Ravages of War
An 1860’s story of a Family’s Devastation in Southeast Missouri, and How Their Memory Lives On.
Submitted by Mrs. Kimberly Mauck
What began as a labor of love for descendants of the gallant men who lost their lives February 4th, 1863 in the Mingo Swamps of
Southeast Missouri turned into something extraordinary. For two consecutive years in 2005 and 2006, enough money was raised to
install a roadside marker and monument to commemorate the mostly unknown confederates laid to rest in a tiny cemetery known as
Greenbrier. How the projects came to fruition and the story of the McGee family proceeds.
Daniel McGee was born December 13th, 1828 in Jefferson Township, Wayne County, Missouri. He was the eldest son of Thomas
and Tibitha Cato McGee. Prior to the war, the McGee family was prosperous in farming, especially cattle. They owned thousands of
acres of land. IN 1860, 18 of the 23 slaves recorded in the Wayne County census belonged to the McGee family.
When the War for Southern Independence reared its head in Missouri, Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson sided with the south. A
provisional government selected by President Lincoln overran him and his cabinet. This forced every Missourian to choose a side;
there was no neutral ground, especially in the western and southern parts of the state.
Daniel immediately took arms with the Missouri State Guard along with his brother Blair. This unit existed only a few short months
and was disbanded after Missouri was officially recognized as a Confederate state by the CSA.
The 2nd Missouri Cavalry was soon formed and Daniel was voted in as Lieutenant, a popular method for selecting officers in those
days. Younger brother Hugh also joined the 2nd Missouri Cavalry as Corporal of Company C at the tender age of seventeen.
Daniel fought his entire military career in Southeast Missouri, refusing to cross the Mississippi river. Many of southern Missouri’s
fighting men followed suit because the Yankee invaders had made survival near impossible for all citizens.
Daniel eventually graduated to the title of Captain and with this, recruited a very proficient group of men. Several successful raids
were made on Union camps, and efficient spy activity aided commanders like Jeff ‘the Swamp Fox” Thompson, Timothy Reeves, and
General Sterling Price. This made the “McGee Band” a certain target for Union Commanders Major Reeder and Colonel Lazaer of
the 12th Missouri Militia (USA).
Taken from the Official Record, on February 2nd, 1863, Major Reeder reported that he and his men arrived in Dallas (present day
Marble Hill, Missouri) for the purpose of “killing, capturing and dispersing such bands of outlaws and rebels as infest the vicinity of
Dallas and Mingo Swamp.” It should be noted that especially in Missouri, the Union army refused to consider southern partisans as
soldiers and that an “outlaw” was anyone who didn’t fight for the Union.
Reeder was looking for one southerner in particular and that was Captain Daniel McGee. Scouts had reported to Reeder that
Captain McGee was in the area. McGee had been a particular thorn in the side of Major Reeder. Reeder decided to rest his men in
Dallas and resume his pursuit of McGee and his men the next day.
On February 4th, 1863, Major Reeder had learned an approximate location of Captain McGee and his men. Against the advice of
residents, Reeder and his men made a mad dash through the swamps in search of McGee.
With forty of his best horses and men, Reeder made a sharp trot of ten miles eventually arriving at the farm of Simeon Cato, a man
Reeder accused of harboring outlaws. Simeon was Daniel’s 64-year-old uncle. It was here that Major Reeder discovered and
startled Captain McGee and his men. Reeder stated in his official report “We took no prisoners amongst them, as I had previously
been given orders not to do so.” Reeder’s report also stated that within fifteen minutes, the whole band was exterminated. Nine
were killed instantly, including Simeon Cato and Daniel, and twenty more fell mortally wounded.
From partial family accounts and the story from notorious Missouri Bushwhacker Samuel Hildebrand, Daniel and his men were
unarmed, feeding their horses and resting from the previous day’s raid at Bollinger Mill, where at least one Yankee was killed and
another captured. That would explain being unarmed and surprised at the early morning attack.
