The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-22
OF HEROIC DESCENT.
MRS. JEFFERSON DAVIS TELLS
WHO FITZHUGH LEE Is.
He Fought i'm the civil War-Inci-
dents of HIS Early Life In Virginia.
He Was a Fierce Fighter.

He Fought i'm the civil War-Inci-
dents of HIS Early Life In virginia.
He Was "A Fierce Fighter.
Mrs. jefferson Davis In the st. Louis
Post-Dispatch.
In the proud chronicles of the Lee fam
lily hereafter there will be inscribed no
more worthy name than that OF titzhugh
Lee, the great-grandson of "Light-horse
Harry" and on his mothers side of George
Virginia, and stood shoulder to shoulder
with Patrick Henry in the formative part
of our colonial history.
Fitzhugh Lee is the son of Sidney Smith
Lee, who was an officer in the United
States Navy, and afterward of the Con-
federate Navy one of the handsomest, most
elegant and best bred men of his day. and
one of whom no one living could say he
had given pain TO another by brusque or
unkind remark. He was always ready for
action but never pushed his claims for adj
vancement against brother officer. Wher-
ever his duty called him he went without
a murmur, and did his best. His was one
of those perfectly balanced natures pos
sessed i'm a great degree by Gen. Robert
E. Lee, which evoked the love as well as
respect of all who came within its in
flueuce.
Mrs. Sidney Smith Lee was exceedingly
beautiful in her youth, indeed as long as
she lived she was a comedy woman, full of
spirit cheerful and lovable to young and
old to the last day of her honorable, we'll
spent life. From her Fitzhugh gets his gay,
child-like enjoyment of everything from
which he can draw innocent pleasure, and
doubtless this quality has sustained him
under the stress of the painful position he
now occupies with such honor 10 himself
and profit TO his country.
When the war between the states began
Fitzhugh and his younger brother reported
for duty anywhere. This was the Gus
tom of the Lees. They were ready for
duty when called upon, and, meaning to
do their utmost did not ask what or where
the field might be.
About the same time came Gen. Lees
Fitzhugh. lovingly called Rooney by all
who knew him. 1t was only on official
documents that his proper name appear
ed Unlike little Fitz" he was tall ana
stockily built. a handsome man and
rather silent like his father c. w. Gus
tbs Lee, the elder of the two, was very ike
his illustrious father in mind, and though
with different colorng also resembled him
| in person and manner.
President Davis and those who knew
| him best thought he had true military gem
| JUS and a noble character He with great
| self-abnegation stified his burning desire
TO seek glory in the profession for which
he was educated and which he was admir-
| ably equipped by nature to adorn, and at
| the Presidents request became his militia
! nv aid in Richmond. Many times during
| the raids about the city and on the battle
| fields near there, where the President
| never failed TO be present, Col Gusts Lee
acquittd himself admirably and with most
conspicuous daring. He led at last for
! lorn hope before Petersburg, and was sur
rendered with Gen. Lees army at Apo
mattox.
Robert Lee, the youngest of the three
! brothers. was at Lexington at school, but
could not stand the lnaction, so without
| his fathers knowledge he enlisted as a
! private soldier, and when Gen. Lee rode
| by a battery under the awful storm of shot
and shell at Fredericksburg a slight lad
perched like a cock sparrow on a tall ar
tillery horse, his face black with powder,
called out to him:
"Are you going to put us in again, Gen
era?"
YES" said his father, my boy, who
are your"
"Why don't you know me, father? I
am Robbie
God defend you, my son." answered the
heroic father. you must go IN again"
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee was little more than
a boy in years when he received his COM
mission in the Confederate army, full Of
enthusiasm for the state and section
which every successive generation of his
family had illustrated and adorned and
with boys gayety and a mans ardent
purpose he joined Rooney" j. f. b.
Stuart and Joseph Wheeler, all beau
sabreurs in the cavalry.
One brilliant engagement after another
demonstrate the daring and capacity OF
these dashing young officers, and they
rose rapidly until their brigades and their
divisions made their mark on every blood
field and their fame had spread not only
over the United States but to the out
side world. where officers of every army
wondered at and admired the feats Of
valor they performed. Wheelers ride and
Stuarts reconnaissance will never be for
gotten by military men.
Throughout all this stress of danger and