it is cool.
23:48
Speaker 1: Missus Sledge and party are here. The former improved, she
23:53
Speaker 1: was much better, went over to the white and sweet, retrograded,
23:57
Speaker 1: and returned. Will stay here sept Many of our invalids
24:02
Speaker 1: are improving. Society has a rather solemn appearance, and conversation
24:06
Speaker 1: runs mostly on personal ailment, baz and damp weather. There
24:11
Speaker 1: were some pretty tableaus last evening, the Missus Attardi, Missus
24:16
Speaker 1: Dobbin and the little Girls. The performers. Mister Washington is
24:20
Speaker 1: here footnote. William Washington, a well known painter of that
24:24
Speaker 1: day who was for a short time professor of painting
24:27
Speaker 1: and drawing at the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington. End note.
24:33
Speaker 1: He looks well, is quiet, and has been copying points
24:36
Speaker 1: of scenery in the neighborhood. I do not know whether
24:40
Speaker 1: he was in search of health or the picturesque. The
24:43
Speaker 1: latter is more easily found in these mountains than the former. Captain.
24:48
Speaker 1: White is well and sends remembrances to all. I hope
24:51
Speaker 1: Edward has arrived and is an improvement on the present
24:54
Speaker 1: occupant of the situation. If he does not present himself,
24:58
Speaker 1: retain Henry till I come. I will endeavor to find
25:01
Speaker 1: some one. You do not mention the cow. She is
25:04
Speaker 1: of more interest to me than the cats, and is
25:07
Speaker 1: equally destructive of rats. I am glad the girls are well.
25:11
Speaker 1: What are they troubling about? Now? I wish they were
25:14
Speaker 1: with me. I find many ladies here for Neuralgia. Missus.
25:18
Speaker 1: General Walker has been much benefited also others. If Little
25:23
Speaker 1: Agnes should desire to try the effects of the waters,
25:26
Speaker 1: tell her to come on. I will take care of her.
25:29
Speaker 1: I suppose tab will go with her husband. I am
25:32
Speaker 1: sorry Fitch Hugh is complaining. I have written to Rob
25:35
Speaker 1: and Miss Lottie. Footnote Miss Charlotte Hexall afterward Missus Robert E.
25:41
Speaker 1: Lee Junior, who died in eighteen seventy two. End note,
25:46
Speaker 1: I heard of Charles Carter's footnote Charles Carter of Goodwood,
25:51
Speaker 1: Maryland was my father's first cousin. Mildred and Ella two
25:55
Speaker 1: of his daughters. And note I heard of Charles Carter's
25:59
Speaker 1: passing up the road to the White, and Mildred preceded
26:02
Speaker 1: him a week. Ella, I hear is much improved. I
26:06
Speaker 1: shall not go to the White unless specially called by
26:09
Speaker 1: something now unknown, but will remain here till the end
26:13
Speaker 1: of the month if I find it profitable, and then
26:16
Speaker 1: return to Lexington. I hope the college is prospering. What
26:20
Speaker 1: does Missus Podestad say? I understand that Marky Peter footnote
26:26
Speaker 1: Missus Peter was a near cousin of my mother, and
26:29
Speaker 1: with her as a little girl, our associations had been
26:32
Speaker 1: very near. End note. And child are occupying her old
26:37
Speaker 1: quarters at the Lomaxes near Warrenton. I have a merry
26:41
Speaker 1: time with my old cronies. Tell Mildred I am getting
26:44
Speaker 1: too heavy for them now they soon drop me. I
26:47
Speaker 1: am getting uneasy about Edward and Blanche. The reverses of
26:51
Speaker 1: the French, which seem to be light, appear to have
26:54
Speaker 1: demoralized the nation. May God help all in affliction, and
26:58
Speaker 1: keep and guard you and all with you, is my
27:02
Speaker 1: constant prayer. Truly and affectionately, Are E Lee, missus M. C. Lee,
27:08
Speaker 1: Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia, August nineteenth, eighteen seventy. My
27:13
Speaker 1: dear Mary, I received this morning your letters of the
27:16
Speaker 1: fourteenth and the eighteenth, enclosing doctor Buckler's, and I was
27:20
Speaker 1: informed by Colonel Turner that he had brought the package
27:24
Speaker 1: to which you referred. He has not yet sent it
27:27
Speaker 1: to me, but no doubt will in time. I am
27:30
Speaker 1: sorry that Edward has not kept his engagement, for I
27:33
Speaker 1: liked his appearance and recommendations, though perhaps they are deceptive.
