(MILITARY CIVIL WAR) Photograph of William Mack Lee self pr

Sale 2471 - Lot 270

Unsold

Estimate: $ 400 - $ 600

(MILITARY--CIVIL WAR.) Photograph of William Mack Lee, self-proclaimed servant of Robert E. Lee, at a Confederate parade. Photograph, 4 x 3 1/4 inches, captioned "Body Guard & Cook, Gen. R.E. Lee" and stamped "144" on verso; with two other dated photographs, apparently from the same event. Np, 8 October 1920

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William Mack Lee (1835-1932) published a memoir in 1918, claiming that he was born the property of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, and served as his loyal cook and body servant throughout the war. From that point until his death, he was a regular at Confederate veteran events. There is no evidence to support his presence with Lee during the war, and his stories are filled with historical inaccuracies. He claimed that the General left him $360 in his will; the actual will does not mention him. William Mack Lee is now generally believed to be a con man who made a modest living off gullible southerners looking for a revisionist view of race relations and the Confederacy. He continues to be held up as a bright shining Confederate example to this day.