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

HulreHuer Oh Tue NOnltueiute ipiNVS'
General FItEhugh Lee witnessed this
memorable meeting between his uncle
and Grant, and he has frequently ex-
pressed his appreciation OF the magma
nimitv displayed by the victorious COM
mander on that occasion The fact that
Grant refrained from asking for Gem
era Robert Il. Lees sword made
lasting impression on Fltzhugh Lee,
who subsequently said: General Grant
not only RETAINED from demanding my
uncle's sword, as Is customary but he
actually apologized TO General Lee for
not having his own sword on at the
time. The surrender occurred about
noon In a room In William McLean's
house, near Appomattox. General
Grant sat at marble top table In the
middle OF the room and General Lee
was seated at small oval table near
the window. Grant was dressed In
very ordinary uniform, including
dark blue flannel blouse and high top
boots with his trousers tucked In his
boot legs. He wore no marks Of rank
excent his shoulder straps. having nell
Their sword or spurs. General Lee on
the other hand, wore handsome uni
form Of Confederate Gray, with fine
top boots glittering spurs, neatly fitting
gloves and splendid sword The han"
die OF the sword | remember was
white, with q lions head for the top,
and the scabbard was OF blue steel
with gilt trimmings This sword Is now
In the possession Of General Lees son,
who succeeded his father as president
OF the Washington and Lee UNIVERSE
ty."
After the close Of the war Fltzhugh
Lee retired to his home In stafford
county, Va, and prepared to devote
himself to peaceful pursuits. Like
true soldier, he accepted the result
philosophcally and counseled his
neighbors TO return to their several in
dustres and make the best OF the STU
alton. He applied himself diligently
to farming. and the next few years
found him deeply interested in the
question of crops,
General Lee was elected governor OF
Virginia in 1885, and his campaign
was succession Of personal Ovations
ending in a gratifying majority After
he had served his terms as governor his
friends undertook to secure his election
as United States senator, but existing
political combinations We're too power
full to be overcome,
During President Cleveland's first
term he appointed General Lee one OF
the members of the board OF visitors at
West Point A mutual regard sprang
up between President Cleveland and
General Lee, which ripened into a strong
friendship. When In April, 1896, II be-
came necessary to have q strong, fear
less, cool headed and discreet repre-
sentative Of this government In haya-
ma, President Cleveland sent for Fitz-
hugh Lee and induced him 10 accept
the place. Under the peculiar and ex-
acting responsibilities OF his office Con-
sui General Lee displayed even greater
diplomatic capacity than even his best
friends supposed that he possessed. A
man Of culture, sagacity. and tact, ho
subordnated the ardor OF the soldier 10
the judicial dignity Of the diplomat
without any sacrifice Of patriotic char
acter. lle had from time to time been
active. even urgent, In insisting upon
the proper Observance OF the rights OF
American citizens in Cuba, and in that
way had apparently incurred the dis
pleasure Of certain OF the Spanish au-
thortes on that distressed island. He
manifested such frmness In conducting
an investigation into the case OF the
Inflated DR.. Ruiz that he aroused a
scarcely concealed antagonism on the
part Of General Weyler and some Of his
officers General Lees persistence In
obtaining the release from prison Of
Americans who had been confined in
Havana on the charge Of rebellion also
apparently irrltated the Spanish au-
thortles. and this irritation was ag'
gravated, Il Is presumed by the plucky
consul generals friendly policy toward
American newspaper correspondents
who for various reasons were not liked
by Spanards IN Cuba.
General Lee was retained as consul
general to Havana by President Me-
Kinley because the President and the |
cabinet convinced themselves that un-
der the circumstances they could not
get as well equipped a man 10 take his
place. General Lee they asceTtained,
was thoroughly familiar with the situa-
ton on the island OF Cuba, and the
administration had no hesltancy In
trusting him implicitly,
When General Lee left his post at
Havana Just before the outbreak OF the
Spanish war, his trip 20 Washington |
was succession Of ovatlons by day |
and night, AZ Washington he was
greeted as the hero OF the hour and |
President Mckinley took occasion |
more than once to compliment him for |
his ability In dealing with the trying |
conditions that had existed In Havana, |
But General Lee was not 10 be idle |
long. He was immediately commits |
stoned as a major general Of yolun- |
toers, and, after the treaty OF peace, |
returned 10 Cuba where he carried out |
his promise that he would ride into
Havana at the head OF American |
troops. As members Of General Lees
stan on that occasion were three young
men. the descendants 90 distinguished |
American families. They were Ftiz-
hugh Lee. Ir his own son, Algernon
sartoris grandson Of Ulysses $. Grant
and Russell Harrison, son OF Benjamin
HHrris0n
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