Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-09-21
LIGHT HORSE HARRY.

MS uistiHSutsutu SOluitT, tuc idenci
of Gen. Lee, was born in Westmoreland
county, Virginia. county which gave
birth to Washington, Richard Henry Lee
President of Congress in 1884, and his
three brothers, Thomas, Francis and Ar.
thur, to President Monroe and Judge
Bushred Washington Henry Lee grad.
uated at Princeton College, at eighteen
years of age, in l766. When but twenty
years of age, was appointed captain of a
company in a regiment of cavalry com.
manded by Theodorick Bland. He be-
came known at once as an excellent dis
ciplinarian, and by his activity in at.
tacking light parties of the enemy and
procuring information.
The achievement which first drew him
into general notice, and led to his pro-
motion, was his remarkable success in
foiling an attempt OF the British in JAN
uary, 1878, TO cut off him and his troop.
He was at the time quartered in stone
house, not far from the British lines, and
had with him only ten men, besides four
patrols. A British cavalry force, two
hundred strong, having made an extreme
circuit, seized his, patrols, and attacked
Capt Lee in his quarters. Yet he made
such desperate defense with his ten men,
that the enemy were beaten off with loss,
successful feat of heroism which elici-
ted from Washington complimentary
letter, and led to his promotion to the
rank of Major, with the command of an
Independent corps.
On the 10Th of July, l779, at the head
of about three hundred men, he surprised
the British garrison at Jersey City, and
succeeded in taking one hundred and
sixty prisoners, with the loss of only two
men killed and three wounded, for which
achievement Congress voted him gold
medal.
In 1880, being made Lieutenant Col.
opel, Joined with his legion the army OF
the South, and proved himself the most
brilliant cavalry officer in the war His
legion formed the rear guard of Greene s
army, in the celebrated retreat before
CORVALLIS, and SO hot was the pursuit
that Lee, on one occasion, charged Tarle-
tons corps, killing eighteen of them,
and making captain and several pri-
Yates prisoners. Not long after the
enterprising rebel attacked party OF
four hundred loyalist militia, killing
ninety, and wounding many others.
Previous to the battle of Guilford, Lee 5
legion drove back Tarleton's dragons
with loss, and also distinguished itself at
and after the battle. 1t was in pursu-
ance of Lees advice that Greene, in
stead of watching the movements of
Corvallis, determined to advance at
once into South Carolina and endeavor
to recover that State and Georgia. By
series of bold and vigorous operations
Lee captured six of the enemy's forts in
the Southern States, and in the battle
of Eutaw Springs his exertions contrib
uted much to the successful issue of the
day. After the surrender of Yorktown,
Lee retired to private life, carrying with
him the Acknowledgement of Gen.
Greene that his services had been greater
than those of any one man attached TO
the Southern army.
In 1856 Gen. Lee was a delegate ia
Congress, and 1888 member of the Vir-
ginia Convention to ratiiy the Constitu-
ton. He greatly distinguished himself
by his advocacy of that measure. He
was afterwards elected Governor Of Vir-
ginia, which position he held from 1892
10 1895. On the breaking out Of the
whiskey insurrection, he was placed by
Washington in command Of the forces
ordered against the insurgents, and re-
ceived great credit for his conduct In
1899 he was again in Congress, and upon
the death of Washington, was appointed
TO pronounce the eulogium, of which the
sentance first in war, first in peace
and first in the hearts Of his country
men," has become familiar as house
hold word.
In 1872 Gen. Lee was in this city at
the time Of the riots to which the Pete rs
burg Inder has referred. The riots were
occasioned by some structures on the war
with Great Britain in the Federal RepHb-
Hcan, an anti-war paper The printing
office was destroyed, and an attack on
the dwelling Of the editor was appre-
hended Gen. Lee, from motives OF per
sonal friendship to the editor, the cele-
brated Alexander Hanson, joined some
Of his other friends to aid in resisting
the mob. On being attacked two Of the
assilants were killed and a number
wounded. Gen. Lee received injuries in
these riots which he never recovered.
After going in vain to the West Indies
for health, he returned in 1918 to Geor-
gia, where he died THH
Gen. Lees first wife was a daughter Of
Ludlow Lee, BY whom he had n son and
daughter. His second wife was daugh-
ter Of Charles Carter, Of Shirly, BY whom
he had three sons lone of whom was
Robert E. Lee) and two daughters
In person, he was about feet in
ehes, well proportioned, Of an open,