The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-09
Graphic Picture Of the Great
Chicftain III New Book
ss by His Son.
LETTERS 10 HIS FAMILY.
Record Covers Entire Period Of
the Generals Public d
Activities.

ters Of General Robert Il. Lee" Is an
svcnt OF some historic Importance ana
or particular interest TO Southern read
eirs This book does not aim to cstab-
q lish ncS truths bearing upon the milf
+ tary history OF the Confederacy, but 1t
gives to the public for tho first time the
correspondence between the great Gem
oral and his family. These intimate let.
,crs. simply and naturally written, show
Il General Lee as he really was--tne knights
liest Of soldiers, the most courageous Of
4 patriots and the tender, nffectionnte hus-
band ana father.
q In these letters General Lees whole
altitude as citizen Of the republic Is
made plain as never before. They show
that no less loyalty than he had fol-
4 lowed his patriotic convictions III what
z lie believed was constitutional right anu
liberty, did he also take his place N
4 the reconstruction of his distracted coun4
try. They reveal him In no sense as the
\ u1;rcconstructcd rebel" but rs one Who
calmly accepted the inevitable.
81 These letters were compiled for pub
5slicatibn By his son, Captain Robert Z; Leo,
" himself 10 gallant soldier OF the Con-.
federacy The book covers the entire
s4pcrod of General Lees public activities.
III from the time he was engineer IN the
United states Army, following his grad,
u l,ation from West Point to tlat October
s7%day5in 1870 when, as pres dcnt or WASH
/ ing tom College, in Lexington, Va, he.
passed away.
Boyhood Recollections.
Il s. captan Lee says that his first vivid
impression Of his father was his arrival
at Arlington (thc family home near
Washington after his return from the
Mexican war. An amusing incident hap
pcnod on this occasion. The boy and q
Playmate of the same &c, both dressed
{ In their best frocks, stood in the crowd
that greeted the homecoming soldier.
81 Suddenly General Lee Dufst lhrou5 II ti'e
crowd, saying:
& ..yVhere is my little boy?" lie thet,
took up In his arms and kissed, not his
son, but the little playmate who STOOD
y beside him
Very carly Captain Lee speaks Of his
fathers punctualitys as a characteristic !, y! Z
which marked him all through his life.l
Writing about General Lee as scommah-
NJ ant at West Point, he says:
..Aly father was the most punctuall man
Il 81 ever knew. He was always read for
family prayers, for meals and met every
engagement social Or business y ~ NE Nc
the same. and taught us he use anu
Snec essity Of forming such habits for the
convenience Of all concerned. !. ! never w
knew him late for Sunday service at so .e
form, iokingly rallying my mother for
being late and for forse 9Vhag e coud
wait no longer for her, he would say
5thatGlle was OFF, and would march along
to church by himself, or with any OF the
children who were ready Ihe ere he ;s; sat
and, as ] remember always became very
sleepy. and sometimes even took little
napIdurinc the sermon At that Tune,
this drowsiness OF my fathers was some
thing IA wfu to me. inexpicabe | know
81 twas very hard for me to keep awake.
md frequently did not; but why he
who. TO my mind; could 90 :. everything I ni,,
sometimes be overcome I, could not lln-
dcrstand, and did not try to do So"
The Confederate General.
on April 20, 1861, General Lee resigned
his commission in the United States
Army n letter 10 his sister he says:
sS:ys.NVithsall my devotion to the Union and
the feeling OF loyalty and duty OF an
American citizen, | have not been able \
neiative nd 10 ny a Children
home, / have. therefore. resigned my
Com mission In the army, and save IN deI
fence Of my a4hye s|ate Wi. me , SIN
never be needed, hope may never
be called on to draw my sword. l know
you will blame me; but you must thlnk
as kindly Of me ms You can and believe
-
That he really did not expect to fight
q is shown by the following extract from
Il letter to his wife: Il do not know
what my position will be. should IKE
r 10 retire to private life II ] could be
with you and the Children, but II ! can
\ he OF any service to the State or her
cause l must continue.
Virginia had joined the column of her
Southern SISTERS, and Lee was placed In
command of her State troops, Then
\ came victory at The first battle of Bull
87Isun OF the great battle he writes to
his wife:
."s5&' That inded was glorious victory
4 and has lghtened the pressure upon our
\ front amazingly. Do not gricve for the
brave dead Sorrow for those they ~. le ,t,
The former are nj rest The latter must
suffer. The battle viii be repeated there
in greater force. ] hope God VIII again
smile on US and strengthen our hearts
and arms, wished to partake In the
former struggle. and am mortified al my
absence. but the President thought it
more important, ! should, be here; !
done but l could have helped, and taken
part IN the struggle for my home and
care not BY whom /! is, done. ! leave
Tomorrow for the Northwest Army. +
wished 10 go before, as ! wrote you, and
was all prepared, but the indications were
The uncertainty Of the result, the Presi-
dent forebade my departure. Now it is
d necessary, ana he consents, cannot
say for how long, but Will wrIte YOU.
- Give love TO all. and for yourself
accept the constant prayers. Of truly
~ yours, ''R, y. LEE"
Al this time some OF The Southern
newspapers were crIlIclzins Lee, 10 lbs
wife he writes:
n am sorry rs you say, that The
y movements of the armies cannot keep
a pace with the expectations OF the ed.-
iors Of papers. ! know. they can regu-
33 late matters satisfactorily 10 themselves
on, paper ! wish they could do so IN
the field No one wishes Them more
II success than ] do and would be happy
10 see them have full swing, | hope
something VIII be done TO please them;
4 GIVE much love 10 the children and
81 everybody, and believe me.
34 ALWAYS yours.
HI t'R, II, LEE"
The deep religious feeling Of Genera
49 l<se IL always manifest On sunday
3 December $. 1851, lac Niltes to his dangh
lar:
A.Ai3 Precious Al.ylie;