27:38
Speaker 1: You had better retain Henry till I come, unless you
27:40
Speaker 1: fall in with the better. I am glad that you
27:43
Speaker 1: are all well. You have such industrious little daughters that
27:47
Speaker 1: I am sure all will go well. Thank Agnes for
27:50
Speaker 1: her letter, and say to her that I have not
27:53
Speaker 1: seen mister bad Meter or Blair, but gave the letter
27:56
Speaker 1: to the former to Colonel White, who will send it
27:59
Speaker 1: to when he finds out his position. Mister Tom arrived
28:03
Speaker 1: this morning, and mister John Johns and family rode over
28:07
Speaker 1: from the healing. They are there for a sick child.
28:11
Speaker 1: My old friend, doctor Brodus, and the reverend mister Jones
28:15
Speaker 1: also presented themselves. I have been trying the boiler for
28:18
Speaker 1: four days, and the spout the five proceeding. I do
28:22
Speaker 1: not perceive any benefit yet, though some little change in
28:25
Speaker 1: the seat of my pains. I will continue till the
28:29
Speaker 1: middle of next week, the twenty ninth, when if no
28:32
Speaker 1: decided improvement takes place, I think of going over to
28:35
Speaker 1: the healing. Doctor Houston thinks that it will be beneficial,
28:39
Speaker 1: whereas Doctor Cabell recommends this. I am obliged to be
28:43
Speaker 1: in Staunton on the thirtieth Olts to attend a meeting
28:46
Speaker 1: of the Valley Railroad Company, so I shall leave here
28:50
Speaker 1: on the twenty ninth for that purpose. After getting through
28:53
Speaker 1: with that business, I shall return to Lexington. I am
28:57
Speaker 1: sorry that I shall be called away, but I fear
28:59
Speaker 1: my stifle here would be of no avail. Colonel White
29:03
Speaker 1: is well and sends regards to all. I am glad
29:06
Speaker 1: that the cow is better. She stands next in my
29:09
Speaker 1: affection to traveler. I hope that Agnes's neuralgia is better,
29:13
Speaker 1: and as she has not accepted my proposition, I presume
29:18
Speaker 1: she declines. Hot bathing is not agreeable to me, either
29:21
Speaker 1: in its operations or effects. But I see daily evidences
29:26
Speaker 1: of its good results in others. I wish that it
29:29
Speaker 1: suited your case. You must try and get some one
29:32
Speaker 1: in Sally's place, if tab et cetera, come and make
29:36
Speaker 1: them all comfortable. If you want more money, let me
29:39
Speaker 1: know in time. Send over to mister Laybourn for the flower.
29:42
Speaker 1: When you want it. Mister Bowie, I suspect can arrange
29:45
Speaker 1: it for you. I fear Captain Brooks's house will not
29:49
Speaker 1: be ready for occupancy this fall. I hope that General
29:52
Speaker 1: Smith will begin custoses in time. I heard of him
29:56
Speaker 1: on his way to Edward Cox the other day. Mister W.
30:00
Speaker 1: Washington is still here. Better, I think again. Love to all,
30:04
Speaker 1: most truly and affectionately. R. E. Lee p. S. Mister
30:08
Speaker 1: Turner has just sent me the package R. E. L.
30:13
Speaker 1: To his son Fitzhugh, who was at the White House
30:16
Speaker 1: with his family. Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia, August twenty,
30:20
Speaker 1: eighteen seventy. My dear fitz U, I am very sorry
30:24
Speaker 1: to learn from your letter of the eighteenth received this
30:26
Speaker 1: morning that tab is sick. I hope that it will
30:30
Speaker 1: be of short duration and that she will soon throw
30:33
Speaker 1: off the chills. The Mountain doctors, however, do not understand
30:37
Speaker 1: them as well as the Lowland, and are apt to
30:39
Speaker 1: resort to the old practice. I wish that I could
30:42
Speaker 1: get to the White to see you, but my time
30:44
Speaker 1: is too limited owing to the late day that I
30:47
Speaker 1: was able to leave Lexington. I propose staying here till
30:50
Speaker 1: the twenty ninth instant, which will only make my sojourn
30:54
Speaker 1: here two and a half weeks, and then going to Staunton,
30:57
Speaker 1: where I am obliged to attend a meeting up the
31:00
Speaker 1: Valley Railroad Company on the thirtieth. I hope that I
31:03
Speaker 1: shall not be detained there longer than a day or two,
31:07
Speaker 1: when I will return to Lexington, where I hope to
31:09
Speaker 1: find you. All. You must tell mister and missus Podestad,
31:13
Speaker 1: mister Carter, Ella, et cetera, how sorry I am not
31:17
Speaker 1: to see them at the White, but that I hope
31:19
Speaker 1: they will call at Lexington. I wrote to Ella on
31:22
Speaker 1: my first arrival here, but presume my letter failed to
31:26
Speaker 1: reach her. You did not mention how her health was.
