Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-12-01

tEYrNcTnN VA Nov IL 1888

LEXINGTON, VA, Nov. 10. 1855.
Gen. Roberf D Lilley, of Stanton. Augusta
Co.. Va. was stricken with paralysis on the
9th of November, 1885, In the list Presby terrain
church. Richmond, Va while in attendance
u delegate TO the Presbv terrain Synod, and
died on the 18th instant following
Gen. Lilley. when quite a young man, be-
came distinguished as a soldier. Entering the
Confederate Service in 1861 with the rank of
captain, in command of the Augusta Lee
Rifies"a company recruited in his native
county. he displayed the best qualities of the
soldier, gailantry. f,rtitude and devotion TO
the cause which he had espoused. and as there
ward of his services W promoted to the rank
ofColonel, and in May, 1854 was made Brigadier
General In the fall Of the same year, while
actively engaged in hattie near Winchester, he
received several wounds. one of which cost him
his right arm. and although seriously dis
the army as he was capabi of until the close
While the Faculty Of Washington and Lee
University. in entering on their records some
memorial of this brave and true man. cordially
unite In the general expression of admiration
for him as soldier. they knew Gen LiIley best
as the friend oflearning. In about 1858 he was
commended to the Endowment Committee OF
Washington College as a man well fitted for the
position OF nuanctal agent. and on recetvlng
the appointment entered zealousIy upon the
important and responsible work entrusted TO
him, and Prosecuted 1t with unremitting zeal
to the day of his death.
The first duty laid upon him was to carry in to
effect scheme devised by the Endowment
Committee for the sale OF scholarships, a work
which i'm posed the labor of extensive travel
and the delic te task of making friendst to the
Institution, whose interests he represented.
He was signaliy successful in carving out the
scholarship scheme, and by SO doing, aid d
materially in increasing the pecuniary re-
sources of the school
While in attendance upon the Centennial
anniversary OF American Independence. held
at Philadelphia in 1876. he succeeded interest
Ing many OF he most prominent men in the
country. in "Centennial Organization" hav-
ing for its object the more com pIete endow-
ment of Washing on and Lee University. and
in a shOrt+time enrolled, as members of the
organization, the Chief Justice and other mem
bers of the Supreme Court members OF Con
gress. and many professional and business men
of prominence in all parts of the country.
Among others, he held close personal relations
with he late Cyrus H. Mccormick Vincent l..
whom was munifcent benefactor of Washing
ton and Lee University. Among the living
there are many whose generous donations to
the Institution were due to Gen. Liley efforts,
and there is abundant ground for the belief
that, In the discharge of the delicate task COM
mitted to him. he never compromised, In the
laasf, his self respect nor forfeited the respect
OF those whom he approached. Indeed, he
com manded universal esteem, and won In
some cases, sfectionate regard.
Gen. Lilley was man OF true dignity OF
character. of unaffected address, modest, court
eous, Kind to ALL 8 udiously regardful of the
feelings of others, and at the same time inde-
pendent in OPP MON and action earnest in con-
viction and persistent in the maintenance of
what he approved, and withal an humble
Christian gentleman, whose influence was left
Tor good by all with whom he came in contact,
The Faculty express their deep sympathy
With the relatives and numerous friends OF
Gen. Lilley, whose sudden death Is source of
profound sorrow to all who enjoyed his
Quaintance and leaves a vacancy among the
frien 8 of Washington and Lee University
which 1t will be difficult to fill.
A copy from the records OF the Faculty.
JOHN l.. CAMPBELL.
Clerk of the Faculty.