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[–] Thisismyvoatusername [S] ago 

"General Lee told me that at the Battle of Sharpsburg this battery suffered so much that it had to be withdrawn for repairs and some fresh horses, but as he had no troops even to offer a reserve, as soon as a battery could be made useful it was ordered forward. He said that as it passed him a boy, much stained with powder, mounted as a driver of one of the guns, said, "Are you going to put us in again. General ?" After replying to him in the affirmative, he was struck by the voice of the boy, and asked him, "Whose son are you, my boy ?" and was answered, "I am Robbie, father; don't you know me?" Whereupon his father said, "God bless you, my son, go on!"

Robert E. Lee, Jr., was afterwards on the staff of Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee. This is said to be the only instance on record where the son of a commanding general entered the army as a private in the ranks."

BOY SOLDIERS OF THE CONFEDERACY Susan R Hull 1906

Photo-Robert E Lee photographed with his son, "Rooney" "William Henry Fitzhugh" at about 8 years old circa 1845