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16 - 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 sixteen 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 sixteen an adviser of young Men.
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  Speaker 1: Lee's policy as college president, his advice on agricultural matters,
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  Speaker 1: his affection for his prospective daughter in law, fitz Hugh's wedding,
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  Speaker 1: the General's ovation at Petersburg, his personal interest in the
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  Speaker 1: students under his care. The college exercises were resumed in
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  Speaker 1: the last weeks of September. My mother and sisters were
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  Speaker 1: all back at home. The President's work, now more in hand,
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  Speaker 1: began to show results. The number of students this session
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  Speaker 1: was largely increased, and the outlook of the college was
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  Speaker 1: very much brighter. He had, from the beginning of his
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  Speaker 1: presidency a distinct policy and plan, which he had fully conceived,
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  Speaker 1: and to which he steadily adhered, so that all his
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  Speaker 1: particular measures of progress were but consistent steps in its development.
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  Speaker 1: His object was nothing less than to establish imperfect an
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  Speaker 1: institution which should meet the highest needs of education in
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  Speaker 1: every department at once, and without waiting for the means
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  Speaker 1: to be provided in advance. He proceeded to develop this
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  Speaker 1: object Under his advice, new chairs were created and professors
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  Speaker 1: called to fill them, so that before the end of
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  Speaker 1: the first year the faculty was doubled in numbers. Still,
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  Speaker 1: additional chairs were created, and finally a complete system of
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  Speaker 1: schools was established and brought into full operation. So admirably
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  Speaker 1: was the plan conceived and administered by General Lee that heterogeneous,
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  Speaker 1: as were the students, especially in the early years. Each
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  Speaker 1: one found his proper place, and all were kept in
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  Speaker 1: line of complete and systematic study. Under this organization, and
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  Speaker 1: especially under the inspiration of his central influence, the utmost
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  Speaker 1: harmony and utmost energy pervaded all the departments of the college.
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  Speaker 1: The highest powers of both professors and students were called
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  Speaker 1: forth under the fullest responsibility. The standards of scholarship were
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  Speaker 1: rapidly advanced, and soon the graduates of Washington College were
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  Speaker 1: the acknowledged equals of those from the best institutions elsewhere,
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  Speaker 1: and were eagerly sought after for the highest position as
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  Speaker 1: teachers in the best schools. The results were due directly
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  Speaker 1: and immediately, more than to all other causes, to the
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  Speaker 1: personal ability and influence of General Lee as President of
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  Speaker 1: the College, So wrote Professor Edward S. Joins in an
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  Speaker 1: article published soon after General Lee's death in the University Monthly.
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  Speaker 1: All of this had not been accomplished as yet, but
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  Speaker 1: the work was well advanced and the results began to
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  Speaker 1: be evident. His health had not been strong since the
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  Speaker 1: middle of the summer, but he never ceased in his
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  Speaker 1: endeavor to better the condition of the college and to
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  Speaker 1: improve the minds, morals, and bodies of the young men
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  Speaker 1: committed to his charge. He writes to me, this time,
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  Speaker 1: encouraging me to renewed efforts, telling me how to better
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  Speaker 1: my condition, and advising me not to be cast down
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  Speaker 1: by difficulties. Lexington, Virginia, October twenty sixth, eighteen sixty seven.
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  Speaker 1: My dear rob your letter of the tenth did not
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  Speaker 1: give me a very favorable account of yourself or your prospects,
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  Speaker 1: but I have no doubt it was true and therefore commendable.
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  Speaker 1: We must, not, however, yield to difficulties, but strive the
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  Speaker 1: harder to overcome them. I am sorry for the failure
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  Speaker 1: of your crops, your loneliness and uncomfortableness, and wish it
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  Speaker 1: were in my power to visit you and advise with you.
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  Speaker 1: But you must come up this winter when convenient, and
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  Speaker 1: we will discuss the whole matter. Fitzhugh, I hope will
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  Speaker 1: be married soon, and then he will have more time
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  Speaker 1: to counsel with you. I hope between you two you
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  Speaker 1: will devise some mode of relief. The only way to
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  Speaker 1: improve your crop is to improve your land, which requires time, patience,
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  Speaker 1: and good good cultivation. Lime, I think is one of
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  Speaker 1: the chief instruments, and I advise you to apply that
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  Speaker 1: systematically and judiciously. I think too, you had better purchase
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  Speaker 1: another pair of mules. I can help you in these items,
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  Speaker 1: and if you need, can advance you five hundred dollars.
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  Speaker 1: Then as regards a house, I can help you in
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  Speaker 1: that too, But you must first select a site and
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  Speaker 1: a plan. The first can only be found on the land,
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  Speaker 1: and the latter might be adopted on the progressive principle,
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  Speaker 1: commencing with the minor members and finishing with the principal ones,
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  Speaker 1: as convenience or necessity might authorize. If no better can
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  Speaker 1: be found, how would the present site answer. If you
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  Speaker 1: are going to cultivate the lower part of the farm,
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  Speaker 1: it would at least have the advantage of convenience. Or
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  Speaker 1: if you thought it better to divide and sell your farm.
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  Speaker 1: It would answer for one of the divisions. I am
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  Speaker 1: clear for your marrying if you select a good wife.
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  Speaker 1: Otherwise you had better remain as you are for a time.
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  Speaker 1: An imprudent or uncongenial woman is worse than the minx. Footnote.
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  Speaker 1: I had written to him that they had destroyed all
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  Speaker 1: my hands. End note. I think upon the whole you
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  Speaker 1: are progressing very well and have accomplished the worst part.
