Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 19.djvu/332

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326 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Mrs. Lee joins me in kindest regards to yourself and family, and I am very respectfully,

Your obedient servant, J. R. Bryan, Esq. R. E. LEE.

LEXINGTON VA. , i8tk January, 1868.

MY DEAR SIR : I informed you in December last that before mak- ing any disposition of the overcoat of General T. J. Jackson, I had written to Mrs, Jackson to ascertain her wishes on the subject. In a letter rec'd from her this morning, she says: "Such a relic of my precious martyred husband would be extremely painful to me, and yet I cannot reconcile myself to think of its being in any other pos- session than my own."

I have, therefore, forwarded it to her with a copy of your letter, that she may see how it was recovered and to whom she is indebted for it.

Hoping that this disposition of a relic familiar to my eyes and painfully interesting to the hearts of all our people may receive your approbation, I am, with great respect, very truly yours,

R. E. LEE.

Mr. J. R. Bryan.

It has been stated that this coat was obtained by some devoted Scotch admirers of General Jackson, and has been seen by American travelers, with appropriate descriptive inscriptions, in a museum in Glasgow, Scotland. Whether this latter part is correct or not, I am unable to say.

[From the Richmond Dispatch, March 8, 1891.]

JEFF. DAVIS HOUSE.

Reminiscences Connected with its Ante-Bellum History The Brocken-

broughs, Morsons, Seddons and Crenshaws Sculptured

Mantels and Luxurious Furnishings.

You have favored your readers with some passages from the Memoir of President Davis by his accomplished wife. In her de- scription of the Confederate "White House" she writes with admi- ration about its beautiful carara marble mantels, &c., and adds :