Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-10-21


Gordo, April Is, 1647. he was brevetted
major for gallantry. at Chapultepec he
was wounded September Is, 1S47, and was
brevetted lieutenant colonel. Genera
SooTr repeatedly spoke of him in his dis
patches as remarkable for his gallantry.
Colonel LEE was next appointed a mem
Der Of the Board of Engineers. In 1857
he became superintendent OF West Point
Academy. In 1855 he was assigned 10
service in a cavalry regiment, which TOOK
him to the West. In 1859 he was sent TO
Harper's Ferry to put down the John
Brown raid. March Is, 1881, he was made
colonel of cavalry in the United States
army. His resignation of his Office In that
army was dated April 20, 1861.
Early in 1861 the Convention of Virgin
| la selected Gen. LEE as commander-ln-
chief OF the forces Of that State, her Tor
tunes not having at the time been formally
united with those of her southern sisters.
When the State joined the Ccnfederacy he
became g Confederate officer. After the
defeat Of Gen. GARRETT by MCCLELLAN
and his Subsequent death, Gen. LEE was
sent to Northwest Virginia, where he did
| not distinguish himself He was recalled
| By Er. DAvI7, and, on account Of his great
skill as an engineer, be was sent to exam
inc the deferces on the Atlantic coast In
May, 1862, MCCLELLAN marched up the
peninsula The battle of Seven Pines took
place, il which Gen. Jos. JoHEsToN was
wounded, and Gen. LEE was put IN his
stead in command of the Confederate
forces. Soon followed the great battles
before Richmond from Mechauicsville to
Malvern Hill, in which Gen. Les name
became famous the world over. In these
battles more than ten thousand prisoners
were taken, 50 pieces of artillery, and up
wards of 81, 600 stand of small arms. From
this time forth the hopes of the people OF
the South were centered in Gen LEE The
whole army was placed in his hands. He
| it was that ordered all its movements and
was entitled to the credit for the strategy
employed. He ordered the movements
which resulted in the famous battles of the
following August-Cedar Mountain, Sec
ond Manassas, &c. On the Sd of Septem-
Der his army crossed the Potomac, and on
the 18th was fought the grand battle of
Sharpsburg. General LEE always claimed
this as victory. His army, however, re-
turned to Virginia at once.
On tho 18th Of December, 1862, occur
red the battle Of Fredericksburg, one of
the most complete successes of the war;
In 1868, May "a, tho battle OF ti4a Wilder
ness WAS fought. The success here, too.
was complete, but JACKSON fell. Here,
too, General LEG showed the greatness of
his heart in that celebrated letter to the
dying chieftain in which he said that for
his country's sake he could wish 1t had
been himself instead Of JACKSON that had
been wounded. On the 4th Cf May the
battle was renewed, and resulted in the
defeat Of the Federal army and its retreat,
with loss of II 900 killed, wounded and
prisoners, fourteen pieces OF artillery and
80, 900 stand of arms. This was called the
battle of Charlottesville.
General LEE again marched north wards.
lie went into Pennsylvania with his little
army, and there on the I'd and Sd of July,
1868, fought the bloody battles which,
though rather drawn battles than victories
for either side, much more seriously dam
aged that army whose losses could not be
repaired.
In May 1864 occurred the battles of the
Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, &C.,
sc General GRANT was constantly re-
pulsed, but IS constantly rene we'd his flank
movement until he landed upon the banks
OF the James. There were many battles
Of more or less impor lance during 1864
and the beginning CT 1865. April I'd,
1860, occurred the evacuation o. Richmond,
ana began the retreat of General LEES
army from PC ersburg. April 9th he sur
rendered skeleton Of an army to over
ulelming numbers. And thus ended his
military career.
In August. 1866. General LEE was made
President of Washington College. His
name and fame soon made that 3 popular
institution. He continued 10 hold the po
sition until his death.
Agricultural Convention.
President FREMoNT Of the Cape Fear