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  Speaker 1: A failure in crops will occur occasionally to every farmer,
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  Speaker 1: even the best, with favorable surroundings. It serves a good purpose,
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  Speaker 1: inculcates prudence and economy, and excites energy and perseverance. These
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  Speaker 1: qualities will overcome everything. You are very young still, and
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  Speaker 1: if you are virtuous and laborious, you will accomplish all
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  Speaker 1: the good you propose to yourself. Let me know if
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  Speaker 1: you want the money. We are pretty well. I am better,
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  Speaker 1: and your poor mother more comfortable, I think than she
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  Speaker 1: was last year. The girls are as usual, and Custos
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  Speaker 1: is in far better health than he was before his
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  Speaker 1: visit to the springs. He seems, however, not happy, and
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  Speaker 1: I presume other pe people have their troubles as well
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  Speaker 1: as farmers. God bless you, my son, and may He guard,
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  Speaker 1: guide and direct you in all you do. All would
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  Speaker 1: unite in love. Did they know I was writing truly
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  Speaker 1: and affectionately your father R. E. Lee Robert E. Lee Junior,
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  Speaker 1: My brother fitz Hugh, was to be married that autumn.
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  Speaker 1: This event, so soon to take place, gave my father
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  Speaker 1: great pleasure. He was an earnest advocate of matrimony, and
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  Speaker 1: was constantly urging his sons to take to themselves wives.
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  Speaker 1: With his daughters he was less pressing, though apparently always
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  Speaker 1: willing to have another daughter, he did not seem to
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  Speaker 1: long for any more sons. He thus writes to my
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  Speaker 1: brother when his engagement was formally announced to him, Lexington, Virginia,
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  Speaker 1: September twenty, eighteen sixty seven. My dear Fitzhugh, I have
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  Speaker 1: been anxious for some time to write to you to
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  Speaker 1: express the pleasure I have felt of the prospects of
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  Speaker 1: your marriage with Miss Bowling. But sickness has prevented, and
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  Speaker 1: I am still so feeble that I cannot attend to
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  Speaker 1: the pressing business connected with the college. As you know
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  Speaker 1: how deeply I feel all that concerns you. You may
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  Speaker 1: feel assured of the pleasure I derived from your letter
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  Speaker 1: to your mother informing her of your engagement. I have
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  Speaker 1: the most pleasing recollection of Miss tab and of her
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  Speaker 1: kindness to me, And now that she has consented to
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  Speaker 1: be my daughter, the measure of my gratitude is filled
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  Speaker 1: to overflowing. I hope she will not delay the consummation,
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  Speaker 1: for I want to see her very much, and I
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  Speaker 1: fear she will not come to see me until then.
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  Speaker 1: You must present her my warm love and you both
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  Speaker 1: must accept my earnest prayers and most fervent wishes for
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  Speaker 1: your future happiness and prosperity. I am glad that your
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  Speaker 1: house is progressing, and that your crops promise well. I
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  Speaker 1: hope that you soon will be able to come and
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  Speaker 1: see me. Your mother, I hope, has derived some benefit
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  Speaker 1: from her visit to the springs. Her general health is improved,
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  Speaker 1: but I see no relaxation in her room a complaint.
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  Speaker 1: The girls are quite well and all send love your
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  Speaker 1: affectionate father, R. E. Lee, General William H. F. Lee.
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  Speaker 1: The young lady who was so soon to become a
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  Speaker 1: member of his family was Miss Mary tab Bowling, the
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  Speaker 1: daughter of mister G. W. Bowling of Petersburg, Virginia. Her
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  Speaker 1: father had been very kind to General Lee during the
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  Speaker 1: eventful months of the siege of that town, and his
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  Speaker 1: daughter had been often to see him and was a
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  Speaker 1: great favorite of his. My brother was especially anxious that
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  Speaker 1: his father should be present at his wedding, and had
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  Speaker 1: been urging him to make his arrangements to come. The
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  Speaker 1: sickness to which he frequently alludes in his recent letters,
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  Speaker 1: had been annoying him since his return from the White
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  Speaker 1: Sulfur Springs up to this time, and he now writes
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  Speaker 1: proposing that my brother and bride should come to him
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  Speaker 1: instead of his going down to the wedding. Lexington of Virginia,
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  Speaker 1: October twenty five, eighteen sixty seven, My dear fitz Hugh,
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  Speaker 1: I have been wishing to write to you you every
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  Speaker 1: day since the reception of your letter of the sixth Instant,
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  Speaker 1: but have been prevented by business and sickness. I am
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  Speaker 1: delighted that your marriage is so near at hand, and
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  Speaker 1: it would give me great pleasure to attend, but I
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  Speaker 1: do not think that I could add to the enjoyment
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  Speaker 1: of any one. I suppose it will take place in
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  Speaker 1: church according to the present fashion, and I should see
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  Speaker 1: very little of you. I therefore propose that instead of
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  Speaker 1: going directly to the White House, you both come up
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  Speaker 1: here and spend as much time with us as you can.
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  Speaker 1: It will give your house more time for completion. And
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  Speaker 1: I suppose the pretty bride will want to see her
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  Speaker 1: old father and mother, and what kind of people her
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  Speaker 1: sisters are. At any rate, I want to see her
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  Speaker 1: very much, and I should be unable to do so
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  Speaker 1: in Petersburg, as she would be surrounded by her old
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  Speaker 1: bows and companions. We shall all be delighted to see you,
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  Speaker 1: and you may go back as soon as you are tired.
