The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-10-12
GEN. B. E. LEE.
he Intimate Life Of the Great Com
nanGsr Made Public.
SOME MooTED POINTS SETTLED.

ONE MooTED POINTS SETTLED.
letters Produced Giving Glilnpses
OF His Greatness That Even
Els Comrades in Arms
Never Understood.
In "Recollections and Letters OF
General Robert Z. Lee" by his son.
Robert E. Lee, which has just been
ssueo from the press CT Doubleday
Page Il Co., New York, an interesting
volume has been added to the lltera-
ture of the civil war, and the most
intimate picture, yet drawn OF the
commander in his private
and official life is given. The author
does not attempt to enter the lelo OF
the historian as far as the war itself
is concerned. AS the title OF the
work implies it is largely composed OF
his fathers letters, most OF them 10
his immediate family, and he makes
10 addition Of value to the N litary
history CT the late war. The Chief
interest OF the book lies in its person
al phase, as relating to the daily life,
the mental attitude and Characters
tics of General Lee.
This correspondence, most OF 1t OF
the most intimate character, 10 a
measure serves to reject General Lees
views on the great questions "lGn
which his career is so closely bound.
Writing with all the freedom q
husband and father to wife and chill
o-en. or to intimate friends, Letters
which he probably never dreamed
would see print, the man hlnsell
stands revealed. Throughout his cor
responcence is devoutly religious
tone. Hardly letter is given but
which evidences the deep faith OF tne
man. Writing from camp and from
battlefield, be seldom failed to ac-
knowledge or invoke divine help for
his cause, his family, and himself.
There is a notable absence OF military
information in these letters. Wherever
it is brought in it is incidental and
those who anticipated light on the
military problems Of the greatStruggle
will be disappointed.
STOOD TO Els STATE.
The author condenses into one
chapter the peroid prior to bis fathers
RESIGNATION from the United States
army, and confines himself TO General
Lees own ut.erances in letters TO ms
family and friends as to the motives
which acouated him in his decision.
Writing to his sister, Mrs. Ann Mar
shall, on the day he rendered MS
resignation, General Lee said: Now
we are in state Of wAr which WILL
weld, to 1o:hing. The whole south
is in a state CT revolution, into which
Virginia, after a long struggle, mas
been drawn; and though l recognlz
no necessity for this state OF tnlngS:
and would have forborne and pleaded
20 the end for redress OF grievances
zeal or supposed, yet in my own perSoE
I haG to answer the question wnelne'
I should take part against my natlVe
state. With all my devotion to the
union and the feelings OF loyalty ane
duty Ct an American citizen, | nave
not been able to make up my mind *
raise my hand against my relatives
nv children, my home. / nave
therefore, resigned ny commission II
the army and save in defense OF M
native state, with the sincere nope
that my poor services may never o5
needed, 7 hope may never be called
on to draw a sword" On the same
oay he wrote in similar strain to his
brother, Captain Sydney Smith Lee
OF the United States navy.
DID NOT WANT COMMAND.
Inls6s General Lee wrote toSenatoi
Reverdy johnson in regard to a debate
in the senate in which Senator Simon
Cameron had MADE certain state
ments. In this letter General Lee
said: ST never intimated to any one
that I desired the command OF the
United States army; nor did l ever
have conversation with but one
gentlemen, Mr.. Francis Preston
Blair, on this subject, which was at
his invitation and as I understood, at
the instance OF President Lincoln.
After listening to his remarks oe-
clined the offer he made me, to take
command OF the army that was to be
brought into the field, stating as
courteously as I could that though
opposed to secession and deprecating
war, I could take no part IN an lnVa-
sion of the southern states. General
Lee adds that he went directly TO
General Scott, told him Of the PROPOSE
Hion that had been made him, and
two DAYS later, concluding that he
ought no longer retain his commission
RESIGNED from the army. Two days
latter on invitation Of the governor of
Virginia, he went to Richomono,
found that the convention had passed
the secession ordinance and accepted
the position Of commander in chief OF
the state forces. There follows many
letters witten in the spring and sum-
mer OF 1851 to his wife at Arlington,
counseling her on family matters and
the honely duties OF his estate ano
household. On May 25 be was trans
rerred with his command to the con-
federate states army. In a letter be
said: "I do not know what my posi-
tion will be. should like to retire
to private life if I could be with you
and the children, but II l can be OF
any service to the state OF her cause, l
must continue" Soon after the 1rst
battle Of Manassas General Lee was
sent into West Virginia, and in the
numerous letters to his family ne
Interestingly describes the country,
his raw soldiers and the difficulties he
faced.