Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-08-05

The committee adjourned subject to the
| call OF the chairman as to time and place.
THE NOMINEES
SKETCHES OF THEIR LIVES AND
PUBLIC SERVICES.
GENERAL FITZHUGH LEE, THE CANDI-
DATE FOR GOVERNOR.
Fitzhugh Lee, Or s'Fitz Lee," as he is
generally known, was born at "Clermont,"
| the residence of his grandfather, General
John Mason, in Fairfax county, on the 10Th
Of November, 1885. His father was Cap
| tain Sydney Smith Lee, who resigned his
commission in the United States navy and
| accepted one in the Confederate service at
the time OF the secession of this State. He
| was the third son of General Henry Lee, or
''Light- Horse Harry of the Revolution,
| and brother of General Robert E. Lee
Fits mother was a grand daughter of Vir-
glnia's celebrated statesman George Mason,
daughter of General John Mason, and a
sister to James M. Mason.
At the age of sixteen Fitz was appointed
a cadet sat large" at West Point. His
term of service at West Point expired in
1856, and his having graduated at the head
of bis class in Workmanship secured for him
a commission as second lieutenant in the
then Second United States cavalry-a regi-
ment eagerly sought for by large major
ity of the class.
Fitzhugh Lees first service was at Car
Isle barracks, Pennsylvania. After years
service at these barracks, Lieutenant Lee
was sent to join his regiment, serving on
| the frontier of Texas, and soon came into
notice in the various conflicts with the In
dams, and May Is, 1859, was shot through
| the lungs with an arrow, and his life was al
most despaired Of
In the latter part of November, 1850, Lee
was detached from his regiment and order
ed to report to West Point as an instructor
of cavalry complimentary detail, and one
eagerly sought for by the officers of mount
ed regiments. Under his tuition at that
time were Fitzpatrick, Custer, and others.
The commencement of the war found him
at his post at the Military Academy, and
upon the secession of Virginia his commits
sion as first lieutenant in the United States
army was promptly resigned, and his SER
vices offered to his native State.
His first service in the Confederacy was
in the Adjutant- Generals department in
General Beauregard's army at Manassas,
and at the battle of July 81, 1851, he acted
in that capacity on the staff of General
Ewell. In September following he was,
upon the recommendation of General j. E.
Johnston, then in command of the army,
and General ]. E. B. Stuart, commanding
its cavalry. made the lieutenant-colonel of
the First Virginia cavalry (Stuart's old reoi.
iment. and at the REORGANIZATION of that
command. in April, 1865. near Yorktown.
he was elected colonel. receiving all the
votes of the regiment except fonr.
On the retreat from Yorktown T,ee,s
regiment was given the duty of WATCHING
the York river. and he first gave informs'
tion of the thanking movement mn that ri yer
of Franklin and his landing aft RarbamS-
ville-persouallv reconnoiter;no ca close tba r
he gave not only the number Int The names mes.
| of the enemv,s transnorts and o,nboo+s
For tbe succeeding onera t;ons Found R;cb
mond Lee was with the command IF Con-
| eral Smart. and narticinated in ali tba on
terprises of that officar
About the middle Of Jnne 1860 stuart
nerformed his lannon's raid sro,,nd Tho orrnv
of Mcclellan. as e lavin front of R;cbmond
Lee. with his regiment was se1octeJ tn o.
company him. and shared with one other
rAOlmant and q tna don of hot
enterprise which ssblazed the waV for Jack-
sons subsequent flank movement
After the battles around Richmond mora
cavalry we're broupbt from the South and
formed into a BRIGADE under General Wade
Hampton. Stuart was made a maior-oen-
eral. ard Fitzhnph Lee was nromnted to the
rank of brioadier. tak1po Stnart,s nlaca the
latter commandino the TWO rioades I,ea,s
BRIGADE consisted of tbe Fret Th;rd
Fonrth. Fifth and Ninth V;rnin;o ran;
ments. with battery of horse artillery M
der Cantain lanes Rreathed
In the latter mart of 1855 the cavalry If
the A,mv of Northern Vircinia.wss Divided
into two divisions of three hr;nades eoch
and Hampton and F1tzhuph Lee were
promoted to command them the two neino
under Stuart as senior maior-oeneral This
PROMOTION General Fitzhprb Lee had oh
tanned on a record of alm0st nnevamnled
success. His active disnosition and brilliant
courage had by this time made for him one
of The best renntations in the army Tho "a
peated mention of his name in the careful
renorts of General Robert n Loo b,d I'D
II familiar and dear to the nnhI;c. and in
Nav 1854 sbortlv .fter The h.ttIa &c
ChancellorsviIle we find the cor,mand;na
oenAraI WARMLY writing tn hin, co fnI,on,sS
"Your admirable conduct. devotion to the
cause of vonr conntrv and devot;on t W d utv
fill me with nleasnre hone vor vii, S .ooy
see her efforts for undergraduates croyned
with success and long live to en;ov tbo of
lection and oratitnde of vonr co1ntrv ;; No
doubt General Robert y Lee felt honorable
pride in the achievements of his gall.nt
nephew.
At another time he wrote. "Yonr d;vis.
ion has alwavs had a biob renntation IT,
must NOT lose If - And # never did lose il
to the last dav of the Confederacy. Tn the
disastrous battle of winchester General Lee
was consnicnous for his pallantrv. and ex.
nosed his life on every mart of the field =
Three horses were shot under--one his
beautiful mare "Nellv GRAY" a favorite Of
the Command: and at last he was brought
to the qronnd bya minnie ball. which nierc-
ed his thigh lie was kent from dutv nv
the wound for several months.
In the spring of 1866 he was summoned
to Richmond, and by order of the command
ing general placed in command of the cav
o1r,, o,r,,s &c +ho Arr,n &C No.,a. W.;