Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-30
THE SOUTH'S LEADER
Brief Sketch Of the lllustrious Career
Of General Robert Edward Lee.
nEEpnp coSFEpERAcrs CALL.
n.f~ctcd the OGer Of supreme Com
mand of the United states Armies'
H.rrned III. Commission, ana
Came 20 Richmond.

2. Probably no general ever commanded
A body OF men who was so universally
beloved by those serving under MIN
90 Was the case with General
Robert Il. Lee. the cornmanuer-i"
chief OF the Confederate forces PROM
the moment he took charge OF 'he WI
vinia troops he was shown degree Vi
respect such as few men ever receive
and ere he was placed over the eh're
army he had earned the love and esteem
of every man In the Confederacy. ms
affectionate regard chung to nm ihrousn-
out the war and until his DEATH In io'V'
and his memory is enshrined In the hearts
OF all the people Of our beloved southern
country.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
General Lee was born at Stradord' In
westmoreland county, Va, on the 18th
day OF January, 1896, and died at Lexing-
ton, Va, on the 18th day of October lS'V'
He lived sixty-four years. crowded with
useful work and iliustrious deeds
His boyhood was 80 filed with laborious
work at school and filial duties al nome
that his teachers pronounced him the pest
scholar they ever had, and his mother eA-
claimed when he left her TO 80 10 west
Point: "How can 1 get along without
Robert? He has been both son ana
daughter 10 me-" Graduating at West
Point without ever receiving single de-
merit, and greatly distinguishing himself
as a young engineer officer, he won III
Mexico the highest reputation and was
pronounced by General Scott 10 be the
very best soldier he ever saw In the neio'
In 1852 he was made superintendent OF
the Military Academy, and exhibited the
highest qualities as a manager ana teach
er OF boys. In 1875 he was made
leutenant-colonel of the famous Second
Cavalry, and in the autumn of 1853 he
commanded the marines who captured
John Brown at Harper's Ferry.
ESPOUSED THE SOUTHERN CAUSE.
In March. 1861, he was made colonel Of
cavalry. and in April was offered supreme
command of the United States armies and
every influence was brought to bear upon
him 10 induce him 10 "stand by the old
flag" But he promptly rejected the
tempting offer, resigned his commission,
and came 10 Richmond, where he was
made commander-in -chief OF the Virginia
forces, and not long after full Confede-
rate general Busy in the unostentatious
but important work of organizing the
Quoting the West Virginia campaign. and
preparing the sea-coast defences OF South
Carolina and Georgia for the immortal
fame they afterwards won, General Lees
splendid Confederate career really began
when, on the wounding OF General john
ston at Seven Pines, he was appointed to
the command Of the Army Of Northern
Virginia
With 1900 men Ohe largest army he
.4,.lA I NlTI
lan's lO5, 0OO strongly entrenched. and
drove them 10 the cover Of their gun
boats at Harrison's Landing.
With greatly inferior force he defeated
John Pope on the plains Of Manassas.
and drove him into the Notifications at
Washington, captured Harper's Ferry
with it's garrison and immense stores
and with 5000 men defeated every effort
OF McClellan's 5000 men 10 drive him
from the field of Sharpsburg.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
He won the great victory OF Fredericks-
burg on the 18th of December, 1862, with
only 10000 OF his army actually engaged
against Burnside's 1000. and I'm May
1868. with 5000 men he inflicted at Chan
cellorsville a crushing defeat on Hooker
$4,000.
At Gettysburg with 5000 men he fough
Meade's 10000. won decided victory or
the first day, gained important advantages
on the second day, and always believed
land said among his friends) that he failed
of complete victory on the third day
only because OF the most positive disobe
dience of his orders.
In the campaign Of 1864 General Gran
had more than 275.000 men, to whom Lei
could oppose a bare 1900 ragged heroes
and the result Of the summer campaign
was that Lee outgeneralled Grant
every point and whipped him in ever.
battle until Grant, after losing more mel
than Lee had. sat down TO the siege o
Petersburg-a position he might nav
taken at first without firing shot O.
Dsinc a man-while Lee made his line
fmpregnable to direct assault and sent
column under Early TO invade Marylan'
and threaten Washington.
THE WASTING PROCESS.
Then followed that slow process o
"attrition" by which Lees army wa
reduced to 90 900 starving men to guar
forty miles from breastworks. The thi
lines were stretched until they wer
broken, and 1880 men were surrendere
Mt Appomattox 10 the "overwhelmin
numbers and resources" brought agains
them.
No wonder that the eminent Englis
soldier has pronounced Lee the grea
general OF the English-speaking people
The future historian who weighs all IN
facts will pronounce him the Great Car
tain OF the centuries.
But grand as he was In war he wa
even grander in peace. and his life i
Lexington as president of Washingto