The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-07
GENERAL ROBERT {. LEE.
INTIMATE PICTURE OF THE
NOTED CITIZEN AND PATRIOT.


knowledge Of the Civil War Times.
but the Book Serves 60 Reject Gen.
eral Lees Views on Many Great
Questions and to Reveal Character
istics of the Man.
New YORK. october 3.-In "Rscollec-
tions and Letters Of General Robert E.
Lee" by his son Robert e Lee, which
has just been issued from the press OF
Doubleday. Page s. Co.. an interesting
volume has been added 10 the litera-
ture OF the Civil War. and the most In
innate pictrre. yet drawn Of the south
ern commander in his private and off,
cial life Is given. The author does not
attempt 10 inter the field OF the histor-
ian, as far as the war itself is concern
ed. AS the title Of the work implies II
is largely composed OF his fathers let
tiers, most OF them to his immediate
family. and he makes no addition OF
value 10 the military history OF the late
war. The chief interest OF the book
lies in it's personal phase, as relating
20 the daily life. the mental attitude and
characteristics OF General Lee.
This correspondence, most OF il Of the
most intimate character. in a measure
serves to reflect General Lees 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 children. or 10 in
innate friends, letters which he proba-
bly, never dreamed would see print, the
man himself stands revealed. Through
u his correspondence Is q 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
| edge or invoke Divine help for his cause,
his family, and himself. There is a
notable absence of military information
in these letters. Wherever il is brought
in 1t is incidental and those who antic-
ipated light on the military problems
of the great struggle will be disappoint-
ed:
; The author condenses into one chap
| ter the period prior to his fathers res
| ignation from the United States army,
and confines himself TO General Lees
own utterances in letters to his family
and friend as ITO the motives which
actua'ted him in his decision. Writing
to his sister. Mrs. Ann Marshall on the
day he rendered his resignation Gen.
eral Lee said: Now we are in a state
of war which will yield TO nothing.
The Whole South is in a state of revo-
luton, into which Virginia, after a
long struggle. has been drawn; and
though l recognize no ReRessity for this
borne and pleaded end for re-
dress of grievancesE supposed.
yet in my own persorrt TO meet the
question whether i Shou1d take part
against my native state. With all my
devotion to the Union and the feeling
Of loyalty and duty of an American
citizen, l. have not been able 10 make
up my mind to raise my hand against
my relatives, my children, my home
l a w therefore resigned my commits
sion in the army and save in defense
of my native state, with the sincere
hope that my poor services may never
be needed. l hope / may never be cali
ed on to draw sword" On the same
day he wrote in similar strain to his
brother, captain sydney Smith Lee. of
United states Navy.
In 1868 General Lee wrote 10 Sena-
tor Reverdy johnson in regard to a
debate in the Senate in which Senate
Simon Cameron had made certain
statements. In this letter Genera LIE.
said: 81 never intimaied to any one
that 4 desired the command of the
United States Army; nor did l ever
4&xe a conversation with but one gen
Utfnan. Mr.. Francis Preston Blair, or
this subject, which was at his Invitation
and as / understood, dtOhe instance
of President Lincoln. After listening Il
his remarks / declined the offer hi
made me, to tax command OF the army
that was to be brought into the field
stating as courteously as | could that
though opposed TO secession and depre
eating war. 1 could take no part in al
invasion of the Southern States" Gen
eral Lee adds hat he went directly Il
General Scott. told him of the propo'
sltion that mad been made him and TIVE
days later, concluding that he ough
10 longer retain his commission, resign.
ed from the army. Mo days later OF
invitation Of the Governor. Of Virginia
he went 10 Richmond, found that tn
convention a passed the secession or
dinance and accepted the position o
commander-in-chief of the state forces
There follow many letters written Ii
the spring and summer of 1861 10 HI!
wife At Arlington, counselling her OF
family matters and the homeiy duties
of his estate and household. On May
18th he was transferred with his com
mand TO the Confederate states army
The author. then a student at ths
University of Virginia, described hi
fathers consent for him to enter ths
army, which he did as a private in the
Rockbridge artillery. Il do not sup
pose, he says lit ever occurred to M
father TO think Of giving me an Office
which he could easily have done.
know it lev occurred to me-" Or
the day following the battle Of Sever
Pines General Lee assume command
of the Army of Northen Virginia
General Joseph E. Johnston having
been severely. wounded.
Captain Lee says that one marked
characteristic Of his father was hi
habit Of attending to all bushes
promptly. HE was never Idle hs
says, land what he had to do he per
formed with care n precision"