Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-09-10
Robert E. Lees courtshlp.

"He was dressed in his cadet uniform
of West Point-gray with white bullet
buttons-and everyone was filled with
admiration OF his fine appearance and
lordly manners"
The foregoing is an extract from long
letter written by a relative OF Robert Z.
Lee. II describes Lee as he came court
ing, at 20, having taken the interminable
stage coach trip from West Point TO Viz
ginia 10 see the girl he loved.
From childhood Lee had been fire.
quent guest at the huge pillared house at
Arlington, across the river from Wash
ington. TIE house and IFS surrounding
estate belonged TO George Parke Custis,
grandson OF Martha Washington and
adopted son OF George Washington him
SELF Mary Custis, daughter ofthe house,
was the attraction that drew Lee thither.
Mary was one OF the richest heireSseS
and one of the prettiest girls in Virginia.
Lee came OF splendid Revolutionary and
Colonial stock, but he was poor. He and
Mary had been boy and girl sweetheats.
Through President Jackson the young
Virginian received an appointment TO the
West Point Military Academy. This
was in 1925, when he was Is. His alb
sence from home cid not give Mary's
other suitors the chance they longed for.
She remained true to the absentee, al
though between them there had been no
spoken avowal OF love.
Only once during his fodr-year course
al West Point was Lee able TO secure a
furlough. That was in 1927. And at
once he hurried South. In those days II
was long and tedious and costly journey.
But in Lees case a welcome lay at the
far end OF il.
He went straight TO Arlington, renewed
his courtship where il had been broken
of two years earlier and won Mary's
consent TO be his wife.
The course OF true love did not run
smoothly. Mr.. Custis had other and
more exalted plans for his heiress daugh-
fer. He did not care TO have her engage
herself to penniless West Point cadet.
He thought she could do better. Mary
did not agree with uim.
Lee went back TO West Point engaged
and facing another two-year absence from
his sweetheart, leaving Mary to over
come her fathers opposition as best she
could. And she overcame il.
Lee was graduated second in his
class in 1929 and was assigned to duty
as second lieutenant at Fort Monroe. II
was necessary for him TO save every
penny he could. For he and Mary had
decided that they were going 10 live on
his salary as lieutenant and not make
use OF her fathers fortune. For while
after their marriage, by the way, they
actually did this, though it was a sharp
ordeal for a girl who had been brought
up in luxury
On June 30, 1881, Lee and Mary Cusils
were married at Arlington, the great
house being iammed with planters and
army officers who had come from far and
near TO attend the marriage. An hour be-
fore the wedding terrific thunderstorm
swept the whole region. The Rev. Will
liam Meade, who was 10 perform the
ceremony, was on his way to Arlington
al the time and he was drenched to the
skin.
There was no chance to send home Tor
dry clothes, so Mr.. Meade. who was tall
and thin, officiated at the wedding wear
ing suit belonging 10 the brides father
who was short and fat. A. L. Long,
in his biography, says OF Lee and Mary:
at was the first love for them and II
was destined TO be lasting one"