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  Speaker 1: Tell me what you think of this plan. There is
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  Speaker 1: another thing I wish you to aid me in. To
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  Speaker 1: tell me what agreeable present I can make to my
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  Speaker 1: daughter to remind her hereafter of her papa. Or if
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  Speaker 1: I send you a hundred dollars, will you get for
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  Speaker 1: me something she would like. I have been quite sick lately,
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  Speaker 1: but am better now. The rest of the family are
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  Speaker 1: as usual, and your mother, I hope, is more comfortable
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  Speaker 1: than she was last year. I am very glad you
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  Speaker 1: have enjoyed good health all the summer, and hope that
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  Speaker 1: nothing will occur to mar the happiness of your wedding,
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  Speaker 1: or to postpone it. Your devoted father R. E Lee,
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  Speaker 1: my brother. After receiving this, ran up to Lexington and
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  Speaker 1: paid him a short visit. His next letter shows that
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  Speaker 1: he had yielded to his wishes and had determined to
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  Speaker 1: be present at his wedding. Lexington, Virginia, November fifteenth, eighteen
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  Speaker 1: sixty seven. My dear fitz Hugh, I received this morning
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  Speaker 1: your letter of the thirteenth, and am glad to hear
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  Speaker 1: of your safe arrival and of the favorable condition of
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  Speaker 1: things at your home. I was afraid your house would
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  Speaker 1: not be ready at the time supposed, but I would
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  Speaker 1: not delay the wedding on that account. You can exist
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  Speaker 1: without it. We have one here at your service, though
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  Speaker 1: a poor one. I am obliged to you for having
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  Speaker 1: arranged about my clothes. Upon reflection, I think it better
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  Speaker 1: not to go to the White House and Romancoke before
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  Speaker 1: the wedding. You and Robert could hardly pay the necessary
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  Speaker 1: attention to business matters. With your hands filled with love
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  Speaker 1: and matrimony. I think of catching up rob and marrying
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  Speaker 1: him to some of my sweethearts while I am down
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  Speaker 1: so as to prevent the necessity of going down again.
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  Speaker 1: Custa says it will be inconvenient for him to leave
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  Speaker 1: here before the time necessary for him to reach Petersburg
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  Speaker 1: by the twenty eighth. And we have arranged to commence
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  Speaker 1: our journey on Monday night, twenty fifth instant at two
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  Speaker 1: p m. So as to reach Richmond Tuesday evening, remain
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  Speaker 1: there the twenty seventh, and go to Petersburg the twenty eighth.
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  Speaker 1: I do not think I shall be able to go
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  Speaker 1: to the White House at all. I should not be
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  Speaker 1: able to aid you or Rob my only object, and
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  Speaker 1: would put you too much trouble. We are all as
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  Speaker 1: you left us, and miss you and Mildred very much,
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  Speaker 1: very affectionately. Your father R. E. Lee, General William H. F. Lee.
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  Speaker 1: So it was all settled satisfactorily. My brother gained his point,
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  Speaker 1: and my father arranged his affairs so that he could
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  Speaker 1: absent himself without detriment to his work at the college.
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  Speaker 1: He left on the appointed day and hour, and the
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  Speaker 1: morning after arriving in Richmond, writes my mother Exchange Hotel, Richmond,
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  Speaker 1: November twenty sixth, eighteen sixty seven. My dear Mary, we
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  Speaker 1: reached here yesterday about four p m. After a not
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  Speaker 1: uncomfortable journey, and found Fitzhugh waiting for the important event.
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  Speaker 1: I doubt whether his house will be finished from his account,
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  Speaker 1: till January, though he thinks it will. His plans, I believe,
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  Speaker 1: as far as he can form them, are to leave
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  Speaker 1: Petersburg the morning after the wedding for Baltimore, where they
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  Speaker 1: will probably spend a week gathering up their furniture, et cetera.
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  Speaker 1: And after that all is undetermined. I renewed the invitation
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  Speaker 1: for their visit to us, but he could not decide.
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  Speaker 1: Robert is expected tomorrow. Mildred is well and seems to
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  Speaker 1: be perfectly happy, as she had on last evening a
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  Speaker 1: dress about two yards longer than Norvelle's. I saw mister Davis,
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  Speaker 1: who looks astonishingly well and is quite cheerful. He inquired,
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  Speaker 1: particularly after you all he is at Judge Ould's. No
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  Speaker 1: one seems to know what is to be done. Judge
• 13:35
  Speaker 1: Chase had not arrived yesterday, but it was thought probable
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  Speaker 1: that he would reach here in the ten o'clock train
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  Speaker 1: last night. I have not heard this morning. I will
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  Speaker 1: present myself to the court this morning and learn I
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  Speaker 1: hope what they wish of me. William's Wickham is here
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  Speaker 1: and will attend the wedding. Annie will also go Fitch.
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  Speaker 1: Hugh is to go out to Hickory Hill this morning
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  Speaker 1: and return this afternoon to pay his adieu. Missus Caskey
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  Speaker 1: was not well last evening. The rest as usual, and
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  Speaker 1: send much love. Custus is well and I have my clothes.
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  Speaker 1: I left my sleeve buttons in my shirt hanging up
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  Speaker 1: in my dressing room. Asked Cornelia to take care of them.
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  Speaker 1: Mister Alexander said he would send you up some turkeys,
• 14:20
  Speaker 1: and Colonel Johnston that he would help you revise the manuscript.
