The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-04-23
a student. He might have marked little

AA5uSl tidu IlOI lilo uuAlC, lNoDSlC II. Law,
been superintendent of the Military
Academy {. part of the time. His own
son, George w. Curtis Lee, had made 4
phenomenal record at West Point. He
said did not have "skin" "a mark for
breach CT academic regulations) during
his entire course. ''Fitz' was not so
fortunate. He was a young man Of
good capacity, and in the physical exer
cises, tho drills and all that, he delight
ed. He was easily the first horseman
of his time. But, somehow, though he
could not comprehend "math. and chem"
generally the two stumbling blocks for
unwary cadets-he hated them ALL 'tIc
could see some sense" says classmate.
Gin drills, the tactics of the infantry. the
dash and noise of the light battery. as
its guns whirled into action front, and
began their resonant thunder, the pOmp
and irresistible sweep of the cavalry col
umn; all that appealed to his martial
young soul
But when it came to "math." (ematics)
and Chem" he could net see why a SOL
der, fighting man. should give SO much
attention to them, particularly Chem"
Il never think OF this last even now"
said Lee, that l don't recall 500 and a
devil of SMELL" But for his horse
manship and high standing in all physi
cal exercises, it is doubtful if Fitzhugh
would have frOt thrOuuh vi ba
graduated in tho same class with Cen
eral Forsyth, General Sullivan, Com
missary General now retired; General
Barringer. Colonies Bainbridge and So
dor, of the artillery. class Of forty
seven in all. wherein "Fitz" Lee was
forty-fourth. But what would you:
Longstreet the ablest of the corps COM
manders, who led that Incompatible
infantry of the Army Of Northern Nir-
ginia" las great historian puts iD,
graduated as near the foot of the class
Of AZ as did Fitz Lee in his. Where
was there g. more renowned fighter?
Pickett came as near failure ESQ did
Custer in 1861 as man ever did. and was
"at the foot of the immortals' in the
world-famous class of '46 (wherein Nc
Clellan was No. 9 and Jackson. 7. j..
held good place in the middle) Yet
Pickett's fame will live in the ages.
while who can remember the head of
that historic class? Yet he was an able
"math. man. and most courteous gen.
tleman. and perhaps is still alive. He
was at the head of one end of the class,
Pickett CT the other. He must often
muse and reflect to himself: How
strange thing is fortune and fame!"
Fitzhugh Lee. after his usual GRADUATE
ing leave. went out to the Second Cav
airy, perhaps the most famous regiment
then and since In the United States
army. Shortly after he joined General
Albert Sidney Johnston, the colonel, on
his brevet rank of brieadier general. was
assigned to the command OF the Utah
expedition. This placed Lieutenant Col
onel r. e. Lee in command Of the regl-
ment. The Second Cavalry was called
Jeff Davis Own" because it was during
Mr.. Davis term as secretary of war that
four new regiments were added to the
army, two of cavalry and two of in
fantry. Never were officers selected
with more care than Mr. Davis exercised
in choosing tho field officers of these
two cavalry regiments He divided the
places very impartlally between tho
North and South. Even then the NUT
terlng thunder of the gathering war
cloud was heard on the nations horizon
Edwin Y. Sumner. of Massachusetts, a
distinguished dragon of'icrr--was COM
mlssioned colonel of the First Cavalry
Albert Sidney Johnston Of Louisiana, a
major and paymastcr in the army then,
was given the colonelcy of the Second.
For lieutenant colonies of the new rcgi-
ments two eminent Virginans were So
lected. both from the corps of engineers.
United States Army.
Tho First Regiments lieutenant col
onel was Joseph T.. Johnston; the Sec
onds, RcHcrt %. Lee. Both graduated
In 1929, and both had already made dis
tinguished regulations in tho Mexican
war for ability and professional skill and
knowledge.
1t was to the Second United States CAV
airy that Lieutenant Fitzhugh Lee went
after his graduating leave in 1856. His
active service commenced at once. The
Indians were much excited at tho cross
ing by cnigrants of their lands and
hunting grounds. With his usual energy
Lieutenant Leo distinguished himself in
every fight with the Comanches in which
he took part. He had some close calls
While OH scout once ho dismountcd to
better follow the trail of an Indian, who
had taken to the brush. AS Ice passed
along the bottom of ravinc, the Indian,
who had concealed himself above the
young lieutenant, capcd upon Lees
back and for the moment bore him down.
Tho Comancho chief attempted to draw
his knife. but Lee seized his right arm
and prevented Its use. Holding the war
rior in this way it was equally impos.
sible for Lieutenant Lee to draw his
pistol The Indian, famous war chief
was larger and heavier than our young