I just finished a biography -- "Gray Fox" by Burke Davis -- about Robert E. Lee. I was disappointed that the book ended at the end of the war. I know very little of Lee's life, after the war, other than the fact that he lived in Lexington, VA, and was head of the college there. Can anyone else provide any more information on what his life was like, post-war? Did he ever write about the war, or was he ever interviewed about it? Did he and Grant ever meet again? Did anyone ever record Grant's reaction to hearing of Lee's death? Did Lee keep in touch, or meet with, other military figures, Union or Confederate? Or did he want to completely leave memories of the war behind him? Did he ever travel to Washington or travel outside the state of VA?
I just finished a biography -- "Gray Fox" by Burke Davis -- about Robert E. Lee. I was disappointed that the book ended at the end of the war. I know very little of Lee's life, after the war, other than the fact that he lived in Lexington, VA, and was head of the college there. Can anyone else provide any more information on what his life was like, post-war? Did he ever write about the war, or was he ever interviewed about it? Did he and Grant ever meet again? Did anyone ever record Grant's reaction to hearing of Lee's death? Did Lee keep in touch, or meet with, other military figures, Union or Confederate? Or did he want to completely leave memories of the war behind him? Did he ever travel to Washington or travel outside the state of VA?
Billy Yank,
In terms of his life in Lexington, VA after the war, from various books I have read he led a very quiet life, and concentrated on his duties at the college. As for writing about his war experiences, he was in the midst of gathering info. to do so, but never got into the writing stage. Know he was interviewed by an ex Confederate officer William Allan in Lexington a few times after the war about his experiences. As for meeting with military figures after the war, it's not like he sought out to do so, but he did come across many of them after the war. As for him surpressing his memories of the war, I say no. As to him seeing Grant after Appomattox, I don't think they ever met again.
One last, and if wrong am sure I will be corrected, but he did visit the grave of Stonewall Jackson in Lexington every now and then after the war, and just prayed.
There is a book about Lee and the post war years by Charles Bracelen Flood, but have not read it, so I can't recommend it.
I just finished a biography -- "Gray Fox" by Burke Davis -- about Robert E. Lee. I was disappointed that the book ended at the end of the war. I know very little of Lee's life, after the war, other than the fact that he lived in Lexington, VA, and was head of the college there. Can anyone else provide any more information on what his life was like, post-war? Did he ever write about the war, or was he ever interviewed about it? Did he and Grant ever meet again? Did anyone ever record Grant's reaction to hearing of Lee's death? Did Lee keep in touch, or meet with, other military figures, Union or Confederate? Or did he want to completely leave memories of the war behind him? Did he ever travel to Washington or travel outside the state of VA?
Billy Yank,
In terms of his life in Lexington, VA after the war, from various books I have read he led a very quiet life, and concentrated on his duties at the college. As for writing about his war experiences, he was in the midst of gathering info. to do so, but never got into the writing stage. Know he was interviewed by an ex Confederate officer William Allan in Lexington a few times after the war about his experiences. As for meeting with military figures after the war, it's not like he sought out to do so, but he did come across many of them after the war. As for him surpressing his memories of the war, I say no. As to him seeing Grant after Appomattox, I don't think they ever met again.
One last, and if wrong am sure I will be corrected, but he did visit the grave of Stonewall Jackson in Lexington every now and then after the war, and just prayed.
There is a book about Lee and the post war years by Charles Bracelen Flood, but have not read it, so I can't recommend it.
Joined: Jul 16, 2006 Posts: 522 Location: Ashburn, Virginia
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:09 am Post subject:
I appreciate the info. It would have been interesting if Lee could have gotten around to writing his own memoirs. I'll look to see if I can find additional information about Flood's book. Thanks very much.
Have you ever visited Lexington? My wife and I went there a couple of years ago and really enjoyed our visit. I hope to go back again.
Joined: Jul 16, 2006 Posts: 522 Location: Ashburn, Virginia
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:19 am Post subject:
Steve,
I found something. (However, I can't vouch for the information, since I just came across it on Amazon.com, while reading reviews of Flood's book.) One reviewer stated the following:
"One of the most fascinating (and mysterious) episodes in the book is Lee's trip to Washington, D.C., to visit President Grant in the White House. No one else was present for the meeting, and so no one really knows what they discussed."
If the visit did, indeed, happen, it would have been interesting to see/hear the discussion that Grant and Lee had, when Lee visited Washington.
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:25 pm Post subject: meeting with President Grant
billy yank
General Lee's youngest son wrote that his father met with President Grant for about fifteen minutes and did not discuss anything poiltical. He further said that at the meeting were Mr. and Mrs. Tagart and John Motley, who had recently been appointed as minister to Great Britain. That is from Recollections and Letters.
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