Stiles/Akin
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2016
- Location
- Atlanta, Georgia
t's hard to realize the trials and tribulations our Confederate ancestors endured, but the personal lives of our soldiers's families are often overshadowed by the excitement of war. While there was great danger to the soldiers on the battlefield, there was also great danger on the home front. Death and disease stalked the homes of the soldiers, while they were far serving at the front.
Three out of four of General James Longstreet's children died within 8 days of each other in Richmond, Virginia, from scarlet fever, in January of 1862. The fever claimed Mary Anne, 11 months old, 4 year old James and 12 year old "Gus" Augustus. The blow was almost too much for General Longstreet; he hurriedly returned to Richmond. It was some days before he could leave his wife 13-year-old son Garland, who were devastated by the tragedy.
Just over one month after the battle of Sharpsburg, General Robert E. Lee was notified of the death of his beloved daughter, Anne Carter Lee, who died of typhoid fever on Oct. 20th, 1862, at Richmond, Virginia.
Anne Carter Lee
Anne Carter Lee, the second daughter of Robert E. Lee and Mary Randolph Custis Lee, was born June 18, 1839 at Arlington House. Called Annie by friends and family, her rich black hair was much like her father's when he was young. As a child, Annie lost her sight in one eye after a childhood accident with a pair of scissors and suffered from a disfigured eye. She loved her family, but she was close to only Agnes and her father.
Robert E. Lee had a special bond with Annie, whom he nicknamed Little Raspberry because she had a reddish birthmark on her face as an infant. She was a gifted young woman but very shy because of her disfigured eye. Annie and Agnes were known as The Girls by the family; they were so close they were often thought of as twins.
Annie had recently taken over some household duties because her mother was suffering terribly with rheumatoid arthritis. General Lee had worried that the job would be too physically demanding for Annie. She was never physically strong, and he constantly worried about her health
Although her husband kept urging her to leave, Mary Randolph Custis Lee delayed evacuating Arlington House until May 15, 1861, possibly because travel was difficult for her. After the birth of her second child, Mary Custis Lee, Mrs. Lee had sustained a pelvic infection that soon after developed into rheumatoid arthritis. Her condition worsened as she grew older. By 1861, she was using a wheelchair.
Mrs. Lee looked longingly at her beloved home as they pulled away, hoping she would soon be able to come back. However, as time passed, it became abundantly clear that she would not be able to return anytime soon, if ever. Agnes, Mrs. Lee and the other Lee daughters were vagabonds during the first year of the war, moving from one family plantation to another. They eventually settled at a rented townhouse in Richmond.
Several months after Agnes and Annie arrived at White Sulphur Springs, Annie contracted typhoid fever. Agnes never left her side, not even when others warned that she could become ill with the disease as well. Agnes risked her life to be by Annie's side, providing whatever care and comfort she could.
Annie Lee died of typhoid fever October 20, 1862, at the age of 23, while Agnes held her. A young relative said that Annie's death "was a shock to Agnes from which she never recovered."
When Annie died, it was not possible to take her body back to Virginia for burial without crossing enemy lines. The owner of White Sulphur Springs generously offered to have her Annie buried in his family cemetery and the Lees gratefully accepted. A disabled Confederate veteran sculpted an obelisk for her grave.
Robert E. Lee was in the field in Virginia recovering from the Battle of Sharpsburg when he received a letter notifying him of Annie's death. The unexpected news left him devastated. Via Civil War Women’s blog…
Three out of four of General James Longstreet's children died within 8 days of each other in Richmond, Virginia, from scarlet fever, in January of 1862. The fever claimed Mary Anne, 11 months old, 4 year old James and 12 year old "Gus" Augustus. The blow was almost too much for General Longstreet; he hurriedly returned to Richmond. It was some days before he could leave his wife 13-year-old son Garland, who were devastated by the tragedy.
Just over one month after the battle of Sharpsburg, General Robert E. Lee was notified of the death of his beloved daughter, Anne Carter Lee, who died of typhoid fever on Oct. 20th, 1862, at Richmond, Virginia.
Anne Carter Lee
Anne Carter Lee, the second daughter of Robert E. Lee and Mary Randolph Custis Lee, was born June 18, 1839 at Arlington House. Called Annie by friends and family, her rich black hair was much like her father's when he was young. As a child, Annie lost her sight in one eye after a childhood accident with a pair of scissors and suffered from a disfigured eye. She loved her family, but she was close to only Agnes and her father.
Robert E. Lee had a special bond with Annie, whom he nicknamed Little Raspberry because she had a reddish birthmark on her face as an infant. She was a gifted young woman but very shy because of her disfigured eye. Annie and Agnes were known as The Girls by the family; they were so close they were often thought of as twins.
Annie had recently taken over some household duties because her mother was suffering terribly with rheumatoid arthritis. General Lee had worried that the job would be too physically demanding for Annie. She was never physically strong, and he constantly worried about her health
Although her husband kept urging her to leave, Mary Randolph Custis Lee delayed evacuating Arlington House until May 15, 1861, possibly because travel was difficult for her. After the birth of her second child, Mary Custis Lee, Mrs. Lee had sustained a pelvic infection that soon after developed into rheumatoid arthritis. Her condition worsened as she grew older. By 1861, she was using a wheelchair.
Mrs. Lee looked longingly at her beloved home as they pulled away, hoping she would soon be able to come back. However, as time passed, it became abundantly clear that she would not be able to return anytime soon, if ever. Agnes, Mrs. Lee and the other Lee daughters were vagabonds during the first year of the war, moving from one family plantation to another. They eventually settled at a rented townhouse in Richmond.
Several months after Agnes and Annie arrived at White Sulphur Springs, Annie contracted typhoid fever. Agnes never left her side, not even when others warned that she could become ill with the disease as well. Agnes risked her life to be by Annie's side, providing whatever care and comfort she could.
Annie Lee died of typhoid fever October 20, 1862, at the age of 23, while Agnes held her. A young relative said that Annie's death "was a shock to Agnes from which she never recovered."
When Annie died, it was not possible to take her body back to Virginia for burial without crossing enemy lines. The owner of White Sulphur Springs generously offered to have her Annie buried in his family cemetery and the Lees gratefully accepted. A disabled Confederate veteran sculpted an obelisk for her grave.
Robert E. Lee was in the field in Virginia recovering from the Battle of Sharpsburg when he received a letter notifying him of Annie's death. The unexpected news left him devastated. Via Civil War Women’s blog…