Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-20
Lees Birthday Celebration.

Eighty-four years ago yesterday ROBERT
EDwlRp LET was born at Stratford. In West
morelsnd county, and October II. 1870, he
died at Lexington.
II has been more than a quarter OF n
century since be yielded 70 GsAST's
Overwhelming numbers and resources"
at Appomattox Courthouse and more than
two decades since breathing the name OF
A. p. HUI, ss under similar circumstances
eroSxwALL JACKSON had done. he tran
gully expired.
Tho sixty-four years of his life were
crowded with useful work and illustrlous
deeds. Being son of Lighthouse HARRY
LEE, of Revolutionary fame, it was natural
that he should aspire to military life. He
passed through West Point without de-
merit. In Mexico he won high reputation,
and WINFIELD ScoTT pronounced him 1.-THE
very best soldier he ever saw in the field"
Allthe promise of bis youth was fulfilled.
His life was 80 pure that the malice OF the
public enemy, even at time when passion
ruled the hour, sought in vain to fix upon
his name the slightest stain.
He has been dead long enough for all the
world to begin TO weigh his worth. Foreign
and American critics concede bis military
qualities and rank him among the great
leaders. They would list him higher still
If they only knew with what amazing diff
culties he had TO contend. Few who we're
not within our. lines during the war have
ever been able to realize the desperate
straits TO which the Confederacy was re-
dueed In it's last two years.
Our ports we're blockaded. Our country
was devastated by great armies; our rail-
roads were worn out; our men we're starv-
ing in the trenches and their families
struggled in dire want at home. While
European governments deluded us with
the hope OF Intervention the Confederaey
was cut in twain by the loss of possession of
the Mississippi river. AS our ranks grew
thin, the enemies thickened. In proper
ton as our commissariat failed, theirs be-
came better supplied from the proceeds of
anample treasury. When our soldiers were
ut their raggedest, theirs were best clad.
When our artillery and cavalry horses were
but bags of bones, theirs were sleek and well
fed. When men, women, and children
here were crying for bread and meat
sugar, tea, and coffee had long since be-
come unknown-our enemies made us feed
fifty OF sixty thousandprisoners we had cap
tured in battle and whom they refused to ex-
change. When We lost "a man by death,
wounds, OF disease the chances were three
10 one that no recruit could be found TO
take his place. To them their own popu-
lous land and all the world besides We're
open and millions were offered In bounties.
They said of US that we robbed the cradle
and the grave" to fill out the thin lines
which stood between the Confederacy and
its enemy.
Reduced TO q uniform three years stand
ard the whole number of troops enlisted
In the Federal armies amounted TO $780,
272, while the entire population OF the Con-
federate States. white and black, men, wo-
men, and children. was only about 9,0OO.-
600.
Great as were the numerical odds against
which We struggled they were excelled
by the enemies resources in material
and machinery of war. They had both
men and money, breada and meat, rifles and
bullets, locomotives and rails, ships and
stores in abundance. We were in want OF
everything.
The soreness of our needs few northern
or foreign critics have ever understood. A
lump of ice or lemon was an almost un-
known delicacy in the great military hos
pitalso of Richmond. At timesso scarce was
salt that the soldiers in the field had to sprin-
kle their raw meat with precious gun-pow-
der instead. Thousands of LEE'smen were
shoeless even in the winter. The currency
was deprecated until at last one dollar in
gold was worth from $50 to $65 In Con-
federate money. and yet the soldiers pay
was often from six to twelve months in
arrears.
These were some of the obstacles against
which LEE fought. The load of care that
he carried must have been awful. and
while his eulogists have spoken Of this in
the enumeration Of the traits that made mp
his majestic character, none OF them have
sufficiently dwelt upon 1t. The burden OF
the great struggle was chiefly upon hum
and President DAVIS. Others had great re-
sponsibiiities, but they were not COM
parable in weight and constant, crushing,
pressure to those which fell upon the
President and the commander OF the Army
of Northern Virginia.
Here in Richmond LEE entered the ser
vice of the State and Confederacy; and
here, having returned from Appomattox,
a I,fa uaxrinn hAafR mi ada
commander of the military and naval forces
of Virginia, on the Esd of April. 1851, he APP
peared before the Virginia convention and
accepted the trust in a speech, which
would make ten lines of Dispatch print, say
ing that he would have preferred "had the
choice fallen on an ADLER man." He meant
what he said, for he was truly modest.
He never claimed anything for himself;
never had contention with any one about
rank, and never thrust himself forward.
It fell to his lot to be misunderstood at
6srt. His West Virginia campaign was un-
successful. Many people began to think that
ne was not the officer he had been supposed
TO be. When General JOHNSTON was disa-
bled at Seven Pines and Lee was put in his
place. doubts were raised and expressed as
20 his ability 10 command a large army;
but Mr.. DAVIS knew him well, and gagged
his character and capacity correctly. The
seven DAYS battles showed LEE's general
ship, and afterwards hs was safe In the
hearts Of the people. Not even the bloody
disaster at Gettysburg shook their conf
denee.
Appomsttox. which closed his military
career. opened TO hims chapter in civil
life which was as glorious ss any part OF bis
career. He came back TO Richmond TO
find great part Of il IN ashes. He must
have been very sad. but he bore himself
with great dignity. Next we SEQ him in his
college work at Lexington-a Christian OK
emplAr and instructor of youth.
II is we'll for the children OF the land to
learn something Of the life Of LEE. Is they
win always do a. long rs his birthday 10 OBJ
served ~ II was yesterday In Virginia,
Georgia. and other States. lila 10 the credit
Of the gallant and glorious people of GsorgiA
that they we're the first through their Le-
Rislsture 10 enact that the day should be :