Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-10-17
oct Illness and Death of Gen. Lee.

Last Illness anu DchlA VI Och. Aec'
Correspondence of the Alexandra Gazette
LEXINGTON, Oct. Is, lS7O.-Knowing the
peculiar interest that Alexandria had in Gen.
RE. Lee, have deemed it proper to give
YOU few details of his death, and the attend.
ant circumstances. AS is we'll known his health
has been wretched during the past year, but
skilGul medical attendance had so far kept at
bay the ravages of disease, that, with the ex'
cention Of Jew weeks, he had performed his
dnties as President of Washington College,
until last "Wednesday week, the 2Sth of Sep.
tember: on the afternoon Of that day he at
tended Faculty meeting, and there being an
extraordinary amount of business to transact,
one or two Of the Professors asked 10 be per
m;tted to finish his work for him, he looked
so worn and weary; however, he finished it
himself, and then went Immediately to the
Vestrv meeting of bis church, where he was
kent busy engaged for three hours. This was
tho last duty he performed on earth; the grand
old soldier, hero of hundred battle fields,
snent the last few precious hours OF bis llc
nroper in God 8 service, as Vestrymen OF
v;lIags church. Can the annals of the world
exhibit a nob!er instance OF true greatness than
this? After the meeting he went home, and
upou entering the room where his family We're
at tea, Mrs. Lee spoke to him: he did not
answer her, but taking out bis watch seemed
| TO be irving to find out the time; again she
smoke to him, but again received no reply,
| Gen. Gusts Lee then rose from the table and
| went to him, and found that he was apparent
" spcechess and incapable OF motion. As
there we're no decisive indications OF paralysis,
or of apoplexy, it was hoped that the ATTACK
was due to nervous prostration only, and would
| soon pass off, and until last Monday all indica-
| tiops seemed favorable, all trusted that he
would soon be at his post agai1; but all this
time he himself seems to have been fully in
pressed with the idea that mis- end was ap-
preaching. When his son, Gen. Gusts Lee,
| would speak IF what he must do when he re-
covered, he would shake his head slowly and
point upward, as if to say that the things Of
this world were no longer for him, but that
bis home was there above; and when on Mon
day, his physician, Dr. Madison entered bis
room, and noticing how much brighter and
better he looked accosted him with "HoW dc
YOU feel this morning General? alter nc
mcnts pause he said slowly but distinctly L lee
better tho DR.. then said to him you must
make haste and get we'll, Traveller has been
standing in his stable so long that he needs
exercise" the General shook his head slowly,
he knew that he should never ride his steeo
again. From that time he became worse, and
gradually sunk until yesterday morning at
half past nine o'clock without struggle, like
an infaut falling asleep, he breathed his last at
the age Of GO years months and % days. A.
illustrative Of his character, an incident that
happened during the last few days of his life,
NAV be mentioned. When his son or daughter
would bring to him the brandy and beef tea
that had been prescribed for him, he would
move it away, but when the Dr. would bring
it, he would take it Immediately, showing, al
though apparently unconscious, the soldier to
the last, obeving tue proper authority and
mono other. 1t would be useless to pretend
here to pronounce an eulogy upon Gen. Lee;
that must be lett 10 nobler pens than mine, nor
would [ attempt to describe the grief OF the
Southern people at this loss; suffice it to say
that here it is Intense, the national loss is a
personal one here, all business Is suspended,
badges of mourning arc visible eVerywhere-th
very town seems dead
This morning at o'clock the body was con
veycd in solemn procession from the residence
to tho College Chapel, whereit will lie in state
until II clock Saturday the 18th inst, when
it will be inferred beneath the Chapel Memoir
ial services we're held this morning at . o'clock
in the College Chapel, and will be held again
to morrow at the same hour. The congregation
at this mornings service was very large; Rev.
Gen. Pendeton, aud Rev. Mr.. Jones delivered
impressive addresses.
The procession for conveying the body from
the residence to the Chapel formed at halt
past eleven O. clock under the charge OF Prot.
j. J. White as Chief Marshall, and was ar.
ranged as follows
/. Escort OF Honor consisting of officers and
soldiers of the late Confederate army.
.. The Chaplain, DR.. PendletoD.
3. The Pabearers with the body.
4 Trustees and Faculty OF Washington Col.
lege.
5. Students of Washington College.
6. Visitors and Faculty Virginia Military
Institute.
I. Officers and Cadets V. NJ. l.
S. Masons and Odd Fellows.
9. Citizens.
The Pail bearers were as follows:
l. Judge +. t. Anderson. David +. Moore,
Sr., Trustees Of the College.
?. CON- F. Maury, Col. John NJ. Brooke,
Professors V. NJ. l.
3. Col. w. P. johnson, Hon. J. R. Tucker,
Professors Washington College.
1. VIM. L. Prather, Edward p. Clarke,
Students Washington College:
5. Capt. j. G. Boude, Capt j. p. Moore,
Soldiers c. S. A.
G. VIM. G. White, Jos. G.. Steele, Citizens
of Lexington.
In this order, and with Traveller" Gen
Lees war horse, draped in black following the
hearsc, the procession moved slowly 10 the
Chapel, where the body was deposited to lie in
state until Saturday, as mentioned above. The
Chapel, College, and Episcopal church here
have been draped in black.
Further particulars with regard to funeral,
&c, will be sent by next mail.
Dr.. Madison has given the following as bis
opinion of the causes of Gen. Lees death :
Remote cause, the long continuance OF moral
causes commencing with the campaign OF GA
ard its disastrous termination. Proximate cause,
mental and physical fatigue Inducing venous
congestion OF the Jrdiu which, however, never
proceeded as far as apopiexy or paralysis, but
gradually caused cerebral exhaustion and death.
WILLIS.