Photo of General Lee aka Al Stone taken from the "Sons of Dixie Scrapbook"

ROBERT E. LEE DESCRIPTION (APRIL 1861): Age - 54 years; height - 5' 11"; weight - slightly less than 170 lbs; chest - "massive chest rose above narrow hips. Sitting behind a desk, or on a horse, his shoulders, neck, and hands made him appear larger than he was". (Information from R. E. Lee by Douglas Southall Freeman)

AL STONE'S PERSONAL DESCRIPTION: Age - 60 years; height - 5'10"; weight - 170 lbs; chest- 40"; hair - mostly gray; mustache and beard - mostly gray.

RE-ENACTING/PORTRAYAL EXPERIENCE: Portrayed General Lee for ten of the past fourteen seasons at reenactments. Has performed live presentations and special appearances for Church groups, award ceremonies, theater and school audiences’ parades, Civil War Roundtables, SCV and other Civil War related groups. The following is a partial list of appearances:

 

• March 1998 at Liberty University's Civil War Voices
• May 1999 & 2000 at Tamarac, West Virginia's premier tourist rest stop
• May 2000 at Presentation Weekend in Troy Ohio sharing the stage with artist Mort Kunstler, historian James A (Bud) Robertson and authors Brian Wills and Thomas Cartwright (has since appeared with Mr. Kunstler on several occasions and relating to Stone's impression of The General, Mr. Kunstler has said; "Al Stone, whom I have Painted many times without his knowledge")
• Selected to portray Gen. Lee for the West Virginia Humanities Council History Alive program:-Selected to portray Gen. Lee at The Greenbrier Hotel (America's premier Resort)
• Portrayed Gen. Lee in The Trial of Robert E Lee, March 2002 at Liberty University
• Portrayed Gen. Lee at 140th Anniversary of Seven Days Campaign in VA
• Addressed audience of over 12,000 at Liberty University annual July 4th 2002 ceremony, nationally televised
• Posed for professional photographers at the McLean home at Appomattox, VA; at Washington & Lee University; at the graveside of General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson and at 707 E. Franklin St. (Lee's home) Richmond, VA
• Selected to portray Gen. Lee in the History Channel documentary titled "April1865" and several other televised documentaries
• Portrays The General at numerous reenactments each year as well as first person portrayals in theaters and in schools.
• In 2004 appeared at 102 events, speaking to over 60,000 persons in addition to being involved in 3 film projects.

REFERENCE SOURCES:
Just a few of the many references read in order to assist in developing an accurate interpretation of the contest, The General and his post war life.

"Lee” by Douglas Southall Freeman
"Lee Lieutenants” by Douglas Southall Freeman
"Lee” by Ralston B. Lattimore
"The Recollections & Letters of Robert E. Lee” by his son Capt. Robert E. Lee
"Four Years with General Lee” by Walter H. Taylor
"Memoirs of Robert E. Lee” by A.L. Long
"God and Generals” by Jeff Sharra
"Killer Angels” by Michael Sharra
"The Last Full Measure” by Jeff Sharra
"The South was Right” by James & Walter Kennedy
"A view of the Constitution of the United States of America” by William Rawle
"Republic of Republics” by Bernard J. Sage "April 1865” by Jay Winik

QUOTABLE QUOTES:

~Inarguably the most accurate portrayal of General Lee in the Nation. – Liberty University History Department.

~Al Stone, whom I have painted many times without his knowledge. - Mort Kunstler, America's premier Civil War Artist.

~Whether he is wearing his hat or takes it off, Al Stone is the image of Robert E. Lee. - the Bedford Bulletin, Bedford, VA

~Stone's personal appearance as Lee strikes a remarkable resemblance of the Confederate General. - The Sun, Enterprise AL

~You are Robert E. Lee in spirit as well as dress. - Brian Wills, Author, Associate Professor, university of Virginia.

~Remarkable resemblance to Lee. - Dr. Robert Conte, Greenbrier Resort Historian.

~Your impression of General Lee is excellent, in looks and in character. - Bernie Rosage, Richlands, NC

~As a lifelong student of Robert E. Lee, your image and word selections are an impressive display of the man himself. - Emory Hackman, Esq., Author

~I have associated with several portrayals of the General, but yours is without peer. - Ron Hawkins (portrayer of Gen. James Longstreet)

~I feel you were really imbued with the General's spirit. - Anna Gray, Crab Orchard, WV

~You have an uncanny, almost scary, resemblance to our hero General Robert E. Lee. - Danette Vogel, Hinton, WV.

Born in rural upstate New York, a few miles north of the Pennsylvania state line, Al Stone had two Great-Great Grandfathers who served as volunteers in the war between the states and was raised by a father who was an avid American history buff, seldom passing up the opportunity to visit any historic site. By the age of 15 years, he had trekked the rocks and fields of Gettysburg on numerous occasions while on trips to Maryland and Washington, DC.

In 1965, at the age of 21, Al accepted employment which necessitated a relocation to Lynchburg Virginia, where he continued to explore his developing interests in the conflict which so divided our (then) young nation. While his employment allowed him to visit and spend many hours at meaningful sites probably the most profound event on Al's life while in Lynchburg, was his meeting with a lady who was 112 years young at the time. As a youngster, Mrs. Royal and her family were slaves on a nearby plantation and her vivid accounts of life during the mid 1800's mesmerized many a listener. It was during his residence in the Old Dominion State that Al became aware of the impact that Robert E. Lee had not only on Virginia, but on the Union, before, during and after the contest.

As time passed, Al relocated to Alabama, Florida and later to West Virginia, all the while continuing to educate himself about the war of the rebellion. As the color of his hair and beard changed from brown to white, Al assumed the role of a Confederate officer, which later developed into portrayals of one of our nation's greatest generals.

Al has portrayed General Robert E. Lee in classroom settings, at award ceremonies church gatherings, reenactments, on theater stages and other special occasions. In May2000, Al portrayed The General at Presentation Weekend in Troy, Ohio, sharing the billing with noted artist Mort Kunstler, historian Dr. James I. Bud Robertson and authors Brian Wills and Thomas Cartwright. Al has since appeared with Mr. Kunstler on numerous occasions. He portrayed The General in the The Trial of Robert E. Lee at Liberty University in March 2002 and has appeared there on numerous occasions since. In July 2002, addressed an audience at Liberty University of over 12,000 that was broadcast nationwide at the same time. Selected to portray Gen. Lee in the documentary titled" April 1865" for the History Channel and has since been involved in numerous other film projects for TV and big screen. He has been described by Civil War reenactors and historians alike as offering the most accurate impression of General Lee in the nation.

The uniform worn by Al was hand made by the same firm who made the uniform for Martin Sheen (as Robert E. Lee) in the movie Gettysburg. Every step has been taken to be authentic and a visit to the Confederate museum in Richmond will testify as to the authenticity of the apparel worn, down to the hand made red Russian leather belt. It's Al's intent to provide you a memorable visit with the venerable Robert E. Lee General, CSA.

For further information, please call (304) 466-4544 or e-mail at astoneasrelee@peoplepc.com

Al Stone is also the senior officer of Lee's Lieutenants Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia.