Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-10-19
ROBERT E. LEE.

bdftS "oS 9tiC bOIliHdi hcdu, Vi Tie it-
bellion and all its interests, be has
since remained IN civil life, and when
he passed away vas President Of the
University of Virginia.
The body which now lies entombed
in Lexington, has been. sixty four years
on earth, aud the eyes whose liz ht is
now quenched have looked upon more
exciting scenes than fall to the lot of
most men. The names of lis ances-
tors are among the most illustrious in
American history. His father was
Henry Lee, known in the Revolution
as Legion Harry" and giventh post
Of honor by Gen. " ashington for his
oriliiau. services. This Henry Lee
was not, as the Times states, IA young,
er brother of Richard Henry, Fran
els Lightfoot and Arthur Lee; but his
father, also Henry, was their first cous-
ia. The Lees seem al to have been
oorn to command; they all nave keen
and philosophic appreciation of the
past, an active grasp upon the present,
aud Shrewd presclence of the future.
itlchard and 1 homas, the founders Of
he family, were extraordinary men in
heir time, having magnetic inau
ence on their fellows while Ricu ard
henry, Lighttoot, and Arthur were
among the Wlsest statesmen Of the
Revolutionary perod. No American
family, not even the Adams, can show
SO distinguished lineage.
Robert e. Lee was soldier Of the
frat rams. He was not, as believed by
many, man Of surprising originality
OF conception or audacity inexecution
lie was wonderfully well balanced
mana thinker and worker with del
icately poised brain. He saw ali sides,
and was an admirable judge of the
weight Of men and material in battle.
His great strength lay in defense, aud
In defense his only striking victories
were achieved. In attack he had
nothing like the astounding dash and
lmpetuosity Of Sherman, Sheridan,
Johnston, or Stonewall Jackson, and
when he had a serious assault to make
he usually adopted the plans of jack
son, and then set jackson to execute
them: When his praying solder was
not at his elbow, his aggressive move
ments almost always miscarried. Al
tietam and Gettysburg were bitter fail
ures-faliures on both sides, only be-
cause genuine pluck was not exhibited
either by Lee on the part Of the re-
hels, or by Mcclellan or Meade in com
mand OF the unionists Lee could
never have made such cavalry lead
er as was his father Harry-he was too
cautious. He has been compared by
his admirers to Marshal Lannes, but he
was no more ike the precepitous
Prince Of Lodi, than Gen. Grant is
Ike Mad Anthony Wayne.
Lee Was gallant, courteous man.
familiar with all tie amenities and sua-
Vltles OF lie, like most scholarly Vir-
glnIans' Ills personal presence was
peculiarly fascinating. His private
lie was set to high key, but it is ru-
mored that there were sometimes dis
cords III It, de was constantly beset
by unusual temptations, butts believed
to haye been conventionalIy moral in
bis life.
The now deceased soldier is probab-
ly the last Of his kin 10 gather fame Of
any sort, for be has buried a glorious
family name under personal recreancy
to the nation that gave to him bis
sword. lie died as traitors die. and
he will be remembered as traitors are
remembered. His country took him
when he was u raw ignorant youth, and
made him cultured man 1t put FOOD
into his mouth, clothes upon his back
sword IN his hand /; it gaze the or
pnan boy an opportunity, aud listened
gladely to his voice when he swore to
serve onl y her until bis hand hould be
palsied, anu al the annual IYest Point
dinners called aowr maleGictions on the
head<of every traitor. Then he went
forth and struck his benefactor in the
lace ! he fought the nation that had
ted Inn gratuisoasly for years; IN
the ranks OF he enemies he drew the
blaze she had bought for him, and vio-
lated with unb!ushipg protestations,
his oath of fidelity. Nay, after the
secession troubles hud fallen upon the
land, he denounced the traitors OF
South Carolina, and declared that he
would fight to put them down. Then,
one winter night, lie fed from Airing
ton to Richmond!
Robert E. Lee will be remembered
As STAKEHOLDER who violated the vii.
Of Washington Parke Gusts, and held
IN cruel bondage the slaves whom TIC
adopted son of George Washington
mai made free; as a scholarly, refined.
sensitive gentleman, with all the graces
except the knightly grace Of humane
service, and the comely grace OF sue
cess as citizen who saily wrote up
gu his iroatiet perjury" and i erGdy,"
and called them virtues; as a soldie;
who fought as valantly as Bayard for
''0 AhinStdbic purpose OF making tie
custom Of selling children child aud aosgine
chiIdrelAperpetual in our good repub
iIo lie has gone hence and we car
only hope that God viii somehow turo
his life TO praise, aud that the shadow
OF the mischief he has done will some
time be lifted from the path he is tie
walk Chicago Post.
a VETERAN PREAcHER.-Peter
Cartwright, the noted Methodist
preacher, spoke at Dubuque, Iowa,
few days ago, and q paper Of that city
remarks: i" 1t was a strange sight,
md one we may never expect to see
again, to behold man in the pulpit
before US who WIS 66 years old, had
been 80 years a citizen of the wesi.
and who, 90 years ago, crossed the
where is now St. Louis.
lie preached in the State of Illinois
Z. hen Chicago was unknown, and he
=. !