Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-22
GEN. FlTZHUGH LEE.
THE WAR RECORD OF OUR REPRE-
SENTATIVE IN CUBA.
Courage and Light-Heartednes Charac-
terized Him Under the Most Try
ing Circumstances.

The Lee family has been famous in
American history from the early colonial
days to the present time, and Gen. Fitz
Lee is one of it's most interesting and
picturesque members, says the New
York Sun. His father, brother
to Gen r. E. Lee, was an officer
in the old navy and subsequently COM
manded one of the forts on James river
during the late civil war Gen. Fitz Lee
was instructor in cavalry tactics at West
Point, and, despite the severe discipline
his Office imposed, he was noted for his
jollity and geniality. He always relaxed
the necessary austerity Of his relations
with the cadets whenever circumstances
permitted, and enjoyed the relaxatlon
quite as much as his subordinates. lie
loves humor and fun, and, indeed, de-
snite the popular impression, his famous
uncle possessed the same characteristics;
He was not devoid of humor hlmsell, anu
some fine strokes of 1t appear III MS let
tiers to Mrs. Lee, both while serving IN
the old army, and even While ne com
manded the army of Northern Virginia.
Just before jefferson Davis was arralgn-
ed for treason before the federal court at
Richmond he was summoned before the
grand Jury as a witness. He narrated
the events Of the war. The overt acts,
so to speak, and said If treason had peen
committed, he too, was guilty, ana dld
not desire to escape the same punish
ment that might be inflicted on the con-
federate president.
II said this" said he some years after
war, with all the fervor and impressive
ness l could command, and looked around
at the jury to see what impression 1t
made. | found the ngro fast asleep! Ii
I had ever been vain enough to believe
I possessed any element Of the orator,
he added, that circumstance took away
all the conceit."
reign of Elizabeth or Charles ii. he
would have been one of the gayest and
bravest of the cavaliers. He would have
made a jolly companion for the Merry
Monarch. He has all the dash and chiV-
airy the courage and courtesy of trouba-
dour and courtier. He was exceedingly
popular with his command, and noted for
his modesty. This, however, was before
he got into politics. After some bril-
liant movement or display OF personal
yalor | remember his brigade formed in
body and determined to serenade him
at his headquarters, expecting, of course,
a speech. He got an inkling of the mat
ter, and when he saw them coming he
slipped out of his tent and hid in the
bushes. After the disappointed troopers
had called for him in vain and dispersed
he peeped furtively from his hiding place
gomez"
He was always generous to his adver-
saries After he was promoted TO ma
jor-genralship he and Custer, who was
his class-mate at West Point, We're OFTEN
pitted against each other In a severe
engagement, during which there were
numerous charges and countercharges
flank movements close encounters, and
much sacrifice of life, and where, l be-
lieve Gen. Butler, of South Carolina
h. dan Howe
wagon was captured. The victors went
through it," rifled his desk, and got
bundles of private papers, among which
were several from his lady admirers,
some of them so fervid in expression as
to compromise them and him. These
letters were sent to Rishmond ana pup
lished in a local paper, particular en-
phasis being given to one signed Fan
ME-" The paper excused their publica-
ton on the ground that it desired to fur
nish IAN illustration of northern society
and civilization" They were republished
in a sensational paper in Clusters own
state. Lee condemned the act as "a
mean blow below the belt" After the
war Custer told me that nothing in his
life had given him more trouble than
those letters. but l suppose" said he
Everything is fair in war and love"
Gen Lee possessed remarkable COM
posure in battle. He never got the least
ratified under the most trying conditions,
except at Saylor's creek, on the retreat
from Petersburg he never betrayed anx-
iety; and, though l have often seen him
under rafting fire, l never saw him
dodge. This cannot be said of many of
the bravest men. Sometimes bullet
will unexpectedly whiz close to ones
head, and the impulse to dodge is almost
irresistible, though 1t never did anybody
any good. On one OCCASION for some rea-
son which 1 could never find out, and
III 4, 70 q mr.
than it does now, he kept himself, his
staff and his courtiers exposed to most
VexatiouS Smelling on the outside or a
body of heavy timber when, because OF
the growing darkness, he could not see
the enemy and seemed only trying to
Judge of his movements by the firing OF
small arms. The shell appeared to come
as thick and as fast as rain drops. Our
horses seemed conscious of the danger
and became very restless, and there was
no doubt of considerable restlessness in
the bosom of at least those riders who
could see no reason for the thing. We
thought he could hear quite as well a lit
tie inside the timber, where there were
big, friendly trees The only occasion l
ever saw him moved by the enemy's fire
was at the battle of winchester. He ana
Gen. Early met under an apple tree near
the summit of a hill and in a very ex-
posed place There was no firing at the
time, but distinctly saw the enemy get
ting in position and knew what was COM
ing, though 1t was no business of mine to
tell them. The two generals, still on their
horses were intently examining a map.
One shot was fired. 1t fell short, and
they paid no attention to 1t. But 10! an
other came, struck the apple tree just
above their heads, and as the apples
rained down on them they concluded the
map could be better examined in less
exposed position-a conclusion in which
ali others agreed with remarkable unani-
nifty. And nobody stopped to get any
apples.
Gen. Lee is a superb horseman. He
rode a splendid mare, named Nellie. She
had the form, the strength, the nimble-
ness of limb, the tapering neck, the alert
poise of the head, the bright and intelli-
gent eyes that made her a model worthy
to bear any master. She was all grace
and beauty. When the confederate col
umns were broken in the same battle and
the rout began, for it was little less Gem
Lee was at very exposed point. The
fire Of thirty pieces of artillery was di-
rected against it. The air was full of
exploding shells; horses were plunging
about on three legs, neighing piteously
for place of refuge; others were disem-
boweled by the furious shot; others were
loose, running to and fro, bewildered by
the terrible havoc while the mutilated