Lee County Courthouse (Giddings)
Architect: J. Riely Gordon.
Date Built: 1898.
The Lee County Courthouse is located in Giddings, Texas. It is designed in the “Richardsonian Romanesque” style. I find it remarkably similar to Gordon’s courthouse in Comal County.
From the Courthouse marker:
Designed by J. R. Gordon along lines similar to New York State Capitol and several buildings at Harvard University. Classified as Richardsonian Romanesque style, after the famous Louisiana-born architect Henry H. Richardson.
Built by Sonnefield, Emmins and Abright of San Antonio, 1899. Replaced first courthouse, which burned 1897. Located on crest of divide separating the Colorado and Brazos River basins. (1968)
The TSHA Handbook of Texas has a fabulous article about the history of the area that now encompasses Lee County.
Lee County Historical Marker text:
County named for beloved Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Led army of Northern Virginia which included famed Hood’s Texas Brigade. He said about them “I never ordered that brigade to hold a position that they did not hold it.” “The enemy never sees the backs of my Texans.”
In the Battle of the Wilderness the Texans, seeing Lee set to lead the charge and fearing for his safety, halted, shouting, “General Lee to the rear,” until he complied. Lee once declined furloughs for the Texans for he needed their services. He considered them his best shock troops.
About Lee’s surrender a Texan said, “I’d rather have died than surrendered; but if Marse Bob thinks that is best…Marse Bob is bound to be right as usual.”
COLONEL ROBERT E LEE IN TEXAS 1857-1861
Robert E. Lee spent 25 months on the Texas frontier, proving and seasoning grounds for great army leaders in the impending Civil War. With the 2nd U. S. Cavalry at Camp Cooper, he led a 1,600-mile scouting expedition into Indian country. He commanded the 2nd, first at San Antonio – leading the attempt to capture Mexican bandit Juan Cortina – next at Fort Mason. Lee learned how to adapt himself and his men to outdoor life and adverse conditions he later faced on battlefields. Knowledge of the ways of his fellow officers who later held high ranks in both armies…
