The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-17
FLIGHT HORSE" HARRY LEE.
The Author of the Famous Eulogy "First
War" Etc.

The Author of the Famous Eulogy "First
in War;" Etc.
can angels heart, an angels mouth,
Not HOmers, could alone for
Hymn we'll the great Confederate south,
Virginia first, and Lee"
Recently some of the school children
asked me about the authorship OF the IA
nous eulogy, First in war, first in peace.
and first in the hearts OF his country
men,"
Those who have asked their parents or
teachers know, of course, when and by
whom it was pronounced; but a few
words about the man who framed those
undying sentences might not be out of
place.
Gen. Henry Lee of Virginia comman-
der of the celebrated "Lee's legion" in
the war of the revolution land the warm
personal friend OF Gen. Washington, I'M
der whom he served with distinction), by
the direction of congress prepared the
eulogo on the death of Gen. Washington
in which occur those memorable words
which have become indissoubly attached
to the name of the hero OF the revolution:
First In war, first in peace and first in
the hearts of his countrymen." Gen.
Lee, better known as "Light-horse Harry"
came OF family always distinguished for
the prominent places they held ia the his
tory of our country. and was the father OF
the immortal Robert l.. Lee, commander of
the army of Northern Virginia in the late
war for the independence of the southern
states. The earliest member OF the family
of whom history give an account, Launce-
lot Lee, came from Loudun, France, with
William the Conqueror, and distinguished
himself at the battle of Hastings. A later
member of the family, Lionel Lee, took
part in the third crusade, following Rich
ard Ceur de Lion in 1892 to Palestine at
the head of a company OF gentlemen
cavaliers" The line OF descent
of Gen. Lee cen be traced
directly from Richard Lee, a younger
son OF the earl of Litchfeld, who was the
fifth from Sir Henry Lee, knight of the
garter in the reign OF Queen Elizabeth.
Gen. Henry Lee was born at "Stratford,"
the fine family mansion of the Lees in
Westmoreland county, Virginia. and here
also was born his still more famous son,
Robert +. Lee.
The lines at the head Of this article are
the closing verse of poem written by
Philip Stanhope Worsley. fellow of Corpus
Christi college, Oxford, England, and
dedicated to Seen. Robert +. Lee,
the most stainless of living commanders.
and, except in fortune, the greatest"
Gen. Robert f. Lee, as we know, married
Mary Custer. the granddaughter of Martha
Washington. and the sword he carried in
the late war was that of Gen. Washington,
presented to him by congress in recog-
milton of his distinguished services in the
Mexican war.
The splendid jeweled and inscribed
sword presented to him by France was
never used.
When Robert was little boy OF only
ten years, his fathers declining health in
duced him to visit the West Indies, but
finding that the tropical climate did not
afford him the relief he expected,
determined to return to his native shores.
While on his return voyage falling
strength caused him to direct his course
to the coast of Georgia and to claim the
hospitality of the daughter of his old
friend and comrade. Gen. Greene, who oc-
cupied her fathers residence on Cumber-
land island After lingering short time
at this hospitable mansion, his noble spirit
took its fight to join those who had pre-
ceded him.
Nearly half century later Gen. Robert
father on lonely Cumberland island, an
interesting account of which is given us
In Gen. Armistead L. Longs splendid
"Memoirs" of Lee. Only to think that
when Gen. Long wrote these memoirs"
he was totally blind; writing as the blind
write. with stylus on tablets of wax.
A lesson, indeed, tor some of us, who with
two good eyes, have accomplished 80 little.
There is to me something inexpressiblY
touching and sad in the picture OF Gen.
Lee, the hero of one war; visiting in this
lonely and neglected spot the grave of his
father, hero of another.
can see him there; a veteran with
gray head barred and bowed, alone at the
tomb. After few moments of silence he
plucked flower and slowly retraced his
steps, leaving the lonely grave to the
guardianship OF the crumbling stones and
the spirit of the restless waves that forever
chant their requiem upon the neighboring
shore.
The immortal Robert +. Lee, alone at
the grave of his father-famous Light
horse Harry" Lee Virglnia-who penned
those undying words: First in war, first
in peace, and first in the hearts of his
countrymenW
< n 4"