The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-10-13
GEN. ROBERT EDMUND LEE.
THE DEATH or THE LFADER or
THE CONTHDTRA ARMIES.

State, at 80 minutes past O'Clock yesterday morn.
ing Gen. Lee had been suffering from indsposition
for several weeks, but his friends persisted in the
belief that his Illness not serious Two days
| ago. however. symptoms Of an unfavorable nature
manifested themselves. and his disease wa. pro.
nounced congestion OF the brain. His physicians
became alarmed. and his family, who were at dis.
| iancc. wer summoned. Whether they had reached
HE bedside previous 10 bis death the telegraph does
not state.
TBE GENERALS ASrRcKDESrs.
Gen. Lee was the son o the famous Revolutionary
hero Gen. Henry Lee otherwise known Legion
Harry, the author Of the resolutions adopted by
Congress- the death Of Washington, containing
the memorable and expressive words, FIRST in
war, first in peace, and first in the hearts Of his
countrymen." Robert was born 10 Virginia Jan.
49, 1908, and was, therefore, at the time Of his death
in his sixty-fourth year. lie entered the Military
Academy Of West Point az a cadet July 1, 1926 and
graduated second in his class four years later
Among his classmates were Gen. James Barnes,
Gen. Joseph Brice Smith, Gen. John c. Casey Gen.
Joseph T. Johnston C. s. A.. Gen. o. McNight
Mitchell, Gen. Sidney Burbank. Gen. WIN. Hoffman.
Gen. franklin E. Hunt, Gen. Thomas Swords, Gen.
Benjamin W. Brice, and several others whose
names are familiar to the country
EARLY MILITARY SERVICE.
oh DIS Rra"uahon Young Lee ohose inc engineer
service, nnd was .auonce made Second Lieutenant,
and assigned to duty AZ Assistant Engineer in the
construction OF Fortress Monroe and Fortress Cali
houn, comm an ding the entrance to Hampton Roads.
Two years later he ordered to Washington as
assistant to the Chief Engineer OF the Army, posi-
uon ne heid until 1897. pending whleh ume he was
promoted, Sept II, 1896 to be First Lieutenant In
1885 lie also served assistant astronomer In estab
fishing the boundary between the States OF Ohio and
ut..t-.
"lonigah'
From 1897 to 1871 be served as experimenting
enpineer for the inntoxement of the Ohio and Mis-.
e " " " w ~ W ~
sssippi MYERS, during which time he was promoted,
'us !, io'o' esp'"ney' FROM iosl 70 ioso ne
was s'auoned IN TINS CITY, having cnaree OF the
,ranoo ~ Now york h,rhor I, ,s.K h. -
''".e w " Ao'A "o' An iD no was ap'
pointed member OF the Board OF Engineers for
4,ae,, oass, sor,iGo.,,o '''"'1 " Ou'
strongest coast ior'ihca"ohs'
Throughout
The MEXICAN war
he served with distinguished eauantry. In the
seige OF Vera Cruz he rendered oheient service He
was breyeted Major for gallant and meritorous con.
d,o, a. ,ho h,,,,o q, Co. f,o,ao .na Iia,,o.a.,
colonel ior similar service Al Contreras and Cheru-
buseo and Colonel for thestorming OF Chapultepec,
x.boro IN ,v.. ,rorndoa uo aiso nar,otn.,od a., A.
eaoture Of the city Of Mcrico :" '"'
After the Mexican war be returned to Washington
L.
ss1 Ne hn nsf ,O cspSSes uh
point Mi,,ary Academv Il, iss5 he Ian the eng
OF the second Cavalry All assISned 10 the command
N Jefferson Ba,rocts No In iStG he was enS.reJ
upon the pains lighting with the Indiana prom
fs5T 70 Is5a no was on iSave Of absence ~
On The Occasion on " O
=, u,rre,. rsrrv Col O Toe " xos ,..,nss 70 o
iTeaE. ne arrived there dnriny The nigtt of oct
ru 4 1 l. 9,fs
porters introncheG ~ the engine house anil closely
bes'ercd by CAPT slmms ana the Mar land militia
Col lee brought with lin ninety marines and two
rcco. 81 artillery. lie took possession OF the AZ.
rory ground close TO sic oncuvs sition ana pm,
d. forces H. c'u.p. AZ O'Clock GA TIC following
morning he ordered nm assault upon tire en-lnc
house Nhcl Vas cAlrlrl uy the lmpotuositV OF We
oHa mot BroTn Was struck IN the co
win ss're thn al',rWard ba'ohe,ea uut hiS i,e
"a spaIeo 20 satlsy the vengeance oil ihsuited Nr'
gihiahs uIpn 'he gMloWs, -
ANcr .hls s'tHtce ,ol' Lee WIS hsslcneo 70 the
commune 81 we ptpAriment oi Ie1aS ROW WNlch
re was relieved 10y leave o. abssnGe, DECEMBER L.
!'oV' ana promoted TO u Colonel March IT, 1851.
'i"' iuH N"'' tph''"'i'
On The - OF April, 1851 .he date OF the soces-
,,0n oi una, Zee rSs c;n us eotnssnon n ,ne
ing the Of secession by his State authorities he
declared his purpose to DE guided by the action Of
tie State, taking the ground that his allegiance
| hrst due to Virginia, and secondly 10 the Gener
| Government lie was severely criticised for his
| course in this matter. and especially when,
he accepted military service under the reoel
Government: but 1t Is worthy OF note that few
people have vcnurcd to question the honesty OF his
motives AMI the sincerity Of his regrets then
pressed at feeling II duty incumbent upon him to
draw his sword against the United States authority.
Indeed he reercd the assertion that he entered the
rebellion only IN defence o! his native state. The
point raised most strongly against him was that he
| took the fatal step before iSe people OF Virginia
had expressed themselves CyHsSle on the question
| OF secesson' ,,.. - a., "a, =, ~. ....,...
DAYS Or or 10 the time set for the vote on the approval
Of the act of SECESSION IN. State was formally nd
mitted into Tho Confeder1cv and Lee was annointed
~ and accented the chief command of ti,e Confed
or 10 fotccs in Virginia corsisting Of rec, nits from
| sortb Carol,a Gsorgi, Aiahama AMI othe, seced
IN i,tcs os arcl ss ilose Of %Irginia Thna ba n,
| o,ro becaro soldier N Tho Confcdsrary thopch
o,r ~ cnl. ava o,nressly tor ths daforca NJ oSa
8. 7, Ivy ,t ar ~ a. he nDntn ~, my 40
- - 81 ~ ,yiiI,ary "a n,.i dpns nS VS.
r,ia a. oa W. ~ T. ,.roa 80 h,.o ~.
ss;,sso - 49,. a. rr,'i,na 60 49, 'N'' "'S
~ re- IN, y 1 NJ 10 ,a. annoin'ad n ,o- Cana
.S a. ~ in s ~ GO 49,, No ,,s
-. ~ en ',"y w.. W nv I'LL ~ w MN
ca ~ n,nd Nv he r.Enu %, mi y
,h 49, 80 III sr1 .e1'vo sn,Sio. ny ~ ~, ~
enn,,,Sssinp vas in the h,,,e Of Ceenhricr In
| wcsierr mart Of The state whore he was b.rn,,ad
| Oct 3, 1861, by Gen. J. j. Reynolds.
MS REPUTATION As A SOLDIER