Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-23
OF THE FIGHTING LEES OF yIR-
GINA.
CHARACTER STUDY BY MRS. DAVIS.
The Man OF the Hour n De-
scendant Of the Most Roman
tic Character OF the RevoIn-
ton.
New York WORLDLY

Lee, the greatgrandson OF "Lighthorss
Harry" and. on his mothers side, o.
George Mason, who drafted the Bill o.
Rights OF Virginia, and stood shoulder
to shoulder with Patrick Henry In the
formative part of our Colonial history.
Fitzhugh Lee s the son of Sidney Smith
Lee, who was an officer I'm 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 a
brusque or unkind remark. He was al
ways ready for action but never pushed
his claims for advancement against a
brother officer. Wherever his duty called
him he went without a murmur, and did
| his best His was one of those perfectly
balanced natures possessed In a great
degree by General Robert Il. Lee, which
evoked the love as well as respect of all
who came within it's influence.
Mrs. Sidney Smith Lee was exceedingly
beautiful in her youth; indeed, as long as
she lived she was comely woman, full
of spirit, cheerful and lovable 70 young
and old to the last day of her honorable.
well-spent life From her Fitzhugh gets
his gay child-like enjoyment of every
thing 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 to himself and profit to his
country.
When the war between the States be-
gan Fitzhugh and his younger brother
reported for duty anywhere. This was
the custom 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 General
Lees Fitzhugh, lovingly called Rooney
by all who knew him. 1t was only on Off
cial documents that his proper name ap-
peared. Unlike little Fitz," he was tall
and stockily built, a handsome man. and
rather silent, like his father G. w. Gus
tbs Lee, the elder of the two, was very
like his illustrious father in mind and
manner, and, though with different color
ing, also resembled him in person
President Davis and those who knew
MIN best thought he had true military |
genius and noble character. He, with |
great self-abnegation, stifed his burning !
desire to seek glory in the profession for |
winch he was educated, and which he /
was admirably equipped by nature 10 i
adorn and at the Presidents request be-
came his military aide in Richmond.
Many times during the raids about the
city and on the battle-felds near there
where the President never failed to be
present colonel Gusts Lee acquitted
nimseif admirably and with conspicuous
caring He led at last a forlorn hope be-
lore petersburg, and surrendered with
General Lees army at Appomattcx.
robert L0e, the youngest of the three
brothers, was at Lexington at school but
could not stand the inaction. so without
his fathers knowledge he enlisted as a
private soldier. when General Lee rode
by a battery under the awful storm Of
shot and she'll at Fredericksburg a
'hght lad perched like a cock-sparrow
On tall artillery horse. his face black
with powder, called out to him:
sralg e'''' Hei-
Yes said his father; but. my boy
who are you?"
am Robbie"
God defend you, my SON" answered
again"
General Fitzhugh Lee was little more
nan boy In years when he received his
'oihhilssion In the Confederate army full
II enthusiasm for the State and section
which every successive generation OF his
amily had illustrated and adorned. and
nth boys gayety and a mans ardent
urpose ne Joined Rooney" j. e r
tuart, and Joseph Wheeler. all bean !
abreurs.
one brilliant engagement after an
'her demonstrated the daring and ca !
aclty OF these dashing young officers
nd they rose rapidly until their bril- }
AIDES and their divisions made their
1ark ON every bloody field and their j
ime had spread not only over the United c
tates, but TO the outside world where v
Ulcers of every army wondered at and g
dmired the feats of valor they per- &c
ormed. Wheeler's ride and Stuart's 5
'connoissance viii never be forgotten by a
Hillary men. h
Throughout all this stress Of danger o
nd the Disadvantages of poor equip G.
lent and scanty food little Fitz" and h
Beauty Stuart" as the army called Il
lem, rode laughing and singing into the Ct
hckest OF the fight. None OF these o.
oung cavalrymen ever asked or claimed b.
'omotion; they won IT many times, but oil
aited patiently until it was offered. e
one Of the amusements in which they N
,lighted when the two close friends W
me to town was, If they were intimate te
tn the people they were visiting. 10 al
It an absurd little effigy of a negro set w
! bristles on the sounding board of a et
ano, and as the little thing danced h.
out in a wild way the two gay young ~
lends, inspired by the toy, danced to- ~
Their, booted and spurred, in their wea- GO
er-stained toggery, with the abandon m
children. a.,
once when Little Fitz" came to ask 81
e President for horses and the two ~
I long and gravely Weighing the ar
ances for fresh mounts for the cavalry, DO
e President said: HS
1 do not see how you are 10 ride out -,
e campaign on those horses unless we -,
e more successful in getting others =,
an we seem TO promise to be-" I'D
Never mind. sir" said the strong W
arted. cheerful young fellow when ~
: brigade mounts the horses have just We We
| TO 10 in" 81 81
he end of the war found the two off, oi'
s without money and without the ~,
yer to engage IN the only pursuit for NJ,
ich they were fitted by education and ,ns
lit Rooney. somewhat more fortunate 30,
N his cousin in worldly possessions. M
X his ancestral farm, THE White mo-
USE" Strengthened out the tangled I'M 10
growth, sowed and reaped the crops, w,
!, his first beautiful wife having died a.,
en- he was In prison. he married a hot
ond time one of the beauties Of Viz ,
ia. and took her home TO the old house as
his father, where he had personally | IA