The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-10-17


engineer he was sent to examine the defences on
the Atlantic coast. For several months, while
thus engaged, his headquarters were in Charles
ton or its vicinity.
:, .-,,-1 HIS GRKAT VICTORIES.
In May, 1852, Mcclellan marched up the pen insu'
lar. The battle OF Seven Pines took place, IN
which General Joseph E. Johnston was wounded
and General Lee was put In his stead ih command
of the Confederate forces. Soon followed tn e
great battles before Richmond, from Mechanics
vile to Malvern Hill, In which General Lees name
became famous the world over. In these oatties
more than 10000 prisoners were taken-hftyEWo
peces OF artillery and upwards OF 81, 600 stand OF
small arms. From this time forth all the hope
Of the people OF the South were centered in Gene
raj Lee. The whole army was placed in Ihls
hands. He it was that ordered all Its movementa
and was entitled to the credit for the stra-
tegy employed. He ordered the move
ments which resulted In the famous ostties
Of the following August-cedar Mountain
Second Manassas, &c. On the 50 OF sep
temoer his army crossed The Potomac, ana Oh
the 18th was fought the grand battle OF snafps
burg. General Lee always claimed TINS as fio-
tory. His army, however, returned to virginia
at once. on the 18th Of December, 1882 occurred
ttle battle Of Fredericksburg, one or the most
complete successes OF the war. In 1868, May 2d'
the battle of the wilderness was fought. the
success here too, was complete, but jackson leil.
Here. too, General Lee showed the greatness Oh
hts heart 10 that celebrated letter to the dying
chieftain, In which he said that for his countfys
sake he could wish It had been himself instead o.
Jackson; that had been wounded. On the 4tf Of
May the battle was renewed, and resulted inthe
defeat: or the Federal army anu Its retreat, Win
loss of IL ,0eo killed, wounded and. prisoners,
fourteen pieces of artillery, and GOO stand
OF arms. This was called the battle OF Chan-
cellorsville. General Lee again. marehed .nortn:
wards. q He went in Pennsylrania with his. hftle
army. and there on the I'd and ,8do or July, 1868,
fought the bloody battles whIch,.though ratnei
drawn battles than victories for either side much
more seriously damaged that army whose losses
could not be repaired. In May, 1854, occurred tne
battles of the Wilderness SpottsylTania Court.
borse Sc. &C. General Grant was constantly re-
pnlsed. but as constantly renewed MS hank
movement until he landed upon the banks OF tne
lanes. There were many battles Of more or less
imnortance during 1864 and the beginning OF 1885.
April Cd, 1865, occurred the evacuation oi; RICH
mond, and began the retreat OF General Lees
army from Petersburg. April 9, he SURRENDERED
a skeleton Of an army to overwhelming NUMBERS.
And this ended his military career.
- EFARBwELL TO HIS TROOPS.
The next day General Lee took formal leave OF
his army in the following address:
-! y c't.'s.a 80 HEADQUARTERS, -
l.,,.a ARMY OF NORTH sRN VA, April 10. 1855.
After four years of arduous service matheu @ W
unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army OF
Northern Virginia has been compelled 70 yielo 70
numbers and resources.
/ need not tell the survivors OF SO many nara-
the last that have consented to this result from
no distrust OF them but feeling that valor and de-
yotion conld accomplish nothing tnat contd COIL
pensate Tor the loss that Would nave taS
to avoid the useless sacrifice OF those whose past
services have endeared them to their country
men. o,
can return to their homes, and remain there un'
iii exchanged. You will take with yoa the sstlslac-
ltion that proceeds nom CONSCIOUSNESS VI uu.y
faithfully performed, and earnestly pray that
mercifui God will extend to you his blessing anu
protection. With an unceasing admiration OF
your constancy and devotion 70 your GolaLIy.
and grateful remembrance OF your kino anu
generous consideration for myself, pa you an
ahectionste farewell. K =. LBE, GeneraI.-
a
In August, 1866, General Lee was made presi-
dent of washington College. Bis name and lame
soon made that q popular institution. In tnis
position he has since remained, closely condning
himself to the duties 1t imposed until driven last
spring by falling health to seek recuperation IN
travel. The jaunt he then took, for the drst time
since the termination OF the war, through the
country he had SO heroically defended, II II was
characterized by series OF ovations which ne
found it impossible wholly to avoid, can hardly
be looked upon as violation OF his self-imposed
pledge to avoid such demonstrations.
CAUSE OF HIs LAST ILLNESS.
The remote and real cause Of his death, accord.
ing to his physicians, Drs: Barton and Madison,)
was the long continuance OF depressing In
fuences incident to the crushing Responsiveness
which were upon him during the last year OF the
war, the disastrous termination OF the struggle
for the cause he so dearly loved, and the allllc'
tiens OF his native South since the surrender. AS
ne saw his little army gradually melt away peiore
the countless hosts opposed to them, anu cohl-
PEELED to yield at last to overwhelming numbers
and resources; as he witnessed the sunerlngs OF
his spoor boys,n as he was accustomed 10 eau
them, and thought ofthe condition OF their fami'
lies and Of the South as his mails have been every
day since flooded with most piteous letters from
manned soldiers or from the widows and orphans
of the noble men who followed him, he has boFnea
calm exterior, and struggled for the good oil his
State and the South with heroism SURPRISING
any which he ever displayed on the neld OF oat-
tie. But the very nbres Of his great heart nave
been gradually wearing away, until they have az
last broken and the vital spark has ned. boeh Oh
his eminent physicians concur In the opinion that
General Lee has died rather from moral than :
physical causes; that his physical development
was well nigh perfect and That there was no
merely physical reason why he might not have
lived for year,>to come. The immediate cause OF
his death WAS In the opinion OF his physicians,
mental and physical fatigue, inducing Tenous
congestion OF the brain, which, however, never pro-
ceeded as far as apopleXy or paralysis, but grad
ualy csased cerebral exhaustion and DEATH"
HIS LAST HoURS.
On Wednesday, September 2sth he was more
than usually busy. After attending chapel
service, as he always did, he spent the whole
morning attending to various matters con.
necte,. with the interests Of the college. At
o:vieck P. N. he went to meeting OF the vestry
OF his church, over which he presided. Matters
OF great importance to the interests Of the church
were under consideration, and the meeting was
protracted for three hours. Returning home just
.t,. - co. .oo ba ,rou etttnu al thp fable with