Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-10-18
GENERAL LEE.
A GOOD STORY TOLD BY AN OLD NEWSPAPER
NAN
AbOulths Congressman Soldier Who Was Buried in
Fairfax County, "a, Ysstsrday-His Kindly
and Genial DispOsitiOn-Ee Was
Never q Great ian.
vn,c,c, 7,,,or,,,, - NJ S,,nday Rsoister.

Special telegram to the Sunday Rs0istsr.
WASHINGTON, October 1.-THE late Gen.
| WIFI. Lee. whose funeral was held to-
| day from his residence in Fairfax county,
was not as popular as other members OF
his illustrious family and never dlstin-
| guished himself signaily either in war or
in public life.
But he was true Lee for all that, and
possessed many Of the splendid qualities
of head and heart which were
| for his great father the respect and ad-
miration among his enemies. In Congress,
where Gen. Lee represented the Eighth
| Virginia district, he never put himself 10
the front, but was content TO discharge
| faithfully the committee duties which were
assigned him.
The generous and noble nature Of the
man is best shown by story which an
old newspaper man of this city tells OF
him. The newspaper mans name is
Tom Murray He is himself of an old Vir-
ginia family, and fought through the war
in the Confederate service. In 1864 he was
Lieutenant in what was known as the
Irish Battalion, then stationed about Gen
eral Lees headquarters. There were
many Northern spies in the country be-
tween Richmond and Petersburg, and ow-
ing to the looseness of the passport regu-
lations, they pursued their careers almost
with impunity. To check the evil, Gen.
Robert e. Lee issued orders that there
after no passport should be recognized
which did not bear his own signature
The railroad between the two cities was
under military rule and men from the Irish
battalion were detailed to see that all pas
sengers coming and going had the neces-
sary passport. On rainy aud dis
agreeable night Lieutenant Murray was
in charge Of the train and had
two men stationed on the platform to see
that all who came aboard had the requisite
passport signed by Gen. r. K. Lee. Among
those who came on board was a big, burly
man wearing the uniform of Brigrdier
General. Lieut. hurry asked for his pass
port, which the big man majestically show
ed. But the paper had been wet and the
signature was so blurred that 1t could not
be made out. The Lieutenant was dissat-
isfed with it, and told the distinguished
looking officer so. But the latter pushed
his way into the car and took a seat.
Lieut.. Murray went to him again and told
him if he couldn't produce a proper pass
port he would have to place him under
arrest. ~ am Gen. w. H. F. Lee,n
the officer said sternly at this, land
l will report you" Murray told him he
didn't care who he was, he would have to
place him under arrest. When the train
reached us destination, LleuC. murray
placed a guard about Gen. Lee and had him
marched through the streetsto the Provost
Marshaps tent, near Gen. r. E. Lees
headquarters. Here the prisoner was, Of
course, at once released. Lieut.. Murray
had written up report of the affair,
and had submitted it to the Provost
Marshal, who was O friend of his. AS
Murray left the latters tent, Gen. r. e.
Lee came out of the headquarters tent
and asked him what he was doing there.
He was informed that Murray had re-
port to submit concerning Gen. Lees son.
The General took the report and re-en-
tered his tent, while Murray began to I'M
buckle his sword, expecting to be ordered
under arrest But in mo-
ment Gen. r. e. Lee reappeared
and told him to go back TO his post. The
next day Gen. w. H. F. Lee came to the
camp of the Irish battalion and in the pres
ence of the officers appologized for the
tTU96is whom he a he did e9 cherish the
sentiment for the indignity he had been
subjected to in being arrested and escorted
through the streets by file of oayonets'
Gen. Lee recognized that the young lieu
tenant had simply done his duty.