Further family legend says that after Daniel was killed, Yankees stood over his lifeless body and continued firing shots until his entire
midriff was cut through. He was stripped of his Confederate uniform, which hung as what the Yankees considered a trophy at the
courthouse in Fredericktown, or perhaps as a warning to other southern sympathizers.
In 2005, supporters and descendants of Daniel McGee and Simeon Cato established a roadside marker at the precise location the
Mingo Swamp Massacre occurred. This is thanks to the insight of Mr. Adruain Cato, descendant of Simeon Cato.
Adruain, through many years of study along with fellow researchers Mr. & Mrs. Ron and Shirley Cato made many trips to Southeast
Missouri from their homes in Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. They uncovered much of what we know about this incident
today. When Kimberly Mauck, a member of Turner Ashby chapter #184 in Winchester, Virginia and great-great-great niece of Daniel
learned of Adruain’s projected ideas, she immediately started assisting in the project. Although thousands of miles away, they
coordinated the post dedication reception at the Zalma Masonic Lodge, raised funds, and requested the aid of John Christensen,
Commander of the Missouri Division Sons of Confederate Veterans, other members of the SCV. The Missouri Division United
Daughters of the Confederacy also participated in the ceremony. The project was a great success. Local press did extensive
coverage. Over 150 family and friends attended the event, just off a rural country road just south of Arab, Missouri.
Thanks to the generous contributions from the first dedication, the same supporters and descendants established a graveside
marker in 2006 where most of the men murdered that day lay in shallow unmarked graves. Although neither of the ventures were
official UDC projects, Jefferson Davis Chapter #2595 in Dexter, Missouri contributed a great deal. The efforts of Chapter President
Jenny Peck were especially important. Missouri Border Chapter #936 Children of the Confederacy also contributed. These chapters
took it upon themselves to raise money for the second project by having a luncheon with special guest speaker John Zdroj, 2nd
Missouri Cavalry expert, selling books and collecting donations. The descendants of Daniel McGee and Simeon Cato will forever be
grateful to the memorial contributions of the Missouri UDC and SCV.
The rest of the sorrowful story about the McGee family cannot go untold. The Yankees exterminated all of the adult men in the family,
one by one.
After Blair’s service with the MSG, it is presumed he suffered injury or illness and was non-combative through the remainder of the
war. Blair was gunned down by Yankees in his yard August of 1863, in the presence of his 12-year-old niece, Carolyn. For the rest of
Carolyn’s life, she refused to enter a room with any depiction of Abraham Lincoln. She was the matriarch of this family for keeping
the stories alive.
Yankees had also gunned down the elderly father Thomas McGee. Although Thomas never enrolled in the confederate army, he
aided partisan rangers. The killing of Thomas occurred ten days after Blair’s murder. The Yankees insultingly hid Thomas’ body and
taunted the family, riding by the homestead declaring Thomas was dead, refusing to disclose the location of his body. IN fear for her
life, Tibitha hid below a fencerow with nothing more than a quilt to protect her from the elements. Thomas’ body was not recovered
for two weeks.
And then there was Hugh. Hugh McGee was totally dedicated to the southern cause. He fought throughout the war, was captured at
least once, took the oath of allegiance to get out of prison in St. Louis and immediately returned to his confederate unit. At one time, it
is supposed he was part of Nathan Bedford Forest’s bodyguard unit. Hugh fought wherever duty called.
Over a month had passed since Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. Hugh and ten of his compatriots made their way to Pochohantas,
Arkansas with the intentions of surrendering. After laying down their guns, these confederate soldiers, these young brave men, were
tied and blindfolded. One of the eleven gave a Masonic gesture and was released. The other ten were shot to death. The inscription
on a monument at Cowan cemetery where seven of the men are laid to rest reads; “Murdered May 28th, 1865, In memory of our fallen
brothers. Tied, blindfolded and shot by U.S. troops after they surrendered.” Hugh was barely 21 years old.
*Submitted by Mrs. Kimberly Mauck, great-great-great-great granddaughter of Thomas, great-great-great granddaughter of Blair,
great-great-great niece of Daniel and Hugh McGee.
