The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-11-23

/ ~, i. ~ - ..t1 NFN u IHI" W'tb it'll-
I don au4 i'.'z Lrtt u brcuk thrrngl ,h.
IN Ct tic enemy, Coion,l Nepable
Informed General lee that it vas not
possible. lie said
Then there is nothing lcf. me but
to 50 and see General Grant Whcn
some one ncar him hearing this, said:
"Oh, general, what will history say
OF the surrender Of the army in the
teld?' he replied:
Yes, | know they will say hard
things Of US; they will not understand
| how We arc overwhelmed by numbers
but that is not the question, colonel;
the question is: Is it right to surrcn-
der this army? If it 10 right, then |
will take all the responsibility And
he did.
Captain Lee thus describes his
father $ return to private life:
y day or two after the surrender,
General Lee started for Richmond,
riding "Traveler,' who had carried
him so we'll all through the war. He
was accompanied by some Of his staff.
On the way he stopped at the house of
his eldest brother, Charles Carter
Lee, who lived on the upper James,
In Powhatan county, He spent the
evening in talking with his brother,
but when bed time came, though beg
ged by his host to take the room and
bed prepared for him, he insisted on
going to his old tent, pitched by the
roadside, and passed the night in the
quarters that he was accustomed TO.
On April 10 he arrived ia Richmond.
The people there soon recognized him.
Men, women and children crowded
around him, cheering and waving hats
and handkerchiefs. 1t was more like
the welcome of a conqueror than to a
defeated prisoner on parole. He rails
ed his hat i'll response to their greet
ings, and rode quietly to his home on
Franklin street, where my mother and
sisters were anxiously awaiting him.
Thus he returned to that private fam
lily life for which be had always long
ed, and became that he always desired
to be-a peaceful citizen q IA peaceful
land
| 10 his son at this time he wrote,
referring to the proposed Indictment
of prominent confederates:
As soon as can ascertain their in
tention toward me, if not prevented,
shall cndeavor to procure some hum
BILE, but quiet abode for your mot her
aud sisters, where I hope they can be
happy. AS before said, | want to
get In some grass country where the
natural product Of the land will dc
much for my subsistence.
AS well as 1 can recall, my father
at this timc,' says Captain Lee, che
appeared to be very we'll physically
though he looked older, grayer, more
quiet and reserved. He seemed very
tired, and was always glad to talk OF
any other subject than that of the wa,
or anything pertaining thereto. We
all tried to cheer and help him. And
the people of Richmond and Of the en-
tire south we're as kind and consider
ate as ii was possible to be. Indeed
| think their great kindness tired
him. He appreciated it all, was court
eous, graceful and polite, but he had
been under suoh terrible strain fol
several years that he needed the time
and quiet to get back his strength ol
heart and mind. All sorts ant
conditions Of people came to see him
officers and soldiers from both armies
statesmen, politicians. ministers Of
the gospel, mothers and wives, to ash
about husbands and sons of whom
they hSS heard nothing. To keer
him from being overtaxed by this in.
cessant stream Of visitors, we formed
sort of guard of the young men il
the house, some of whom took it b.
turns to keep the door and, if possible
turn strangers away. My father was
gentle, kind and polite to all, and
never willingly, SO FAR as know, re.
fused to see anyone.
General Lee returned simply and
unfalteringly to the task of life
again. His most significant utterance
was this:
y l believe it to be the duty OF
every one to unite in the restoration
OF the country and the re. estab blisb
ment of peace and harmony. These
considerations governed me in the
eounsels l gave to others, and induced
me on the 18th of June to make an.
l ix>lt - L.