Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-06-25
Col. Richard Henry Lee.

Lee, Clarke county and the State Of
Virginia have lost one of their dis
tinguished and most highly respected
citizens.
Born in Alexandra in 1921. he
be was son Of Edmund Jennings
Lee, and grandson. on his mothers
side, of Richard Henry Lee, of Reyo-
lutionary fame, who was promi-
nent member of the Continental
Congress, and Of the convention
which. in Independence Hall in
Philadelphia, adopted the immortal
Declaration of independence. Mr..
Lee was the mover of the resolution
that led TO that Declaration, and
would no doubt have been the chair.
mau Of the committee to whom il
was referred, and the author of the
Declaration. but for the fact that
when the committee was appointed
he had been called to his home bv
the illness of u member of his family.
and Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia,
was chosen to write it.
Richard Henry Lee, his grandson,
and the subject of this sketch. after
having received college education.
was admitted to the bar in jefferson
county, Virginia. now West Virginia.
aud for some years practiced law as
a partner Of his brother, Edmwnd |.
Lee, Esq. with their Office in Shep-
herdstown. He then removed to
Charles Town, the county seat, where
he was elected Commonwealth At
tOrney for the county, and pracuced
successfully until 1852.
In April 1861. he enlisted in the
Second Regiment of Virginia Volun.
teer lnfautry. and was appointed a
sergeant IN Company G., commanded
by Capt Lawson Bolts, of that town.
a most gallant soldier, who was after.
wards promoted to the rank of lieu.
tenant-colouel, aud lost his life al
the head Of his regiment. IN the
second battle of Manassas.
Lee was soon promoted to lieu
tenancy, and greatly distinguished
himself at the battle of Kernstown.
where Jackson attacked the army
under Shields, which outnumbered
his st least four to one.
Four regiments of the Stouewall
Brigade, Of which the Second Vir-
ginia was part-the Second, Fourth,
Fifth aud Thirty-third bore the
brunt of that battle-and were adj
vancing upon the enemy, with fixed
bayonets, under a heavy concentrated
fire, which they did not return. RELY
ing upon the bayonet to do the work,
and the men were falling rapidly.
The firing was so heavy that many
Of the officers feared that our line
would be broken. The color bearer
accompanied by soldier, moved ia
the front, some twenty five or thirty
PAGES in front Of our line, and Lieu
tenant Lee rushed forward to Join
them, calling on the men to follow
him. As he was about to overtake
the colors. the color bearer was shot
and fell to the ground, the colors
going down with him, but the soldier
who was with him, who was Ran
dolph Barton, Esq, now a promi-
nent lawyer in Baltimore. raised the
flag and threw it out to the breeze.
when it was snatched from his right
hand, aud looking round he recog-
nized Lieutenant Lee, who bore il
alott for moment aud then fell,
severely wounded by bullet in the
thigh; and at the same time Barton 5
pistol was knocked from his hand by
musket call.
These particulars were furnished
me by Mr.. Barton himself, in letter
written to me as soon as he saw a
notice of Lees death in the Baltimore
Sun. | heard the incident directly
after 1t occurred, but did not know
who 1t was that was with Lee until
| received Mr.. Barton's letter. which
relates it in every particular as !
first heard it forty years ago. Our
line, although fearfully punished.
never faltered. How could it do so.
with such an example before it, AS
was afforded by the gallant bearing
OF such men as Lee, Barton, and
that color bearer, whose name |
regret to have forgotten, as il
deserves to be put upon record among
the bravest of the brave?
They swept mp likea torrent, and
drove the enemy in great confusion,
from behind a stone wall, which
they had gained, and behind which
they had taken shelter. Just then
General Garnett, with his staff, rode