Bibliography
1. Lost Family Lost Cause, Ivan McKee, pub. 1978 Pine Hill Press
2. Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand, The Renowned Missouri Bushwhacker, edited by Kirby Ross, pub. 2005, University of
Arkansas Press
3. Federal Writer’s Project 1936-38, Missouri Narratives, Vol. X, Slaves Happy to Be Free, Rhody Holsell, pg. 191
4. The War of the Rebellion, a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, VO. 22, part 1
5. Mr. John Zdroj, 2nd Missouri Cavalry expert
6. Mr. Clint Lacy, Missouri Partisan Ranger expert
7. Mr. John Rice, descendant of Blair McGee
8. Mr. Adruain Cato, descendant of Simeon Cato
9. Mrs. Jenny Peck, Jefferson Davis Chapter 2595, Dexter, Missouri
An 1860’s story of a Family’s Devastation in Southeast Missouri, and How Their Memory Lives On.
Submitted by Mrs. Kimberly Mauck
What began as a labor of love for descendants of the gallant men who lost their lives February 4th, 1863 in the Mingo Swamps of
Southeast Missouri turned into something extraordinary. For two consecutive years in 2005 and 2006, enough money was raised to
install a roadside marker and monument to commemorate the mostly unknown confederates laid to rest in a tiny cemetery known as
Greenbrier. How the projects came to fruition and the story of the McGee family proceeds.
Daniel McGee was born December 13th, 1828 in Jefferson Township, Wayne County, Missouri. He was the eldest son of Thomas
and Tibitha Cato McGee. Prior to the war, the McGee family was prosperous in farming, especially cattle. They owned thousands of
acres of land. IN 1860, 18 of the 23 slaves recorded in the Wayne County census belonged to the McGee family.
When the War for Southern Independence reared its head in Missouri, Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson sided with the south. A
provisional government selected by President Lincoln overran him and his cabinet. This forced every Missourian to choose a side;
there was no neutral ground, especially in the western and southern parts of the state.
Daniel immediately took arms with the Missouri State Guard along with his brother Blair. This unit existed only a few short months
and was disbanded after Missouri was officially recognized as a Confederate state by the CSA.
The 2nd Missouri Cavalry was soon formed and Daniel was voted in as Lieutenant, a popular method for selecting officers in those
days. Younger brother Hugh also joined the 2nd Missouri Cavalry as Corporal of Company C at the tender age of seventeen.
Daniel fought his entire military career in Southeast Missouri, refusing to cross the Mississippi river. Many of southern Missouri’s
fighting men followed suit because the Yankee invaders had made survival near impossible for all citizens.
Daniel eventually graduated to the title of Captain and with this, recruited a very proficient group of men. Several successful raids
were made on Union camps, and efficient spy activity aided commanders like Jeff ‘the Swamp Fox” Thompson, Timothy Reeves, and
General Sterling Price. This made the “McGee Band” a certain target for Union Commanders Major Reeder and Colonel Lazaer of
the 12th Missouri Militia (USA).
Taken from the Official Record, on February 2nd, 1863, Major Reeder reported that he and his men arrived in Dallas (present day
Marble Hill, Missouri) for the purpose of “killing, capturing and dispersing such bands of outlaws and rebels as infest the vicinity of
Dallas and Mingo Swamp.” It should be noted that especially in Missouri, the Union army refused to consider southern partisans as
soldiers and that an “outlaw” was anyone who didn’t fight for the Union.
Reeder was looking for one southerner in particular and that was Captain Daniel McGee. Scouts had reported to Reeder that
Captain McGee was in the area. McGee had been a particular thorn in the side of Major Reeder. Reeder decided to rest his men in
Dallas and resume his pursuit of McGee and his men the next day.
On February 4th, 1863, Major Reeder had learned an approximate location of Captain McGee and his men. Against the advice of
residents, Reeder and his men made a mad dash through the swamps in search of McGee.