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  Speaker 1: It is time I should get my breakfast, as I
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  Speaker 1: wish to transact some business before going to court. Give
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  Speaker 1: much love to the girls and everybody. I hope you
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  Speaker 1: are well and will want for nothing while I am away,
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  Speaker 1: Most truly yours, R. E. Lee. Missus m ce Lee
• 14:40
  Speaker 1: generally was summoned this time as a witness in the
• 14:42
  Speaker 1: trial of mister Davis, but after some delay a nola
• 14:46
  Speaker 1: prosequi was filed. General Lee, after the war was asked
• 14:50
  Speaker 1: by a lady his opinion of the position and part
• 14:53
  Speaker 1: mister Davis had taken and acted during the war. He replied,
• 14:57
  Speaker 1: if my opinion is worth anything you, I can always
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  Speaker 1: say that few people could have done better than mister Davis.
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  Speaker 1: I know of none that could have done as well.
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  Speaker 1: On the morning after the wedding, he writes to my
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  Speaker 1: mother Petersburg, November twenty ninth, eighteen sixty seven. My dear Mary,
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  Speaker 1: our son was married last night and shown in his happiness.
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  Speaker 1: The bride looked lovely and was in every way captivating.
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  Speaker 1: The church was crowded to its utmost capacity, and the
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  Speaker 1: streets thronged. Everything went off well, and I will enter
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  Speaker 1: into details when I see you. Mister Wickham and Annie,
• 15:33
  Speaker 1: mister Fry, john Wood and others were present. Mister Davis
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  Speaker 1: was prevented from attending by the death of Missus Howell.
• 15:41
  Speaker 1: The Missus Haxell, Miss Enders, Miss Giles, et cetera came
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  Speaker 1: down from Richmond. Fitz Hugh Lee was one of the groomsmen.
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  Speaker 1: Custus very composed and rob suffering from chills. Many of
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  Speaker 1: my acquaintances were present, and everybody was very kind. Regrets
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  Speaker 1: were often expressed that you, Mary and Agnes were not present.
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  Speaker 1: I believe the plan was for the bride and groom
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  Speaker 1: to start on their travels this morning, but I doubt
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  Speaker 1: whether it will be carried out as I thought. I
• 16:09
  Speaker 1: saw indications of a change of purpose before I left,
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  Speaker 1: which I had no doubt would be strengthened by the
• 16:15
  Speaker 1: reflections of this morning. I shall remain to day and
• 16:18
  Speaker 1: return to Richmond tomorrow. I wish to go to Brandon Monday,
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  Speaker 1: but do not know that I can accomplish it. Until
• 16:26
  Speaker 1: leaving Richmond, my whole time was taken up by the
• 16:28
  Speaker 1: Auguste Court, so that I could do nothing nor see
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  Speaker 1: anybody there. Mildred was all life in white and curls.
• 16:37
  Speaker 1: I am staying at General Mahone's and have got hold
• 16:39
  Speaker 1: of one of his needle pins, with which I can
• 16:42
  Speaker 1: do nothing excuse illegibility. No one has descended to breakfast yet.
• 16:48
  Speaker 1: I received, on arriving here yesterday at three p m.
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  Speaker 1: A kind note from our new daughter asking me to
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  Speaker 1: come and see her as soon after my arrival as convenient,
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  Speaker 1: which I did, and carried over the necklace, which she
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  Speaker 1: pronounced very pretty. Give my love to all most truly
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  Speaker 1: yours R. E. Lee, missus M. C. Lee. A special
• 17:10
  Speaker 1: car carried General Lee and the other wedding guest from
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  Speaker 1: Richmond to Petersburg. He did not enter into the gay
• 17:16
  Speaker 1: conversation of the young people, but appeared sad and depressed,
• 17:20
  Speaker 1: and seemed to dread seeing the town of Petersburg and
• 17:24
  Speaker 1: meeting its people. This feeling was dispelled by the enthusiastic
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  Speaker 1: welcome given him by every one there. General Mahone, whose
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  Speaker 1: guest he was to be, met him at the depot
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  Speaker 1: with a carriage and four white horses. Many of the
• 17:38
  Speaker 1: citizens tried to take out the horses and pull the
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  Speaker 1: carriage into the town, but the General protested, declaring if
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  Speaker 1: they did so, he would have to get out and
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  Speaker 1: help them. The morning after the wedding, he drove out
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  Speaker 1: to Turnbulls to see an old woman who had been
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  Speaker 1: very kind to him, sending him eggs, butter, et cetera,
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  Speaker 1: when he had had his headquarters near by during the siege.
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  Speaker 1: On his return, he took lunch at mister Bowling's and
• 18:03
  Speaker 1: held an impromptu reception, everybody coming in to speak to him.
• 18:08
  Speaker 1: That night, he went to an entertainment given to the
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  Speaker 1: bride at mister Johnson's. He enjoyed the evening very much
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  Speaker 1: and expressed his feeling of relief at seeing every one
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  Speaker 1: so bright and cheerful. He was delighted to find the
• 18:20
  Speaker 1: people so prosperous, and to observe that they had it
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  Speaker 1: in their hearts to be gay and happy. The next
• 18:27
  Speaker 1: morning he returned to Richmond. He was escorted to the
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  Speaker 1: train in the same way in which he had been received.
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  Speaker 1: All the people turned out to see him leave, and
• 18:36
  Speaker 1: he departed amid tremendous cheering. My father enjoyed this visit.
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  Speaker 1: It had been a success in every way. His old
• 18:44
  Speaker 1: friends and soldiers called on him in great numbers, all
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  Speaker 1: eager to look on his face and clasp his hand again.
