Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-02-09

Next to that OF Washington there Is
no name 80 closely woven with the his
tory Of the United States as that OF
Lee. There was no more conspicuous
figure among the daring Virginians to
lead the Revolution that General Henry
Lee, whom every school boy knows In
the book as Light Horse Har-
ry Lee, says the Kansas City star
1t was he who said of Washington.
First in peace, first In war and first
in the hearts OF his countrymen.' the
chivalry Of this brilliant soldier Is q
part of the foundation Of Vlrginia's
glory and the fame and gallantry OF
his sons and grandsons adds ulster to
the glory OF the old Dominion that can
never fade.
Fitzhugh Lee Is the son OF Sidney s.
Lee q brother Of Robert r. Lee, VINO
was an officer In the United states
navy and afterward In the Confederate
navy, He Is the great grandson OF
Light Horse Harry Lee and on his
mothers side the great grandson OF
George Mason, who drafted the bill OF
rights OF Virginia and stood shoulder
to shoulder with Patrick Henry In the
formative part OF our colonial history
Bitzhugh Lee was born at clermont'
Fairfax county, Va, Nov, 10. 1888, he
was graduated from West Point In 1885
ana chose the cavalry, the arm or the
service that had been the choice or mis-
dashing ancestor. He began his SER
vice as a line officer in that wonderful
regiment of the old regular afmy--the
Second cavalry. II was said OF Jener-
son Davis, then secretary OF war; that
he differed the Second cavalry from
among his favorites, BE this as 1t may,
the officers Of the regiment were among
the most distinguished men on the reg
ular army list Added TO these were
some civilian soldiers who had distln-
guished themselves in the war WIN
Mexico. The regiments first colonel
was Albert Sidney Johnston, who be-
came famous as general In the con-
federate army. Robert II. Lee was
lieutenant colonel. The senior major
was William j. Hardee, author OF
"Hardee's Tactics" and the next rank
ing major was Geo, II. Thomas, now
known TO fame as The Rock Of Chick
amagua." because he held the gap at
Rossylle while the Union army, cut to
pieces. retreated back upon Chata-
nooga. Van Dorm, another famous sol
der, was a major in the old Second
cavalry. r.. Kirby Smith was captain
of the troop in which Flt2hugh Lee
served. Il was under such field mar
shals as these that Fitzhugh Lee
learned the practical lessons OF war
fare He was only a young lieutenant.
fun OF boyish pranks that worried his
staid old uncle, Robert, but he was a
dashing soldier and was always In the
thickest OF the fight. In the Comanehe
war on the Texas plains he led charge
of picked men against a large force OF
Indians and was painfully wounded
For wears he carried the point Of an
arrow in his breast AS the result of an
encounter with a Comanche chief
Lieutenant Lees last field service
with the Second cavalry was In the eN-
pedition to the headwaters OF the
Concho and Colorado rivers, under
command Of Major George II. Thomas.
In this campaign Lee commanded his
Company OBJ II was hard campaign,
I'm which only one action with hostile
Indians was fought but In which Major
Thomas was twice wounded.
In the winter OF ls6O-6l Lieutenant
Lee became assistant Instructor In cav
airy tNitltN III NtFl biHAf hhN ~"
mained there until May, 1861, when,
inter a brief leave Of absence, he was
ordered to duty with his regiment, then
at Carlisle Barracks, Pa, General
stoneman. who had been a captain In
! the old Second cavalry with Lee In
Texas. now appointed Lee one OF his
| adjutants.
But Lee had already resolved to re-
sign his commission and enter the Con-
| federate army, following the example
| OF his uncle, General Robert f.. Lee,
His resignation as an officer In the
| United states army was accepted May
| q 1861. and he at once entered the
| Confederate service. acting as General
| Ewelrs adjutant general at the first
| battle Of Bull Run.
His brilliant career afterward in the
| Army OF Northern Virginia, as one OF
| the ablest and most dashing generals
| OF cavalry this country has ever seem
| was owing In large degree, no doubt 10
| his excellent training and great expert
| ence on the plains OF Texas In the his.
| toric Second cavalry Of the old army
| OF the United states.
In the Confederate army Fltzhugh
Lee was first assigned TO STAFF duty and
| speedily became adjutant general OF
commissioned lieutenant colonel " the
| First Virginia cavalry and later was
made colonel participating In all OF the
campaigns of the Army OF Northern
| Virginia. on July %. 1862, he was made
brigadier general and about year
later he became major general He
was a conipiouous figure In the battle
Of Winchester, on which occasion three
horses were shot under him and he was
severely wounded After several
months spent In the hospital he re-
turned to the field and In March, 1865.
he was placed In command Of the en-
tire cavalry corps Of the army Of north
ern Virginia. Lee displayed skill as
we'll as courage as cavalry
leader AZ Farmyllle. near Ap.
pomattox, he led brilliant charge
which drove back General Cooks cav
airy division, and held the KEY 70 the
situation with sheridan and Ord ar
rived with Federal endorsements AMI
nut an end q the etruPTlo On TIE f1'-
4