The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-09

4
debate in the Senate in which Senator
simon Cameron had made certain
statements. In this letter General Lee
said: L never intimated to any one
that l desired the command of the
United States army. nor did / ever
nave a conversation With but one gen
tleman, Mr.. Francis Preston Blair. on
thls subject which was at his invita-
ton and as l understand, at the in
stance of President Lincoln. After lis
tenlng TO his remarks | declined the
olIer ne made me, to take command
OF the army that was to be brought
INTO the field, stating as courteously
as L could that. though opposed to
secession and deprecating war. | could
take no part in an invasion of the
southern states" General Lee adds
that he went directly to General Scott.
told him of the proposition that had
been made him. and two days later.
concluding that he ought no longer re-
tain his commission, resigned from the
army. Two days later on invitation of
the Governor Virginia, he went to
Richmond, found that the convention
had passed the secession ordinance
and accepted the position of comman-
der-in chief of the State forces. There
follows many letters written in the
spring and summer of 1851 to his wife
at Arlington, counselling her on FAM
lily matters and the homelv duties of
his estate and household. On May
10Th he was transferred with his COM
mand to the Confederate States army.
The author, then a student at the
University of Virginia. described his
fathers consent for him to enter the
army. which he did as a private in the
Rockridge artillery. Il do not sup
pose he says. sit ever occurred to my
father to think of giving me an office,
which he could easily have done. |
know it never occurred to me-" On
the day following the battle of Seven
Pines General Lee assumed command
of the army of Northern Virginia,
General Joseph e. Johnson having
been severely wounded.
Captain Lee says that one marked
characteristic of his father was his
habit of attending to all business
promptly He was never idle he
says. land what he had to do he per-
formed with care and precision.
The long series of letters to his
wife and family, rarely more than
a few weeks elapsing without one
evidenced not only General Lees
capacity for business in the direction
Of his affairs. his devoutly religious
mind, but a quaint humor that here
and there brightens the generally sad
and tender correspondence.
After characteristics. when jack
son fell, he wrote Mrs. Lee ANY
victory would be dear at such price.
[ know not how to replace him. God
will be done. L trust He Will raise UP
some one in his place." In nearly all
Of his private letters during this
period mention is made of the hard
chips and sufferings of his men. their
ack of shoes. clothing and blankets.
In the winter of 1864. Mrs. Lee
Ind her daughter removed to Rich
nond, and from Camp Rappahanock
lie wrote Mrs. Lee: Il fear my daugh-
ers have not taken to the spinning
Wheel and loom as | have recon-
nended. 1 shall not be able to rec
them to the brave soldiers
or wives"
Captain Lee does not go with detail
nto the operations of the closing year
# the war The military phase is
to the personal, but the
etters. his personal recollectionS and
Incidents all make an intimate picture
Of the Confederate commander in
hat trying time. The surrender it
self is lightly touched upon. The au
-hor first saw his father after Apo
matox at Richmond. where the gem
aral had joined his family. ''As well
IS L can recall, my father at this
time,' he says, che appeared to be
very we'll physically, though he looked
He seemed very tired. and was always
glad to talk of any other subject than
that OF the war or anything pertain
ing thereto
General Lees life for the next few
months was quiet and uneventful. In
June he went to "Derwent," a little
four-room house in Cumberland
county, which was placed at his dis
posal by Mrs. Elizabeth Randolph
Cooke. There he awaited the decis-
ion of the Federal authorities in the
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 Washington COLLEGE, now Washing
ton and Lee University.
A pleasant picture is given of the
busy days that followed in establish
ing his new home Saws Captain Lee:
Father appeared bright and even
gay" Captain Lee says that it was
his fathers strong desire to write a
history of his campaigns. He went so
far as to begin to gather data. but his
falling strength and the magnitude Of
the task deferred him. General Lees
correspondence during this period
way very extended and his letters to
friends, old comrades in arms and
puDllc men, all express MS SOl1clIuue
for the South and reflect his desire
that patience be shown under all con-
ditions and all controversies be
avoided.
The author had by this time settled
down upon his farm and he gives
many letters from his father. fulI OF
advice on agricultural and financial
matters. all of which show his thor
ough grasp of affairs. The correspon
dence covering the closing years of
Lees life is largely of fam
lily character, though 1t embraces
many letters to strangers either on
public questions or in acknowledge
ment of courteses. He received very
fattering business offers. all of which
he declined. preferring the auietness
and pleasures of his college duties
Among these offers was the proffer
Of position as the head of a pro-
Losed commercial reorganization in
New York to finance Southern enter
prises and develop the South.
From DR.. Hale's article on Church
and State in America. the follow
ing extract is taken:
1.-The truth is that church and state
ire not parted in America as sopno-
nores speaking at college exhibitions
think they are. The ORGANIZATIONS
l%.A