With forty of his best horses and men, Reeder made a sharp trot of ten miles eventually arriving at the farm of Simeon Cato, a man
Reeder accused of harboring outlaws. Simeon was Daniel’s 64-year-old uncle. It was here that Major Reeder discovered and
startled Captain McGee and his men. Reeder stated in his official report “We took no prisoners amongst them, as I had previously
been given orders not to do so.” Reeder’s report also stated that within fifteen minutes, the whole band was exterminated. Nine
were killed instantly, including Simeon Cato and Daniel, and twenty more fell mortally wounded.
From partial family accounts and the story from notorious Missouri Bushwhacker Samuel Hildebrand, Daniel and his men were
unarmed, feeding their horses and resting from the previous day’s raid at Bollinger Mill, where at least one Yankee was killed and
another captured. That would explain being unarmed and surprised at the early morning attack.
Further family legend says that after Daniel was killed, Yankees stood over his lifeless body and continued firing shots until his entire
midriff was cut through. He was stripped of his Confederate uniform, which hung as what the Yankees considered a trophy at the
courthouse in Fredericktown, or perhaps as a warning to other southern sympathizers.
In 2005, supporters and descendants of Daniel McGee and Simeon Cato established a roadside marker at the precise location the
Mingo Swamp Massacre occurred. This is thanks to the insight of Mr. Adruain Cato, descendant of Simeon Cato.
Adruain, through many years of study along with fellow researchers Mr. & Mrs. Ron and Shirley Cato made many trips to Southeast
Missouri from their homes in Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. They uncovered much of what we know about this incident
today. When Kimberly Mauck, a member of Turner Ashby chapter #184 in Winchester, Virginia and great-great-great niece of Daniel
learned of Adruain’s projected ideas, she immediately started assisting in the project. Although thousands of miles away, they
coordinated the post dedication reception at the Zalma Masonic Lodge, raised funds, and requested the aid of John Christensen,
Commander of the Missouri Division Sons of Confederate Veterans, other members of the SCV. The Missouri Division United
Daughters of the Confederacy also participated in the ceremony. The project was a great success. Local press did extensive
coverage. Over 150 family and friends attended the event, just off a rural country road just south of Arab, Missouri.
Thanks to the generous contributions from the first dedication, the same supporters and descendants established a graveside
marker in 2006 where most of the men murdered that day lay in shallow unmarked graves. Although neither of the ventures were
official UDC projects, Jefferson Davis Chapter #2595 in Dexter, Missouri contributed a great deal. The efforts of Chapter President
Jenny Peck were especially important. Missouri Border Chapter #936 Children of the Confederacy also contributed. These chapters
took it upon themselves to raise money for the second project by having a luncheon with special guest speaker John Zdroj, 2nd
Missouri Cavalry expert, selling books and collecting donations. The descendants of Daniel McGee and Simeon Cato will forever be
grateful to the memorial contributions of the Missouri UDC and SCV.
The rest of the sorrowful story about the McGee family cannot go untold. The Yankees exterminated all of the adult men in the family,
one by one.
After Blair’s service with the MSG, it is presumed he suffered injury or illness and was non-combative through the remainder of the
war. Blair was gunned down by Yankees in his yard August of 1863, in the presence of his 12-year-old niece, Carolyn. For the rest of
Carolyn’s life, she refused to enter a room with any depiction of Abraham Lincoln. She was the matriarch of this family for keeping
the stories alive.
Yankees had also gunned down the elderly father Thomas McGee. Although Thomas never enrolled in the confederate army, he
aided partisan rangers. The killing of Thomas occurred ten days after Blair’s murder. The Yankees insultingly hid Thomas’ body and
taunted the family, riding by the homestead declaring Thomas was dead, refusing to disclose the location of his body. IN fear for her
life, Tibitha hid below a fencerow with nothing more than a quilt to protect her from the elements. Thomas’ body was not recovered
for two weeks.
