The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-18
LEE,S LETTERS CHERISHED
 BY CHIEfTANS CHILDREb
EpiStles to His Wife Breathed Love and DceptS| Solicitude for the Welfare of His Off,
 Spring---DeYOtiOn to Mother.

gathered around the old spanisA -
 city of Vera Crux. he wroto to hm &[l loved wife and children at Arhng You are the subject of my CT
 tthougfts. | trust that thu is the
 time that I shall ever b6 nbseut fL~ X you during my life. z s k v | |. Equally tender was tho em;ceon E this came siege of Vera Crus that 4 brcther.- Sydney Smith Lee. IAegoeen@Hy in the American Navy, was mannfn4 N4 of the guns. Of him General Leo wroe
 No matter where turned. my eyee Hce verted to him. and stood by hia m when was not wanted e1seWhere Qlf I felt awfuily and am at q los M before me. I thank God that he VI saved. He preserved his usual che94& ness. and f could ses tks wh1ts teSl& through the smoke and din c9 m !o< for the inhabitnnts. The eolt&erp M4 not care so much for. but 1t va toGx1s ble to think of the women and ch1i4ft3
 After the battle was won he yxo9p
 thought of you, my dear Cust1a. oq3 6 18th in the battle and wondereA whe4 50 musket balls and grape were wf111l11 over my head in q perfect shOwa. y14E4 was truly thankfiA that you Wsga 11 school. learning to be good and N111si You have no idea what . horrthas sighx =
 General Lee disliked war. His svsrI letter home breathed the longing td el cape its horrors. From the camp In ". lapa he wrote to Mrs. Lee: sTdS ' t1o most beautiful country I have seeo q
 have seen elsewhere. wish it Was< 3n the United States and that war stoon1e6 with you and the children around m. in one of It's bright valleys.
 Joining the Southern Army.
 But the awful struggle Of 1sei-S dswne1
 Lee wrote to his aister in Ba1tiute6: With all my devotion to the Union and feeling of loyalty to and of duty en m to mais up my mind aass to radss nGs lsen my
 against my native State, my relatives. my children and my home. hAye, 4toro~ fore. resigned my commission in h.
 That came day he wrote to his br6thSr, sydney Smith Lee: The question which was the subject of my earnest consuIta- ton with you on the 18th has, in my own mind. been decided. After the moSt anxious inquiry as to the correct coufss for me to pursue. concluded to reexn. and sent in my resignation this morn Ing. wished to wait till the ordinance of secession should be acted upon by t-ie people of Virginia, but war seemed to have commenced, and am aiable at any time to be ordered on duty which could not couscientiously perform. To save mo necessity of Sresigning under orders, 'seet yoa again on the subject. as, iiad wished. am now a private citizen. and at home. Save in the defense of my mas tive State. l have no desire ever again draw my sword"
 And yet it has been stated more than once. and quite recently. that General Lee 'hesitated'' as to the best course for him to pursue. But it was only two days afterward that he was called to Richmond and placed in command of the he defended this native State and the South. the world knows. but the private correspondence with those he loved at this time shows how earnest. how up- Lee. He saw that Virginia was to be tho main theatre of the war. and early In May he wrote to Mrs. Lee: The war may last ten years. Make your plans for several years of war. Tell Custis twho was then Lieutenant of Engineers in the United States Army) he must consult his own Judgment, reason. and conscience as to the course he may take. do not wish him- to be guided by my wishes or example. If have done wrong. let him do better. The present is a momentous question. which every man must settle
 It was question which 'Laeut. custis Lee did settle for himself, to the glory of the South and the honor of his spot less name. a k3sg sa
 After the assumption Of the practical management of the great military forcea on June 8. by President Davis. General Lee wrote to Mrs.. Lee. who was then ak the White House on the Pamuniky River:
 You may be aware that the Confeder- ate government is established here. Yes terday T turned over to 1t the command of the military forces of the State do not know what my position will be- should like to retire to private life. SO that could be with you and the chil- dren, but if can be of service to the State or her cause I must continue. | grdeve. my dear Mary. at the anxiety that drives you from your home. can appre- ciate your feelings on the occasion, and pray that you may receive comfort and strength in the difficulties that surround you. When I reflect over the calamity pending over the country my own sorrows sink into insignifcance.''