Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-26


where he stood well in all Of his classes.
When he left that school he had at
tained the rank of sergeant OF his class.
Having passed successful preliminary
examination, young Lee has the privi-
lege of entering West Point without any
further examination.
George Mason Lee, on his paternal side,
is a great-great-grandson or George Ma
son. the famous Virginia statesman and
author OF the Bill OF Rights. Mr.. Lee was
quito a small. lad. IN knickerbrockers.
when his father came here as Governor
OF the State in 1886 He is well remem-
bered by many OF the young men OF this
city, with whom he is very popular.
LEADERS AMONG THE LEES
For more than one hundred and fifty
years the Lees have occupied distinguish
Ell and commanding positions In the mill
tary history OF the Colony OF Virginia or
the United States Government
The long list includes, besides General
Robert L. Lee, w. II. T., G. w. C., Fitz-
hugh, and Light Horse" Harry. Colonel
Richard Lee, who came over here from
England in the same ship with Sir William
Berkely, in 1912. and many others Of the
name who won distinction on the battle
| field.
! represented by General r. f. Lee. his
four sons, and his nephew, General tftz-
hugh Lee. At the breaking out OF HOSTILE
ties General Lee was a Northumberland
in the Federal army. and Fitzhugn cap
tain.
West Point. the famous United States
Military Academy. is in New York, on the
Hudson river, some two hours ride by rail
from New York city. The first cadet grad
uated there In 1908. General Winfield
Scott, the celebrated commander-in-chier
OF the United States army, was appointed
captain OF light artillery In that year.
but was not graduate Of West Point He
commanded the American troops In the
only war of invasion the United States
has ever had. and dictated, 1t will be re-
membered. the terms of peace in the
capital city of Mexico He has left, how
ever, very high testimonial Of the
merits OF that distinguished school, and Is
on record as saying: Il give 1t as my
fixed opinion that but for our graduated
cadets the war between the United States
and Mexico might, end probably would,
have lasted some four or five years, with,
in its first half more defeats than vic,
tories falling TO our share; whereas, in
less than two campaigns We conquered
great country ana peace, WITHOUT tiie
loss OF a single battle or skirmish
SOME DISTINGUISHED GRADUATES.
No one can successfully deny the great
benefit West Point has always been to
the country. While there Is no question
that many West Pointers have been in
different soldiers. and some few men who
have not graduated there have achieved
great military distinction, yet the over
whelming testimony is largely In favor OF
the general advantages Of a military
education. In the late war all the army
commanders on both sides were West
Pointers-Grant Sherman, Sheridan,
George II. Thomas. Mcdowell, McClel-
Ian, Hooker. Burnside Meade, Schofeld,
etc, on the northern, while on the south
ern side, you ind Jefferson Davis, Albert
Sidney Johnston, Robert r. Lee, Joseph
E. Johnston. Bragg. Beauregard. Hood.
Early, Longstreet, A. p. Hill, ID. II. Hill,
Ewell, J. T. B. Stuart, etc. General Ro-
bert Z. Lee graduated there in 1879,
second in his class. HIS eldest son,
George Washington Custis Lee, now
president OF Washington and Lee Unlver-
sity, Lexington, Va, graduated first In
his class ip 1854. and went in the engl-