Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-09-14
ed, and it is all being put under cultivation
by contraband negro labor.

Mr.. Custis inherited this estate from his
father, who was the son Of Mrs Gen
Washington by former husband. Soon
after his mother died in 1902, he, then
about twenty-five years of age, came here
from Mount Vernon, and with his young
and accomplished wife took up their resi-
dence in Arlington Mansion, which he had
just then erected, and which evcrmore was
their beautiful anu cultivated homo. The
fruits Of this union were four daughters,
all Of whom died in infancy, except Mary
Gusts, the wfo Of General Robert Il. Lee,
Mr.. Custis' father, John Parke Gusts, was
an aid-decamp to Washington, and died
of camp fever in 1871. contracted at
the siege Of Yorktown, at the age OF twcn-
seven years. lie had married ut nineteen
years of age, Eleanor Calvert, of Mount
Airy, Maryland, descendant Of the Sc
cond Lord Baltimore, when but fifteen
years Of age, and at twenty three she was
thus made widow with four children.
Gcu. Washington fastened to Ethan.
Nd, where the husband was sick, only TO
see him in his dying moments. This was
the only surviving child Of Mrs. Washing
ton, the daughter having died some years
before. lie was deeply affected, and,
weeping, said TO the mother: IL adopt
the two younger children as My own"
These were Eleanor Gusts, then two and
half years Of age, who died at seventeen,
of consumption, and George Washington
Parke Gusts, then six months old.
General Robert Edmund Lee is the son
Of General Henry Lee, of Revolutionary
memory, and known as Light Horse Har-
ry," whose mother was the beautiful Miss
Grimes, General Washngton's first love,
and whom lie celebrated az 'lhe low land
beauty" General Harry Lee WAS twice
married. by the first marriage he had
two children, Henry Gan officer in the war
of 1922 and Lucy. BY the second wife
"A Miss Carter, Of Shir'ey-he had five
children, two daughters, Anne and Mildred,
and three sons. The sons were Charles
Garter, Robert Edmund (the generaD and
Sidney Smith, the last named an officer 10
our navy, and now in the rebel navy.
General Robert L. Lee was born in 1s-
0S, and is, consequently fifty seven years
of age. lie graduated second in his class
in 1929 (Julge Charles Mason, Of this
city and formerly Commissioner Of Pa
tents, standing first in that CLASSY, and was
assigned to the Engineer Corps as second
lieuteuant; in 1886 Assistant Astrono-
mer, fixing the boundary between Ohio
and Michigan; in 1886 promoted first
lieuien ant; captain in 1888; chief engin-
eerunder Scott, in Mexico, and greatly
distinguished, being promoted successively.
by merit, major, lieutenant colonel and
colonel, for his gallantry in 1852 super
intendent Military Academy; in 1855
transferred as lieutenant colonel of the
new regiment of cavalry; March lG, 1861,
promoted colonel Of the First cavalry !;
resigned April 25, following, and reluctant.
ly embarked in the rebellion.
The following are the children of Gen.
Lee: George Washington GUSTS Lee,
about SO years Of age; Mary Gusts Lee,
about 30: VIM. Hy. Fitzhugh Lee, about
27; Anne Lee died at Berkely Springs in
1868, and would have been now about rs;
Agnes Lee, about %; Robert E. Lee,
about 20; Mildred Lee, about 1s. None
Of them have married except William
Henry Fitzhugh, whose vile, Miss Char
Iotte Wickham, died at Richmond in 1868.
The eldest SOD, George, graduated at the
head OF his class at West Point, in 1864
and was q frat lieutenant in the corps oil
engineers when he followed bis father into
the Southern service. William Henry was
farming upon White House estate which
belonged to the Gusts, Inheritance when
the war opened. He was commissioned
second lieutenant in tile Sixth infantry, but
rednged ID 1850. z. Robert was was Eat, I
military school in.Yirginia. The sons, il
is well, known, are all officers in ,the,rebel-
hon. The three surviving daughters are
with. their mother, who, y is believed, hal
ls.terIy been at Lynchburg.'q u
Mr. 0ustisat thstims, Of hisdeasb, own
ed some 200 9. ssllaves - WHO, By. his win ver.
to be- fesatthe tsrmiuatipn of FIVE year Il
from bis death, which period expired %
tober 10, 1862 Ths. most OF these slave
! were kept on he White Hotne estate, .ani
\ m the vaffabIa; pottipn were ,,assiad Soott,