Posted on 10/01/2010 4:15:03 PM PDT by BigReb555
General Lee died at his home at Lexington, Virginia at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, October 12, 1870.
(Excerpt) Read more at huntingtonnews.net ...
http://chapelapps.wlu.edu/tertiary.asp?ID=40&Parent=43&NavOrder=1
The headline from a Richmond newspaper read, quote; “News of the death of Robert E. Lee, beloved chieftain of the Southern army, whose strategy mainly was responsible for the surprising fight staged by the Confederacy, brought a two-day halt to Richmond's business activities.” unquote
The American flag, which Robert E. Lee had defended as a soldier, flew at half mast in Lexington, Virginia.
General Lee died at his home at Lexington, Virginia at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, October 12, 1870. His last great deed came after the War Between the States when he accepted the presidency of Washington College, now Washington and Lee University. He saved the financially troubled college and helped many young people further their education.
Some write that Robert E. Lee suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on September 28, 1870, but was thought to greatly improve until October 12th, when he took a turn for the worse. His condition seemed more hopeless when his doctor told him, "General you must make haste and get well---Traveller---has been standing too long in his stable and needs exercise."
Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Cadet William Nalle said in a letter home to his mother, dated October 16, 1870, quote;
“I suppose of course that you have all read full accounts of Gen Lee's death in the papers. He died on the morning of the 12th at about half past nine. All business was suspended at once all over the country and town, and all duties, military and academic suspended at the Institute, and all the black crape and all similar black material in Lexington, was used up at once, and they had to send on to Lynchburg for more. Every cadet had black crape issued to him, and an order was published at once requiring us to wear it as a badge of mourning for six months.” unquote
Read entire letter on Virginia Military Institute website at:
http://www.vmi.edu/archives.aspx?id=5517
The rains and flooding were the worse of Virginia's history on the day General Lee died. On Wednesday, October 12, 1870, in the presence of his family, Lee quietly passed away.
The church bells rang as the sad news passed through Washington College, Virginia Military Institute, the town of Lexington and the nation. Cadets from VMI College carried the remains of the old soldier to Lee Chapel where he laid in state.
Memorial meetings were held throughout the South and as far North as New York. At Washington College in Lexington eulogies were delivered by: Reverend Pemberton, Reverend W.S. White--Stonewall Jackson's Pastor and Reverend J. William Jones. Former Confederate President Jefferson Davis brought the eulogy in Richmond, Virginia. Lee was also eulogized in Great Britain.
When all settled down, Mrs. Robert E. Lee said, "If he had succeeded in gaining by the sword all the South expected and hoped for, he could not have been more honored and lamented."
Many thousands witnessed Lee's funeral procession marching through the town of Lexington, Virginia, with muffled drums and the artillery firing as the hearse was driven to the school's chapel where he was buried. US President Dwight D. Eisenhower knew and appreciated our nation’s rich history. President Eisenhower was criticized for displaying a portrait of Robert E. Lee in his office. This was part of his response; quote "Robert E. Lee was, in my estimation, one of the supremely gifted men produced by this nation." unquote
This Christian-gentleman's last words were, "Strike the Tent."
Let me start the thread in the proper fashion: Lee is probably the most unfortunate loser in American history.
Considering the apologies coming from this administration, I wonder if they are going to apologize for stealing his home-place and land which is now Arlington National Cemetery.
Just sayin’.......
I ma proud to say I am one of his direct descendants, and a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Rest in Peace General.
He most likely the most talented one and more talented than a lot of “winners”.
If he’d have been born 100 miles to the east in Maryland and had the same opportunity to go to West Point the war probably would have been a couple of years shorter. You can list thopse with that big of an impact on our history on one or two hands.
“Lee was against slavery and a number of years before the war he freed his own slaves. He was so highly respected, that when war looked imminent, President Abraham Lincoln offered him the Field Command of the United States Army. He struggled all night with his decision, finally resolving to the obligation of loyalty to his home state and the South. He resigned from the U.S. Army and in a letter to his sister explained:
‘With all my devotion to the union and the feelings of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home.’
On December 27, 1856, Robert E. Lee wrote to his wife:
‘Slavery as an institution is a moral and political evil in any country.... I think, however, a greater evil to the whites than to the black race...
The doctrines and miracles of our Savior have required nearly two thousand years to convert but a small part of the human race, and even among the Christian nations what gross errors still exist.’”
A friend of mine is a direct descendant of Lee. You can see it in her eyes.
He did go to West Point and would have been hung for treason, but for the graciousness of West Pointers.
Do your duty in all things;
you cannot do more;
you should never wish to do less.
-R. E. Lee
(my grandmother was named for him)
ping.
Can I throw a question out there. What would everone say is the best book to read on Robert E Lee? I read a book called 1858 a few years ago and the chapters on Lee were interesting.
IBN-S
NAw, that joke was on the yankees. They thought they were putting him down by putting a graveyard on his property, but in reality they hallowed the grounds he walked beyond measure in a gesture that he would have found entirely appropriate.
“I am proud to say I am one of his direct descendants,
and a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.”
-
I want you to bear my children! :-)
Please explain how he differed from Benedict Arnold.
” How far do you stand from an attack upon your home ? “
Robert E. Lee
Robert Duvall is also a descendant of this great gentleman.
Rest in Peace General.
Amen.
America’s greatest general.
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