Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-10-21
ROBERT e. LEE.

Robert Edmund Lee, who died at Lex
ington, Va, yesterday, at the age of 69
years, was the inheritor of an honored
name, and the possessor of talent which,
# wisely exercised, would have given
him an enyiable fame Posterity will
remember him, but it will award him no
place among the benefactors of the pub
lie, or the well deserving of his country.
To whom much IS given, of him much
will be required.
Richard Henry Lee was one of the
noblest champions of American Inde-
pendence in the Continental Congress,
and before the people Of his own State.
His cousin Henry, popularly known as
Light Horse Harry, was as Jealous
and able in the field as was his relative
in the forum. Such were the examples
from which the subject of our remarks
should have derived his principles of ac-
ton. They taught him the lesson that
no sacrifice was too great to insure free
dom and nationality. Educated at col
lege, and afterward at West Point,
whence he was graduated with the sec
ond honors of his class in 1920, young
LEE entered the Engineer Crops, and
trst saw active service during the Mexi-
can war. His gallantry at Cerro Gordo,
and afterward at Contreras and Cheru-
busco, insured his rapid promotion, and
at the end Of the war he held the rank
of Colonel, and was again a member of
the Board of Engineers.
In 1852 he was made Superintendent
of West Point Academy, and retained
the post until March, 1855. Thus far he
was known as most able officer, and a
man Of good character and more than
ordinary accomplishments. General |
Scott no ordinary authority, regarded I
him with signal favor. Had he died |
during the administration Of President I
Buchanan, he would have been regret I
ted as a faithful soldier and true gentle I
man. Such was not his fate, and the /
touch-stone of events proved his merits
to be only superficial, and what was sup
posed to be pure gold to be mere outside
gliding.
Il is just to concede to the mass Of
Southern people honesty of purpose in
their attempt to dismember the Union.
False political theories had perverted
their minds, and the selfish desire to re-
tam property in man had warped their
udgmentsandharden hearts. Very
often they We're unconscious of their de-
fusion, but no such excuse can palliate
the recreancy of Lee. Whatever NAV
have been his affection for his native {
State, he had swornhdelity to the nation.
had been educated at its expense and
had devoted himself to its service. In
deed, he appears to have placed his OBJ !
legation where it belonged at the begin
nlng OF the rebellion, for several officers
who had designed going over to the J
1onfederacy, were persuaded by him TO
remain IN the national service,
Hardly, however, had this good advice
? Deeh bestowed than its giver threw up
Us commission s.. and offered his services
y virginia. He was speedily made \
2 9anaer-in-Ghief Of its forces, and
a4 Mas placed at the head of the troops in
11s 1I: mountains OF its western frontier.
His success, as will be remembered 1,,as
not brilliant, and he returned to Rich
mIond. where he perfected the orqaniza-
elol q tne rebel troops which rendez-
General Joseph E. Johnston HAVING {
B:S Dsen disabled at the battle of Seven I I
mes IN 1862, General Lee took the !
Posiuon which he vacated, and found q
himself opposed to his old assocista S
Gen. Mcclellan. Thenceforth he was I
at the head Of all the rebel forces in Vir-
we have not the space, and the recent (
occurrence and publicity Of the events /
render It needless, to trace in detail the i
campaigns against Pope, Burnside L
Z Z LIAOokeFs Meade and Grant. For nearly f
three years every attempt of the national J
forces to reach the rebel capital were in
vain. To determine how much the mis- |
lakes Of the national generals. and how g
much the skill of Lee influenced this
would involve the solution Of many vex- Il
"a sTateglcal problems. It is worthy of if1
.eLnaTk, nevertheless, that while the O
e2el commander long kept possession y
2 ms own ground, he was disastrouslv iO
'SAten whenever he essayed offensive q
'PeTauons. He yielded at the last to | n,
nucn superior force, when disaHection Il
lno alsorganization had essentially low s.
red the morale Of his troops. The e,,r. 81 81
ender OF April Q, 1865, had been fo~e- so
hadowed Tor months previous for r,er pl
nd means could no longer be conscr;T,t- s.
d or levied by the worn out but still IN &C
epentant rebel authorities. s.
The supporter of a lost cause tba OF
hampton of ideas and institutions which "a
is capitulation had rendered forever Ii
osoletes Lee s public career ended with y
le war, and with it also ended all that 3
his life asubject of general nS
auclsm, or general interest. Popular r.
mong his men and the erebel svmpatbiz- We
g civilians of his State, he was sppoin-
q PRESIDENT of Washington College. at ]
E exSi.ngton, a position which he held l1n-
ms death. During the last five wears -
S conduct was such that no critic could =
"a ground for complaint. He ouietlv
scharged his duties. refusing ali con- -
sctlon with politics. and in this respect
impaired most favorabIy with naanv ofl
Z oiq rebel associates. Such was henlan
~ ~. '.a4 ne fought as bravely for good Ne
I'VE vvoy, - -, q Ddq ono, would Del
a worlds admiration Had sha
even Deen successful A., ..l.1s- the
1ich worships l,riIl;a..s' Tie PuIle Del
Lle 5oT their moral quality. wo1,1d bs,,s 9
unded his praises AS tba Ss-Ast ileLve at 1
name is linked ,,,;t6 SasS stdaQSy reR
d failure, load few can s,,stog. ,lstoy any sta
HczstttQkf GTagekks as (
Sec