A single scion of the house remains, and he peddles tea by the pound and molasses by the quart, on a corner of the old homestead, to the former slaves of the family and thereby earns his livelihood." General Lee's good example influenced many.

Commercial enterprises were willing to pay for the use of his name and reputation, but he wished to farm and could get no opportunity.

"They are offering my father everything," his daughter said, "except the only thing he will accept, a place to earn honest bread while engaged in some useful work." This remark led to an offer of the presidency of Washington College, now Washington and Lee University, which he accepted.

"I have a self-imposed task which I must accomplish," he said, "I have led the young men of the South in battle; I have seen many of them fall under my standard.
I shall devote my life now to training young men to do their duty in life." The condition of honest folk was still further troubled by a general spirit of lawlessness in many regions.

Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana recognized the "Union" state government, but the coming of peace brought legal anarchy to the other states of the Confederacy.