The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-27
GALLANT f|TzHUCH LEE
A Sketch of the Life of the Con-
sui General.
HE WAS IN THE CIVIL WAR
Three Horses Shot Beneath Him at
Winchester and Was Responsible
for the Victory at ~Chancellors-
ville-His Literary Work.


1885. lie. too. was trained for war.
When but Is years old he entered the
military academy at West Point. and
when he graduated he led his class in
horsemanship. He was appointed sec
ond lieutenant and attached To the old
Second cavalry. He saw considerable
service in Indian fights on the Texas
frontier under Major Earl Van Dorm.
He was shot once with an arrow ard
barely escaped with his life. and on an
other occasion grappled and - hand
with a big Indian buck, tripped him
with a Virginia back neei" and killed
him. Later he was returned to West
Point as an instructor in cavalry tao
ties. At the outbreak of the war he
resigned and hurried TO Virginia To Join
the rebellion. At first he was attached
to The staff of General Ewell, and then
was made lieutenant colonel of the
First Virginia cavalry. under J. +. Il.
Stuart. When the latter was promot-
ed Lee was made colonel. and a little
later became b%rigadier general. The
cavalry of the army of northern Nir-
ginia was at that time i'm two divisions,
one commanded by Lee and the other by
Wade Hampton. When Stuart died
Lee succeeded Hampton as commander
of the cavalry of the army. and ac-
CURED the rank of major general.
V s'iNto 6hiidiiiA ihTouSl
the war. engaging I'm many of the fierc-
est battles OF the rebellion. lie had
three horses shot from beneath him at
Winchester. and was responsible for
the confederate victory at Chancellors-
vile. In the many stories which are
told concerning him he is at times con-
founded with his cousin. General Rob
ert f.. Lees son, General w. III. Fftz-
hugh Lee, who was also a cavalry Of
fcer. On the day before the confed-
crate armies surrendered to Grant at
Appomattox Fitzhugh Lee headed a
cavalry charge at Farmville, the last
battle i'm which the army of northern
Virginia engaged. He vas opposed to
General Crook in this engagement, and
won quite IN advantage. One of the
famous old war stories about him is in
connection with the surrender which
came next day. When he was pro-
ceeding dejectedly away from Apo
mattox after the cause was lost he
met a graycoat Fastening to join his
regiment.
Never mind. old man." aid General
Lee, you're too late now. Lee has
surrendered. You'd better go home"
What's that?" demanded the sol
der. Lee has surrendered?"
Yes, that's right" was the answer.
For a moment the soldier stood si-
lent and "A tear trickled down his cheek.
Then he blurted out:
You can't make me believe Uncle
Robert has surrendered. 1t must have
been that - FitZhugh Lee"
General Lee has been a warm friend
of Grover Cleveland since the latter's
first inauguration. in 1885. General Lee
rode at the head of the division of
southern military organizations in the
great parade UP Pennsylvania venue
and he was recognized and cheered the
whole length of the line. The next day
hn N~n fnNifaI IN aan .,A tn ar,.g
dent. and a warm friendship resulted,
and ripened into intimacy as years
went on. The same year Lee was elect
ed governor of Virginia. When Cleye-
Ian was once more i'm the white house
he appointed General Lee collector of
internal revenue at Lynchburg. Va. In
the spring of 1896 President Cleveland
intended sending "A special commits
sioner to Cuba. but after mature con
sideration he decided to send General
Lee as consul general. with instruc-
lions To discover. as a military man.
the exact conditions of affairs on the
island.
In appearance General Lee Is more
imposing when mounted and sitting in
the saddle Gen. Robert f.. Lee used
through the war, han he is on foot.
He rides like a centaur and is an ideal
trooper. On foot he is not SO stately,
as he is of medium height and rather
~ W W f'iNiN AZ u ~
striking face. set off with white hair
and imperial. and he bears himself as
jauntily as though he did not feel the
weight of his g. years.
He married in 1871 at Alexandria.
Va, Miss Ellen Bernard. who Is also a
member of one OF the first families of
Virginia. The couple have five children
Ellen. Fitzhugh. George, Mamie and
Virginia. one of the most beautiful
homes In the quaint old town OF Lynch
burg is theirs. situat on the main
residence street and looking upon the
River James.
Much of General Lees claim to being
a man of letters rests upon his Life
of General Lee" a biography of Gen.
Robert Il. Lee. and the best one written.
With his heart in the work of transmit
ting To posterity a faithful picture of
his uncle as he knew him. General Lee
made a brilliant success of his book. Ii
Is dedicated Ito the memory OF the SOL
diers who fought and fell under the
wave of Robert f.. Lees sword and who
are sleeping I'm unbroken ranks with the
dew on their brows and the rust on
their mail" That he was fair and gem
erous to both friend and foe is perhaps
best exemplified by this selection from
the book. treating OF Jef Davis and
Abraham Lincoln.
when the red curtain of war rolled
up from the American stage to the
world were revealed two presidential
chairs. In one was seated Abraham
Lincoln. in the other jefferson Davis.
These two chief magistrates were both
born i'm Kentucky. one when a small
child was carried by his parents to Mis-
slssippi. the other when about ) years
old was taken to Indiana. and after
ward To Illinois. Each absorbed the
political theories OF his respective
states. Had Davis been carried To illi-
nols and Lincoln To Mississippi in the
war between the states Lincoln might
have been carrying n Mississippi rifle
while Davis held aloft the star span
gled banner. . . The deeds OF a
brave soldier. even though u-nsuccess-
full. excite the admiration of mankind.
The civil ruler Of the v%anquished is not
50 fortunate when the power to sustain
his government departs. Mr.. Davis
was not the demon OF hate that his enc
MIA. hn,.o .aintoA Ii IA n.G 49,. !