The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-15
pailp ARGUS.
OFFICIAL CITY g. COUNTY PAPER
COMMUNICATED.
For the Argu

l see the announcement of the death oi
the really good and gres. General Robert
Edmond Lee, at Lexington, Va, on the 18th
inst, a. 9 O'Clock A. NJ.
| see, too, that the whole south is in
mourning, as well they may be, and so the
whole country should be Every man and
woman in this country, who came to knoH
his true character, were convinced that he
was. by nature and requirements, not only a
truly upright honorable christian gentleman,
but scholar of high accomplishments, a
true patriot, a military engineer and com
mander who had cery te,c equals in this OF
any other country.
1 made his acuusiptance in A. ID. 1876.
Had some business transactions with HIM
which induced the commencement of our
correspon dence, which was continued, on
the SCORE OF disinterested friendship, up TO q
few weeks since. | can now say tina. |
have good reason to k,sop his true character
In an early stage of our acquaintance,
conceived him to be gentleman OF ertraor.
dndry good qualities therefore, took al
Interest In his welfare and career, which in
dueed me to make inquiry of his senior
officers and friends in tho army. On several
occasions up to near the decease of General
Grasiott, the head of the engineer corps (ot
which important branch of the army X. E.
Lee was really bright starr, l made in
quiry, and heard expressions of warm ap-
probation of the character, conduct and
eiticiency of (then) Capt r. E. Lee.
Gen. Gratiost on TIE Recommendation of
Generals Jones and Dodge, worthy repre-
sentatives of Iowa, placed R. E. Lee in
charge OF the improvement of the rapids in
the Mississippi River. His exhibition of
skill as an engineer and reliable manager
made for him many thousands of admirers
and friends on the Upper Mississippi River,
and secured for him the confidence and high
consideration of his superior officers, Gener
a. Gratiott and others, so far as to induce
his being put in charge of the improvement
OF the Upper and Lower Mississippi and the
Missouri River. Col. Albert, Chief of the
Eagineer Corps, succeeding Grs,iott, and
Col. Long. who was General Superintendent
OF all river Improvements in the west and
south, on many occasions in my hearing
expressed confidence and high consideration
for K. Z. Lee as 3 most worthy and efficient
officer
In 1889 there was serious alarm and
real danger of the Mississippi River cutting
l.
Louis would have become deserted
village" when the talents and engineer
skill of r. E. Lee were sought and obtained
He conceived the plan and executed the
same, to make a causewsy from tn q
island TO the Illinois shore and drive rows
of piles at the foot of the island, which
saved 81. Louis from destruction IS com
mercial city.
When the Mexican war commenced, his
services as military engineer were called
into requisition bv the Commander IN Chief,
General Scott His efficient services and
noble conduct In that war obtained for
him not only the appro baton of his brother
officers and men. but the Comm Ander in
Chief gave him the credit in an official docu
ment as the best officer he had with him in
that army. | can say that | had
the satisfaction to hear high en-
coniums of the good conduct, efficiency
and extraordinary merit of Robert h Lee
from the lips of Generals Scott, Worth,
Shields, Hoffman. Rodman, W. o. Butler,
Harney, the two generals Thomas, Patterson
and several other officers high in command
in the United States army. His true charsc
ter and conduct on the commencement of the
unfortunate rebellion, daring the continn
ance of the fratricidal butchery and after
the capituls,iou, up to the day OF
his death, will be written, and the plain
simple truth, will show to the people o.
America and of the World that Robert
Edmond Lee was a person of extraordinary
merit as boy, and as q man.
From the day he entered West Point in
1925, up to the day of his death, he has con
Quoted himself SO that every well informed
conscientious person, who kRen him soeIt.
will say that there were few such boys.
and very few as good men, in this or a,ty
other country.
The portion of his career in which he has
incurred censure from many politicians
ia the portion of his eventfu life
where, more than any other. he earned the
credit of she motto awarded by the worthy
cheyalier, De Bsyard-" He was wi,hou
fear, and without reproach."
Many thousands are not censurable fol
accusing Gen. Lee of disloyalty. but theil
excuse must be based on ignorance. His
truthful biography will show him to have
been a christian, honorable, high-minded
patriotic gentleman, and as true Unior
man as any in congress or the northern
armt.
There are many things yet to be learned t.
enable the American people to knosc how t.
place q true estimate on the character o
men and political party maneuvering in ou
country. Nj.
NIB can, with pride and pleasure
state that President Grant, through his sec
retary, Gen. Dent, authorized me to invite
Gen. r. Z. Lee to make friendly visit tt
him in the white house, which induced {
friendly meeting of the two representative
military men of the nation In the white
house, on the lss day of May. 1869, where
Gea Grant kindly introduced Mr.. Motley
his newly appointed Minister to England
and soma other distinguished gentlemen. tt
Gan Lee NJ.