The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-10-14
GEN. r. B. LEE.
The Intimate Life Of the Great Com.
mander Made Public.
SOME MoogED POINTS SETTLED.

soME MooTED POINTS SETTLED.
Letters Produced Giving Glimpses
OF His Greatness That Even
His Comrades In Arms
Never Understood.
IN "Rsecollections and Letters Of
General Robert e. Lee" by his son,
Robert e. Lee, which has just been
issued from the press of Doubleday,
Page & Co., New York, an interesting
volume has been added to the litera-
ture Of the civil war, and the most
intimate picture, yet drawn Of the
southern commander In his private
and official life is given. The author
does not attempt to enter the ield OF
the historian as far as the war itself
is concerned. AS the title of the
work implies 1T is largely composed Of
his fathers letters, most of them to
his immediate family, and he makes
no addition Of value to the military
history Of 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 it of
the most intimate character, in q
measure serves to reflect General Lee :
views on the great questions with
which his career is so closely bound.
Writing with all the freedom Of a
husband and father to wife and chill.
dren, or to intimate friends, letters
which he probably never dreamed
would see print, the man himself
stands revealed. Throughout his cor
respondence is a devoutly religious
tone. Hardly a letter is given but
which evidences the deep faith Of the
man. Writing from camp and from
battlefield, he seldom failed to &C.
knowledge or invoke divine help for
his cause, his family, and himself
There is-a notable absence Of military
:. 1tIormation In these letters. Wherever
1t is brought in it is incidental and
thosa who anticipated light on the
military problems Of the great struggle
VIII oS
STOOD TO HIS STATE.
The author condenses into one
chapter the peroid pricr to his fathers
resignation frCn the United States
army, and confines himself to General
Lee'Sown nit teranceS in letters 20 his
~.dmily and friends as to the motives
which actuated him In his decision.
Writing to his sister, Mrs. Ann Mar.
shall, on the day he rendered his
resignation, General Lee said: NOW
we are in a state Of war which will
yield 70 fOthing. The whole south
is in q state of revolution, into which
Virginia, after q long struggle, has
been drawn; and though recogniz
no necessity for this state OF things,
and would have forborne and pleaded
TO the end for redress Of grievances,
zeal or supposed, yet in my own perso
had to answer the question whether
should take part against my native
state. With all my devotion to the
union and the feelings of loyalty anc
duty of an American citizen, L have
not been able to make up my mind tx
raise my hand against my relatives
my children, my home. 1 have
therefore, resigned my commission in
the army and save in defeuse of my
native state, with the sincere h~re
3 ithatmy poor services may
needed, l hope l may never called
on to draw sword" On the same
day he wrote in nBimilar strain to his
brother, Captain Sydney Smith Lee
OF the United States navy.
DID NOT WANT COMMAND.
In 1868 General Lee wrote to Senatoi
Reverdy Johnson in regard to debate
IN the senate In which Senator Simon
Cameron had made certain state
ments. In this letter General Lee
said: 1 never intimated to any one
that l desired the command OF the
United States army; nor did l ever
nave a conversation with but one
gentlemen, MIR. Francis Preston
Blair, on this subject, which was at
his invitation and as l understood, at
the instance OF President Lincoln.
After listening to his remarks l de.
cllned the offer he 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 inva-
sion OF the southern states" General
Lee adds that he went directly to
General Scott, told him Of the PROPOSE
zion 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 IF
Virginia, he went to Richomond.
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 1861 to his wife at Arlington,
ccunseling her on family matters and
the homely duties Of his estate and
household. On May % he was trans.
ferred with his command to the con-
1ederate states army. In a letter he
said: L do not know what my posi-
tion will be. | should like to retire
TO private life if L could be with you
and the children, but il | can be of
any service to the state or her cause, |
must continue" Soon after the first
battle Of Manassas General Lee was
sent Into West Virginia, and in the
numerous letters to his family he
Interestingly describes the country,
his raw soldiers and the difficulties he
faced.