The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-20

without being followed to the second toll
| gate. whore he promised 10 release his
prisoners. After that he would take his
chances. Lee would not agree, and at his
| request Lieutenant Stuart demonstrated
with Brown on the folly OF his course.
II ayailed nothing, and under the direc-
! ton Of Lee the doors Of the engine house
were battered IN and the inmates cap
tured. one OF the marines was killed and
one wounded. while several Of the insur-
gents were killed and wounded, Brown
being among the latter.
What followed Is known TO the
void Brown and his three surviving
| comrades were indicted for conspiracy
| with the negroes TO incite insurr-ction.
| for treason against the Commonwealth
OF Virginia and FOR murdec They were
| found guilty, and hanged December O.
1889. Times never TO be forgotten fol-
| lowed The flames of civil war were
| kindling throughout the country. Colo
| mel Lee saw, with pain inexpr essible
that the fercest and most gigantic strug-
! gle Of modern times was at hand. He
| hoped that Virginia would remain in
| the Union, but he was thorough be-
| lever in States rights. When she Sc
| coded. therefore, he conscientiously be-
lieved his duty gave him no choice except
to follow her No one can fully realize
the pain it cost this great and noble
| man to draw his sword in the strife.
Cen Scott argued and pleaded with him
ana showed him the great honcrs that
were sure TO come to him If he would
remain in the Union army; but il was
purely a question Of conscience with
Lee, who would have laid down his life
gladly, could it have dissipated the black
cloud gathering in the sky. In a letter
| to his beloved sister he said:
I'VE are now in a state Of war which
will yield to nothing. The whole South
/ Is in n state of revolution. into which
| Virginia, after n long struggle has been
| drawn and though / recognize no neces-
| sity for this state Of things, and would
have foreborne and pleaded TO the end
for redress Of grievances, real or sup
posed yet, in my own person. I had to
meet the question whether 1 would take
part against my native State. With all
my devotion 10 the Union. and the feel
ing Of loyalty Of an American citizen,
have not been able to make up my mind
to raise my hand against my relatives,
my children and my home. i have,
therefore, resigned my position in the
army, and, save in defense OF my native
State. with the sincere hope that my poor
services may never be needed, / hope |
may never be called upon 10 draw my
sword"
Respecting Lees resignation. J. VIII
liam Jones' D. D., contributes n most
interesting staten ent. He says that in
obedience to orders to report to the com
mander-in-chief in Washington. Lee
reached there on the LIST OF March, 1861.
Just three days before the Inauguration
Of President Lincoln. His hopes for the
averting OF the civil war were doomed
to a rad disappointment. and events
| followed so rapidly that by the middle
Of April he was compelled TO decide
| whether he would go TO the North or
| with Virginia in the great struggle;
whether he would &C ,ept the command
| Of the United States armies In the field,
| or share the miseries OF his people,
while he gave up peace. fortune and his
beautiful home at Arlington, 10 serve
his native Virginia. II any influence
! could have swerved Lee from his pur-
! pose. It was his friendship for his com
| mander, General Scott. and his high re-
| spect for his opinion. General Scott
| used all his power Of persuasion TO IN
| duce Lee to adhere 10 the Union and
serve under the "old flag" and finally
| Francis =. Blair, at General SCOTS re-
| quest, was sent by Mr.. Lincoln TO offer
! General Lee supreme command OF the
United States armies in the field.
Colonel Lee resigned his commission
| April 90. 1861, and proceeded al once TO
| Richmond. where he offered his services
TO Virginia. In May, 1861 when the Con-
| fedecate capital was removed from Mont
| gomary, Ala, TO Richmond Va, he re-
ceived his commission as fun general.
During the early months OF the war
! General Lee rendered inconspicuous ser
/ vices in the western part Of Virginia.
/ in the autumn he was dispatched 10 the
coast Of South Carolina. where he plan
/ ned and in part constructed the defensive
| line, which successfully resisted all ef-
| forts directed against them until the
close Of the war.
General Lee was ordered 10 Richmond
March -, 1862. assigned to duty under
the direction. of the President and
| charged with the conduct OF military ope-
rations In the armies Of the Confederacy.
on his appointment as communicating
| chief new life was infused into the ar
mics under him, and that energy which
| never aagged TO the bitter end began TO
make itself felt. Although outnumbored--
in, many instances by more than three
10 one-he kept up the unequal fight for
three long years. and in the battles
during that period generally inflicted far
heavier losses than he received. Probably
not even Napoleon was so deVotedly
loved by his soldiers "a was Lee. and
under his command they were almost
invincible. General Lee has been charged
with grave mistakes In several instan-
ces, such az the invasion u Pennsyl-
vania, which led to the defeat at Get
tysburg, and the defence Of Petersburg:
but in these two at least the only error
that can be attributed 70 him is in Civ
ing way against his own judgment and
advice, TO higher political authority.
General Lee laid down his sword nj
Appomcttox Courthouse April g. 1866 in
a manly, magnanimous manner, without
moroseness or sullen vexation. His mind
was pure. his character upright. In a
remarkable degree. he exhibited that In
flexible devotion 10 duty which is ex-
empiihed in perfect readiness TO sink
the devotion OF self. The war left him
homeless and penniless. lie accepted the
presidency OF what is now called the
Washington and Lee University, and
there after leading quiet. peaceful life
OF I'VE years. his spirit departed and
went to Him who claimed His own. Thus
ended the ltfa Of onA Of the most noted