And then there was Hugh. Hugh McGee was totally dedicated to the southern cause. He fought throughout the war, was captured at
least once, took the oath of allegiance to get out of prison in St. Louis and immediately returned to his confederate unit. At one time, it
is supposed he was part of Nathan Bedford Forest’s bodyguard unit. Hugh fought wherever duty called.
Over a month had passed since Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. Hugh and ten of his compatriots made their way to Pochohantas,
Arkansas with the intentions of surrendering. After laying down their guns, these confederate soldiers, these young brave men, were
tied and blindfolded. One of the eleven gave a Masonic gesture and was released. The other ten were shot to death. The inscription
on a monument at Cowan cemetery where seven of the men are laid to rest reads; “Murdered May 28th, 1865, In memory of our fallen
brothers. Tied, blindfolded and shot by U.S. troops after they surrendered.” Hugh was barely 21 years old.
*Submitted by Mrs. Kimberly Mauck, great-great-great-great granddaughter of Thomas, great-great-great granddaughter of Blair,
great-great-great niece of Daniel and Hugh McGee.
Bibliography
1. Lost Family Lost Cause, Ivan McKee, pub. 1978 Pine Hill Press
2. Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand, The Renowned Missouri Bushwhacker, edited by Kirby Ross, pub. 2005, University of
Arkansas Press
3. Federal Writer’s Project 1936-38, Missouri Narratives, Vol. X, Slaves Happy to Be Free, Rhody Holsell, pg. 191
4. The War of the Rebellion, a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, VO. 22, part 1
5. Mr. John Zdroj, 2nd Missouri Cavalry expert
6. Mr. Clint Lacy, Missouri Partisan Ranger expert
7. Mr. John Rice, descendant of Blair McGee
8. Mr. Adruain Cato, descendant of Simeon Cato
9. Mrs. Jenny Peck, Jefferson Davis Chapter 2595, Dexter, Missouri
The following article(s) have been past feature articles on the web site. The
archives page has been created for researchers and anyone interested in
reading about Southern Heritage.
archives page has been created for researchers and anyone interested in
reading about Southern Heritage.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Article Archives |
| HENRY HANCOCK LEE, BLACK HORSE CAVALRYMAN AND MY GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER by Diane Miller |
| Henry Hancock Lee was born August 26, 1837 in Fauquier County, Virginia. He was the ninth of ten children born to Hancock Lee IV and Susan Ann Richards. Henry’s branch of the Lee family was descended from Richard Lee (who emigrated from England to Jamestown between 1639 and 1640) and Anna Constable. On land passed down through the family, Hancock Lee IV developed the Fauquier White Sulphur Springs Hotel. He and a business partner continued acquiring land, and at its zenith the resort encompassed about 3,000 acres where presidents, chief justices and other dignitaries and tourists came during the summer to take the waters. When Henry was about five his father died, and he was raised by his mother and extended family members. The Lees owned slaves, and Henry’s father inherited some of them at his own father’s death. Hancock and Susan were opposed to the buying and selling of human beings. The 1860 census listed blacks with the family, but they were recorded as “manumitted” (freed). The Black Horse Troop was formed in 1859. Henry married Olivia Downman Nutt on June 14, 1860. Henry’s younger brother William F. Lee, Horace Johnson (who lived with the family) and his wife’s first cousin William Rowley Smith enlisted in the Black Horse Troop on April 25, 1861. The unit was sworn into service on April 26, 1861 attached to the 85th Regiment of Virginia Militia. They later became Company H of the 4th Virginia Cavalry. As the war continued, many other relatives of Henry and Olivia enlisted. The fact that Olivia was expecting their first child, which was stillborn in June 1861, may have held Henry back from joining sooner. But on March 15, 1862 (with Olivia well along in her second pregnancy) he was enlisted by Robert Randolph for a period of three years or the war. Many of the young men who joined the Black Horse Troop had “honed their skills for years before the War in foxhunting and at the jousting tournaments held in Fauquier Springs, and rapidly adapted those skills to the needs of the cavalry in wartime.” 