Show OLD HOME OF ROBERT E LEF down the potomac but a few miles from our nations capital are arlington heights the former home of gen robert E lee it is a place not only of great beauty but of interest to every american because here rests soldiers who gave their lives that this nation might live then too it was here that the famous military hero robert kobert E lee lived and who would not be bakoy to enter the old this once famous man whose memory we all cherish robert E B lee was one of those simple true and honest americans 1 and at the breaking out of the wax war was recognized as one of our greatest soldiers it ii is a known fact that general scott did all he could to retain lee in the army of the north but in vain lee loved his old commander in chief dearly he loved his flak flag he loved his country but when it came to the question of giving his him allegiance to the ulion or his state he as a man and a virginian determined to share the destiny of his state which had solemnly pronounced for independence his resignation was a noble one having decided his course he wrote the following letter to general scott general since my interview with you on the dinst I 1 have felt that I 1 ought not longer to retain my jorn aam mission in the army I 1 therefore tender my resignation which I 1 request you will recommend for acceptance it would woud have been presented at once but for the struggle it hascott me to separate myself from a service to which I 1 have devoted all the best years of my life and all the ability I 1 possess during the whole of that time more than a quarter of a century I 1 have experienced nothing but kindness from ray my superiors and the most cordial friendship from my comrades to no one general have I 1 been as much indebted as to yourself tor for uniform kindness and consideration and it has always been my ardent desire to merit your approbation 1 I 1 I shall carry to the grave the most grateful recollections of your kind consideration and your name and fame will always be dear to me save in dise defense of my native state I 1 never desire again to draw my sword be pleased to accept my most earnest wishes for the continuance of your you happiness and prosperity and believe rice me most moat truly yours R E LEE lieutenant general winfield scott commanding united states army in this letter full of dignity and courtesy lee vainly attempted to hide the acute pain he felt at parting from his friend and withdrawing his services from his country the following letter to iya his sister was written the same day arlington virginia april 20 1861 my dear sister I 1 am grieved at my inability to see you I 1 have been waiting for a more convenient V ent t season which has brought to many before me deep and lasting regret now we are in a state of war which will yield to nothing the whole south is in a state of revolution into which virginia after a long struggle has baa been drawn and though I 1 lecog nize no necessity for this state of things and would have forborne end and pleaded to the end for redress of grievances real or supposed yet in my own person I 1 had to meet the question whether I 1 should take part against my tralve state with gal all my devoti devotion olk to the union and the feeling of loyalty boyea ty bd duty of an american citizen I 1 have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives my children my home I 1 have therefore resigned my commission in the army and save in defense of my native state with the sincere hope that my poor services may never be needed I 1 hope I 1 may never be called on to draw my sword 1 I know you will blame me but you must think as kindly of me as you can and believe that I 1 have endeavored to do what I 1 thought right to show you the feeling and struggle at has cost me I 1 send a copy of my letter to general scott which accompanied my letter of resignation tion I 1 have no time for more 0 may god guard and protect you and yours and shower upon you every blessing Is the prayer of your devoted brother R E LEE these very letters show that he in his every day deeds conformed to his own ennobling words duty to is the sub word in our language human virtue should be equal to human calamity As one stands on the portico of the old house he partly realizes what private fortunes and future hopes lee sacrificed when he resigned from the united states army but we had quite forgotten arlington on the virginian hills across the potomac from washington to is the old home entrance is made through the sheridan gate and pretty winding paths among the trees bring us to the house and antique looking structure with large doric columns it resembles some ancient athenian temple the builder was george washington parke curtis whose grandmother became mrs martha washington mary curtis married robert E lee in 1831 and at arlington their happiest days were spent when the war broke out lee badje bade adieu to this beautiful spot and it soon fell into the hands of federal troops the mansion becoming the headquarters of general and the grounds a military camp and cemetery the view from the portico of the house Is extremely fascinating below at the foot of the slope is the potomac flowing calmly on to the great chesapeake bay to the south mouth is Alex alexanria adria and across the river the national capitol with its beautiful suburbs of hills and dales beyond are the hills of maryland Maryla md gradually receding to the horizons rim the grounds at arlington are beautiful it seems that mother nature has been molding for years the spot which should protect the remains of so many of our nations hl heroes roes there are flower beds and lawns and beautiful trees that have been growing for many many years and it was the beauty of these that caused lafayette ta to say may when visiting here remember how much easier it is to cut down a tree than to make one grow all flay day the stars and stripes float in front of the house until the sunset gun of fort myer reverberates reverberated rever berates among the hills the most impressive sights are the soldiers graves stretching away in almost bendles end lette les vision one sees the little tomb stories stones set in rows and uniform in dist distance anee on each is the name of a soldier and the number by which he is enrolled in the roll of honor which to is kept in the wax war department part ment at washington dispersed here and there about the grounds are bronze tablets on which are ar stanzas taken from boharas OH aras bivouac of the dead a poem doubly impressive when read among the graves the muffled muffled drums sad roll has beat the soldiers eold lera last datoo no more on lifes parade shau shall inc met 1 l that brave and fallen few on fames faines eternal camping ground their silent tents are spread and glory guards with solemn the bivouac of the dead rest on embalmed embalm ed and sainted d de deax dear as the blood ye gave no impious footsteps here shall the herbage of your grave dorshall nor shall your glory be forgot while fame her record keeps or honor points the hallowed RD spot where valor proudly sleeps under some oaks Is the tomb of unknown dead over two ghousi soldiers who were never iden identified tined w burled buried together and they sleep brothers awaiting the call of the rea morn the inscription on monument tells this simple story beneath this stone repose the h of two thousand one hundred eleven unknown soldiers gathered the wax war fram the fields of bull and the route of the Rap their remains could not be iden didenti but their names and deaths are corded in the archives of their co cow and it its grateful citizens honor tu as of their noble army of mart martyrs may they rest in peace september A D 1866 to the east oi of the house where i lawns slope gradually to the banks bank the river are the tombs of sheridan admiral david porter general george crook in another seh tion are the graves of other noted go eolo T brals who fought in the late war stones still stand to mark the lap lasts rew ing place of eleven revola fathers all cemeteries are sacred spots this one at arlington seems espel so because of the beauty and the atmosphere the graves adeall are all ered in grass and flowers and seems to have been especially x pretty in honor dead the 1 is pleasing and with irving we the grave should be surrounded everything that might t inspire te ten ness and veneration for the dead A 1 that might win the living to virett the blue and the gray lie side by al and in that world where here they hf been rewarded long ere this they held together in that bond of them id brotherhood which only H cheow knows LEVI EDGAR YO YOUNG |