• 18:51
  Speaker 1: The night of the wedding, the streets were filled with
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: crowds anxious to see him once more, and many to
• 18:56
  Speaker 1: look on him for the first time. Wherever he was seen,
• 19:00
  Speaker 1: he was treated with the greatest love, admiration, and respect.
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: It was with devotion, deep, sincere and true, mixed with
• 19:08
  Speaker 1: awe and sadness, that they beheld their old commander on
• 19:12
  Speaker 1: foot in citizen's dress, greater than three years ago, but
• 19:16
  Speaker 1: still the same, passing along the waist where he had
• 19:19
  Speaker 1: so often ridden on traveler, with the noise of battle
• 19:22
  Speaker 1: all around. What a change for him, what a difference
• 19:26
  Speaker 1: to them, But their trust and faith in him was
• 19:29
  Speaker 1: as unshaken as ever. A glimpse of his feelings at
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: this time is shown in one of his letters written
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: a few weeks later, which I will give in its
• 19:38
  Speaker 1: proper place. The day after his return to Richmond, he
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: writes to my mother, Richmond, December first, eighteen sixty seven,
• 19:46
  Speaker 1: My dear Mary, I returned here yesterday with Custus, Robert,
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: and fitz Lee. We left Fitzhugh and his bride in Petersburg.
• 19:54
  Speaker 1: Mildred is with them. In consequence of being told that
• 19:57
  Speaker 1: the new couple were to leave Petersburg the morning after
• 20:00
  Speaker 1: the wedding, I had made might arrangements to return here Saturday.
• 20:04
  Speaker 1: If I had known that they would remain till Monday,
• 20:07
  Speaker 1: as it is now their intention, I should have made
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: my arrangements to stay. Mildred will come up with them
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: on Monday and go to Missus Caskey's. I propose to Custus,
• 20:18
  Speaker 1: rob and Fits to remain in Petersburg till that time,
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: but they preferred coming with me. I shall go to
• 20:24
  Speaker 1: Brandon tomorrow morning and will take Custus and Robert with me.
• 20:28
  Speaker 1: I propose to return here Tuesday, finish my business Wednesday,
• 20:32
  Speaker 1: spend Thursday at Hickory Hill, take passage for Lexington Friday,
• 20:37
  Speaker 1: where I hope to arrive Saturday. As far as I
• 20:40
  Speaker 1: could judge, our new daughter will go to Baltimore December second,
• 20:44
  Speaker 1: and probably return here the following Monday. Fitch Hugh will
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: go down to the White House during the week and
• 20:50
  Speaker 1: make arrangements for their sojourn there. He can go down
• 20:53
  Speaker 1: in the morning and return in the evening. I repeated
• 20:57
  Speaker 1: our invitation to her to visit us on their return
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: from Baltimore, but she said fitz Hugh thought it better
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: for them to defer it till the spring, but she
• 21:06
  Speaker 1: would write to let us know. I do not think
• 21:08
  Speaker 1: she will come at this time, for she is in
• 21:11
  Speaker 1: that happy state which causes her to take pleasure in
• 21:14
  Speaker 1: doing what she thinks he prefers, and he, I think,
• 21:17
  Speaker 1: would like to go to the White House and arrange
• 21:20
  Speaker 1: for the winter. I went up to Caskey's last evening,
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: saw Norville, but mister and Missus Caskey were both sick upstairs.
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: The latter is better than when I last wrote, and
• 21:31
  Speaker 1: free from pain. I paid several visits yesterday evening and
• 21:35
  Speaker 1: took Rob with me Missus Triplet's, Missus Peebles, Missus Branders,
• 21:40
  Speaker 1: Missus j. R. Anderson's. At the latter place, I met
• 21:44
  Speaker 1: Missus Robert Stannard, who looked, I thought remarkably well. She
• 21:48
  Speaker 1: is living with Hugh her Son on his farm. I
• 21:51
  Speaker 1: also went to Missus Dunlop's and saw there General and
• 21:55
  Speaker 1: Miss Jennie Cooper. The latter looked remarkably well, but the
• 21:59
  Speaker 1: former is very thin. They will remain here some weeks.
• 22:02
  Speaker 1: I have not seen Colonel Allan since my return from Petersburg,
• 22:06
  Speaker 1: but am told that he is better. You must give
• 22:09
  Speaker 1: a great deal of love to all with you. I
• 22:11
  Speaker 1: am very anxious to get back, and I hope that
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: you are all well. It is very cold here this morning,
• 22:17
  Speaker 1: and ice is abundant. Good Bye, truly and affectionately, R. E. Lee.
• 22:23
  Speaker 1: The people mentioned here as those he called on, were
• 22:26
  Speaker 1: all friends living in Richmond, with whom my mother had
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: become well acquainted during her stay there in war times.
• 22:33
  Speaker 1: There were many others he went to see, for I
• 22:35
  Speaker 1: remember going with him. He sat only a few minutes
• 22:38
  Speaker 1: at each place, called just to shake hands. He would say,
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: all were delighted to see him from some places where
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: he had been well known. He could hardly get away.
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: He had a kind word for all, and his excuse
• 22:52
  Speaker 1: for hurrying on was that he must try to see
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: so and so, as Missus Lely had told him to
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: be sure to do so. He was bright and cheerful,
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: and was pleased with the great affection shown him on
• 23:03
  Speaker 1: all sides. On the day he had appointed, Monday, the
• 23:07
  Speaker 1: second of December, we started in the morning for Brandon.
