The Spirit of Robert E. Lee
October 12, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008, is the 138th
anniversary of the death of a great American soldier, Confederate
leader, husband, father and savior of a great college.
You may have caught the Travel
Channel last Friday, October 10th, which aired a live
telecast of the "Most Haunted" team’s investigation from Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania. Some call Gettysburg ’s War Between the States Battlefield
the most haunted spot in the USA , where thousands of Confederate and
Union soldiers died during three days of battle in July 1863.
Robert E. Lee’s greatness can be shown in how
he came from defeat at Gettysburg and surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
to helping save a financially troubled college at Lexington, Va.
Some say the spirit of Gen. Lee still walks
the halls of Washington and Lee College .
General Robert E. Lee died at his home at
Lexington, Va. at 9:30 AM on 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.
It is believed 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."
The heavy rains and flooding were reported as
the worse of Virginia ’s recorded history on the day Gen. Lee 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 Virginia Military Institute
carried the remains of the old soldier to Lee Chapel where he laid in
state. Many buildings and homes were covered in black crepe in mourning.
The United States flag flew at half-mast
throughout much of the nation.
Memorial meetings were held throughout the
South and as far north as New York . At Washington College 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, Va. Lee was
also eulogized in Great Britain .
In a letter home, a VMI Cadet wrote, quote
"The day following the funeral procession after marching all around town
and through the institute grounds, formed around the college chapel and
he was buried in the chapel under the floor of the basement. The
procession was a very large one, a great many persons from a distance
being here. Our brass band with muffled drums went ahead of the hearse
playing the death march." unquote
Robert E. Lee's last words were, "Strike the
Tent."
“Robert E. Lee was, in my estimation, one of
the supremely gifted men produced by this nation.”---The late former US
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Some news organizations have reported a
revival of interest in the War Between the States as 2008, is the 200th
birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and 2009, will be the
200th birthday of Union President Abraham Lincoln.
Please check the Sons of Confederate Veterans
national website at:
www.scv.org for more information about the history of the South,
which is part of the history of this great nation. You can also find
more information on Beauvoir, the last home of Jefferson Davis and his
family by going to:
www.beauvoir.org
Lest
We Forget!!
