The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-10-14

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author tells Of one amusing encounter
with his father. 1t was at the second
battle Of Manassas, when all powder
grimed and ragged and with sponge
staff In hand he saw General Lee and
staff ride up and take position near
his battery. Young Lee spoke to q
staff officer and told him who he was.
When General Lee dropped his glass
and turned to his staff the officer said:
General here Is some ono who wants
to speak to you." The general not
recognizing bis son said: "Well, my
man, what can do for you?'
WAS NEVER IDLE.
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, and 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 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 63, when he was In Camp
Fredericksbu; he wrote his daugh.
ter Agnes: General Hooker is
obliged to do something. I 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 in
wonder, give cheer and all subsidies. ="
A fortnight later in a letter to Mrs.
Lee, describing the cold and discom-
forts Of his army, he says: 81 owe
SiT. Is. j. Hooker no tb;tukS for keep
ing me here" After ChancellorSviIle,
when Jackson fell, he wrote Mrs. Lee:
Amy victory would be dear at such a
price. l know not how to replace
him. Gods will be done. l trust He
will raise up some one In his place."
FELT ARMY's sUFFERINGs.
In nearly all of his private letters
during this period mention Is made OF
the hardships and sufferings of his
men, their lack Of shoes, clothing and
blankets. "One can see from these
letters" says the author, ''how deep
ly he felt for the sutferings of his sol.
diers and how his plans were hindered
by inadequate supplies Of food and
clothing. l heard him constantly
allude to his troubles; indeed, they
seemed never absent from his mind" "
fhn I,.intor oP
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 and loom as l have recon.
mended. shall not be able to recon.
mend them to the brave soldiers for
wives"
In the spring Of 1864 Fitzhugh
Lees brigade, to which the author,
who had won commission and staff
appointment, was then attached, Law
in camp near Charlottesville and the
officers gave ball. An invitation
vas sent General Lee who thus com
mented on it in letter:
This is bad time for such things.
We have too grave subjects on hand
to engage In such trivial amuSements.
| would rather his officers should en-
tertain themselves in fattenng their
horses, healing their men and recruit
ing their reg ments. There are too
many Lees on the committee. l like
all to be present at battles, but can
excuse them at balls"
| III" ""o"uErIC SOUL.
----- in The spring
OF 1864 reveal how closely General Lee
foresaw the storm that was soon to
burst upon him. lie 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
Gi tne war. The military phase is
subordinated to the personal, but the
letters, his personal recolle ectiors 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 AppomatC X
at Richmond, where the general had
joined his family. "As we'll as | can
recall my father at this time, he say S,
he appeared to be very well physical
ly, though he looked older, grayer,
more quiet and reserved. lie seemed
very tired, and was always glad to 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," a little
i room house in Cumberland county,
which was placed at his disposal by
Mrs Elizabeth Randolph Cooke.
There he awaited the decision CT tie
federal authorities in the 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 1t was
his fathers strong desire to write
history Of his campaigns. He went
so far as to begin to gather data, but
his failing strength and the magni-
tude of the task deferred him. Gen.
eral Lees correspondence during this