1. According to Lewis Marshall Helm in his book, Black Horse Cavalry Defend Our Beloved Country, “They looked upon the War Between the States as exercising the same rights [as their ancestors did during the Revolution] to remove themselves from an oppressive government. Most of all, they looked at Virginia, not the United States, as their country” (p. 3-4). Helm recorded that Henry Lee became a color bearer for the 4th Virginia Cavalry. Company H participated in the Battle of Williamsburg, and they played a major role in the Battle of Fair Oaks. One of Henry’s fellow soldiers wrote home that “For three weeks we were constantly in the presence of [the] enemy with nothing to eat sometimes for two days in succession, going to bed at ten o’clock. . . [waking] at three in the morning and hardly leaving our horses till long after night.” 2. The Black Horse was part of General Stuart’s “Ride Around McClellan”, taking prisoners, horses, mules weapons, and supplies. They also participated in the Seven Days Battles. During 2nd Manassas, Company H acted as couriers for Jackson and Longstreet. 1 “Co. H, 4th Virginia Cavalry Black Horse Troop, http://www.blackhorsetroop.org/history/ 2 Stiles, Kenneth. 4th Virginia Cavalry, 2nd Ed. Lynchburg, Virginia: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985, p.9. On February 10, 1863, Henry Lee was captured at Bealeton, Virginia. He was arrested by Col. Fait and sent to the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C. The prison was located on the grounds where the U.S. Supreme Court Building now stands. He was exchanged on March 29, 1863 and delivered at City Point, Virginia. Company H rode with the 4th Virginia Cavalry to Gettysburg, along the way burning part of the town of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The Black Horse also spent considerable time patrolling their home turf in Fauquier County and making forays into Loudoun County. Some of the men of Co. H participated with Mosby’s Rangers on occasion. Henry’s nephew, Hancock Lee Howison, was one of the Rangers. According to Helm, during the winter of 1863-1864 many members of the Black Horse “were released for home duty so they could kill Union soldiers and take their horses to replace Confederate cavalry horses that were dying as frequently as the men who rode them. The troopers preferred to work alone or in pairs, laying in wait along trails and valleys where informants told them patrols would ride.” Henry must have been one of the soldiers to make it home during this period since his wife gave birth to another child in October 1864. Company H fought at Todd’s Tavern where they were used, much to their dismay, as “mobile infantry” and ordered to build barricades across the road. The Black Horse Troop received high praise for their efforts; however, the price was high as 130 of their members were killed or wounded. When General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox and word reached the Black Horse, “all but 55 men of the Black Horse refused to surrender. Instead, they just headed for home,” according to Helm. My grandmother (Esther Lee Smith Early) was raised by her Grandmother Olivia and Grandfather Henry Lee after her mother died. She handed down a story that on his way home to Greenwich after the War, Henry saw a Yankee soldier who had been shot lying on the ground with his hand on the reins of a horse. The soldier would not turn loose of the reins, so Henry hit him over the head with his gun and took his horse. Henry named the horse Tussle. This story always horrified me; but after learning more about how the Black Horse Troop had to replace their horses, I realized this must have been a commonplace method for “horse detail”. Members of the troop regrouped at Fauquier Springs about a week after returning home with plans to join Johnston’s army in North Carolina. If Henry, like so many of the others, still considered himself to be in the Confederate Army he was merely getting a new mount with which to return to battle. Pvt. Henry Lee was paroled at Fairfax Courthouse on May 7, 1865. According to his parole papers Henry was 5’ 11” tall with dark hair and dark eyes. Henry picked up his civilian life as a farmer, although life was vastly different than it had been before the war. His brother William and other extended family members were dead. Their confederate money was worthless, and much of the countryside was devastated. In the post-war years, he owned and operated Lee’s Mill, had a general store and ran the post office. Olivia and Henry raised nine children to adulthood. He died on July 24, 1911 and is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery at Bealeton, Virginia. |
I Stood In The Steps of Robert E. Lee In Hopes of Becoming A
Better Man
By Curt Steger-Author of The Character & Faith of Robert E.
