Lee Aging Warriors..

[Barrycdog]

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AGING WARRIORS...

Post war photo of Robert E. Lee and Joseph Johnston...

Generals Robert E. Lee and Joseph E. Johnston, Savannah, Georgia, 1870. On a tour through the South in April 1870, a few months before his death, Robert E. Lee visited Savannah, Georgia, where this photograph of him was taken with General Joseph E. Johnston. The two gray bearded generals, both sixty-three, had not seen each other since the war. Johnston was then living in Savannah, trying to earn a livelihood in the insurance business. During the past four and a half years, Lee had been serving as president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia.

 

[Stony]

I've never seen that photo. Thanks for posting.

 

[bankerpapaw]

It's hard to believe that Gen. Lee was only 63 when he died. He looks much older in this picture.

 

[Stony]

It's hard to believe that Gen. Lee was only 63 when he died. He looks much older in this picture.

I was thinking the same thing. He looks 83.

 

[unionblue]

Robert E. Lee looks old because he has never been out from under crushing responsibilities, during the war, of course, and then assuming a mantle of example for every day of his life after the war.

It's no wonder he looks 20 years older.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[Lnwlf]

I have always been struck by the resemblance of the two in this photo. It must be the beard, but I always look twice at it. It is one of my favorites. Thanks for posting.

 

[Custers Luck]

ya he does look old, but its weird not seeing him in his uniform., to bad he didnt live longer.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

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AGING WARRIORS...

Post war photo of Robert E. Lee and Joseph Johnston...

Johnston is supposed to have stated the shot that took him down during The Seven Days was the best shot fired for the Confederacy ! He was replaced by R.E. Lee. Always liked that photo !

 

[reading48]

I had never seen this photo as well....tks...Age takes a toll on everybody

 

[JeffBrooks]

Johnston is supposed to have stated the shot that took him down during The Seven Days was the best shot fired for the Confederacy ! He was replaced by R.E. Lee.

Yeah, but when read in context, the quote means something a little different than what is commonly thought. Johnston was saying it was a good thing because Lee had the confidence of Jefferson Davis and he (Johnston) did not, so that having Lee in command would make operations run more smoothly. Johnston was not really suggesting that Lee was a better general than he was.

The relationship between Johnston and Lee is a strange one. They were both Virginians, went to West Point together, served in Mexico together (in fact, I believe that they were bunkmates on the ship that took them to Vera Cruz), and were associated in the peacetime army together. Yet their attitude to one another seems to have been more akin to respect rather than warm friendship. I think Johnston can't help but to have been jealous of Lee's success with the Army of Northern Virginia after he had taken it over; he was, after all, only human. But he never failed to praise Lee's leadership. In turn, Lee seems to have respected Johnston, was obviously very skeptical about his replacement by Hood (as can be seen in the tactful messages to Davis when he was asked his opinion), and immediately brought Johnston back to command the army facing Sherman in the Carolinas as soon as he had been made commander-in-chief.

One would love to have been a fly on the wall when this picture was taken.

 

[FarawayFriend]

Robert E. Lee looks old because he has never been out from under crushing responsibilities, during the war, of course, and then assuming a mantle of example for every day of his life after the war.

It's no wonder he looks 20 years older.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

Very interesting thought! I have always wondered why people nowadays at 40, 50, 60 or older look so much younger than their parents or grandparents. Maybe this is the explanation.

And CL, you're right, it's strange to see Robert E. Lee in civilian clothing. How strange must it have felt for him. (Btw, I've got "Gone for soldiers" by Jeff Shaara as Christmas present. Will start to read it tonight, next year )

 

[K Hale]

I was thinking the same thing. He looks 83.

Looking at photos of 19th century folks, I find it's common for them to look 10 years older than they were. The exception is Fitzhugh Lee, who looks 10 years younger. LOL. But regarding the photo here, we also have to remember that Lee's health was bad and had been for some years.