Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-14
%lniun and gmetitan.
The WHITE HOUSE AND TTs ASsO.
CATIONS.
Correspondence oftho Richmond Times.l
GENERAL WILLIAM HENRY r. IL

Correspondence Of the Richmond Tines
GENERAL WILLIAM HENRY F. LEE.
Yesterday we rode through the estate Of
Gen. W. II. i. LEE, son ofGeneral ROBERT
J. LEE. This is the large tract Of land
known TO history as the "White House" 1t
lies South Of the Pamunkey river, and con-
tains about five thousand acres Of first class
land. In June, 1862, when the grand cav
airy reconnaissance was made in rear Of
McCLELLAN's army, battle was fought on
this farm between General STUART's conf
mand and some Federal infantry, stationed
here to guard commissary and quartermaster
supplies The Federals, in this engagement,
were forced TO beat hasty retreat 10 their
gunboats, leaving many Of their dead be-
hind Only a small portion Of this farm
was under cultivation last year. General
". II. +. LEE, Immediately after the unior-
tunate termination Of events, pulled off his
coat (if he had one), rolled up his sleeves,
and pitched in" like a good fellow. Noble
example What q whitening rebuke 90
10 those Young men who throw away their
time in fruitless searches after soft positions,
such as clerllships, drummers and so on
The owner of five thousand acres Of the best
land in the State the dashing and gallant
cavalry officer, the accomplished scholar,
the thorough gentleman, the trained soldier,
in short, the son Of ROBERT +. LEE is not
ashamed TO walk between the pillow and
handles General LEES present residence
Is q small cabin, recently built Il stands
in a clump Of trees near the river bank,
about one mile below the ruins ofthe "White
House" lie has no family, having lost his
wife and children during the war. Previous
10 the building Of the cabin, the General
slept ont on the ground. His table, $50
called" is supplied with soldiers fare.
THE WHITE HOUSE.
A few chimneys standing near the river
bank is all that is now left Of the White
House. Nay, not all; thousand memories
linger around those burnt chimneys-memo-
ries Of the good, the brave and the great.
Many years ago, in the good old time Of
knee buckles, there lived here fair and
comely widow. Possessed Of personal beau
~. winning manners and rare mental accom-
plishments; reared in the lap Of wealth, the
daughter Of a courtly gentleman, she was a
woman well worthy 70 wear matrOn's crown.
Chief among her many admirers, VISA = tall,
fine looking young man from Westmoreland
county. Nature had stamped greatness upon
his eountenance, while a loving mother had
woven the garland Of truth around his soul.
lie loved the gentle widow, could he help
it2(-the gentle widow loved him, (c0uld she
help IT'D How he wooed and won her in
her river home; what whispered words Of
endcarment passed from mouth and ear, as,
hand in hand, they walked where then the
"vemsl flowers purpled all the GROUND"
but where now the ashes lie-let those old
chimneys tell-not l. They made love
made il, venture, pretty much in the same
foolish way young people do now. For love,
after all, is 70 the emotional world what car
bon is 10 the material it never loses its
identity. Il is the same thing to-day il was
yesterday; il is the same thing to-day that il
viii be tomorrow.
GEORGE WASHINGTON loved the widow
CUsrIs-the widow CUsrIs loved GEORGE
WAsHNGroE-and the old folks offering
no objection, they were married Gin the
usual way" The burnt chimneys might say,
We saw two clouds at morning
Hinged by the rising sun
And in the dawn they h0ated on,
And mingled into one;
We thought the morning cloud was blest.
It moved so sweetly to the west"
ST. PETERS CHURCH.
The marriage ceremony was performed by
an Episcopal minister in St. Peters Church.
This ancient building may still be seen by
the curious traveller some two miles south
Of the ruins Of the White House. Up to the
commencement Of the late war; il was a neat
little country chapel dedicated 10 the living
Con, where the neighboring planters had
been wont for more than q century to as
semble, Sabbath after Sabbath, to listen "a
the words Of "holy writ" and sing praises to
the LORD GoD Of Israel But during the
war n set transferable scoundrels attached e
the Federal army violated this holy sane.
tuary; defacing the walls with obscene pen
Gil sketches, breaking to pieces the tablet
whereon was inscribed the marriage Of Gen.
WASHINGTON to Mrs. GUSTS, and so mutt
lating the building as to render il unfit for
divine service.