Lee
I stood in the room where Robert E. Lee was born at
Stratford Hall.
I stood on the grounds at Shirley Plantation where he played
as a child.
At Arlington, I stood in the room where he was
married.
There too, I stood in the room where he decided “no” to
Lincoln’s offer to command the union troops.
I stood in The White House of the Confederacy in the room
where he met with Davis and Jackson to prepare for battle.
I stood on the ground where he watched the return of Pickett’
s men at Gettysburg.
I stood in the room where with dignity he surrendered to
Grant.
And I stood on the steps in Richmond where he
dismounted Traveller three days after the war when he
returned home to his wife.
I stood at Mulberry Hill where he first stayed upon his arrival
in Lexington to start a new
life.
I stood at the place where Lee stood over the grave of
“Stonewall” Jackson.
At Washington College I stood in the building where he was
sworn in as president.
I stood where he worshipped there in The Chapel.
I sat where he sat and I prayed where he
prayed.
I stood in his office where he worked as an example of all
things good for young men to
see.
I stood where he stayed at what is now known as “The Lee
Cottage” at The Greenbrier.
I stood in the room in the house where he died.
I stood over where he was first laid to rest and I
stood where he rests now.
I traveled great distances to stand in the footsteps of Robert
E. Lee in hopes of becoming a better man.
But the longest journey to travel it has been said is “the
journey within.”
It was only there—when I stood in “the lengthening shadow”
of Robert E. Lee’s character and faith that I was forever
changed as a man.
www.releestore.com
10-12-2009
Better Man
By Curt Steger-Author of The Character & Faith of Robert E.
Lee
I stood in the room where Robert E. Lee was born at
Stratford Hall.
I stood on the grounds at Shirley Plantation where he played
as a child.
At Arlington, I stood in the room where he was
married.
There too, I stood in the room where he decided “no” to
Lincoln’s offer to command the union troops.
I stood in The White House of the Confederacy in the room
where he met with Davis and Jackson to prepare for battle.
I stood on the ground where he watched the return of Pickett’
s men at Gettysburg.
I stood in the room where with dignity he surrendered to
Grant.
And I stood on the steps in Richmond where he
dismounted Traveller three days after the war when he
returned home to his wife.
I stood at Mulberry Hill where he first stayed upon his arrival
in Lexington to start a new
life.
I stood at the place where Lee stood over the grave of
“Stonewall” Jackson.
At Washington College I stood in the building where he was
sworn in as president.
I stood where he worshipped there in The Chapel.
I sat where he sat and I prayed where he
prayed.
I stood in his office where he worked as an example of all
things good for young men to
see.
I stood where he stayed at what is now known as “The Lee
Cottage” at The Greenbrier.
I stood in the room in the house where he died.
I stood over where he was first laid to rest and I
stood where he rests now.
I traveled great distances to stand in the footsteps of Robert
E. Lee in hopes of becoming a better man.
But the longest journey to travel it has been said is “the
journey within.”
It was only there—when I stood in “the lengthening shadow”
of Robert E. Lee’s character and faith that I was forever
changed as a man.
www.releestore.com
10-12-2009
| Looking for Mosby’s Rangers (43rd Virginia Cavalry) Descendants/Relatives! My name is Robin Yeager. I am doing volunteer research on Mosby's Rangers for the Mosby Heritage Area Association (MHAA), www.mosbyheritagearea.org. I am collecting vital stats, census records, family history, photographs, stories, etc. for the MHAA as well as building a contact list for the 3rd Reunion of Mosby’s Rangers Descendants (and relatives/kin) that the MHAA will host in June 2011. Would you like to share your Ranger’s information with the MHAA? Would you be interested in attending next year’s Reunion? Please respond back to me at Mosby43Batt@yahoo.com. No Internet? Please call or write! Thank you for your time, Mr. Robin Yeager H 703.327.9578 43350 Snead Ln South Riding, VA 20152 |