The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-08
GEN. FITZHUGH LEE.
He Has Found IlIustriOus Ancestry n
Burden-His Career.
w n Cs1.....

Burden-His Career.
W. e. Curtis, in the Chap Book.
General Lee has been handicapped by a
great name. 1t has stimulated his pride and
When 1 asked him if this heritage had
helped or hindered him, he said:
1T has been heavy load. have had the
reputation OF a lot of ancestors as we'll as
my own to look after. Whatever good have
done has been credited TO them. and what
ever of evil has been charged to me and
magniffed, because people said they had a
right to expect much better things of a man
of my blood and breeding.
when l was running for Governor of Vir-
ginia, John Wise said that if my name had
been Fftzbugh Smith, never would have
secured the nomination. 1 replied that I had
known good many good men named Smith.
and would have been as proud of that name
as of the one wore In that way / got the
votes of all the Smiths in Virginia and a
letter from man who told me never to
forget Capt. John Smith, our first settler,
who killed Pocahontas.'
Fitzhugh Lee was born on the 18th of No
vember, 1895. He Is not the son of Gen. Rob-
ert E. Lee, the Confederate chieftain as
many suppose, but a nephew. His father
was Sidney Smith Lee. captain in the
navy of the United States, who resigned his
commission when Virginia seeded and was
the assistant secretary of the navy under
tire war. Gen. Robert +. Lee was the Sec
ond and Sidney Smith Lee the third son Of
Gen. Henry Lighthouse Harry'-ot
revolutionary fame, whom FitZhugh Lee ia
said to resemble in character disposition
and appearance. Fftzhugh Lees mother was
daughter of Gen. John Mason. and sister
years a senator from Virginia, and repre-
scented the Confederate States in Europe It
was he and his colleague, Mr.. Slidell, who
were taken from the British steamer Trent
during the civil war, and made into an In
ternational episode.
When Fitzhugh Lee was sixteen years old
President Fillmore appointed him a cadet at
West Point, where he was known as The
Flea" on account of his slight stature, ply
steal activity and because he always signed
his name F. Lee He stood low in scholar
ship, but high in tactics and military science
and was first in Workmanship in his class
He was more of soldier and
great favorite with both the fac
ulty and the cadets. Otherwise he
stitution, for he gained a greater reputa-
ton for mischief and escapades than any
cadet up TO his time had been guilty Of
His Uncle Robert never received a demerit.
Fitzhugh got enough for the entire family.
and all he could carry without the exercise
OF q great deal of grace from the aea-
famous Second Cavalry, of which Albert
Sidney Johnston was colonel, Robert e.
Thomas major, He fought his first battle
against the Apaches and Comanches on the
plains of Texas, was pierced through the
lungs by an arrow, carried two hundred
miles on litter, and mentioned for gall
lantry in general orders; which was great
honor for a boy who had not reached his
health, he was sent to West Point an
Instructor in cavalry tactics, and taught
Cusder' Riipatri;cak and other famous ORA
he resigned from the United States army.
Joined the Confederates, and became adju-
tent general in Beauregard's army A few
months later he was elected colonel Of a
regiment of Virginia cavalry, and was in
the saddle constantly to the end of the
war when he laid major generals sword
before President Grant. His military career
was dashing and brilliant. He was severa.
times wounded and was the idol of his army.
/ asked him what he did when the war
was over.
II rode from Appomattox Courthouse to
Richmond, stopped at my Uncle Roberts
mousse for few days, came UP to Alexan-
dria to visit some relatives and then went
down the Potomac to farm ! had inherited
and began to pillow the ground. l continued
to do so until | was elected Governor of
Virginia in 1885"
For several years after he retired from
the goVernorshtp, General Lee was engaged
In the development Of the western portion
of Virginia, which had been opened TO set
tiement by. the introduction of railways;
When President Cleveland was inaugurated
Tor the second time he received an appoint
ment as collector of internal revenue. He
was serving in that capacity when Mr..
Cleveland sent him to Havana.
His present home is in Richmond, in Park
avenue, large, modern. tastefully fur-
nished house, filled with furniture which
his wife's cestors the Masons, brought
from. Paris in the early part of the century;
ana there is group OF ancestral portraits
dred years. Mrs. Lee was Ellen FoWle the
daughter of a well-known Alexandria fam
iily, originally, from New England. They
have five children; Ellen, the eldest will be
married on the first of June to Mr.. Gun
ningham, of San Antonio. Tex, whom she
met while he was cadet at the Vir-
ginia Military Institute. c orge Mason
Lee the eldest son, is named after his
reat-grandfather, who wrote the con 5titu-
ton of Virginia and the bill of rights and
was elected senator from Virginia 10 the
first Congress OF the United States, but de-
clined the honor: He never held an office,
but Thomas Jefferson said he was tho
wisest man he ever knew.
Mamie, the third child is beautiful girl
OF sixteen, and her younger sister Virginia
was born in the Governors house at Rich
mond. That old mansion has been occupied
by every Governor since 1872, but only two
children have been born under It's rOOt-On5
was the daughter of Letcher. the war Gov
ernor, the other of Fitzhugh Lee Both
were named in honor of the State: Virginia
Lee Letcher and Virginia Lee. and IL IS a
curious coincidence that the former is the
tends.
resembles the late General Sheridan. He IS
rorund and rosy, and his circumference at
the equator is nearly equal TO his helgnt;
He has clear, blue eye, fresh, youthIu!
complexion, upon which the color comes and
goes as he talks, and gray hair and mus
tache. He used to wear long black beard
in war times which he says was due TO
the fact that he lost his razor. More re-
Gently he has worn an imperial upon his
chin, but cut 1t off while at Havana. He
plays the violin and the piano, and has a
fine baritone voice. He Is fond of society,
particularly that Of young people, feels az
home everywhere and under all circum-
stances, has a tender sympathy and deep.
poetic sentiment, and used to write verses
to his wife in their cQurtship days.
/ asked him what three things he liked
the best in the world.
Women, horses and songs
what is your favorite song?"
You wiiIfhave heap o. fun if you join
Lees cavalry.
What Of all you have seen in your eX-
perence. do yoE admire most?"
My wife and daughters"