Death of General
Robert E. Lee
By: Calvin E. Johnson, Jr.
Freelance writer, Author of book,
“When American Stood for God, Family and Country” and a member of
the historical group Sons of Confederate Veterans.
www.scv.org
1064 West Mill Drive
Kennesaw, Georgia 30152
Phone: 770 428 0978
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.”
The United States flag, which Robert
E. Lee had defended as a soldier, flew at half mast in Lexington,
Virginia and throughout the USA.
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 folks 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."
Robert E. Lee was the hero of the
Southern people and admired both North and South of the
Mason-Dixon Line. This Christian- gentleman's last words were,
"Strike the Tent."
There will be a Remembering Robert E.
Lee Program at Lee Chapel on Monday, October 12, 2009. For details
go to:
http://chapelapps.wlu.edu/tertiary.asp?ID=40&Parent=43&NavOrder=1
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