31:29
Speaker 1: I am much concerned at tabs indisposition, but I am
31:33
Speaker 1: glad to hear that the baby is well. Give my
31:36
Speaker 1: love to both, and I trust you will all be
31:38
Speaker 1: benefited by the Mountain air. My personal health is good,
31:43
Speaker 1: but I see no change in my rheumatic attack, which
31:46
Speaker 1: is principally confined to my chest and back. I enclose
31:50
Speaker 1: a note from your mother, transmitted on the supposition that
31:53
Speaker 1: I would write to you. Professor White is with me
31:57
Speaker 1: and I have some few acquaintances, but I am anxious
32:01
Speaker 1: to return. I am glad that Bertus has had a
32:04
Speaker 1: short visit to Orange. He says that he will come
32:07
Speaker 1: to Rockbridge in September. Custus will be there by the
32:10
Speaker 1: first and we shall all, I hope, be together again. Affectionately, R. E. Lee,
32:18
Speaker 1: Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia, August twenty three, eighteen seventy.
32:22
Speaker 1: My dear Mary, I have received your various notes of
32:25
Speaker 1: the seventeenth and eighteenth, and I am glad to hear
32:28
Speaker 1: of your well being. Our good cow will be a
32:30
Speaker 1: loss to us, but her troubles are all over now,
32:33
Speaker 1: and I am grateful to her for what she has
32:35
Speaker 1: done for us. I hope that we did our duty
32:38
Speaker 1: to her. I have written to mister Andrew Cameron to
32:41
Speaker 1: inquire about a young cow he has of mine, and
32:44
Speaker 1: asked him to let you know if she is giving milk.
32:48
Speaker 1: If his report is good, you had better send for her.
32:51
Speaker 1: She is, however, young, and will require very gentle treatment.
32:55
Speaker 1: Caution Henry on that point. I have told him. Mister
32:59
Speaker 1: c also that you would send for the horses, which
33:03
Speaker 1: I wish you would do as soon as you can
33:05
Speaker 1: see that they will be properly cared for. Tell Henry
33:09
Speaker 1: to be particularly gentle and kind to them, or the
33:12
Speaker 1: gray will give him great trouble. He must wash them
33:15
Speaker 1: clean and not pull out their manes and tails. The
33:18
Speaker 1: girls will have to exercise them till Custus comes. I
33:22
Speaker 1: suppose we may give up expecting Edward, retain Henry till
33:26
Speaker 1: you can find some one better. You had also better
33:29
Speaker 1: engage some woman or man for a month as a
33:32
Speaker 1: dining room servant. I think Easter has no intention of
33:36
Speaker 1: coming to us before October, and she will not come then.
33:39
Speaker 1: If mister blank and keep her, you will have so
33:42
Speaker 1: many friends staying with you that you cannot make them
33:45
Speaker 1: comfortable unless you have more servants. As I stated in
33:49
Speaker 1: a previous letter, I shall go to Staunton on the
33:52
Speaker 1: twenty ninth. I hope I shall be detained but a
33:55
Speaker 1: few days, lest your funds may run low. I send
33:58
Speaker 1: you a check. The girls can get it cashed. I
34:01
Speaker 1: may be detained, but I hope to return in time
34:04
Speaker 1: to see our children and friends. I have been here
34:07
Speaker 1: a fortnight to day. I hope that I am better,
34:10
Speaker 1: but am aware of no material change except that I
34:13
Speaker 1: am weaker. I am very anxious to get back. It
34:17
Speaker 1: is very wearying at these public places, and the benefit
34:21
Speaker 1: hardly worth the cost. I do not think I can
34:23
Speaker 1: even stand Lexington Long Colonels Allan and Johnston footnote Professors
34:29
Speaker 1: William Allen and William Preston Johnston of Washington College, the
34:34
Speaker 1: former afterward principal of the Macdonough's School near Baltimore, Maryland,
34:38
Speaker 1: the latter president of Tulane University, New Orleans, and note
34:44
Speaker 1: arrived this evening on horseback and had given me all
34:47
Speaker 1: Lexington news. Mister Sledge and his wife from Huntsville, brother
34:51
Speaker 1: of the colonel, also arrived at a Mister Missus Leeds
34:54
Speaker 1: from New Orleans with ten children, mostly little girls. The
34:59
Speaker 1: latter are a gre great addition to my comfort. I
35:02
Speaker 1: have written to fitz Hugh and missus Puddistad Robert you know,
35:06
Speaker 1: said she would make his annual visit the first week
35:08
Speaker 1: in September. Tell the girls they must make preparations to
35:12
Speaker 1: welcome all. Missus Walker, wife of the former Secretary of
35:16
Speaker 1: War in the Confederacy, is here with her son, whom
35:20
Speaker 1: she says she is anxious to place in college, and
35:23
Speaker 1: wishes to visit Lexington. With that view, I have offered
35:26
Speaker 1: my escort and invited her to stay with us. I
35:29
Speaker 1: do not know whether she will go with me. The
35:32
Speaker 1: girls will have to prepare my room for some of
35:34
Speaker 1: the visitors and put me anywhere I can be very
35:38
Speaker 1: comfortable in the library. Tell the little creatures they must
35:41
Speaker 1: work like Beaver's and get a supply of eggs and chickens. Recollect.
