Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee

From the opening

Chapter I Services in the United States Army Captain Lee, of the Engineers, a hero to his child--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.............. 3

Chapter II The Confederate General 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......................... 24

Chapter III Letters to Wife and Daughters 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 ................. 48

Chapter IV Army Life of Robert the Younger 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 .................. 69

Chapter V The Army of Northern Virginia 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........................... 91

Chapter VI The Winter of 1863-4 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 ... 112

Chapter VII Fronting the Army of the Potomac 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... 128

Chapter VIII The Surrender 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 ........... 144

A short sample. Read the whole book

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