Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-12-03
The Late Gen. R. d. Lilley.

Since the death of Gen. Lilley his rela-
other States, showing that be was highly
esteemed in many States outside Of Vir-
ginia. One letter is from Mrs. Cyrus FL.
Mccormick, paying a warm tribute to his
memory. Mr.. VIM. Wboley received a
letter from Mr.. Stewart Rey, the Secre-
tary of Mrs. DIR. Bradford of Philadelphia,
the widow of the DE-. Bradford who made
such a handsome bequest to Washington
s. Lee University, in which Mr.. Rey
speaks of the great sorrow with which the
news of Gen. Lilley's death was received.
The Faculty of Washington & Lee Uni
versity met on the 10Th inst. and took the
following action:
Gen. Robert D. Lilley of Stanton. Au-
gusta county, Va. was stricken with pa
ralysis on the 9th of November, 1885. in
the First Presbyterian Church, Richmond,
Va. while in attendance as delegate to
the Presbyterian Synod, and died on the
18th inst. following.
Gen. Lilley. when quite young man,
became distinguished as a soldier. Enter
Ing the Confederate service in 1851 with
UuO LOLA VI SdpCdtus III COLumduu Va UuO
Augusta Rifles, a company recruited in
his native county, be displayed the best
qualities of the sOldler-gallantry. forth
tude, and devotion to the cause which he
had espoused, and as the reward of bis
services was promoted to the rank of Col
onel, and in May, 1854, was made Briga-
der General. LII the fall Of the same year,
while actively engaged in battle near
Winchester, he received several wounds,
one of which cost him his right arm, and
although so seriously disabled. be conti
nued to render such service in the army as
he was capable of until the close of the
war.
While the Faculty Of Washington and
Lee University, In entering on their re-
cord some memorial of his brave and true
man, cordially unite in the general ex-
preston of admiration for him as a sol
der, they knew Gen. Lilley best as the
| friend of learning. In about the year 1868
| be was commended to the Endowment
Committee of Washington College, as
man we'll fitted for the position of fnan
cial agent, and on receiving the appoint
ment entered z5alOusly upon the impor-
tant aud responsible work entrusted to
him, and prosecuted it with unromlttIng
zsal to the day eff his death.
The first duty laid upon him was to car
~ into effect a scheme devised by the En-
dowment Committee for the sale of schol-
arships, a work which imposed the labor
of extensive travel aud the delicate task
of making friends to the Institution whose
| interests he represented. He was signal
~ successful in carrying out the scholar
ship scheme and by so doing aided materi-
ally in increasing the pecnniary resources
of the school.
While in attendance upon the Centen-
,rl Of I,dn
dence held at Philadelphia i'll 1875, he sue
ceeded 10 interesting many OF the most
, prominent men in the country III a Gen
tennial organization, !" having for its OBJ
| ject the more complete endowment of
| Washington and Lee University, and in
| short time enrolled as members of the Or
ganization the Chief Justice and other
! members of the Supreme Court. members
of Congress and many professional and
business men of prominence in all parts OF
| the country. Among others he held close
personal relations with the late Cyrus HI.
| Mccormick, Vincent l. Bradford and
| Thomas A. Scott, each one of whom was
| munIfcent benefactor OF Washing ton
and Les University. Among the living.
| there are many whose generous donations
| to the Institution were due to Gen Lllley'S
| efforts. and there is abundant ground for
| the belief that, in the discharge Of the
| delicate task committed to him. he never
| compromised in the least his self-respect,
| nor forfeited the respect of those whom
| he approached. Indeed he commanded
| universal esteem, and won in some cases
| affectionate regard.
| Gen Lilley was man of true dignity
of character. of unaffected address, mod
est, courteous, kind to all, stndiously re-
gardful of the feelings of others, aud at
| the same time independent in opinion and
| action. earnest in conviction and persis-
| tent in the maintenance of what he ap-
! proved, and wlthal an humble Christian
| gentleman, whose influence was felt for
| good by all with whom he came in contact
The Faculty express their deep SYM
pathy with the relations and numerous
| friends of Gen. Lilley whose sudden death
| is source of profound sorrow TO all who
enjoyed his acquaintance. and leaves a
vacancy among the friends of Washington
& Lee University which it will be difficult
| to fill.
A copy from the records of the Faculty.
JOHN L. CAMPBELL. JR.,
Clerk of che Faculty.
|