^gi^ OTertifie^ has subscribed to the Lee Memorial Fund to be used in the enlargement and elaboration of the Lee Memorial Chapel and the perpetuation of General Lee's work at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va. Custodian and Treasurer Copyright, 1921 by Lee Memorial Fund C. B. Tate, Treasurer JAN 17 mpi Robert E.Lee SOLDIER PATRIOT EDUCATOR WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HIS LIFE AND SERVICES AT WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY LEXINGTON, VA. ,, T^ub lish e djor th e Lee Memorial Fund and dedicated to the Daughters of the Confederacy H H-1 o ©CU606877 Captain Rnl)ert E. Lee, U. S. A. WASHINGTON AND LEE! What thrilling days, dazzling in splendor, these names revive; what romantic glamour surrounds them; what potent stimulant to youthful ambition; what blessing and benediction to all who cherish liberty, and through it honor purity of motive, and devotion to duty! Washington and Lee! Spiritual father and son were these most emi- nent Virginians, Southrons, citizens of the world, and a psychic influence seems to have directed them through almost identical physical mold and closely paralleling environment. Both of gentle English origin; born in the county of Westmoreland, Virginia ; shortly deprived of a father's guid- ing counsel; reared under a mother's influence; early adopting the profes- sion of arms; quickly attaining first rank among military men of their day; brilliant commanders of the greatest soldiers of all times; retiring into humbler calling with the serenity of bearing that is the emblem of real greatness. Washington, the exquisite refinement of Colonial purity, pro- totype and forecast of Lee, the perfect flower of a civilization that all America emulates today. Washington and Lee ! At the boundary line of the great L^niversity of Washington and Lee, Lexington, Virginia, one approaches a shrine of sacred memories that has no counterpart in America. This placid scene, with colorful sunshine filtering through tall trees, penciling with light impress- ive colonnades, softly revealing stately Colonial architecture, suggests the calm, benevolent Washington, whose endowment of the original academy brought to it the name of Washington College; but the subtle influence that permeates this dignified landscape and kindles a thousand emotions is drawn from the constant recurrence of the fragrant memory of the knio-htlv Lee, w4io cast about the institution and its environs the luster of his last years and maturest mentality, the honor of his name, and the continued evidence of his entire consecration to duty. Washington and Lee! Here is ever perceived the intangible form of General Lee's luminous character, towering above his fellows, and still being discovered reaching into greater and greater perspectives as passing time clarifies the vision and purifies the hearts of men. Here, also, is the most beautiful memorial that human hands have wrought from the chas- tity of marble — the chieftain asleep, his stainless sword beside him, stilled by his restraining hand. And beneath this shrine, Mecca to tens of thou- sands, rests the dust of this man who commands universal homage more than half a century after a perfected life had been crow^ied with the most exalted example of self-abnegation and entire consecration to the loftiest ideals. No one can stand on this sward unmoved, or indulge this comnumion of nobility without instant elevation and continuing betterment, for here lies and here lives one of the really great of all time; divinely inspirational in love of countrv: reaching into the supreme heights of military achieve- ment ; yet no less eminent as private citizen, counselor of youth, friend of every man. W ^ 1^ September 18, 1865, a solitary horseman rode into Lexington, Virginia, a gracious, regal figure, seated on a handsomely proportioned, muscular, gray horse. General Lee on "Traveler" ! Instinctively, the community seemed to have sensed the presence of this greatest figure of the South. The narrow streets that the celebrated war- horse traversed were livened with men, women and children in earnest rivalry to offer homage to the world-famous soldier who had come to Lexington to direct the education of Southern youth at Washington College. It was a reverent ol)lation to the idol of their hearts; and it was a triumphal re-entry into the hearts of hundreds of thousands of others who had followed his banner in stirring feats of arms; or, through heroic sacrifice, had served their stricken land as valorously as if l)y sword and fire on the field of battle. Three Historic Homes of General Roliert E. Lee For here again was concrete evidence of the purity and loftiness of General Lee's character. A powerful corporation of the Great Metropolis had tendered him what was then regarded a fabulous sum to become its president; transatlantic admirers had urged him to accept an estate and honors abroad; other advantageous offers had come to him, each showing the way to a life of ease in agreeable surroundings. But, as ever throughout his