The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-11

General Lees missing portrait a. West
Point. l am so proud of bringing this to
the attention of this Southland that the
blame must not be shifted 10 this
father Of mine. whose willing co-opera-
ton but makes my w2y clear. Mrs.
townsville is right. i have never asked
the aid OF any Chapter OF L. ID. c., for
thought, for such a beautiful object. the
help would DE spOntaneOus-as II is GeOr-
GA, my adopted State, says she has her
hands ful. This. while it disappOints
me, but inspires me TO q quick fruition
Of this hope OF mine-and from many
beautiful letters bidding me God speed
| hope very soon TO have the portrait OF
General Lee look down in al its gran
deur from the walls Of West Point.
On a recent visit TO West Point, In the
gallery OF portraits of the superinten-
dents Of the Academy, that OF General
Robert II. Lee was absent. II is my most
cherished desire to AVE his portrait
placed In the graduation hall, as he APP
peared as superintendent OF the Academy
In 1852. upon whose walls not even the
portrait OF Grant could be eligible. As
the gathering is one OF significance. OF
whom could 1 beg assistance more appro-
priately and lovingly than you. e.. u. g.
~ AANNA jam a AAA RH NAtR va
! learn from General Curtis Lee, that
such a portrait Of his great father IS I'm
the possession of the family. painted by
the professor of drawing at West Point.
Thus we see that General Lee considered
the position an honor. and was willing 70
have himself portrayed as s%uperinten-
dent Of the Academy. IL has been said.
that TO have the portrait at West Point,
IL should be painted in a Confederate
uniform. Was he wearing that at the
time of his superintendency? When JEFF
ferson Davis portrait was replaced in the
War Department. was II suggested that he
should be in uniform. as c0mmander-in-
chief Of the Confederate army and navy
or that OF General JnO. b. Floyd, as Con-
federate general2 West Point is a nation
al school 10 the South that helps support
1t. as much a pride as 10 the North, and
We cannOt envy the situation Of Il, UNI
paralleled IN It's beauty and healthfulness.
The eleven original States every four years
send their one hundred cadets.
L. is not the General Lee. commander
Of the Army Of Northern Virginia. that
would be honored boy having his portrait
at West Point. but that Institution would
be honOred. and IL would be- an Inspiration
10 every Southern cadet. Now that We
a General Lee. a graduate OF West
Point, fighting under the flag, cannot
each one Of us do her part 10 replace
the portrait2 Why should an objection
be raised on account Of the uniform-the /
blue? The gallant Rosscr. as well as (
Fitzhugh Lee. donned IT,; and are not
these names famous on the roster OF Yir-
ginia's most famous men? Butler, of
South Carolina. who loft a leg on Vir-
ginia soil under the starry cross. wore
the blue under ths stars and stripes IN /
the Spanish war. General Joe Wheeler
rode 10 victory at san Juan and El Caney !
wearing the blue. and yet these men
have lost none of their love for the gray.
StHi II Is considered by some out Of |
place 10 paint the portrait Of General Lee
Tor West Point as captain Of engineers.
which rank he held AZ the time of his
superintendency. as one Of the most Ia
nous men I'm the T.. 5. army. Since l
made the suggestion OF having the por- 4
trait placed al West Point. the press has
commended IL north. south, east. ana
west. In three or four southern papers. |
objections have been made because the
portrait would present tho truth; that is
q captain OF engiHeers. true TO life. as he
was when West Point was 20 highly hon.
Ored by having him as its chief officer.
| am proud OF being a laughter Of a
Confederate My aged grandmother sent
seven sons 20 the Confederate army; none
bullet-proof. one killed at Malvern Hi,
prom oted 20 major; one commanding
Otey Battery. shot 20 Lewisburg; another
while scaling the heights Of Gettys-
burg. my own father struck down AZ
New Market. and carries a bullet In his
arm 10 this day. Another OF the cavalry
a wound from which h. never
fully recovered. And this mother organ
zed a hospital IN Lynchburg. from which
he soldiers from the Potomac 10 the Rio
Grande received owing illustrations
mink. with his record. you will not accuse
me Of any desire 90 pander TO sentiment
.alism. | want no trucking; want no
Of the name Of Lee. | love and
revere his memory. Il IS because OF this
want our dues. one or whlch Is that
his portrait Of General Lee De hung al
Point. where it VIII shine as a
particular star In the galaxy OF
esser lights.
One u. ID. G. publicly expresses her-
'elf that General Lees portrait should be
n an atmosphere OF a monument erected
10 Northern soldiers OF the regular army.
)ut she fails 10 note that on this monu-
nent are the names of the battles in
they were numerically whipped.
Bull Run. Gaines Mil, Seven Pines and
'thers, Have we not a Confederate mon
iment at Chlcamauga. looking from its
aud grandeur 20 those OF the other
Then. too. in the government park
It Chez mcuga. there has also been erect
d by the great South-loving State Of
kentucky. a monument 10 her dead, not
those that wore the gray. but the
one monument I'D the memory OF our
lead un both sides. I van no III feeling l.
" pAp'eassntness but / desire to have
rGrtrai. AZ General Lee hung on the
walls ~ G~raduation Hall at West Point
i soon as loving hands and hearts can
.ccOmpl'sh Il
MRS NORWOOD MITCHELL
Richmond. Va. Nov, 10. 1879.