What do you remember about— Chancellorsville? The death of General Jackson? Gettysburg? The Wilderness? “Lee to the rear?” Cold Harbor? The siege of Richmond and Petersburg? The surrender? General Grant’s kindness?
VIRGINIA BATTLE-FIELDS.
CHAPTER VI.
A College President.
In October, 1865, General Lee became President of Washington College, in Lexington, Virginia. Many other places of trust were offered him, but he chose to lead the young men of the South in the paths of peace and learning, as he had so nobly done in times of war.
General Lee rode on his war-horse, Traveler, from Powhatan county to Lexington in four days. As he drew rein in front of the village inn, an old soldier knew him, gave the military salute, and, placing one hand upon the bridle and the other upon the stirrup, stood and waited for him to dismount.
On October 2d, 1865, General Lee took the oath of office, before William White, Esq., justice of the peace. The General stood, dressed in a plain suit of gray, his arms folded, and his eyes calmly fixed upon Judge Brockenbrough, as he read the oath of office.
The great chief was now changed into a college president. “I have,” said he, “a task which I cannot forsake.” That task was not easy, for the college had lost much during the war and now had to be built up in every way.
WASHINGTON & LEE UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE CHAPEL.