life, he saw only the narrow path of duty, and severely putting aside self, he consist- ently trod the way, sustained by the elevated sense of personal responsibility that had set the stamp of greatness on him in early youth; that had made him the model student at West Point; the instant champion of his native State when internal revolution threatened her authority; the soldier una- fraid in the wild mountain passes of Mexico when, almost single-handed, he turned the tide of war, and drew from General Winfield Scott that great brevet of praise: "Captain Lee is the very best soldier I ever saw in the field!"; the kindlv, paternal commandant of the United States Military Academy at West Point ; the affectionate son, who rather than strike at his mother State, turned from President Lincoln's tender of command of the United States armies and became a subordinate soldier of \^irginia ; the soul of an immortal army of incredible valor and equal fortitude in constant attrition and final exhaustion; the sustaining influence of an impoverished people in bravely accepting the adverse fortunes of war — and now in declining a life of comfort to become the head of a broken college, for the good of the men of the future. Here, in the little town of Lexington, hushed in its compound of lofty mountains, sweetened by the thought of Washington, his Great Exemplar ; consecrated by the last resting place of his famous "right-arm," Stone- wall Jackson — he sat "Traveler," the same imposing figure that had sounded the whole gamut of military greatness — come to serve rather than to accept ministration. To those who looked on him there was pictured the eminent com- mander whose prescience continuously forecast the enemy's design; the uncanny skill that drafted and directed campaigns destined to shape the conduct of war for generations ; the audacious, intrepid, irresistible offense and the inexhaustible resources of defense — the sublimity of military genius; the three accidents that swept absolute victory from his grasp through loss in the moment of triumph of Johnston at Seven Pines; peer- less Jackson at Chancellorsville; Longstreet in the Wilderness. Then the vision of martial glory gave place to the kindly face of the Christian Gen- tleman — yet greater, in that he came to give all to the helpless, with no thought of self impairing his vision ; that men measuring to the standards he had set for himself were to be reared from the shattered family circles of the Southland and fitted for the greater civilization that was to form a social and commercial fabric even more imposing than had been projected for the Confederate States — but within a newly cemented Union of States, and a blood bond of brotherly affection. General Lee and faithful "Traveler" had descended from dizzy heights of glory, down through the darkened shades of agonizing disappointment and thwarted purpose, but the soul of the renowned horseman had ascended again into an altitude of distinction that few^ great men ever attain. Whatever the reaction of his emotions, his words were few and restrained: "I have led the young men of the South to battle. I have seen many of them die in the field. I shall now devote myself to training men to do their duty in life." Mr. Edward Clifton Gordon, President Lee's proctor, has lately stated that probably the coming of General Lee to Washington College resulted from Col. Bolivar Christian overhearing a remark of General Lee's eldest daughter, who said: "The people of the South are offering my father every- thing but work, and work is the only thing he will accept at their hands." At a later meeting of Washington College trustees, Colonel Christian brought to the board's attention the possibility of inducing General Lee to head the college, and Judge Brockenbrough, then rector of the board, was sent to inform the prospective president of his election. After deliberate consideration, he accepted the position. General Lee was inducted into office as president of Washington College on October 2, 1865. Immediately he applied his tireless energies to this new work, and quickly reduced it to perfect method. This was a task that would have discouraged men unaccustomed to the effect of discipline and system in a large way; for as an educational institu- tion, Washington College was then little more than a name, less than an efficient academy; wnth few students, and buildings pillaged, defaced, and falling into ruins; with a slender faculty, and little endowment. But his presence gave it instant prestige and vivified it with life that flows as naturally from such a character as electric current traverses the wire. Soon Washington College took on the semblance of a great univer- sity, and began to be known as an institution of learning that was to be reckoned among the greater colleges. It was most natural that his character should become a lodestone to draw the flower of Southern youth to this point and that they should become surcharged with the elevation of his ideals. 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