He could not speak! A bed was at once brought to the dining-room, and the doctors sent for. At first he grew better, but soon a change came for the worse.
He rarely spoke except when sleeping, and then his thoughts were with his much-loved soldiers on the “dreadful battlefields.” Among his last words were, “Tell Hill he must come up.”
Once when General Custis Lee said something about his getting well, he shook his head and pointed upward. When his doctor said, to cheer him, “How do you feel to-day, General?” General Lee said slowly, “I feel better.”
The doctor then said:
“You must make haste and get well. Traveler has been standing so long in the stable that he needs exercise.”
The General made no reply, but shook his head and closed his eyes. Once or twice he put aside his medicine, saying, “It is no use.”
On October 10th, about midnight, he was seized with a chill and his pulse became feeble and rapid. The next day he was seen to be sinking. He knew those around him, but was not able to speak. Soon after nine o’clock on the morning of the 12th, he closed his eyes on earthly things and his pure soul took its flight to God.
It was thought that the strain and hardships of war, with sorrow for the “Lost Cause” and the griefs of his friends, had caused his death. Yet, to those who saw his calmness in all the trials of life, it did not seem true that his great soul had been worn away by them.
The college chapel was chosen by Mrs. Lee as a burial place for her husband, and one-and-a-half o’clock P. M. on the 13th of October was the time fixed on for moving the remains to the chapel, where they were to lie in state until Saturday, the 15th of October, the day for the burial.
At the hour named, a long procession, with Professor J. J. White as chief marshal, was formed. Old soldiers formed an escort of honor. Just after the escort came the hearse, preceded by the clergy and twelve pall-bearers. In rear of the hearse, Traveler, the iron-gray war-horse of General Lee, was led by two old soldiers. Then followed a long line of students, cadets and people.