The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-26
GENERAL ROONEY" LEE.|
Some Incidents in the Life Of the
Gallant Soldier and
Of1cer.
His Capture After q Hard Fought
Battle Near Brandy
Station.

06VUlO No0T 0I0AOy
Station.
A Gentleman Under All Circunastancss
Hand when Needed.
Whom Gen. Fitz Lee Wal wounded at
Brandy Station he was taken to Hickory
Hill, she home OF the Wickhams. In Han
over county. whore his mother and wife
and children and sisters were staying, says
the Richmond Dispatch. He was accom-
panied by . surgeon and his brother and
aid-de-camp, Capt. r. H.. Lee, ir. About
that tims there were several United States
oficsrssundsr sentence of death in Libby
prison in retaliation for executions Of Con-
federatas in the west by Rosecrans. The
federal authorities soncsivsd the plan of
capturing Con. Les and holding him az a
hostage for tho safety Of these officers.
Accordingly. q Col. Spear, who had been =
sergeant in Gen. Lees old regiment in the
United States army, the Second. was sent
with I flying column Of two more reRi-
ments Of cavalry and . battery OF light
artillery from the White house, in New
Kent, to Hickory Hill to make the cap
ture. There we're no pickets between
the White house and Hickory
Hill, and the nrst intimation. Gen. Lee
and his friends had of danger was the
calloping Of horses up the slope to the
house. Capt. r. u. Lee escaped to the
shrubbery in the yard, whore he remained
concealed for t~wenty-four hours. The
general, though desperately wounded, was
taken from his bed and carried to Fortress
Monroe. He never saw his wife and
children again, as all three died during his
imprisonment.
In the meantime one of the most gallant
and desperate fights in the annals Of the
war took place about a milo below Hickory
Hill, A company of North Carolinians.
about thirty-fve in number, were guarding
the bridge over the South Anna. They were
protected by the river and q fair breast
but they stood their ground md literally
died in their tracks. For four hour they
held their position, but finally a ford was
disclosed to the Federal troops by a negro.
and they we're attacked in the rear,
every man was either killed or wounded.
When Gen. Rooney" as he was gener-
ally called, reached Fortress Monroe. he
was put in solitary confinement. Gen Gus
tia Lee was then on Mr.. Davis stan, and
held the rank of brigadier, the same a. that
of his wounded and imprisoned brother.
He went to Fortress Monroe under a special
flag of truce, and met representatives OF the
United States wat department, upon whom
he urged that he be allowed to take his
brother's place. He told them that he was
unnecessary agony to the innocent and non
combatants, meaning his brothers wife and
children; that all that was wanted was a
hostage of the same rank ~ that of Gen.
w. II. #, Ice, and that his brother wa
married and he was not.
that war was war and its burdens had to
fall where the chances and fortunes OF war
placed them, but that 1t was not Thought
there would be any necessity for the execu-
ton OF the wounded general.
This proved correct, as at . later period
Gen. Lee was regularly exchanged. rose to
the command of a division OF cavalry, and
fought at AppomattoA
On two points all of Gen. w. H. F. Lees
old troopers are unanimous. and these are
that he was q gentleman under all circum-
stances and was always where he ought to
have toen. Mr.. j. A. Mclaughlin, who waf
a private in Gen. Lees old regiment and in
that capacity and az a scout was with him
pretty much all during the war, said yester'
day:
loved. He was a thoroughly kind-hearted
gentleman, always a~pproachable, and nevel
gave an order even to the humblest private
save in a gentle manne He was q dis
cipliparian and believed in thorough drill.
ing, carrying this idea to the extent that b
never lost an opportunity to exercise tn
mon, even if he could do nothing else but
put them through the sabre drill. Yet b.
never enforced discipline in q harsh way.
He was not regarded by the men as
brilliant officer in the sense that We asso-
ciatethat expression with . dashinR cavnl
ryman. However, he was consummately
cool. always kept his mon we'll in hand
kept his own head, and the boys had per
foot confidence in him. They knew tina!
whom Rooney. gave an order he had
mapped the whole thing out. He neve
played for personal reputation. His game
men. He maneuvred for position, and
when he got it it meant stubborn fRhting
Don't you make any mistake about that
He was - tenacious - a bulldog.
Tin the fight at Brandy Station, in which
he was wounded and whore he exposed
the advance. Indeed, his line was a poke
line. He put up q beautiful fight, but wa
finally hanked by al overwhelming fore,
and had to fall back. But he did not fal
back all the way to the supports. He only
retired half way, got a position, and hello
on like grim death until enforcement
came up.
TAT tho time Of the operations arount
Charlottesville. whore Stuart had de
tnched more of the cavalry and taken then
up there. Rooney and his brigade were lef
to look after Fitzpatrick. In following Kill.
patrick he exhibited not only great cool
ness, but great military ability. Although
he had but q handful of men he got on Xii
patriots back and hung like a cat, harrass
ing him at every step. In that littl
chasing froliO Lee captured nearly tn
whole OF the Fifth United States regula.
cavalry. Yes. Rooney was a splendid sol
dier, a splendid gentleman and . stubborn
tighter. But l can tell you who know
more about him, perhaps. thar any on
else around here, n that is Col. w. b
Robins up there in the capitol. Bsfor
Robins was made a colonel ne was 'koon-
ey's' chief Of staff, and he was n desperate
reckless sort of fighter. Whenever he rod
up with that grin of his on the boys knew
it meant business"
Col. Robins. in speaking Of his old conf
mandor. described his seldierly traits prett,
much US did Mr.. Mclaughlin. Gen. Rooney
he said, was one of the brnvest mon tina
ever lived, and always at his post. He wa
a man of strong common sense, and h
(Col. Robins) know OF his personal knowl
edge that Stuart had the highest opinion Q
his Judgment and ability. Gen. "RooHey
would not, said Col. Robins. a FOOLS
chances or expose his men simply for til
snke of fighting. but when the neoesslt