• 23:10
  Speaker 1: We took the steamer down James River, passing through much
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: of the country where he had opposed mc clellan in
• 23:17
  Speaker 1: sixty two and Grant in sixty four. Custus and I
• 23:20
  Speaker 1: were with him. He said very little, as I remember
• 23:24
  Speaker 1: nothing about the war, but was interested in all the
• 23:26
  Speaker 1: old homesteads along the route, many of which he had
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: visited in the days long ago, and whose owners had
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: been his relatives and friends. He expressed great regret at
• 23:37
  Speaker 1: not being able to stop at Shirley, which was the
• 23:39
  Speaker 1: birthplace and home of his mother before she married. He
• 23:43
  Speaker 1: stayed at Brandon one night, only taking the same boat
• 23:46
  Speaker 1: as it returned next day to Richmond. They were all
• 23:49
  Speaker 1: glad to see him and sorry to let him go,
• 23:52
  Speaker 1: but his plans had been formed beforehand according to his
• 23:56
  Speaker 1: invariable custom, and he carried them out without any change.
• 24:00
  Speaker 1: Spending one day in Richmond, he went from there to
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: Hickory Hill, thence to Lexington, arriving there the saturday he
• 24:07
  Speaker 1: had fixed on. I bade him and my brother Custus
• 24:10
  Speaker 1: good bye in Richmond, and returned to my home to
• 24:13
  Speaker 1: my brother fitz Hugh, after his return from his wedding trip,
• 24:17
  Speaker 1: he writes, Lexington, Virginia, December twenty one, eighteen sixty seven.
• 24:22
  Speaker 1: My dear fitz Hugh, I was very glad last night
• 24:25
  Speaker 1: to receive your letter of the eighteenth announcing your return
• 24:28
  Speaker 1: to Richmond. I did not like my daughter to be
• 24:31
  Speaker 1: so far away. I am glad, however, that you had
• 24:34
  Speaker 1: so pleasant a visit, which has no doubt prepared you
• 24:37
  Speaker 1: for the enjoyments of home, and will make the repose
• 24:40
  Speaker 1: of Exmas week in Petersburg doubly agreeable. I had a
• 24:44
  Speaker 1: very pleasant visit to Brandon after parting with you, which
• 24:47
  Speaker 1: Custus and Robert seemed equally to enjoy, and I regretted
• 24:51
  Speaker 1: that I could only spend one night. I passed surely,
• 24:54
  Speaker 1: both going and returning with regret from my inability to stop.
• 24:59
  Speaker 1: But Custus and I I spent a day at Hickory
• 25:01
  Speaker 1: Hill on our way up. Very agreeably. My visit to
• 25:04
  Speaker 1: Petersburg was extremely pleasant. Besides the pleasure of seeing my
• 25:08
  Speaker 1: daughter and being with you, which was very great, I
• 25:12
  Speaker 1: was gratified in seeing many friends. In addition, when our
• 25:16
  Speaker 1: armies were in front of Petersburg, I suffered so much
• 25:19
  Speaker 1: in body and mind on account of the good townspeople,
• 25:22
  Speaker 1: especially on that gloomy night when I was forced to
• 25:25
  Speaker 1: abandon them, that I have always reverted to them in
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: sadness and sorrow. My old feelings returned to me as
• 25:32
  Speaker 1: I passed well, remembered spots and recalled the ravages of
• 25:36
  Speaker 1: the hostile shells. But when I saw the cheerfulness with
• 25:39
  Speaker 1: which the people were working to restore their condition, and
• 25:42
  Speaker 1: witnessed the comforts with which they were surrounded, a load
• 25:46
  Speaker 1: of sorrow, which had been pressing upon me for years,
• 25:49
  Speaker 1: was lifted from my heart. This is bad weather for
• 25:52
  Speaker 1: completing your house, but it will soon pass away, and
• 25:56
  Speaker 1: your sweet helpmate will make everything go smoothly. When the
• 25:59
  Speaker 1: spring opens and the mocking birds resume their song. You
• 26:03
  Speaker 1: will have much to do, so you must prepare in time.
• 26:06
  Speaker 1: You must give a great deal of love for me
• 26:08
  Speaker 1: to all at mister Bowling's, to General and Missus Mahone
• 26:12
  Speaker 1: and other friends. We shall be very glad when you
• 26:15
  Speaker 1: can bring our daughter to see us. Select the time
• 26:18
  Speaker 1: most convenient to you, and do not let it be
• 26:20
  Speaker 1: long distant. Tell her I wish to see her very much,
• 26:23
  Speaker 1: as to also her Mamma and sisters. Your mother regrets
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: that you did not receive her letter in answer to
• 26:30
  Speaker 1: yours from Baltimore. She wrote the day of its reception
• 26:33
  Speaker 1: and addressed it to New York as you directed. The
• 26:36
  Speaker 1: box upon which you inquired arrived safely and was much enjoyed.
• 26:40
  Speaker 1: Mary is in Baltimore, where she will probably spend the winter.
• 26:44
  Speaker 1: As I am so far from Mildred, it will be
• 26:47
  Speaker 1: difficult for her to make up her mind when to return,
• 26:50
  Speaker 1: so that the whole care of the household devolves upon Agnes,
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: who is occupied all the morning teaching our niece Mildred.
• 26:58
  Speaker 1: God bless you all is the prayer of your devoted father, R. E. Lee.
