Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-19
ROBERT +. LEE.
BY JEFFERSON DAVIS
North American Review,

Harry" in the traditions OF the war OF tne
Revolution. and who possessed the marked
confidence and personal regard OF General
Washington. 49,,
r. r.. Zee entered the United States Mill
tary Academy H. the summer OF lslo. after
which ms acquaintance with MN com
menced He was as | remember hun. larger
end looked more mature than the average
"pleb," but lees 40 than Mason. who vas
destined 20 be the head OF his class. ms
soldierly bearing and excellent conduct
caused him in due succession 70 rise
through the several grades and TO be the ad-
;utant of the CORPS OF cadets whom he eradu-
ated. II is stated thu, he bad not then a
"demerit" mark standing AGAINST nm,
which is otite creditable II all reports >"
against him had been cancelled because
they were not for wanton or intontiona, de-
liuduency. Though numerically rated Sc
cond in his class his proficiency was snch
that ne was assigned 20 the eng neer CORPS.
which for many years ne adorned both as a
military and civil engineer.
Ue was of the highest type Of manly
beauty. vet seemingly unconscious OF IT.
and so respectful and unassuming az TO
make him general fayorite before his
fss,ation. His mind led HIM 10 analytic
rather than perceptivs methods OF obtain
From the date Of his graduation in 1929
until 1916 he was engaged in various
professional duties. and had by rccu-
lar promotion attained TO the grade
of captain of engineers. IA such he
was assigned 20 duty with tho command OF
Brlealler-Gener Wool In the campaign to
Chihuahua. Thence the command pro;
ceeded 10 make junction with General
II. TAYLOR in front of Buena vista. Here
Captain Lee was employed IA the construc-
ton of the defensive work, when tenernl
Scott came. armed with Discretionary
orders. and took lee for service IN the
column which Scott was TO command, with
much else that General TAYLOR could NJ
afford to SCARE Subsequent events proved
that the loss TO General 1aylor's army was
more than compensated by the gain to the
general cause.
Avoiding any encroachment upon the
domain of history in entering upon de-
scriptjon Of campaigns and battles. can
not fobear from referring TO particular
instance Of Lees gallantry and devotion
70 duty. Before the battle OfContreras, Cen
eral Scott's troops had become separated
bv the field Of PedriGal. and It was neccs-
snry 10 communicate Instructions 10 those
on the other side of this barrier Of
rocks and lava. General Scott SAYS in
bis report that he had sent seven
officers s,nce about SHUTDOWN 10 COM
municate Instructions they had oil re-
turned without getting through. but the
gallant aud indcfatigable Captain Lee, OF
the engineers, who has been constantly
with the operating forces. IL lust in from
Shields. Smith. Ca1wallad r" etc. Sub
senueutlv General Scott while giving testl-
mouy before a court of inquiry said
"Saptain Lee engineers, came To me from
Contreras with a message from BrigadeT-
General Smith. / think. about tie same
time IN dnghN. he having passed over
the difficult ground by daylight found IL
inst possible TO return to st. Augustine IN
the dark-the greatest feat of physical and
moral COURAGE perforIne1 by any individual,
in nv knowie1ge. pending the campaign"
This field of Pedrigal as described was
impassable on horseback and crossed
with much difficulty bv infantry in
daylight. After consultation with the
generals near 10 Contreras. 1t beng
decided that an attack must he made at
daylight, Captain Lee. through storm and
darkness. undertook, on foot AID alone. to
recross the Pedrigal. so as to give General
Scott the notice which would insure the
co0peration of his divided forces IN the
mornings attack This feat was we'll en-
titled to the commentator that General
Scott bestowed upon it but the highest
praise belongs to Lees melting and
snstaining motive. d,,,n To bear TO
the commanding general the need
full information. he dared and SUE
fered for that which is the browning glory
of man: he offered himself for tue welfare
OF Others.
He went 10 Mexico with the rank of cap
tain OF engineers, and 10y gallantry and
meritorious conduct rose - the rank OF
colonel in the army, commission by brevet.
After his return he resumed his duties as
an officer of the engineer corps. Whilo
employed in tho construction OF Fort Car
roll near Baltimore, an event occurred
which illustrates his nice sentiment OF
honor. Some members of the Cuban Junta
called upon him and offered him the COM
mand of an expedition TO overthrow tho
Spanish control OF the island. A very
large sum Of monev was TO be pad imme-
diately upon his acceptance OF thor pro-
position, and large sum thencetorward
was TO he paid monthly. Lee came to
Washington to converse with me upon the
subject. After a brief discussion OF the
military problem lie said II was not
that lie had come TO consult me
about the question be was considering
was whether, while an officer III tho
United States army and because OF any
reputation he might have acquired as
such, he could accept proposition Tor
foreign service against a Government
with which the United States were at
peace. The CONCLUSION was his decision TO
decline any further correspondence with
the Junta.
In 1882 Colonel Lee was made superin-
tendent of the United States Military AGA
denny. a position for which he aeemed TO
be peculiarly fitted as well 10y his attain
ments at 10y his fondaess for young people,
his fine personal appearance, and impress
Rive manners. When year or two there
after | visited the academy, and was sur
prised to see so many gray hairs on his
head, he confessed that the cadets q eX-
ceedingly worry him, and then 1t was per-
ceptble that his sympathy W IN young peo-
pie was rather an impediment than quail
ication for the supeTlptendency.
In 1855 four new regiments were added
10 the army-two Of cavalry and two OF
infantry. Captain Lee. Of tho engineers,
brevet-cOlOuCl of the army, was offered
tie position of liouteuaat-cOlonel of the
Second regiment of cavalry, which he &C
copied lie was a bold. graceful horse
man, aud the son OF Lighthouse Harry
now seemed 10 be in his proper elem Mt ;
but the chef Of engineers endeavored to
persuade him that IL was descent 10 90
from the engineer corps INTO the cavalry.
Soon after the regiment was organized and
assigned TO duty III Texas the colonel,
Albert Sidney Johnston. was selected TO
command an expedition TO Utah, and the
command of the regiment and the protec-
ton OF the frontier Of Texas against Indian
lnhf0uutrs QtNOlNCQ ul'D4 Noi1'Ati kCNs
There as in every position he had occu-
pied. diligence. sound Judgment. and sol
dierly endowment made bis service sue
cessful. In 1859. being on leave of absence
In virginia he was made available tor the
suppression of the John Brown raid. As
soon as relieved from that special assign
ment be returned to his command IN Texas,
and on April -, 1851, resigned from the
United States army.
hen was his devotion 10 principle sub
iectei 10 q crucial test, the severity Of
which can only be fully realized 10y a West
Pointer" whose lie has been spent IN the
army. Tha; twas TO sever the friendships
of youth. 20 break up the habits OF inter-
course. of manners. and of thought others
may comprehend and estimate; but the
sentiment most profound IN the heart OF
the war-worn cadet. aud which made the
change most palnful TO Lee. he has par
italy expressed IN the letters be wrote at
the time 20 his beloved sister and 10 BIS
veuersted friend and commander, General
Winfield Scott.
Partisan malignarts have not failed to
misrepresent the conduct of Lee even TO
the extent OF charging IA m with treason and
deserilon; and unable 10 appreciate bis
sacrifice 10 the allegiance due 10 Virginia,
they have blindly ascribed his action to
eclhsh ambition II has been err0neously
asserted ciat he was educated al the ex-
Il. a 4