Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-14
A LIFE OF GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE

This has long been earnestly desired by the pub
Lie, and we are sure it will please our readers te
learn that reliable account of the life and cam
paigns of the great and good man whom the South
delights to honor, is about to appear. The forth
coming work is from the pen of JAMES ID. Nc
CABE, Jr, of Virginia, and is to be published by
the National Publishing Company. 1t will be 6
volume of $50 pages, uniform in size, style ano
finish with Dabney life of "Stonewall' JACKSON
A portrait of Gen. LEE and series of maps, pre-
pared from surveys made for Gen. LEES especia
use during his campaigns, will accompany and il
lustrate the written narrative The book will be
for sale only on subscription, and the publishers
therefore desire agents in every county and district
of the South. Persons wishing to undertake ar
agency that will be successful beyond doubt, may
address National Publishing Company Rich
mond, Va"
From the advanced sheets sent us as specimens
we take brief sketch of Gen. LEES early life, and
the struggle in his mind, when he felt it his duty
to give up the most brilliant future of any man in
the country for the sake of his native State. But
he has been amply rewarded for the generous
sacrifice. Whatever other men may have lost OF
won in reputation, by the war, ROBERT E. LEE
has reaped nothing but praise, from friend and
foe alike.
Robert Edward Lee was born at Stratford
Westmoreand County, Virginia, on January 10,
1907, in the same room where Richard Henry and
Francis Lightfoot Lee were born.
His early life was passed in the Northern Neck,
and part of it amid the stirring events of the Sec
ond war with England. The British land and ma.
val forces were for considerable period within a
few miles of his home. A British feet, under
Admiral Cockburn, ravaged the shores of the
Chesapeake, and on the 29th of August 1914, the
city of Alexandria then in the District Of Colum-
bia, was captured by the enemy vessels, and soon
AFTER part of Maryland, and Washington City
were occupied. These events occurring so near the
home of young Lee, could not fail to exercise a
marked influence upon him.
When he was twelve years old, his father died.
In 1925, Robert Lee entered the Military Academy
graduating in 1929. From the first he rose to the
head of his class, and retained this ''stand until
he left the Academy During his whole course he
never received demerit, and was neverreprimand-
ed This will be better appreciated by those who
understand the demerit system than by the general
reader, for the former will readily comprehend how
much it is in the power of the Cadet and Academ-
ic officers to give dement's to those who least de-
serve them. The freedom of young Lee from those
marks, is striking proof Of the high esteem in
which he was held BY his comrades
1t cost Colonel Lee great and painful struggle
to leave the service with which he had been so
long connected For more than twenty-five years
he had served with credit and distinction in the
Federal army, and now held in the opinion Of both
the army and the country the second position in it
in point of merit, being regarded as the most fit
ting successor to the veteran Lieutenant General,
to whom he bound by the strongest ties of love
and esteem. fhe remained in the Federal ser
vice, honor and high military distinction awaited
him. The President of the United States, through
one of the Cabinet, offered him the immediate
command of the army, and General Scott implored
him to remain. Every influence that could be
thought of was brought to bear upon the great SOL
der, to induce him to remain in the Federal SER
vice. Colonel Lee himself knew that if he COM
piled with these urgent requests, his military am
bition would be fulfilled in everything He knew
also that if he linked his fate with that Of Virgin
ia, suffering and sorrow were in store for him that
from wealth he would descend to poverty; and that
he would be proclaimed to the world as traitor, by
the Government he had loved so well. It was a
terrible trial, and had he been influenced by con-
victions less pure or sense duty less high, am
bition would have triumphed.