GENERAL LEE

BY

FITZHUGH LEE

HIS NEPHEW AND CAVALRY COMMANDER

NEW YORK
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
1894

COPYRIGHT, 1894,
BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY.

A|LL rights reserved.

I DEDICATE THIS BOOK
THE MEMORY OF THE SOLDIERS
WHO FOUGHT AND FELL
UNDER THE WAVE OF ROBERT E. LEE'S SWORD, AND ARE
"SLEEPING IN UNBROKEN RANKS, WITH THE DEW ON THEIR BROWS
AND THE RUST ON THEIR MAIL."

PREFACE.

THE occasion has been embraced to express the universal regret that General Lee never wrote anything concerning his career and campaigns. His statements would have settled conflicting opinions on all subjects contained therein. We know that it was his intention to record the deeds of his soldiers, but not to write his personal memoirs. He waited for a "convenient season," and waited too long. In this volume the attempt has been made to imperfectly supply the great desire to have something from Robert E. Lee's pen, by introducing, at the periods referred to, such extracts from his private letters as would be of general interest. He is thus made, for the first time, to give his impressions and opinions on most of the great events with which he was so closely connected. Except in a few instances, the scope of the book has not permitted the tactical details of the battlefield, or the mention by name of many of the officers and organizations whose superb courage contributed to their commander's fame.

F.L.

GLASGOW, VA., August, 1894.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER
I.—ANCESTRY
II.—BIRTH.—CAREER AS OFFICER OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY
III.—A CAVALRY OFFICER OF THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES
IV.—WAR
V.—INVASION OF VIRGINIA
VI.—THE CAMPAIGN IN WEST VIRGINIA
VII.—ATLANTIC COAST DEFENSES.—ASSIGNED TO DUTY IN RICHMOND AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE SOUTHERN PRESIDENT
VIII.—COMMANDS THE ARMY DEFENDING RICHMOND, AND SEVEN DAYS BATTLES
IX.—SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS
X.—SHARPSBURG AND FREDERICKSBURG
XI.—CHANCELLORSVILLE
XII.—GETTYSBURG
XIII.—CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA.—BRISTOL STATION.—MINE RUN.—WILDERNESS
XIV.—SIEGE OF PETERSBURG
XV.—EVACUATION OF RICHMOND AND THE PETERSBURG LINES. .—RETREAT AND SURRENDER
XVI.—RETURN TO RICHMOND.—PRESIDENT OF WASINGTON COLLEGE.—DEATH AND BURIAL
XVII.—MILITARY CHARACTER
INDEX [Omitted]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Portrait of General Robert Edward Lee   Frontispiece
Sections of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland
The Battlefield of Gettysburg
Central Virginia   Back of book

R. E. Lee
H. B. Hall, Jr.
D. Appleton & Co.