The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-25
THE r FAMILY BIBLE.

ways a h4OSA LlCluOQlCdl UidH, lie kept
all letters of any Importance and care
fully Transcribed his replies In this
book By express permission of his
son, my old classmate. Captain Robert
E. Lee. Jr., / nave still in my possess
sion copies OF many of these letters.
Some day / trust that the whole mass
Of these letters will be published for
the high and noble spirit that inform
them will show posterity and why il
was that this great soldier and noble
gentleman could meet with mistaken
front the very stroke of fate.
In this letter book there is
letter after letter written by
General Lee in reply to north
ern gentlemen. who had offered to try
to get back the private effects of the
family-replies always dignified, gra-
cious, patient, not without a touch.
here and there of aristocratic irony.
One man, at least. was honest
enough to send back part of the "swag'
and to him General Lee replies un-
der date Of March % 1866:
My Dear Sir.-The three articles TAX
en- from during its
cy by the United States soldiers which
accompanied your note of the 10th ms
tant have been received. / am much
oollged to you for returning them to
me- AS you express a desire to DOS
sess the picture Of Washington. printed
on satin in 1898, 1 take pleasure in pre-
sent1ng it to you. Very respectfully.
your obedient servant.
r E. LEE.
On April s. 1856. he writes to another:
Ny Dear Sir,-I have received your
letter Of End infant. and am oblige to
you Tor your kind offer to reclaim
some of the articles tina have bean
taken from Arlington by the soldiers
OF the United States army. 1 fear this
would be a task of great trouble and
would not be attended by compare
tive good. but any articles that fall in
your way such as you describe. which
can be returned without Inconvenience.
L would be glad to get.
Yours respectfully,
R. E. LEE.
Isn't it pathetici Isn't it shameful,
Which can be returned without
convenience"
In 1869 the president of the United
States signed an order for the restora-
ton to Mrs. Lee of the washington
relics" but congress forbade their re-
moval. Touching this action, Lee
writes to a member Of congress under
date of March 20, 1869:
MY Dear Sir.-I beg to be allowed
to tender you my sincere thanks for
your efforts to have restored to Mrs.
Lee certain family relics in the patent
office in Washington. The facts relat-
ed in your speech in the house of rep
r~esentatives on the third instant. so
far as known to me, are correct. and
had l conceived the view taken Of the
matter by congress-, i would have en-
deavOred to ave diSSuaded Mrs. Lee
from applying for them. 1t may be
a question with some, whether the re-
tention of these articles is more an in
suit, in the language of the COMMITTEES
on NJ L f11 - - fh~ ~-
Of the United States than their resto-
ration, but l I'M willing that they shall
be the judge; and since congress has
decided to keep them she must sub
nit"
TO a western member of congress.
who had written to him in regard to
the relics. he replies. March %, 1869:
In reference to certain articles which
were taken form Arlington, about
debted to our old friend, Captain
James May, for the order from the ad-
ADMINISTRATION for their restoration to
~her-congress. however, passed a reso-
tuition forbidding their return. They
were valuable to her as having belong
ed to her great-grandmOther, having
been ~bequeathed to her by her father.
But as the country desires them. she
must give them UP. / hope their pres
| ence at the capitol will keep in the re-
membrance Of all Americans. the prin-
ciples and virtues of Washington
The partially of the Union soldiers
occupying Arlington for Bibles las a
means of barter only seems as pro-
nounced as that of the Germans for
| clocks in the Franco-Prussian war, for
singularly enough, General Lees fam
lily Bible was also "mislaid" and
found" Finally this was traced to
Buffalo, N. Y, where some "patriotic''
woman had ''purchased' it from the
finder" and still held on to it. To a
gentlemen (member of congress). who
informed General Lee Of it's wherea-
bouts, he replies, September. 5. 1866:
"My Dear Sir,-I am very much OBJ
! liged to o for your kind letter of the
I'D ultimo. So many articles belong
ing to me are scattered over the coun-
try that I fear I nave not the time to
| devote to their cover / know no one
in Buffalo whom 1 could ask to re-
claim the Bible in question. If the ia
| dy who has it will use it. as 1 hope
she will, she will seek to restore it to
it's rightful owner. I will therefore
cave the decision of the question to
her, her conscience. / thank you sin
cerely for your interest in my behalf
With great respect, your obedient ser
| want. r. E. LEE
This is delicious, and may be COM
mended to the "prayerful considera-
| ton" Of Mr.. Kendrick. and of such
| pachydermatous "p~urchasers'' of fami-
ly heirloomS as persist in holding on to
them after knowing the names and ad-
| dresses of their rightful owners.