Rights for this book: Public domain in the USA. This edition is published by Project Gutenberg. Originally issued by Project Gutenberg on 2000-09-01. To support the work of Project Gutenberg, visit their Donation Page. This free ebook has been produced by GITenberg, a program of the Free Ebook Foundation. If you have corrections or improvements to make to this ebook, or you want to use the source files for this ebook, visit the book's github repository. You can support the work of the Free Ebook Foundation at their Contributors Page. The Project Gutenberg EBook of Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee, by (His Son) Captain Robert E. Lee This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee Author: (His Son) Captain Robert E. Lee Release Date: September, 2000 [EBook #2323] Last Updated: November 10, 2016 Language: English *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBERT E. LEE *** Produced by Brett Fishburne and David Widger RECOLLECTIONS AND LETTERS OF GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE by Captain Robert E. Lee, His Son CONTENTS Chapter I — Services in the United States Army Chapter II — The Confederate General Chapter III — Letters to Wife and Daughters Chapter IV — Army Life of Robert the Younger Chapter V — The Army of Northern Virginia Chapter VI — The Winter of 1863-4 Chapter VII — Fronting the Army of the Potomac Chapter VIII — The Surrender Chapter IX — A Private Citizen Chapter X — President of Washington College Chapter XI — The Idol of the South Chapter XII — Lee’s Opinion upon the Late War Chapter XIII — Family Affairs Chapter XIV — An Ideal Father Chapter XV — Mountain Rides Chapter XVI — An Advisor of Young Men Chapter XVII — The Reconstruction Period Chapter XVIII — Mrs. R. E. Lee Chapter XIX — Lee’s Letters to His Sons Chapter XX — The New Home in Lexington Chapter XXI — Failing Health Chapter XXII — The Southern Trip Chapter XXIII — A Round of Visits Chapter XXIV — Last Days DETAILED CONTENTS Chapter I Services in the United States Army Captain Lee, of the Engineers, a hero to his child—The family pets—Home from the Mexican War—Three years in Baltimore—Superintendent of the West Point Military Academy—Lieutenant-Colonel of Second Cavalry —Supresses “John Brown Raid” at Harper’s Ferry—Commands the Department of Taxes.............. 3 Chapter II The Confederate General Resigns from Colonelcy of First United States Cavalry—Motives for this step—Chosen to command Virginia forces—Anxiety about his wife, family, and possessions—Chief advisor to President Davis—Battle of Manassas—Military operations in West Virginia—Letter to State Governor......................... 24 Chapter III Letters to Wife and Daughters From Camp on Sewell’s Mountain—Quotation from Colonel Taylor’s book—From Professor Wm. P. Trent—From Mr. Davis’s Memorial Address—Defense of Southern ports—Christmas, 1861—The General visits his father’s grave —Commands, under the President, all the armies of the Confederate States ................. 48 Chapter IV Army Life of Robert the Younger Volunteer in Rockbridge Artillery—“Four Years with General Lee” quoted—Meeting between father and son—Personal characteristics of the General—Death of his daughter Annie—His son Robert raised from the ranks—the horses, “Grace Darling” and “Traveller”—Fredricksburg—Freeing slaves .................. 69 Chapter V The Army of Northern Virginia The General’s sympathy for his suffering soldiers—Chancellorsville—Death of “Stonewall” Jackson—General Fitzhugh Lee wounded and captured—Escape of his brother Robert—Gettysburg—Religious revival—Infantry review —Unsatisfactory commissariat........................... 91 Chapter VI The Winter of 1863-4 The Lee family in Richmond—The General’s letters to them from Camps Rappahannock and Rapidan—Death of Mrs. Fitzhugh Lee— Preparations to meet General Grant—The Wilderness—Spottsylvania Court House—Death of General Stuart—General Lee’s illness ... 112 Chapter VII Fronting the Army of the Potomac Battle of Cold Harbour—Siege of Petersburg—The General intrusts a mission to his son Robert—Battle of the Crater —Grant crosses the James River—General Long’s pen-picture of Lee—Knitting socks for the soldiers— A Christmas dinner—Incidents of camp life... 128 Chapter VIII The Surrender Fort Fisher captured—Lee made Commander-in-Chief—Battle of Five Forks—The General’s farewell to his men—His reception in Richmond after the surrender—President Davis hears the news—Lee’s visitors—His son Robert turns farmer ........... 144 Chapter IX A Private Citizen Lee’s conception of the part—His influence exerted toward the restoration of Virginia—He visits old friends throughout the country—Receives offers of positions—Compares notes with the Union General Hunter—Longs for a country home—Finds one at “Derwent,” near Cartersville................... 162 Chapter X President of Washington College Patriotic motives for acceptance of trust—Condition of college—The General’s arrival at Lexington—He prepares for the removal of his family to that city—Advice to Robert Junior—Trip to “Bremo” on private canal-boat— Mrs. Lee’s invalidism........... 179 Chapter XI The Idol of the South Photographs and autographs in demand—The General’s interest in young people—His happy home life—Labours at Washington College—He gains financial aid for it—Worsley’s translation of Homer dedicated to him—Tributes from other English scholars...... 198 Chapter XII Lee’s Opinion upon the Late War His intention to write the history of his Virginia campaigns—Called before a committee of Congress—Preaches patience and silence in the South—Shuns controversy and publicity—Corresponds with an Englishman, Herbert C. Saunders ............. 218 Chapter XIII Family Affairs The General writes to his sons—To his wife at Rockbridge Baths—He joins her there about once a week—Distinguished and undistinguished callers at his Lexington home—He advocates early hours—His fondness for animals ................. 235 Chapter XIV An Ideal Father Letters to Mildred Lee—To Robert—To Fitzhugh—Interviewed by Swinton, historian of the Army of the Potomac—Improvement in grounds and buildings of Washington College—Punctuality a prominent trait of its President—A strong supporter of the Y.M.C.A.............................. 252