Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-10-18
Death of Robert T.. Lee.

we ciOiue our journal lulS Week III luc 3D.
bic habiliments of woe" in mournful honor OF
that great and good man-Robert E. Lee
who, at half past 9 o'clock on Wednesday
morning last, at his residence in Lexington,
was gathered unto his fathers Since the
mournful announcement that the Father of
bis country was no more, the death of no one
in this country has produced such deep grief
and universal sorrow as that of Robert E. Lee
And well it may, for such men, ''like angels
visits, are few and far between He was one
of Natures nobleman-one of the greatest and
best that ever adorned the historic pages of
any people or country-one upon whom
Every god did seem to set his seal,
To give the world assurance of man."
His characteristics peur, sansreproche-was as
nearly perfect in its moral sublimity and chris
tian purity as it is possible for us to conceive OF
mere humanity. OF him it may be said with
truth, that his was
Zone of the few, the immortal names
That were not born to die J."
The revolution of ages will brighten ehii
fame, and increase the lustre of his renown.
The present age may and will honor him-fu-
ture ages will more justly judge and more high
ly esteem his character, adorned by all the
moral and christian virtues In coming ages
his character will be recognised as model, anc
children will be enjoined to conform theirs, az
near as may be, to its beautiful symmetry anc
magnificent proportions.
We do not propose to write an eulogy upon
his character, not only because we could not d.
justice to it, but because, in the language Of
the Faculty over which he presided, sit be
comes friendship to be as simple in its tribute
to the dead as bis modesty while living would
have sanctioned, and to let the story Of hi
now ended life speak the praise due to its ex
traordinary incidents, and to its permanent in
fuence for good upon his country and tn,
world.
The Southern Collegian. published by tn
students at Lexington. under the auspices O.
Washington College, says that, ''the real Gauss
OF Gen. Lees death is to be sought far back o.
his recent attack. His splendid physical de
velopuent would probably have withstoot
much severer illness, and have spared him fo
many years, had there not been moral cause
which wore away his life The crushing re
sponsibilities Incident to his position at tn
head Of the Confederate Army, his consumin.
anxiety as he saw bis little army melt away be
fore the countless hosts Of their enemy, hi
Growing grief as he felt compelled ''to yielc
to overwhelming numbers and resources" ant
saw the flag he loved trail in the dust, his con
tlnued sorrow since, at Witnessing the desola
ton OF his loved South and feeling unable Il
help her, and the opening of all his wound
afresh as his daily mails were flooded with pit
eous appeals from his manned soldiers, or thei
widows aud orphans; all these combined, tolC
with fatal effect upon him. He bore these
things with calm exterior, and with heroisn
surprising any that he ever exhibited on thu
field of battle, bat they gradually wore ava.
the very 6bres of his great heart.
On Wednesday, the 2sth of September, Gen
Lee was more than usually occupied with hi
College duties, and in the afternoon presided
over meeting of the vestry of his church, a
which most important matters were con
sldered, and which was protracted for tire,
hours. While sitting at the tea table, tina
evening, he was taken suddenly i'll, and tht
most serious fears were entertained concerning
him. But the next day he rallied, and con
tlnued to improve until Monday, October tb,
10Th, when he grew worse, and gradually
passed away. His eminent physicians (Drs
ii. l. Barton, and r. L. Madison) give tn,
the following as the proximae cause of hi
death; Mental and physical fatigue inducing
venous congestion of the brain, which, howev
er, never proceeded as far as Apoplexy or Pa
ralysls, but gradually caused cerebral exhaus
ton and death"
There will be natural anxiety to know
about his last hours, and learn his last words
but OF these there is nothing to write HI
only spoke in answer to questions about biz
physical condition, although perfectly rationa
the whole time, and left absolutely nothing fo
the sensational press to seize upon. He died
as he lived, calmly and quietly, in the full as
surance of the Christian faith, and with tn,
brightest evidence that, in passing over tn,
river" he has with his great Lieutenant
rested under the shade of the trees of Par
adise.
On Friday, the remains of Gen. Lee were
conveyed from his residence to the College
Chapel the following being the order of the
procession: Escort of honor. consisting of Of
fcers and soldiers of the late Confederate ar
my; the chaplain and other clergy; pall-bear-
ers with the body; the old gray war horse thai
carried the General through all his campaigns
. in the late war; Trustees and Faculty of Wash.
ington College; Students; Visitors and Facul-
ty; Officers and Cadets of the Virginia Mill
itary Institute; Masons and Odd Fellows.
The pallbearers were Judge Anderson and Da-
vid Z. Moore, ST.. Trustees of Washington
College; Ex-Gov. John Letcher and Commo-
dore M. Z. Maury for the Virginia Military
Institute; Col W. Preston Johnston and Hon.
Randolph Tucker, Professors Of Washington
College; VIM. L. Preston and Edward p
Clark, Students of WASHINGTON College; Capt
j. G. Bonde and Capt. J. B. Moore, soldiers
of the G. S. Army and VIM. G. White and
Joseph 6. Steele, citizens of Lexington.
The remains laid in state in the College
Chapel until Saturday where they we're visited
by thousands of grief stricken people, white
and colored, old and young. The ladies' of
Lexington claimed it as their privilege to drape
in mourning, with their own hands, the Col