The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1890-01-19
ROBERT E. LEE.
The Eighty-Third Anniversary Of
the Generals Birthday.
An Occasion That Has More Than
Passing Interest Twice He Was
Visitor to This Section A Large
Crowd Received Him.

Visitor to This Section "A Large
Crowd Received Him.
Lees birthday!
That's what to-day is.
Tomorrow, however, will be cele-
brated under proclamation issued by
Governor Gordon.
Eighty three years ago to-day, in the
same room in which his father was born,
baby boy was ushered into the world
The house was situated in Stratford,
Westmoreland county, Va, and the
baby who was born there that January
day was Robert Edward Lee, who after.
wards became commander-in-ch of the
armies of the Confederate States of
America, in which capacity he gained
for himself the reputation of being one
of the worlds greatest generals.
General Lees birthday is of more than
passing interest to Brunswick, from the
fact that the general himself has twice
visited here and also because his father,
Light Horse Harry Lee of Revolution-
ary tame, is buried on Cumberland
Island.
THE FIRST VISIT
of Gen. Robert E. Lee to this section
was IN 1861. when he came to inspect the
Notifications at Fernandina, Cumber-
land and St. Simons.
Many of the old members of the Bruins
wick Rifemen remember this visit, for
they were in quarters at Camp Semmes
at the time. Many, too, are the pleasant
memories of that visit. How General
Lee came to their quarters, accompanied
by his full staff, without having given
them Il moments warming; how the YES.
Sci which brought him, the steamer Re-
lance, steamed up in front of their camp
one morning just at sunup; how the gem
eral was amused at the palmetto tents
that had been erected by the members of
the company instead of the canvas tents
provided for them.
These and other incidents of that visit
are often thought of by the old members
of the Riflemen.
1t was General Lees second visit, how
ever, that was of most interest to Bruns-
wick people.
THIS VISIT WAS MADE
in the spring of 1870, about five months
before General Lees death. 1t became
generally known throughout the place
that he would arrive by steamer from
Savannah on certain day EN- route to
visit his fathers tomb at Dungeness.
At last the day for the arrival OF the
steamer Lizzie Baker, which was then
plying between Fernandina and Sa-
vannah, came around. 1t was on this
vessel that General Lee was coming, and
when she arrived at her docks almost
the entire populace was gathered there
to meet the honored commander of the
armies which defended the 'Lost
Cause" The enthusiasm was great.
Even those who fought on the opposite
side in the great struggle were there to
shake the hand of ''the worlds greatest
general.
For three hours General Lee was in
Brunswick and during the entire time
he was kept busy shaking hands with
those who
LOVED AND HoNORED HIM.
From Brunswick the great hero vent
to his fathers grave. The scene there
was n most pathetic one. General Lee
wept over the dust of his honored ances-
tor the tears of dutiful, devoted son.
For II day he scarcely moved out of sight
of tie grave.
THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNT
of Light Horse Harry Lees burial was
writer, the day it occurred, by COR
respondent of a Savannah paper:
Il yesterday witnessed the interment
of another of those patrio that our
country, in Congress assembled,' so
frequently speak of but so little assist
l have seen the body of General Lee re-
ceive all the hOnOrs that could be given
by feeli g hearts, from those who will
be forgotten by their country, when no
longer serviceable, until it is too late to
benefit them, either by pecuniary re
wards or just acknowledgment of their
merits. He was buried from Dungeness
house, the property of one OF our revo-
lutionary heroes, General Green.
Whether to meet in fancy his old com
panion in arms, in the house that he had
inhabitated, or to call back secenes OF
better times, led him here, L did not in
quire; but heard that he came an in
valid-that Mr.. Shaw and family strove
all in their power to keep the lamp of
life burning, and although the oil was
expended, they still blew the gentle
breath of affection and attention,