35:46
Speaker 1: There is flour at Leybourn's mill when you want it.
35:49
Speaker 1: Thank Mildred for her letter, Remember me to all and
35:53
Speaker 1: believe me always, Yours affectionately, R. E. Lee, Missus M. C.
35:58
Speaker 1: Lee p S. I send you an order for the horses.
36:02
Speaker 1: Tell Henry to take with him a bridle and halter.
36:05
Speaker 1: You must write for the cow if you want her
36:07
Speaker 1: or e lee. Mister Andrew Cameron owned a fine farm
36:12
Speaker 1: near Lexington, and kindly took care of my father's horses
36:15
Speaker 1: when he was away in the summer. Also, at different
36:18
Speaker 1: times supplied him with a cow, and took care of
36:22
Speaker 1: any calf if there happened to be one, till it
36:24
Speaker 1: was of service. My father constantly wrote out to see him,
36:28
Speaker 1: and enjoyed talking farming as they rode together over his fields.
36:33
Speaker 1: His delight in every aspect of nature was real and
36:36
Speaker 1: ever present. These letters show too his care and consideration
36:40
Speaker 1: for animals. His letter to his daughter Agnes is in
36:44
Speaker 1: lighter vain. His playful moods, so usual with his children,
36:49
Speaker 1: never entirely left him. Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia, August
36:54
Speaker 1: twenty three, eighteen seventy. My dear Agnes, I have received
36:58
Speaker 1: both of your letters, the last the seventeenth, and thank
37:01
Speaker 1: you for them, as well as for your care of
37:04
Speaker 1: my room and clothes. The former, I understand, is used
37:07
Speaker 1: for a multiplicity of purposes, and the cats and kittens
37:11
Speaker 1: have the full run of my establishment guard me against
37:14
Speaker 1: Miss Selden, I pray you footnote Mildred's kitten end note.
37:19
Speaker 1: I am sorry that you are not with me, as
37:21
Speaker 1: it is possibly may have benefited your neuralgia. But if
37:25
Speaker 1: Miss Bell is with you, I am sure she will
37:27
Speaker 1: be of greater service. And tell her she must remain
37:30
Speaker 1: till I come, that she may cure me that you
37:33
Speaker 1: may have some other inducements than your flowers and weeds
37:36
Speaker 1: to take you out of doors. I will write to
37:39
Speaker 1: your mother to send for the horses as soon as
37:41
Speaker 1: she can make arrangements to have them cared for, and
37:44
Speaker 1: then you and Mildred and Miss Bell, the one on
37:48
Speaker 1: Traveler the other on Lucy, can scour the country and
37:51
Speaker 1: keep us in eggs and chickens. I am sorry for
37:55
Speaker 1: the death of our good cow, but glad that she
37:57
Speaker 1: is out of misery. I do not think any of
38:00
Speaker 1: your friends are here. Mister Washington has been a vibrating
38:04
Speaker 1: between this place and the healing, but does not seem
38:07
Speaker 1: to be well. Miss Alman from Salem, Massachusetts, whom you
38:11
Speaker 1: may recollect as having been at the White last summer,
38:14
Speaker 1: is here with her father and mother. Miss Molly Jordan
38:18
Speaker 1: left to day and Colonel Robert Preston arrived. The chestnuts
38:22
Speaker 1: and lavettes are still here. I hope that you are
38:25
Speaker 1: well and that all is well with you. When Custus comes,
38:29
Speaker 1: asked him to see to the horses and the cow,
38:32
Speaker 1: and that they are gently treated and properly fed. I
38:36
Speaker 1: know nothing of Henry's capacity in that way. I hope
38:39
Speaker 1: to be home next week, and am very anxious to
38:42
Speaker 1: get back your father. R. E. Lee end of Chapter
38:47
Speaker 1: twenty three