Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-03-30
GEN. FITzHUGH LEE.
THE MAN OF THE HOUR DEsCEN0 %:
sfHE MOST ROMANTIC cHARAc1zR'oH
=, TIE nEvoLurroN

y New York World. ~
In the proud chronicles Of the Lee
family, hereafter We're will be inscrib-.
ed no more worthy name than that Of
Fitzhugh Lee, the greatgrandson Of
Lighthouse Harry" and, on bis moth
er's side, of George Mason, who draft
the Bill Of Rights Of Virginia. and
stood shoulder to shoulder with Pat
rick Henry ;n the formative part Of our
Colonial history.
Fitz Lee is the son Of. Sidney Smith
Lee, who was an officer in the United
States navy, and afterwards Of the
Confaderats nayy-one Of the hand
soonest, most elegant, and best-bred
men Of his day, and one Of whom no
one living could say he had given pair
to another by q brusque or nnkind re-
mark. He was always ready for action,
but never pushed his claims for sd-
vapcement against o brother officer
Wherever his duty called him he went
without o murmur, and did did test
His was one Of those perfectly ,bslane'
ed natures possessed in a great degree
by General Robert E. Lee; which
evoked the love as well as respect O.
all who came within it's influence.
Mrs. Sidney Smith Lee was exceed
ingly beautiful in her youth /; indeed
as long as she lived she was q comely
woman, full Of spirit. cheerful, ani
lovable to young and old to the las
day Of her honorable. well-spent life
From her F,tzhugh gets his gay,child
like enjoyment of everything from
which he can draw innocent pleasure
and doubtless this quality has sustain
ed him under the stress Of the painiu
position he now occupies with suct
honor to himself and profit to biz
country.
Wien tho war between the States
began Fitzhugh and his younger broth
er reporte d for duty anywhere. Tbi'
was the custom of tie Lees. They
were ready for duty when called up N
and, meaning to do their utmost dit
not ask what or where the field nigh
be.
About the same time came Genera
Lees Fitzbugb, lovingly called Rooney
by all WHO knew him. 1t was only OIL
official documents that his proper name
appe ared. Unlike Little Fitz." he wai
tall and stockily built. handsome man
and rather silent, like his father. g.
W. Gusts Lee, the elder Of the two
was very like his illustrious father in
mind and manner, and, though with
different coloring, also resembled him
in person.
President Davis and those who
knew him best thought hs had trae
military genius and noble character.
He, with great self-abnegation. stiAed
bis burning desire to seek glory in thu
profession for which he was educated
and which he was admirably equipped
by nature to adorn, and at the Presi'
dents request became his military aide
in Richmond. Many times during thu
raids about the city and on the battle
fields near there, whore the President
never failed to be present, Colone
Gusts Lee acquitted himself admirabl.
and with conspicuous daring. He lee
at last folorn hope before Peters
burg, and surrendered with Genera
Lees army at Appomattox.
Robert Lee, the youngest Of tn
three brothers, was at Lexington a
school, but could not stand the mac.
ton, so without his fathers knowledg
he enlisted as . private soldier. Whel
General Lee rode by q battery unde
The awful storm of shot and shell .
Fredericksburg, slight lad perche'
like a cock-sparrov on . tan artiller
horse, his face black with powder, call
ed out to him:
care you going TO put us in agar
| Generali"
eyes," said his father; "but, m
boy, who are your"
"Why, don't you know me, father
I nm Robbie"
"God dsfend.:you,my son." answere
the heroic father; you must 60 i
again"
| General Ftzhugh Lee was litsl
more than boy in years when he re
celved his commission in the Confed
crate army, full Of enthusiasm for tn
State and section which every success
| tive generation Of his family had illus
trated and adorned, and with q boy
gayety and q mans ardent purpose b