• 27:03
  Speaker 1: General William H. F. Lee. The Christmas of eighteen sixty
• 27:07
  Speaker 1: seven I spent as usual in Lexington. With my father,
• 27:11
  Speaker 1: he had been president of the college. Now a little
• 27:13
  Speaker 1: more than two years, the number of professors and students
• 27:16
  Speaker 1: had largely increased. The chapel had been built, many improvements
• 27:21
  Speaker 1: made to the lecture rooms and halls, the grounds improved
• 27:24
  Speaker 1: by the laying out of new roads and walks, the
• 27:27
  Speaker 1: enclosures renewed, the grass restored to the campus, and new
• 27:31
  Speaker 1: shade trees set out over the college grounds. The increase
• 27:34
  Speaker 1: in the number of professors demanded more houses for them.
• 27:38
  Speaker 1: As a move in this direction, the trustees decided to
• 27:41
  Speaker 1: build a new house for the president, so that the
• 27:44
  Speaker 1: one he now occupied could be used for one of
• 27:46
  Speaker 1: the faculty. Accordingly, the appropriation of a sum was made,
• 27:51
  Speaker 1: and my father was authorized to build according to a
• 27:54
  Speaker 1: plan of his own selection. He took a keen interest
• 27:57
  Speaker 1: in this matter, and at once commenced designing a new
• 28:00
  Speaker 1: president's house on the lot which had previously been occupied
• 28:05
  Speaker 1: by an old building devoted to the same purpose. This
• 28:08
  Speaker 1: house was completed in the summer of eighteen sixty nine.
• 28:12
  Speaker 1: The endowment fund of the college had been increased by
• 28:14
  Speaker 1: liberal contributions from several philanthropic persons, and also by a
• 28:19
  Speaker 1: better investment of the resources already belonging to the institution.
• 28:23
  Speaker 1: The fees from the greater number of students also added
• 28:26
  Speaker 1: much to its prosperity. His interest in the students individually
• 28:31
  Speaker 1: and collectively was untiring. By the system of reports made
• 28:34
  Speaker 1: weekly to the president and monthly to the parent or guardian,
• 28:38
  Speaker 1: he knew well how each one of his charges was
• 28:41
  Speaker 1: getting on whether or not he was progressing or even
• 28:44
  Speaker 1: holding his own. If the report was unsatisfactory, the student
• 28:49
  Speaker 1: was sent for and remonstrated with. If that had no effect,
• 28:53
  Speaker 1: the parents were advised and requested to urge the sun
• 28:56
  Speaker 1: to try to do better. If the student still persisted
• 28:59
  Speaker 1: in waste his time and money, his parents were asked
• 29:02
  Speaker 1: to call him home. As illustrating how well the president
• 29:06
  Speaker 1: was acquainted with the students and how accurate was his
• 29:09
  Speaker 1: remembrance of their individuality, it is related that on one
• 29:13
  Speaker 1: occasion a name was read out and faculty meeting which
• 29:16
  Speaker 1: was unfamiliar to him. He asked that it be read
• 29:19
  Speaker 1: out again and repeated the name to himself, adding, in
• 29:22
  Speaker 1: a tone of self reproach, I have no recollection of
• 29:26
  Speaker 1: a student of that name. It is very strange that
• 29:29
  Speaker 1: I have forgotten him. I thought I knew everyone in college.
• 29:32
  Speaker 1: How long has he been here? An investigation proved that
• 29:36
  Speaker 1: the student had recently entered during his absence, and that
• 29:39
  Speaker 1: he had never seen him. He won the confidence of
• 29:42
  Speaker 1: the students, and very soon their affections. He regarded a
• 29:46
  Speaker 1: mass of petty regulations as being only vexatious, and yet
• 29:50
  Speaker 1: by his tact and firmness, his discipline became most effective.
• 29:55
  Speaker 1: Very seldom was there any breaking of the laws. He
• 29:58
  Speaker 1: was so honored and loved that they tried to please
• 30:00
  Speaker 1: him in all things. Of course, there were exceptions. I
• 30:04
  Speaker 1: give here some letters written to parents and guardians, which
• 30:07
  Speaker 1: will show how he tried to induce these triflers to
• 30:11
  Speaker 1: become men. Lexington, Virginia, March twenty five, eighteen sixty six.
• 30:16
  Speaker 1: My dear sir, I am very glad to learn from
• 30:18
  Speaker 1: your letter of the thirteenth instant that you have written
• 30:21
  Speaker 1: your son in reference to his neglect of his studies.
• 30:24
  Speaker 1: I am sure your letter and the kind admonition of
• 30:27
  Speaker 1: his mother will have a beneficial effect upon him. I
• 30:30
  Speaker 1: have myself told him as plainly but as kindly as
• 30:34
  Speaker 1: I could, that it was necessary for him to change
• 30:37
  Speaker 1: his course, or that he would be obliged to return home.
• 30:40
  Speaker 1: He has promised me that he would henceforth be diligent
• 30:43
  Speaker 1: and attentive, and endeavor in all things to perform his duty.
• 30:48
  Speaker 1: I hope that he may succeed, for I think he
• 30:50
  Speaker 1: is able to do well if he really makes the effort.
