Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-29
WASHINGTON-LEE.
rxaNpalAs HoNoREo coNhec-
TON WITH THE MONUMENT.
How the Swords OF Washington and Les
We're Drawn on the Green Of Chris.
Church--Piuck Against
tho World.
r,,,a., ,o,erram to the pi,patan.l

l,,r.xpnrA. MAY 2s.-Alexandris has q
.,ac,al Connection with the unwilling cere-
,I,oniea ri the monument of General X. T..
lee at Richmond tomorrow. and will send
her best citizens TO participate.
IL il Alexandria which unites washing
ton and Lee. Their mural monuments
stand together in Christ church, aud tho
most trying period IN the life OF both of
them occurred on the green which sur
rounds fine church. In the centennial adj
dress delivered here in 1880 it was said that
after the ten had been thrown overheard
in Roston harbor 1.-THE gale which swept
from the north brought the clash of re-
sounding arms" Amid the tumult Of
ANXIETY calm Sabbath dawned on Alex
andria. Tbe hot July sky was fair over
head, and the grass vas green In Christ
church yard.
THE FIRST SCENE.
Tho sermon was Just over and men
loitered TO listen TO what Colonel Washing
ton would say. He was known TO be an
ardent patriot. but il was known, too, that
he was opposed to the reelectlon OF Colo
mel Broadwater, who was in favor OF re-
sistance and he was inclined to support
his friend Bryan Fairfax. who counselled
submission. He loitered awhile and talked
as he loitered to party of gentlemen upon
the green. He was chairman OF the COM
nittee appointed at the last June court to
draft platform on which Fairfax and
Alexandra should stand. " What does he
say :" asks bystander. he is for re-
sistance; that means fight v; and then there
on Christ-church green nation was con-
ceived.
THE SECOND SCENE.
As the magnet draws the iron another
scene in Christ-church yard leaps the bar
rer of hundred years and demands to be
spoken OF.
sky is overhead; the fields are fresh with
the flowers of May; the grass Is still
green. A grave, revered commander, who
has sheathed his sword that he may have
time TO think, time TO consider. time TO
pray. comes out OF the ballowed edIlce.
A party of gentlemen approach him; they
press upon him the peril of the time; they
lree upon him that when all other swords
are drawn his must leap out and lead the
people.
THE SWORD OF LIEF.
There on the same Christ-church green
Robert l.. Lee gave his tacit acceptance oil
the command, which he afterwards put
into words before the General Assembly Of
the Commonwealth 49," Trusting in Al
mighty God. an approving conscience, and
the aid of my fellow-citizens. devote N.Y.
self 10 the service of my native state, in
whose behalf alone will / ever again draw
nv sword "-and there, on Christ-church
green, where Washington pronounced for
resistance 10 British arms, Robert e. Lee
accepted the command OF the armies ofthe
Commonwealth.
HIS BoYHooD.
General Leo came here in his boyhood
and dwelt with his widowed mother for
many years in this city. He attended for
awhile the Alexandria Academy IN the old
building on Washington and Wolfe streets,
now used in connection with the pubic
schools.
benjamin Halowell, leading teacher
here at that time, gave him the finishing
touches in mathematics before he went TO
West Point His old geography bore the
mark Alexandria Academy"
HIS MARRIAGE.
Here he made the acquaintance Of Miss
Mary Gusts, whom he afterwards married.
The marriage notice "a published ten DAYS
after the wedding, which occurred June
80, 1891, IS as follows
Married. at Arlington House. by the
Rev. DR.. Keith, Lieutenant Robert Lee, OF
the United States Corps of Engineers. TO
Miss Mary A. II. GUSTS, only daughter OF
q. W. p. Gusts, Esq"
The stately modesty OF the wly-married
couple was spared the modern newspaper
notice of what the bride had on at her we'd
ding and what she had packed IN her
trunks. Her presents and touSse01i are In
happy oblivion.
HIS RESIGNATION.
From Alexandria in 1861 General Lee
sent his resignation from the army of the
United States to General Scott Here he
was urged by General Scott to remain IN
the old army, and here he steadfastlv re-
fused to take up arms against his native
State.
PLUCK AGAINST THE WORLD.
He was not then sanguine of the results
OF the war. at is" SAID he to q citizen Of
Alexandria, 1.-THE darkest night I've ever
looked into 1t pluck against the world"
And here from Alexandria he departed for
Richmond to accept command of the pro
visonal army of Virginia. And after the
war he came back again, and received t4e
citizens of Alexandria in an informal gath
ering at the Mansion House.