The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-08-20
COMPOSITION.
Rend nt tho Graded school.

Read at the Graded school.
Robert T.. Lee was born at Stratford,
Westmorland County, Virginia, Jam
uary, 1907. His father was General
Henry Lee of the Revolution, better
known as Light Horse Harry Lee.
His mother was Miss Annie Hill Car
ter.
After the wsr General Lee was Gov
ernor Of Virginia. Then member OF
Congress. Soon General Lees health
began to fail. He went to the West
Indies for his health, but there be only
got worse. He started home but on
the way he became 40 sick that he was
put off at a friends house and there
he died. His remains were not taken
home but buried there.
Robert was eleven years old when
his father died. When Robert was
four years old they moved to AleXan-
dria. There they had better schools
When Mrs. Lee went 10 ride and
complained of being cold Robert would
get out his jack knife and stuff the
cracks of the carriage full Of paper.
After awhile Mrs. Lee fell sick. Robert
gave her her food and medicine with
his own hands. When she died Robert
was heard to say, II owe everything 20
my mother" -,
When Robert was eighteen years old
he went to West Point to become u
soldier. There he went to school four
years and never got bad mark.
When he was twenty-five years old
he entered then the engineering corps
and became a lieutenant. Then his
duty was to make forts. plan battle
fields and keep rivers In their own
beds. Once he had to force the MIS-
sissippi River into its bed. Some men
who did not like the work LIE was
doing brought up some cannon aud
opened fire upon the laborers. After
awhile he forced the mighty river back
into its own bed.
In the Mexican war he bad to find
out the position Of Santa Anna, the
Mexican General. He went into the
mountains, but could not find him.
The next day he found him out aud
rold General Scott. In the battle that
followed Santa Anna was defeated.
When Lee was promoted to captain he
was sent to Texas. There his duty
was to keep the Indians from killing
the whites.
Once q disease broke out In Lees
troops. Men, children and horses
died. Once a little boy died of this
disease.
when the war between the States
broke out Lee was offered command Of
the Northern army II he would remain
true to the Union. But he said. II
Il s,rDnrH N - tnSf Nif.
ginia, my native State" When Lee
met Joe Hooker ut Chancellorsville
Hooker had nearly twice Lees num-
Der. Hooker had ninety-three thous-
and men while Lee had forty-f0ur
thousand men. Jeb Stuart led his
men singing, "Old Joe Hooker come
out and fight" Lee won the battle.
When General Pope attacked Lee,
Lee sent Stonewall Jackson with a
portion of his army to Pope's rear.
When Pope attacked Jackson, Jackson
fought we'll, but the Confederate's
powder gave out, then the COnfede-
rates fought with stones. How eager
" Jackson looked for help, and at Last
IL ca me, then jackson beat Pope back.
Then after Pope came Burnside, after
Burnside came Meade. At the battle
OF Gettysburg when Lees men had
been defeated he told them To stand
firm. After Meade came Grant.
At the battle of the Wilderness when
Grant was not expecting him, Lee at
tackled him. Lee was on the point of
being driven back when the men Of
the Lone Star State came up. But
soon the great blue Gordon encircled
the Texans In circle Of fire. Then
crashing upon the scene came Lion
Benning ard Tiger Anderson with the
brave Georgians, followed by Laws
gallant Alabamians. They rushed
upon Haucock's centre and back II
reeled before their charge. When the
battle ended 1t resulted In another VIC
tory for the S'onfederates.
When Grant besieged Petersburg
and could not take It, he started u
cruel plan. This plan was to dig q
mine under the city Of Petersburg and
blow 1t up. Lee found out the plan
aud put men to give the alarm when
the mine was fred. When the mine
was fred 1t made q deep hole. When
the Federals charged many fell into
hole. On these hot fire was opened.
When the white troops fled the color
ed troops were sent to the breach, but
they fled. Then the white troops were
sent again but were beaten back. Then
Grant did try to take the breach.
Food was scarce In the Con federate
army. When Lee heard that some cattle
were In the rear of the Union army
he sent some men to get them. When
the men came hack they had two
thousand head OF cattle.
The favOrite name Of the Yankees
for the CoEfederases was Johnnie Reb {;
the favorite name Of the Confederates
for the Yankees was Billy Yanks. One
day Billy Yanks said. II say, Johnnie.
take them old greasy clothes off and
come over here, l have got nice new
suit for YOU" That's all right about
my suit, growled the Confederate, "ail
the grease on them came out Of your
cattle" Then the Yankee guns began
TO pop and the Confederates were not
slow to pop back.
After Petersburg was taken General
Lee surrendered at Apponsatox Court
House. A Yankee officer describes
how Lee and Grant looked while they
were in q room talking about the sur
r.nder. He said Lee had OH u spot
less suit Of gray, nice new boots. q
sword and little spurs." Grant had
boots that were splashed with mud, no
spurs, no sword and coat that had
one button off.
One night Lee went TO church. there
he got cold. When he came home he
could not speak. When he did speak
his thoughts were with his soldiers.