• 30:53
  Speaker 1: Will you be so kind as to inform Missus w
• 30:56
  Speaker 1: that I have received her letter of the nineteenth. It
• 30:59
  Speaker 1: will give me pleasure at all times to aid her
• 31:02
  Speaker 1: son in every way I can. But if he desires
• 31:05
  Speaker 1: no benefit from his connection with the college, it will
• 31:08
  Speaker 1: be to his interest to return home. Very truly, your
• 31:12
  Speaker 1: obedient servant, R. E. Lee. Here is another letter showing
• 31:16
  Speaker 1: the patience and forbearance of the President and his earnest
• 31:20
  Speaker 1: desire to help on in life the young men committed
• 31:23
  Speaker 1: to his charge. Washington College, Lexington, Virginia, April twenty eighteen
• 31:28
  Speaker 1: sixty eight. My dear sir, I regret to see from
• 31:32
  Speaker 1: your letter of the twenty ninth olt to the Clerk
• 31:34
  Speaker 1: of the faculty, that you have misunderstood their action in
• 31:38
  Speaker 1: reference to your son. He was not dismissed, as you suppose,
• 31:42
  Speaker 1: from college, but every means having been tried by the
• 31:45
  Speaker 1: faculty to induce him to attend faithfully and regularly to
• 31:49
  Speaker 1: his studies, without effect, and great forbearance having been practiced,
• 31:54
  Speaker 1: it was thought best for him and just to you,
• 31:57
  Speaker 1: that he should return home. The action of the faculty
• 32:00
  Speaker 1: was purposely designed not to prevent his being received into
• 32:04
  Speaker 1: any other college, or to return to this should you
• 32:07
  Speaker 1: so desire. The monthly reports are intended to advise parents
• 32:11
  Speaker 1: of the progress of their sons, and it was supposed
• 32:14
  Speaker 1: you would have seen the little advancement made by yours
• 32:17
  Speaker 1: in his studies, and that no further notice was required.
• 32:21
  Speaker 1: The action of the faculty was caused by no immorality
• 32:25
  Speaker 1: on his part, but by a systematic neglect of his duties,
• 32:29
  Speaker 1: which no counsel, on the part of his professors or
• 32:32
  Speaker 1: my own could correct. In compliance, However, with your wishes
• 32:36
  Speaker 1: and on the positive promise of amendment on the part
• 32:39
  Speaker 1: of your son, he has been received into college, and
• 32:43
  Speaker 1: I sincerely hope that he will apply himself diligently to
• 32:46
  Speaker 1: his studies and make an earnest effort to retrieve the
• 32:50
  Speaker 1: time he has lost. With great respect, your obedient servant, R. E. Lee,
• 32:55
  Speaker 1: This letter, too shows his fatherly Interest. Washington College, Lexington, Virginia,
• 33:01
  Speaker 1: March nineteenth, eighteen sixty eight. My dear sir, before this
• 33:05
  Speaker 1: you have learned the affecting death of your son. I
• 33:08
  Speaker 1: can say nothing to mitigate your grief or to relieve
• 33:11
  Speaker 1: your sorrow. But if the sincere sympathy of his comrades
• 33:15
  Speaker 1: and friends, and of the entire community can bring you
• 33:18
  Speaker 1: any consolation, I can assure you that you possess it
• 33:21
  Speaker 1: in its fullest extent. When one in the pureness and
• 33:25
  Speaker 1: freshness of youth, before having been contaminated by sin or
• 33:29
  Speaker 1: afflicted by misery, is called to the presence of his
• 33:33
  Speaker 1: merciful creator, it must be solely for his good. As
• 33:37
  Speaker 1: difficult as this may be for you now to recognize,
• 33:40
  Speaker 1: I hope you will keep it constantly in your memory
• 33:43
  Speaker 1: and take it to your comfort. And I pray that
• 33:46
  Speaker 1: he who, in his wise providence has permitted this crushing sorrow,
• 33:50
  Speaker 1: may sanctify it to the happiness of all. Your son
• 33:54
  Speaker 1: and his friend mister Byerley, often passed their leisure hours
• 33:58
  Speaker 1: in rowing on the river, and one last Saturday afternoon,
• 34:01
  Speaker 1: the fourth Instant attempted what they had more than once
• 34:05
  Speaker 1: been cautioned against to approach the foot of the dam
• 34:08
  Speaker 1: at the public bridge. Unfortunately, their boat was caught by
• 34:12
  Speaker 1: the return current, struck by the falling water, and was
• 34:15
  Speaker 1: immediately upset. Their perilous position was at once seen from
• 34:20
  Speaker 1: the shore, and aid was hurried to their relief, but
• 34:23
  Speaker 1: before it could reach them, both had perished. Efforts to
• 34:26
  Speaker 1: restore your son's life, though long continued, were unavailing. Mister
• 34:31
  Speaker 1: Byerly's body was not found until next morning. Their remains
• 34:35
  Speaker 1: were yesterday Sunday conveyed to the Episcopal Church in this city,
• 34:40
  Speaker 1: where the sacred ceremonies for the dead were performed by
• 34:43
  Speaker 1: the Reverend Doctor Pendleton, who, nineteen years ago, at the
• 34:47
  Speaker 1: far off home of their infancy, placed upon them their
• 34:51
  Speaker 1: baptismal vows. After the service, a long procession of the
• 34:55
  Speaker 1: professors and students of the College, the officers and cadets
• 34:59
  Speaker 1: of the Virginia Military Academy, and the citizens of Lexington
• 35:03
  Speaker 1: accompanied their bodies to the packet boat for Lynchburg, where
• 35:06
  Speaker 1: they were placed in charge of Messrs Wheeler and Baker,
• 35:10
  Speaker 1: to convey them to Frederick City. With great regard and
• 35:13
  Speaker 1: sincere sympathy, I am most respectfully R. E. Lee end
• 35:20
  Speaker 1: of chapter sixteen,