The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-20


pathy to this product of the French Re
volution, he adds with whitening sarcasm,
that Caesar was a gentleman" Yea,
verify, that blue-eyed, round-faced, curly
headed Roman, whose fame as an orator,
historian and warrior resounds through
the corridors OF time, was a gentleman;
and il Ovid is to be believed, his BODY
was borne beyond the clouds to the serene
heavens, where he became an associate
OF the Roman Deities.
In our time, the greatest and most glo-
rious soldier OF modern ages, also was a
gentleman-and we embalm the memory
of his virtues On the affairs of our hearts,
and hold him as most worthy of our love
and veneraton.
President Tyler mentions that among
| the early emigrants who landed at
| jamestown, there were thiTty-four noble
men OF the most ancient families or the
English peerage, and 12S Knights Baro-
nets. 1t is this class of country gentle
men that has furnished the most brilliant
| characters in the splendid galaxy of en-
! nent men who have adorned the annals
lof Great Britain. Ia Virginia, these high
bred gentry spread themselves through
out the tide-water region, and their de-
scendants have won for the Old Dominion
the proud distinction of being the mother
| of States and of Statesmen. Particular
l. has the small county of Westmoreland,
| living between the Rappahannock and the
! Potomac, been the matriX of great char
ccters There, in the opening years OF
the 18th Century could be seen a lovely
matron. the II stress of an elegant man
sion, surrounded by luxury, and the cen
Ter of a refined and noble connection. She,
herself, could trace her lineage back
through many heroes to Robert Bruce,
the patriot of Scotland, while her hus-
band, also Of honorable lineage, had won
| fame and high honors in the War for In
| dependence and, as Light Horse Harry,
/ had left his impress on the history of
| kis country.
But men follow the mother rather than
the father Seldom has q great, strong
| man been born to a weak woman. BY
nature, our heritage is largely from the
| female side, and the children Of Annie Hill
/ Carter. the wife of Light Horse Harry
j Lee, had their hearts enrolled by the
rich blood OF Robert, the Bruce. Nurtur-
/ ed under her influence, living N an at
mosphere where only virtues could -four
ish, her children naturally developed into
exemplary characters.
| To the interested and anxious household
that gathered at StTatford this night,
nniety-seven years ago, thore came =
cEild, destined like Caesar, to fill the
measure Of fame as soldier and a gen
tleman.
A few miles distant, on the Same noble
Potomac, in the same neighborhood,
Washington had been born-now it was
Robert Edward Lee--in many respects the
peer, in. some the superior, Of the great
patriot-whose untimely death was still
freshly mourned by the people, and the
eulogy CT the orator Richard Henry Lee,
still royer berated throughout the CONT
nent First in War, First IN Peace, and
First in the Hearts Of his Countrymen."
Hardly had Washington passed away at
Nit Vernon, before Lee was born at STRAIT
ford
From Saletto, on Christmas 1876, after
the excitement OF an apprehended attack
that had disturbed their Christmas din
neT, he wrote to his wife: Find ng that
the enemy did not come, preparations
were again made for dinner. We have
had many happy Christmases together 1t
tirely separated at this holy time since
our marriage. l trust that this is the
lest time I shall be absent from YOU dur
ing life"
With Wool he rendered conspicuous ser
vice, so that when Scott arrived, that
/ General particularly asked that Lee migny
be sent to him, and he became the mill
tary adviser of the Commander-inCh ef.
lie who had been a mothers boy, who
had learnt to practice watchfulness and
carefulness amid the solicitude OF the sick
room. now was to reap a rich reward fol
his habitual painstaking and regard fer
details, for his devotion to duty ana self
sacrifice
The responsibilities OF an engineer of
ficer in a strange country, amid noun
tains and impracticable roads, and in the
face OF a numerous foa, are very great.
He must determine what points should
be occupied, and whether or not it is
practicable to reach them, and to hold
them against the assaults of the enemy;
he must outline the battle, and sketch
the plan OF the campaign. II so happen
ed that even more than this devolved on
Capt Lee. In that unknown and difficult
region, he had himself to become the
active scout to gain needed informa-
ton. In this work, no task was too
arduous; no endurance beyond his pow
ers; no undertaking too perilou5 for him
to perform it. To say that he displayed
fine military genius; to say that he re-
pcatedly won high distinction by gallant
conduct, that ne made reputation as an
engineer by his courage and devotion
conveys no adequate idea of the result
OF his splendid services
| Daily the imminent occasion called fol
some extraordinary feat, and daily, Lee
rose equal to the emergency, and won
applause by his admirable conduct.
At one time. with Wool, after night
scout to locate the enemy, during which
with only one unwilling Mexican guide
he had ridden at gallop forty miles
and gained a clew to the enemy's loca
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