[From _A Popular Life of General Robert E. Lee_ (Baltimore, 1871)]
On the evening of this day, 28th of September [1870] after a morning
of great fatigue, he attended the vestry meeting referred to, returned
home, and seated at the tea-table, opened his lips to give thanks to
God.
The family looked up to see the parted lips, but heard no sound. With
that last thanksgiving his great heart broke.
For many days his weeping friends hung over him, hoping for a return
of health and reason, but in vain. He murmured of battles and sieges;
of guarded tents and fields just won. Among his last words were:
"Strike my tent! Send for Hill!" Remarkably coincident with those of
his great lieutenant, Jackson, whose words were: "Let A. P. Hill
prepare for action! March the infantry rapidly to the front! Let us
cross the river and rest under the shade of the trees."
At 9 o'clock on the morning of the 12th of October, the great soldier
breathed his last.
The following day his body was borne to the college-chapel, escorted
by a guard of honor composed of Confederate soldiers. Next the hearse
was led General Lee's favorite horse "Traveller," who had borne him in
so many battles. The Trustees and Faculty of the college, the cadets
of the Military Institute, and the citizens, followed in procession.
Above the chapel floated the flag of Virginia, draped in mourning.
Through this and the succeeding day, the body, covered with flowers,
lay in state, visited by thousands who came to look for the last time
upon his noble features.
On the 15th, the last said rites were rendered, amid the tolling of the
bells, the sound of martial music, and the thundering of artillery.
The students, officers and soldiers of the Confederate army, and about
a thousand persons, assembled at the chapel. A military escort, with
the officers of General Lee's staff, were in the front. The hearse
followed, with the faithful "Traveller" close behind it. Next came a
committee of the Virginia Legislature, with citizens from all parts of
the State. Passing the Military Institute, the cadets made the
military salute as the body appeared, then joined the procession, and
escorted it back to the chapel.
It had been the request of General Lee that no funeral oration should
be pronounced over his remains. His old and long-tried friend, the
Rev. Wm. N. Pendleton, simply read the burial services of the
Episcopal Church, after which was lowered into a tomb beneath the
chapel all that was mortal of Robert E. Lee.