Tuesday, May 17, 2011

More on General's Lees' sword

General Lee's sword will lie down at Appomattox



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Below is an email from my sister and the answer to her question is yes. Mrs.deButts also gave me a copy of Lee & His Generals. Mr. and Mrs. deButts went to my father's funeral and that made me happier than if all the world's leaders had come.

"When I was pregnant with Ellen & Billy was in the army, I went to Jane Sprague & Hunter deButts' wedding. They cut the cake with General Lee's sword. Help me Brock----Mrs De Butts was Gen Lee's granddaughter?"


Via albigensian, Belle Grove

"Until Scarlett was able to furnish Aunt Pitty's house as it had been before the war…she had no intention of having guests in her home—especially prominent guests, such as Melly had.

General John B. Gordon, Georgia's great hero, was frequently there with his family. Father Ryan, the poet-priest of the Confederacy, never failed to call when passing through Atlanta. He charmed gatherings there with his wit and seldom needed much urging to recite his 'Sword of Lee' or his deathless 'Conquered Banner,' which never failed to make the ladies cry."
--Gone with the Wind, Chapter XLI

The Sword of Robert Lee
by Father Abram Joseph Ryan, Poet-Priest

Forth from its scabbard, pure and bright,
Flashed the sword of Lee!
Far in the front of the deadly fight,
High o'er the brave in the cause of Right
Its stainless sheen, like a beacon light,
Led us to Victory!

Out of its scabbard, where, full long,
It slumbered peacefully,
Roused from its rest by the battle's song,
Shielding the feeble, smiting the strong,
Guarding the right, avenging the wrong,
Gleamed the sword of Lee!

Forth from its scabbard, high in the air
Beneath Virginia's sky--
And they who saw it gleaming there,
And knew who bore it, knelt to swear
That where that sword led they would dare
To follow--and to die!

Out of its scabbard! Never hand
Waved sword from stain as free,
Nor purer sword led braver band,
Nor braver bled for a brighter land,
Nor brighter land had a cause so grand,
Nor cause a chief like Lee!

Forth from its scabbard! How we prayed
That sword might victor be;
And when our triumph was delayed,
And many a heart grew sore afraid,
We still hoped on while gleamed the blade
Of noble Robert Lee!

Forth from its scabbard all in vain
Bright flashed the sword of Lee;
'Tis shrouded now in its sheath again,
It sleeps the sleep of our noble slain,
Defeated, yet without stain,
Proudly and peacefully!

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