Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-10-29
Saturday, October 90, 1870.
Sketch of General Lees Can eer.

ROBERT EDWARD LEE was born in West
moreand county, Virginia, January, lSO7.-
He was a son of General Henry Lee, who was
Governor of Virginia from 1892 to 1895, aud
distinguished officer of the patriot army in
the Revolutionary War. His mother was An
ne Carter, daughter of Charles Carter Of Shir-
lev. lie entered the military academy at
West Point in 1925 graduated second in his
class in 1929, and was commissioned second
lieutenant of engineers. He was soon after
married to Miss Cults of Arlington, the daush-
ter of George W. Parke Gusts, and thus be-
came proprie or of the celebrated Arlington
estate. BY this marriage he had four sons
and three daughters. In 1885 he served as
assistant astronomer for the demarcatiOn OF
the boundary liues of Ohio and Michigan. ln
1886 he was promoted to be first lieutenant,
and. in 1888, to the rank Of captain. When
the Mexican war began, he was placed on the
staff Of Brigadier neral Wool, and during
the campaign OF 1916 he was chief engineer OF
Wools army. At the battle Of Cerro GoIdO,
April 18th, lS47, he was breVetted major for
gallantry. In the August following he again
won a brevet rauk by his mertorious conduct
at ContreraS and Cnerubusco. In the assault
on Chapultepec, September 18th, lS47, ne
was severely wounded, aud received the brevet
promotion to leutenant-colonel. On the 2 lst
of July, lS48, he was appointed member Of
the board of engineers, and held the position
until 1850 la 1852 he was appointed super
intendeut of the military academy at West
Point, but proceeded under orders to Europe
with captain afterwards General George b.
II m ,k
operations of the allied armies before Sebasto-
pol. In 1855 he was promoted to be lieuteu-
aut-colonel of the Second cavalry. On the
10Th March 1861, he was made colonel of the
First cavalry.
On the 25th Of April he resigned his COM
mission, and repaired to Richmond to unite his
fortunes with those of his native State The
convention, then in session, had elected him
commander of the military and naval forces OF
Virginia. When the formalities of connecting
Virginia with the government of the Conled-
crate States Ialready organized at Montgome-
ryl were concluded, General Lee received on
the 10th May the commission of Major Gener-
ri in the army of the Confederate States, and
was assigned to the command of all the forces
in Virginia. He was soon after appointed Il
5eHeial III tue regular army IIn H'sI "C''No
operations were in the western part of the
State. He was subsequently assigned to the
command Of the department of the South At
lautic coast From that position he was re-
called to Richmond by President Davis and
made General in Chief, with his headquarters
in t!.is city. After General Johnson was
wounded ut tho battle - Ssoan piooo, General
Lee again entered the field as commander of
the army in Virginia, and continued in that
position to the close Of the war His services
during that eventful period are too fresh in the
memories of our readers to need recapituation
Ia 1865 be was elected President Of Washing
ton College, and was occupying that position
when death closed his career.-RicH. Wing.