The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-10-12

stan rice up anu ld&e Sosi'ioi! SS.'A
his battery. Young Lee spoke to
>raff ctticer and told him who be was.
When General Lee dropped his glass
and turned TO his staff the Cheer salc:
General here is some ono WHO wants
to speak to you" The general not
recognizing bis son said: We'll, my
nan, what car do for ycu?"
WAS NEVER IDLE.
Captain Lee says that one marked
characteristic Of his father was his |
habit CT attending to all business
promptly. He was never idle" he
says, and what he had to do be per-
formed with care and precision.
The long series Of letters to bis wife
and family, rarely more than few
weeks elapsing without one, evidence
not only of General Lees capacity for
business in the direction OF his private .
affairs, his devoutly religious mind,
but quaint humor that here and
there brightens the generally sad and
tender correspondence. In the win
ter OF 1862 SO, when he was in Camp
Fredericksburg, he wrote his daugh-
ter Agnes: General Hooker is
obliged to do something. do not
know what it will be. He is playing
the Chinese game, trying what frigh-
tening will DO. He runs out his guns,
starts his wagons and troops up and
down the river and creates an excite
ment generally. Our men look On III
wonder, give a cheer and all SUBSIDIES"
A fortnight later in a letter to Mrs.
Lee, describing the cold AID disccn-
forts OF his army, lie says: / owe
Mr.. F. J. Hooker no thanks fer Keep
ing me here" After Charlottesville,
when Jackson fell, be wrote Mrs. Lee:
ANY victory would be dear at such a
price. I know not how to replace
him. Gods will be Gone. l trust He
will raise up some one in his place.
FELT ARMY's sUFFERlNGs.
In nearly all OF bis private letters
during this period mention is made OF
the hardshlps and suferings OF his
men, their lack Of shoes, clothing and
blankets. Zone can see from these
letters says the author, how ceep,
ly he felt for the suferiDgS Of bis sol
diers and how bis plans were hindered
by inadequate supplies of food and
clothing. I heard him constantly
allude to his troubles; indeed, they
seemed never absent from his mind.
In the winter Of 1868 81 Mrs. Lee
and her daughters removed to Rich
mond and from Camp Rappahanock
he wrote Mrs. Lee: Il fear my
daughters have not taken to the spin
ming wheel ard loom as have recon-
nended. shall not be able to recon-
mend them to the brave soldiers lot
wives"
In the spring Of 1864 Fitzhugh
Lees brigade, to which the author,
VINO had won commission and stall
appointment, was then attached, lay
in camp near Charlottesville and the
officers gave a ball. An invitation
vas sent General Lee who thus com
mented on it in letter:
'sTbis is a bad time for such things.
We have too grave subjects on hand
to engage in such trivial amusenents.
would rather his officers should en-
tertain themselves in fattening their
horses, healing their men aud recruit
ing their regiments. There are TOO
many Lees on the committee. l like
all to be present at battles, but can
excuse them at balls"
HIS PROPHETIC SOUL.
Those letters written in the spring
Of 1864 reveal how closely General Lee
foreSaw the storm that was soon to
burst upon him. He wrote urgently
for supplies and in his private letters
he predicted Grants move toward
Richmond.
Captain Lee does not go With detail
into the operations Of the closing year
Of the war. The military phase IS
subordinated to the personal, but the
letters, bis personal recollectiors and
incidents all make an intimate picture
of the confederate commander in that
trying time. The surrender itself IS
lightly touched upon. The author
first saw his father after Appomatcx
at Richmond, where the general had
joined his family. 'As well as can
recall my father at this time, hesays,
he appeared to be very well physical
", though he looked older, grayer,
more quiet and reserved. He seemed
very tired, and was always glad ID talk
of any other subject than that OF the
war or anything pertaining thereto.
AFTER WAR WAS OVER.
General Lees life for the next few
months was quiet and uneVentful. In
June he went to 'Derwent," little
I room house in Cumberland county,
which was placed at his disposal by
Mrs. Elizabeth Randolph Cooke.
There be awaited the decision CT the
federal authorities inthe indictment
found against him, Davis and others,
which never came to trial. In the
meantime offers Of homes, houses,
lands and money poured in upon him,
all Of which he declined. In August
he accepted the presidency Of Wash
ington college, now Washington ana
Lee university.
A pleasant picture is given Of the
busy days that followed in establish
ing his new home Says Captain Lee:
my father appeared bright and even
gay" Captain Lee says that it was
his fathers strong desire to write q
history Of his campaigns. He weEt
so far as to begin to gather data, but
his falling strength and the magni-
tude of the task deferred him. Gen
eral Lees correspondence during this
period was very extended and bis let
rers to friends, old comrades in arms
and public men all express his Sc
licitude for the south and reflect his
desire that patience be shown under
all conditions and all controversies be