The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1904-02-06
WE'D LIFE OF LEE.
LINCOLN SPARED SON OF CON.
FEDERATE CHlEFTAlN.

fEDEnA '|s''''
Great-Hearted President, Touched by
the Heroism of Southern Officer, De:
ferred Execution-War's Ending
Settled the Matter for All Time
President Lincoln's magnanimous
disposition and kindly nature were
never better exemplifed than in a
case during the Civil War in which
two sons of the Confederate chieftain,
Robert E.: Lee, were INVOLVED, says
the Washingto Post. AS narrated by
one of the most hospitable and typ;
ical Virginians, himself scion of a
family noted for the brave deeds and
heroic sacrifices, the story of Lincoln
and the Lees reveals a depth Of fra
ternal affection, chivalry and herolsm
of which Americans may justly be-
proud, no matter what state may claim
their allegiance. -
1T was after the battle of Brandy
station, in which Gen. W.. H. F. Lee;
called by his father and family
Rooney Lee, was not only badly
wounded, but captured by the Federal
forces. Upon being taken to- the
headquarters of the Union army his
identity became known and there was
consequently great rejoicing over such
a CAPTURE. Subsequently a Federal
officer who had been captured by the
Confederates was shot under peculiar
circumstances and the captors or
Rooney Lee determined that he should
be executed by way of retaliation. A
day had been fixed when he was to be
shot at sunrise. In some manner
Gen. Washington Parke Gusts Lee,
who once owned the Arlington estate,
which was subsequently made ma
tional cemetery by the United States
government, learned of his brothers
peril. By means of flag of truce,
GUSTS Lee appeared at the headquar-
tiers of the Union commander, who
cordially received him and inquired
the nature OF his visit.
- ITO save my brothers life, if pos
,sible,' was the reply, and return him
to his wife and children. You must
know, general continued Gusts Lee,
1 am a bachelor, and not only that,
but l outrank my brother, who is
brigadier-general, while l am major
general. If any one is to suffer for
the unfortunate occurrence by which
one of your officers forfeited his life.
let the blow fall upon me. There will
be no one to grieve and worry about
me, for I am a. single man and SOL
der, able and willing to abide by the
arbitrament of war. With my brother
it is different. for he is a man OF fam
- lily, with a wife and four little ones
awaiting him at home. He knows
nothing of my visit, neither does our
father-Gen. Robert E. Lee. Know
ing both of them as do, it is my con-
lecture that if my purpose had been
communicated to either of them they
would have endeavored to dissuade
me from such an undertaking. Conse-
quently have come to your headquar-
tiers of my own volition, and without
any advice whatever, either from my
family or friends Give me my broth.
er's life for his family's sake, and
take mine as means of retaliation
for a regrettable and unlooked-for act
of war and it's misery
"Moved by this appeal the Union
general pointed out to his visitor that
what he asked was not in his power
to grant. Lots were drawn for the
execution he said, and fate willed it
t:,at your brother should draw the
fatal number A time has been fixed
for the execution, the necessary or.
ders have been given and it only re-
mains to carry out the details. There
is nobody to help you in your ex.
tremity unless President Lincoln at
Washington sees fit to INTERFERE
This suggestion, coming from the
source it did, aroused a CLEAN of hope
within the bosom of GUSTS Lee, and
he inquired of the Federal commander
whether it would be possible to stay
the execution of the death sentence
until President Lincoln could be in
formed of the circumstances.
"'Most assuredly,' was the reply,
and, furthermore, he shall be in
formed of your heroic and brotherly
offer of sacrifice immediately
This officer kept faith to the let.
ter" continued the narrator, "and
sent detailed account of his inter
view with GUSTS Lee to the President
of the United States, Abraham Lin
coin. Within a few hours after the
message was received at Washington
there came a reply from President
Lincoln to the Federal commander,
saving: L know GUSTS Lee means
what he says. Defer the execution OF
his brother until you receive further
orders from me- s..
These orders never came" con.
cluded the host, for shortly after
ward w. H. F. Lee was exchanged for
a Federal officer of the rank of a
brigadier-general and at once set out
to rejoin his family. His devoted wife
in the meanwhile learning the story
of his capture and sentence and hav.
ing no means for ascertaining his
subsequent whereabouts had pinned
away and died. Scarlet fever had car.
ried off his four children, so that it
was to a darkened and desolate fire.
side that Rooney Lee returned out of
the jaws of death. He knew nothing
at this time of the offer made by his
brother to take his place and it was
not until long after the Civil War had
ended that he learned what the big
Z hoartnd Abraham Linc0ln had done