The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-06-14
SHaerspts yatetlige,ttsr.
Robert E. Lees. Gold Spurs.

In the third gear IF the late war Gen.
eral Z. E. Lee was expected to cross the
Potomac into Prince Georges county
at the head of the confederate army on
its march to Pennsylvania. His friends
and admirers in and around Marlborough
determined to give him cordial vel
come, and to celebrate the event by
presenting him with some appropriate
article to serve as testimonial of their
esteem, and as souvenir. of his
visit. The general and his army did not
come, but his friends decided to give him
the present and they collected $500 for
that purpose. They concluded tospend
the money for pair of gold spurs. They
were solid gold, with morocco strapp.
The rowels were of steel, as hard az
needles point. On the inside of each
spur was engraveda Latin inscription
signifyiDg Courage urges on" and the
words, Presented to General Robert 3.
Lee by his friends and admirers of P. Q.
Co., Nd" The difficult task of getting
spurs through the lines was assigned to a
gentleman of Prince Georges, who now
resides in Baltimore. He gave them to
q blockade runner, and they had mar.
row escape from falling into the hands Of
the enemy. He left them at the house
ofa friend while he went to another point
in quest of other articles. During his
absence the house was ransached by b
squad of federal cavalfymen. The only
occupant at the time was lady, and
when she saw the imminent peril of the
precious spurs she thrust them into her
dress and saved them. Accompanying
the spurs was the gift of General Lees
friends in Prince Georges. No names
were attached to the note, as the donors
had no wish to make themselves liable to
arrest in case of the capture ofthe spurs.
The fear that he would get his friends
into trouble deferred General Lee from
acknowledging the receipt of the spurs.
After the war he visited Prince Georges
and was givena dinner by Major Lee,
and there met the friends who had
remembered him 80 kindly. The spurs
we're not heard from again until few
months ego, when, with other relics Of
General Lee, they were placed on exhi.
bition in Richmond when the cornerstone
to the monument 10 be erected to his
memory was laid. The following letter
in reference to the spurs has been receiv.
ed from Mr.. R. E. Lee, son of General
Lee:
RoMANcoKE, WEST Point, Va, April
9.-Editcr Baltimore Sun: Dear Sir-1
have the "golden spurs." They were
given to me by my mother after my
fathers death. As I remember, she
said that my father intended that ! should
have them. recall that they were sent
to him through the line, by BLOCKADE"
about the third year of the war. I had
always understood that they were sent
by the aladies of Prince Georges county,
Md but I see by the inscription
"Friends and admirers" They are very
handsome, solid gold, medium size, and
of the military type. The inscription on
the inside of each spur is as follows:
aStimulos dedit Virtues. Presented to
General Robert E. Lee by his Friends
and Admirers of P. g. Co., Nd" The
abbreviations ATE necessary on account
of the space on the spurs. The rowels
are Of steel and the feathers good moroc.
co, and the spurs are for service and not
entirely for show. Whether General
Lee ever wore them cannot tell, but
should think not, unless it was on some
review. Where he was when he receiv.
ed dthem cannot recall; probably Colon.
ell W. n. Taylor, of Norfolk, Va, could
tell. He was adjutant general, and
always with him. T remember no inci-
dent connected with the spurs but what
IhaYe told you. Twenty.three years ago
to day the army Of Northern Virginia
surrendered.
Very respectfully,
BE. LEE.