Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-09-10
THE DEATH OF GEN. LEE.
Interesting Private Letter From the
Late Mrs. Mary Custis Lee.
New Orleans States.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, va, august 80.
In the fall of 1870 we went to Lexing-
ton to visit Gen. and Mrs. Lee. Per-
fectly do recall my impression of the
general as he advanced to meet me.
The preoccupied, caresworn express
ion that his face had worn during the
war gone, and he looked as had rem
embered him years before. He had
accepted the results of the war. There
was no reserve ofbitterness, no useless
regrets, but the brave determination
to make his life useful. If the true
indication of genius is the power of
concentration upon any given subject,
Gen. Lee demonstrated it in his active,
thorough interestin hisduties as presi-
dent of college. One felt that it was
not a forced interest, buta deep soliei-
tude for the youth ofthe country.
Looking better for several years,
energetic and active, how was itpossi-
BILE to realize that death was waiting
In the near FUTURE erciless death
that needed not peoples cry that
he might be spared to lead in peace
as he had in war. We doubt not but
that he would have moderated bitter
ness and counseled wisely. We babe
him farewell on Monday, September
2S, after several daysmost pleasantly
spent, and on the Wednesday after
wards and as a shock to the whole
country came the avant courier of
death. | will here add a letter from
Mrs. Lee, giving some details of the
sad event, and bespeaking her own
noble, beautiful character:
LEXINGTON, Nov. 20, 1870.
MYDEAR Mrs. -, | should sooner
have replied to your letter, but have
been very sick and confined to my
bed for month.
Dear friend, lam so glad your bus
band and yourself made that visit,
and only wish that you could have re-
manned longer Constantly are we
reminded how important it is to do
whatsoever our hands findeth to do.
l think it sometimes important where
our pleasures are concerned, where
it does not interfere with our duties.
This terrible storm, ! suppose, has
prevented all use Of the canal until
next summer. SO that you would have
been entirely cut off from us.
That Wednesday, at half past I
o'clock, after day every moment of
which had been filed with care for
Others and she closing hours TO vestry
meeting OF the course, my husband
came in. We had been waiting for
him and ] remarked: "You have
kept US waiting a long time. Where
have you been Z" He did not reply,
and stood up as if to say graceful no
sound proceeded from his lips and he
ga. down in his chair perfectly up
right and with sublime look Of
resignation on his countenance, but
did not attempt to reply to inquiries.
That look was never to be forgotten,
and ! have no doubt that he felt his
hour had come, although he submitted
to the doctors. who were immediate
ly summoned aud had not even
reached their homes from the same
vestry meeting. His whole demean-
or during his illness showed one
who had taken leave of earth.
He rarely attempted to speak ex-
cept in his dreams, and he wandered
to those dreadful battle fields. Once,
when urged to take some med
icine which he always took with re-
luctance, he looked up and said:
"Tis no USE" but afterwards took
it. When he became so much better
the doctor said: You must soon
get up and ride your tavorite gray"
He shook his head emphatically and
looked upward
He slept great deal but knew us
oil and greeted US with kindly pres
sure of the hand, loving to have US
around him. For the last forty eight
bours he seemed quite insensible of
our presence, breathed heavily and
at last quietly sunk to rest with one
deep drawn sigh. Oh! what glo-
Iious rest was in store for him-the
humble, consistent Christian, who,
not many weeks before, had said
when we were talking OF the assur-
ance. He will be surprised at the
welcome: "Well done good and faith
tai servant, enter thou into the joy of
thy Lord"
Had he been successful instead OF
the ''hero of a lost cause he could
not have been more beloved and
honOred.
am content aud would not have
him back, though must continue
10Y weary pll gramage alone, without
~ ,,-b,oh bora laoroI