Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-29

that his teachers pronounced him the best
scholar they ever had, and his mother ex-
claimed when he left her to go to West
Point: How can 1 get along without
Robertl He has been both son and daugh-
ter to me-"
A SOLDIER.
Graduating at West Point without ever
receiving a single demerit. and greatly dis
tingulshirg himself as young engineer
officer, he won in Mexico the highest repu-
tation and was pronounced by General
saw in the field"
In 1852 he was made superintendent of
the Military Academy, and exhibited the
highest qualities as a manager and teacher
of boys.
In 1856 he WIS made Northumberland
of the famous Second cavalry. and in the
autumn Of 1859 he commanded the marines
who captured John Brown at Harpsr's
Ferry.
THE WAR or 1861.
In March, 1861, he was made colonel of
cavalry. and in April was offered supreme
command OF the United States armies and
every influence was brought 10 bear upon
him to induce him to stand by the old
flag"
But he promptly rejected the tempting
offer, resigned his commission. and came
TO Richmond, where he was made CON-
msnder-in-chief of tho Virginia forces.
and not long after full Confederate general.
THE BATTLES BEFORE RICHMOND.
Busy in tie transformations but iinpor-
tant work Of organizing the Virginia and
Confederate forces, conducting the West
Virginia campaign, and preparing the sea
I-r, Il
Georgia for the immortal fame they after
wards won, General Lees splendid Con-
federate career really began when. on the
wounding of General Johnston ct Seven
Pines, be was appointed to the command
OF the Army OF Northern Virginia.
With $1,000 men (the largest army he
ever commanded) he attacked McClellan's
10000, strongly entrenched, and drove
them to the cover OF their gunboats at
Harrison's Landing.
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS.
With a greatly inferior force he defeated
John Pope on the plains of Manassas and
drove bin into the Notifications at Wash
incton, captured Harper's Ferry with its
garrison and immense stores, and with
$1,000 men defeated every effort of McClel.
lans 5000 men to drive MIN from the
field Of Sharpsburg.
PREDEBICKsBURG-GETT
He won the great victory Of Fredcricks-
burg on the 18th of December, 1862, with
only 20,0o0 of his army actually engaged
against Burnside's 100. 900. and in May. 1868
with 5000 men no inflicted at Chancel
lorsvills a crushing defeat on Hooker:
1872 900.
At Gettysburg with $4,000 mon he fought
Meade's 05,000, won decided victory or
- A. al 20 az
on the second day, and always believed
land said among his friends) that he failed
of q complete victory on the third day only
because Of the most positive disobedienct
Of his orders.
PAGES GRANT.
In the campaign of 1864 General Grant
had more than 275, 0C0 men, TO whom Lee
could oppose a bare 10000 ragged heroes
and the result of the summer campaign
was that Lee outgeneralled Grant at every
point and whipped him in every battle un.
til Grant. after losing more men than Lee
had. sat down to the siege of Petersburg
position he might have taken at first
without firing shot or losing q man
while Lee made his lines impregnable to oil
rect assault and sent column under Early
10 invade Maryland and threaten Washing
ton.
THE WASTING PROCESS.
Then followed that slow process of at
triton" by which Lees army was reduced
TO 81, 900 starving men TO guard forty miles
of breastworks. The thin lines wer,
stretched until they were broken, anc
$500 men were surrendered at Appomatto1
10 the overwhelming numbers and re-
sources" brought against them.
No wonder that the eminent English sol
der has pronounced Lee the great genera
OF the Fnglish-speaking people. The future
historian who weighs all the facts will pro
nounce him the Great Captain OF the cen
turtles.
AT LEXINGTON.
But Grand as he was in war he was ever
grander in peace, and his life IN Lexington
as president of Washington College showed
him possessed of traits of mind and hear
worthy of the study and imitation OF oul
young men.
THE MAN.
Duty was the keynote Of his life, while
his modest humility and gentleness, splri
Of self-denial for the good OF others. wan
If bitterness TO the North but devotion &
he South. his rare social character, hi
| frmness in carrying out his purposes. hi
domestic life, and his love for children
were all conspicuous. But above oil h'
was an humble. devoted Christian, wh'
took Gods Word as his guide, put his trus
| in Christ. and lived and died in the trl
umphs of the Christian faith. He need
no monument to speak his praise. for h
erected q monument more lasting thai
bronze" in the heart IS of loving, ad
miring people.
The Lee Family.
In DIR. ]. William Jones's valuable book
| Personal "reminiscences Of General IL. u
Lee-the following letteris published, which
Gives in q succinct form q sketch OF the Lee
family.
LEXINGTON, Va, November 90. 1865.
my Dear Sr.-I received by. the las
mail your letter of the 18th instant inqulrlnl
into my family history. -,
Il am a poor genealogist, and my famil.
records have been destroyed or are beyon'
nv reach. But as you insist on my fur
nlshing the information asked Tor and de
sire 1t for your own private use, Will en-
deavor to give you general account.
am the youngest son of Henry Lee, OF III
Revolutionary war. who commanded Lee
legion under General Greene in the South
ern Department of the United States, ant
was born at Strattord, on the Potomac
Westmorelsnd county, Va, the 18th
January, 1907.
MY mother was Ammo Hill Carter
daughter of Mr.. Charles Carter, O
Shirley, on James river. Ny father wa
twice married-frst TO Miss Lee and the
to Miss Carter. Major Henry Lee. of tn
War of 1912. of whom you inquire, wasth
only son of the first marriage, and conse
ouently my half-brother. Charles Carte
Lee, ofwhom you also ask, and Sidney Smit
Lee are my full brothers. had two sisters
Mrs. Anne X. Marshall and Mrs. G. MIldre
Childe. neither of whom IS living. In
first left one son, Colonel Louis ii. Maj
shall, Of the United States army, and tn
second son and daughter, who reside |
Europe. General fitzhugh Lee Is III
eldest son of my second brother, Sldne
Smith Lee, who has FIVE other sons. NJ
eldest brother, Charles Carter Lee, ha
also six children, the eldest OF whom
George. Is about eighteen years OLD. nay
three sons-Custis, William Il. titzhugf
and Robert-and three daughters-Ma
Agnes, and Mildred. My father died j
1918. my mother in 1929. My grandfathe
was Henry Lee, of Stafford county, Va.
my grandfather Henry. Lee, son 9
Richard Lee, who first came from Englan
to America, and from whom the sonthe-
Lees are desc ended. Richard Henry
Arthur, and Francis Lightfoot Lee, OF tn
Revolution, were cousins or my tatnel
John Fitzgerald Lee. whom you mention
is the grandson of Richard Henry Lee.
II believe / have answered all your ques
| tons. and must now express the pleasure
| feel in learning that your ancestors wer
| fellow-soldiers with rnino in the great wa