| General Robert E. Lee Much attention has been given to Robert E. Lee's military brilliance. Anyone familiar with the man will, to some degree, know of his achievements during his service; first in the United States army and then in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Although these feats alone are worthy of much praise, his personal character and sense of moral duty are also equally praiseworthy, if not more. It is for this latter reason more than any other that I chose him as my artistic subject. There have been many artist's renditions of Lee, but few seem to catch his true nature. He has been translated in some portraits as looking haggard, angry, or even mean and unapproachable. In contrast, I have tried to catch him on paper as he truly was; very kind, very humble, very sincere and honest (who also didn't particularly care for having his picture taken). Instead of repeating many well- known facts about his goodness, I offer instead the following story to illustrate his noble character. I believe it says it all. This story was relayed by a Union soldier. This incident happened at the battle of Gettysburg, sometime after the disaster of Pickett's charge: "I had been a most bitter anti-south man, and fought and cursed the confederates desperately. I could see nothing good in any of them. The last day of the fight I was badly wounded as a ball had shattered my left leg. I lay on the ground not far from Cemetery ridge, and as General Lee ordered his retreat, he and his officers road near me. As they came along, I recognized him. And though faint from exposure and loss of blood, I raised my hands and looked Lee in the face and shouted as loud as I could, “Hurrah for the Union! Hurrah for the Union!”. "The General heard me, looked, stopped his horse, dismounted, and came toward me. I confess I at first thought he meant to kill me. But as he came up, he looked down at me with such a sad expression on his face that all fear left me, and I wondered what he was about. He extended his hand to me, grasping mine firmly and looking right into my eyes said “My son, I hope you will soon be well”. "If I live a thousand years, I shall never forget the expression on General Lee’s face. There he was, defeated -- retiring from a field that had cost him and his cause almost their last hope. And yet he stopped to say words like these to a wounded soldier of the opposition who had taunted him as he passed by. "As soon as the general left me, I cried myself to sleep there on the bloody ground." |
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| 8.5" X 11" Limited Edition Print Signed and Numbered (of 100) |
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Copyright 2008, Victoria Heilshorn
All rights reserved.
All published materials and images are
protected under copyright law.
All rights reserved.
All published materials and images are
protected under copyright law.
| Robert E. Lee |
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