The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-04-05
Atlanta Journal.

Atlanta
The name of Robert Edward Lee is
being honored and revered throughout
the South, but in no State is there
more tender sentiment for the MEM
ory of the great general, soldier and
patriot than in Georgia. Many
thoughts are turned to General Lee
and many orators are eulogizing his
great virtues and deeds and extolling
his bravery and valor. Perhaps some
of them will recall an affecting and
beautiful incident in the life Of Gen
eral Lee, which fttingly tells the
story Of his noble character and devo-
tion, and in which Georgia and Geor-
gians are directly interested. This in
cident was the visit Of General Lee to
the grave Of his father on Cumberland
Island, during the civil war, and it
was fine tribute to the great man
himself when he left ship at plan
tation wharf on the island, and quiet
~ walked TO the resting place OF
Francis Lightfoot Lee, the revered
father of General Robt. E. Lee.
In his memoirs Of Gen. Robert K.
Lee, a. L. Long, who was military
secretary to General Lee and who was
the Generals only companion when
he visited the grave Of his father, tells
Of the incident in this way:
HIS VISIT TO THE GRAVE.
about the close of the year 1917
declining health induced Henry Lee to
visit the West Indies, but finding that
the tropical climate did not afford him
the relief he expected, he determined
to return to his native shores. While
on the return voyage failing strength
caused him to direct his course to the
coast of Georgia, and to claim the hos
pitality Of the daughter Of his old
friend and comrade. General Greene,
who occupied her fathers residence
on Cumberland Island. After linger-
ing short time at this hospitable
mansion, his noble spirit took its
flight to join those who had preceded
him. Nearly half century later that
event was brought in the most strik-
ing manner to the knowledge Of the
writer Of this work, who was then ac-
companying General Lee during the
civil war, ca a tour Of inspection
along the coasts Of Georgia and Flori-
da. While passing through the chan
mel that separates Cumberland Island
from. the mainland, the steamer stop
ped at a plantation wharf, and the
general then asked me to accom- pany
him on sacred mission. After fol-
lowing for some distance read shad-
ed with live oak and magnolia trees,
we passed through gate opening into
extensive grounds, dotted with groups
Of olive, orange and lemon trees, in.
termingled with brilliant sub-tropical
shrubbery. In the midst of these
grounds arose an extensive pile OF
buildings, whose unfinished state bore
evidence that the design Of the pro-
jector excelled his means of execu-
tion. This was the residence of Gen
eral Greene. We entered spacious
hall, and after admiring for moment
the richly covered frames Of the angle
windows that lighted it and the stair
way that wound its spiral course along
the unfinished walls Of shells and
mortar, we descended fight Of steps
into garden which, though neglect
ed, exhibited signs Of taste and re-
6nement. Passing on, we came to a
dilapidated wall enclosing neglected.
cemetery. The general then, in a
voice Of emotion, informed me that be
was visiting the grave Of his father.
He went alone to the tomb, and after
a few moments Of silence plucked a
flower and slowly retraced his steps.
leaving the lonely grave to the guar
dianship Of the crumbling stones and
the spirit Of the restless waves which
perpetually beat against the neigh
boring shore. We returned in silence
to the steamer and no allusion was
ever made to this act Of flial devo-
tion.
ROBERT LEE AS A BOY.
Robert Edward Lee, the fourth
child Of General Henry Lee, was born
at Stratford, the ancient manorhouse
Of the Lee family in Virginia, on the
10Th of January. 1907. His name
was taken from those Of his maternal
Dohort EJ,rorJ Norto, &c