Publisher's Synopsis
The letters and reminiscences of General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate Army in the Civil War, collected by his son. Topics covered include: Captain Lee, of the Engineers, The family pets, Home from the Mexican War, Three years in Baltimore, Superintendent of the West Point Military Academy, Lieutenant-Colonel of Second Cavalry, Supresses "John Brown Raid" at Harper's Ferry, Commands the Department of Taxes, Resigns from Colonelcy of First United States Cavalry, Motives for this step, Chosen to command Virginia forces, Anxiety about his wife, family, and possessions, Chief advisor to President Davis, Battle of Manassas, Military operations in West Virginia, Letter to State Governor, From Camp on Sewell's Mountain, Quotation from Colonel Taylor's book, From Professor Wm. P. Trent, From Mr. Davis's Memorial Address, Defense of Southern ports, Christmas, 1861, The General visits his father's grave, Commands, under the President, all the armies of the Confederate States, Volunteer in Rockbridge Artillery, "Four Years with General Lee" quoted, Meeting between father and son, Personal characteristics of the General, Death of his daughter Annie, His son Robert raised from the ranks, the horses, "Grace Darling" and "Traveller", Fredricksburg, Freeing slaves, The General's sympathy for his suffering soldiers, Chancellorsville, Death of "Stonewall" Jackson, General Fitzhugh Lee wounded and captured, Escape of his brother Robert, Gettysburg, Religious revival, Infantry review, Unsatisfactory commissariat, The Lee family in Richmond, The General's letters to them from Camps Rappahannock and Rapidan, Death of Mrs. Fitzhugh Lee, Preparations to meet General Grant, The Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Death of General Stuart, General Lee's illness, Battle of Cold Harbour, Siege of Petersburg, The General intrusts a mission to his son Robert, Battle of the Crater, Grant crosses the James River, General Long's pen-picture of Lee, Knitting socks for the soldiers, A Christmas dinner, Incidents of camp life, Fort Fisher captured, Lee made Commander-in-Chief, Battle of Five Forks, The General's farewell to his men, His reception in Richmond after the surrender, President Davis hears the news, Lee's visitors, His son Robert turns farmer, Lee's conception of the part, His influence exerted toward the restoration of Virginia, He visits old friends throughout the country, Receives offers of positions, Compares notes with the Union General Hunter, Longs for a country home, Finds one at "Derwent," near Cartersville, Patriotic motives for acceptance of trust, Condition of college, The General's arrival at Lexington, He prepares for the removal of his family to that city, Advice to Robert Junior, Trip to "Bremo" on private canal-boat, Mrs. Lee's invalidism, Photographs and autographs in demand, The General's interest in young people, His happy home life, Labours at Washington College, He gains financial aid for it, Worsley's translation of Homer dedicated to him, Tributes from other English scholars, His intention to write the history of his Virginia campaigns, Called before a committee of Congress, Preaches patience and silence in the South, Shuns controversy and publicity, Corresponds with an Englishman, Herbert C. Saunders, The General writes to his sons, To his wife at Rockbridge Baths, He joins her there about once a week, Distinguished and undistinguished callers at his Lexington home, He advocates early hours, His fondness for animals, Letters to Mildred Lee, To Robert, To Fitzhugh, Interviewed by Swinton, historian of the Army of the Potomac, Improvement in grounds and buildings of Washington College, Punctuality a prominent trait of its President, A strong supporter of the Y.M.C.A., An incident about "Traveller", The General's love for children, His friendship with Ex-President Davis, A ride with his daughter to the Peaks of Otter, Mildred Lee's narrative, Mrs. Lee at the White Sulphur Springs, College Preside
