Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-10-14
GEN. ROBERT Z. LEE.

The death of General Robert f. Lee,
announced in the papers, is the decease OF
the ablest man in military point OF view
which the attempt to establish Southern
Confederacy developed among the rebels.
The stubbornness and success with which
be maintained his ground between Rich
mond and Washington against all OPP
posers until the final campaign of 1865,
are admitted by his opponents, and are
evidence of military genius of high order
Looking back upon the days when the
Union army was baffied in all its efforts to
reach Richmond, we see no figure that
rises up SO prominently in opposition or
insured so much fear and desire for bis
"taking off, throughout the North, as that
of General Lee. While he stood before
Richmond we almost came to believe that
the city could not be taken, and when it
did fall it was never questioned that he
had made an able defence, the best which
any one could make with the means at his
command.
General Lee was native OF Virginia,
born of the best stock in the State, and
was educated by favor of the United States
Government at West Point. In the Next
can war he gained high reputation for
courage and intrepidity, and at the time OF
the secession of Virginia was in command
of the End United States Cavalry Regi-
meut, stationed in Texas. He was, how
ever, then temporarily in Washington, and
on the next day after President Lincoln is
sued his proclamation for the suppression
of the instruction against the Government,
he sent letter to General Scott resiging
his command in the army, and in few
days was appointed Commandments
with the rank of Major General, of all the
military forces of the State of Virginia.
In accepting this Office in convention his
remarks indicate the idea upon which he
acted. II devote myself" said he, ito
the service of my native State, in whose
behalf alone will l ever again draw my
sword" 1t was the pernicious idea upon
which secession was founded, that the
State had claim to his allegiance prior
and superior to that of the general govern
ment. On this rock General Lee sunk his
fortunes. 1t is useless now to argue how
he could have honestly seen things in this
light, and not as Anderson, Farragut and
other southern men did. 1t remains as
matter of record that he drew his SWORD
against his country, against the govern
ment which had nurtured and educated
him, and for four years was the chief pill
lar of the rebellion. The false teaching
of the shareholders, employed to sustain
the institution of Slavery, made him
traitor and rebel and caused him to put tC
use his splendid talents in an ignoble as
well as lost cause. In personal appear
ance he was gentleman. His soldiers
and officers were remarkably attached to
him, and in this partly lay the secret OF
his strength. They obeyed him with alac-
rity and trusted in him implicitly. If the
Confederacy had ADLER men within its linn
its, it had none that made larger mark
or did 80 much to sustain secession as Lee
While he was thus the most powerful
enemy the North had in the war, it is no.
ticeable that his name is not mentioned
with SO much bitterness among Union men
and soldiers as the names of other promi-
nent rebels. He was not considered in
human or barbarous, and his success and
ability as a general gained him respect.
But for his turning rebel the death OF
Robert E. Lee might have been lamented
by the nation and gone down to posterity
In honor.