Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-26
bily would belong. panied him very and particularly

bility would belong. panied him very
much.
HIS son A PRIVATE.
His son Robert was at that time pri-
vate in the Rock bridge Battery and was
in the thickest of the fight. Just after
the battle the General wrote TO Mrs. Lee:
Il have not laid eyes on Rob since ]
saw him in the battle of Sharpsburs
going in with a single gun of his battery
for the second time after his company
had been Withdrawn in consequence Of
three of its guns having been disabled.
Custis has seen him, and says he is very
well and apparently happy and content.
My hands are improving slowly. and with
my left hand l am able TO dress and I'M
dress myself, which is a great comfort.
My right is becoming of some assistance.
too, though ii is still swollen, and some
times painful. The bandages have been
removed. i am now able to sign my
name. 1t has been six weeks to-day
since / was injured, and j have at last
discarded the sling"
In his tent, near Winchester. he heard
Of the death of his daughter Annie, who
had always been the greatest favoriie
with her father, and on October &C. 1862,
in a letter TO Mrs. Lee. he said: II can
not express the anguish | feel at the
death of our sweet Annie. TO know that
l shall never see her again on earth;
that her. place in our circle, which /
always hoped one day 10 enjoy, is for
ever vacant, is agonizing in the ex-
IRENE. But God in this. as in all things,
has mingled mercy with the blow in Sc
lectng that one best prepared to leave us.
May you be able to Join me in saying.
His will be dOner When | reflect on all
she will escape in life. brief ana painful
at the best. and all We may hope she
will enjoy with her sainted grandmother,
l cannot wish her back. / know how
much you will grieve and how much she
will be mourned. / wish l could give you
any comfort. but beyond our hope in
the great mercy of God. and the belief
that he takes her at the time and place
when II Is best for her to go. there is
none. May that same mercy be extended
to us all. ana may we be prepared for Ills
summons"
A SAD BLOW.
In letter to his daughter Mary, previ-
Gus to Burnslde's attack. dated Camp.
near Fredericksburg. November q, 1862.
Ire says: Il have just received your let
ter of the nth. which has afforded me
great qualification. | regretted not find
ing you in Richmond and grieve over
every opportunity al not seeing you that
Ia lost, for | fear they will become less
and less frequent The death of my dear
Annie was. indeed. to me a bitter pans.
but the Lord gave and the Lord has
taken away, blessed be the name of the
Lord In the quiet hours Of the night,
when there is nothing TO tighten the nun
weight of my grief. / feel as If l should
be overwhelmed. / have always counted,
If God should spare me few days OF
peace. after this cruel war was ended
that | should have her with me, but year
after year my hopes go out and must
be resigned. General Burnsice's whoie
army Is apparently opposite FredericAs-
burg and stretches from the RappdnaN-
mock 10 the Potomac. What his intentions
are he has not yet disclosed. l am sorry
he is In position TO Cypress our friends
and citizens OF the Northern Neck. lie
threatens 10 lombard fredericksburg, ana
the noble spirit displayed by its citizens
particularly the women and children, mas
elected my highest admiration ihes
have been abandoning their homes hish'
and day during all this Indictment wea'he'
cheerfuny and uncompiainngiy, Win oi'is
such assistance as our wagons ana aiiipu
lances could afford-women, girls chii'
dren. trudging through the mud AM
blyouacking in the open he'ds.
WILL ALL COME RIGHT.
Again. In a letter to his wife from the
Same camp. on December 2. ls62, nc
writes: II am glad you had the opportu,
nifty OF visiting New Kent; but the sish'
OF the White House must have bfoush,
particularly sad thoughts. 1t VIII al
come right In the end. though we may no.
liy. TO see it, That Is Lieut. nant Spang
Ter who addressed me so fa'niliarly. lie
was orderly sergeant Of Captain Evans
Company, Second Cavalry, United states
army. anr was a good soldier. l tremblt
for my country when hear OF confidence
EXPRESSED In ne. l know too Wen my
weakness. and that our hope Is In God
On December 1lth. at the commence
ment OF the Federal operations, Genera
Lee writes Mrs. Lee: Il return bi
sent by Gusts. Ii Is not the one wished
but | do not want the one l wrote fol
now. as / have one that Will answer al
well. The enemy, after bombarding TN
| town OF Fredericksburg, setting lire u
many houses, and KNOCKING down neari,
| all those altng the river, crossed owe
| large force about dark. and now oc
| cupy the town. We hold the hills com
| manding IL, and hope we shall De abb
| TO damage him yet. His positions nn'
heavy guns command the town entirely
HE FELT CONFIDENT.
On December 10th he thus writes OF tn
gecrossing Of the Federais. and also o
the liberation OF the Arlington slaves: :
had supposed they were just preparing 10
battle and was saving our men for tn
conflict. Their hosts crown the hill an
plain beyond the river. and their number
10 me are unknown. Still. felt conf
dence we could stand the shock. and, wa
anxious for the blow that IL to fall Of
| acme point and WAS ureparad 70 NEE