The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-06-17
ROBERT EDWARD LEE.
A TRlsuTETCT THE SOUTH'S GREAT
EST GENERAL.
An Address Delivered by Professor a. r.
.Strode before Camp Eiop. U. c. v. at
PyS.ror,-sv : C.


Strobe before Camp Riop. U. c. v. at
Ridseway. sc.
MIR. Commander, Venerable Survi
yors of the War between the States,
ladies and gentlemen: When some
three months ago l was requested by
th:. body to speak here of the life Of
your great leader, I felt the -compl-
menS Of your choice, found IN your
bidding no less tnan command and
I then resolved to merit your conh-
dence.as best could.
But when I applied myself to the
study of the subject ior which you X
pressed a preference, day by day the
conviction grew upon me, 1t is too
great and cannot attain unto 1t, ana
despair might have been my portion,
had I not remembered your generous
pastiality in calling metrom my hum
bic station as an instructor OF youth to
speak in this assemblage of those W no
have felt the fiery breath of battle, who
have ''stormed the looming bastlons
fringed with fire." to win for them
selves an undying fame on the pages
of heroic history.
In such an assemblase I should have
been well content to SIT silent hearer
beholding in every man who wore the
gray, my fathers brother.
But since you have hcnored me with
the encouragement of your approval,
lshall address myself as best can to
the subject your partiallty has as.
signed me, but praying that you Will
continue to indulge my shortcomings.
In the northern part of the good old
state Of Virginia, there lies between
the Rappahanncck and Potomac rlv-
ers, q section of country some thirty
mics in length with an average width
of fifteen miles. Within these narrow
confines nave been born statesmen,
soldiers and patriots whose names Il
lurine the brightest pages OF Amerl-
can history. Here was born the Father
of his Country, here James Monroe
first saw the light and near the birth
place of these two James Madison was
ushered into the world.
To this section there came from Eng
land in 1641 the Lees, belonging 10
one of the Oldest families in the moth
er country. And it has been said OF
this family that it has perhaps given
more statesmen and warriors to their
new home than any other OF our old
colonial progenitors.
To this family belonged Col. Henry
: Lee of Revolutionary tame, more IA
miliarly;known as Light Horse Har-
ry.e. Early in the Revolution noml-
mated by Patrick Henry, then Cover
nor of Virginia to be a Captain OF cav.
airy, ne became the well. beloved OF
Washington, was commended py Con-
gress for conspicuous gallantry, and
II was said of nim that '.he seemed to
have come out of his mothers womb
asoldier." Having won high nonor
in the Revolution he was, after the
return of peace, elected Governor OF
Virginia. Upon the death OF Wash
mcton ne was chosen By congress to
deiss--sran Grafton upon the life OF the
great patriot. This address It was that
ne closed with these words, as immor-
! tai as the great subject OF his eulogy,
first In war, frstin peace, and hrsL IN
the hearts of mis- fellow country men"
General Henry Lee was wounded
while striving TO Guell riot Ii balsl'
more, and the last years of his lie
were spent vainiy seeking a restora-
ton OF strength in the West Indies.
His letters TO his family during this
period of his affection are models OF
chaste and elegant expression, OF no.
BILE dicion ana lofty prccepts. In one
he writes, Fame IN arms or art IS
nought unless betrothed to virtue.
How well his great son illustrated
with his life this maxim, all the world
knows.
General Henry Lee was married
twice: the second time to Annie dllI
Carter of an old Virginia family,
s..noted," we are tolls, tor their unset
fshness, generosity, purity and ialtn-
fulness.
The fourth son by this marriage was
Robert Edward Lee, born January l9,
1907, at Srattord, Wes'moreland
County, Virginia, IN the same room
in which two signers Of the Declara-
tion of Independence first saw the
light.
Amid such surroundings linked by
so many associations to an inspiring
past, Robert Lee grew a noble boy.
Walking the same wooded alsles that
sheltered Washington, he looked upon
the same noble river tnat CLEANED Tor
the eyes of that great patriot.
We are told that the ancient Greeks
adorned their cities with the MODEST
specimens of architecture and sculp-
ture that their youth behololng the
beauty of outward form might lnem-
selves incline to the beautiful ana the
good in their own development. How
much more potent as an Inspiration
TO coble endeavor must be the con
templation of the graceful outlines
which mark the development OF no
BILE life. And before the mind OF Rob
e-t Lee devoted mother ever kept the
images of high ideals. After his sew
en&h year he never saw his father, but
that tather still spoke to the son
through those faded letters written
upon the rack of pain, and around the
son, who was % her, as she herSeL
bore witness, both son and daughter,
were thrown all the tender soIlcitude
and fastening care of Cody mother,
To her then more than to anyone else
is due the praise for his nobility OF
life.
Among his fellows he was popular
and good. If there was ever time
in his life when he ''sowel. wild oats, !"
q most dihgent search fails to reveal
it. What shall do with my hfe1'
Is the question that must command
the attention of every young man.
When this question came to Robert
Lee may we not in Y son believe that
having heard from fond though qul7-
ering lips the story of his slre's bat
ties, he telt that sire's warrior spirit
stir within him, and was strengthened
L. to- nv