The Ocala evening star., 1905-07-15

tL- boy. H Was very tEoUgEtful ana
earliest in the performance Of every
duty. He Was devoted 10 the building
of a character capable Of great enter
prise. His physical powers and intel
lectual developments We're fitted for the
mighty work before him. He was al
ways most exemplary student in ev-
cry respect. was never delinquent H.
his studies and never missed lesson.
He was gentlrmanly and respectful to
his teachers and fellow students. As
he proceeded in his studies he impaired
II finish and neatneSs To everything hc
undertook and made finishing up p
specially. In this way he prepared
himself for the great work before him.
As "A West Point cadet. Indications Of
his future eminence as soldier and as
a man became evident TO his associates,
and while there he never received =;
mark of demerit. and when he gradual
ed he received second highest hOnors
of the institution. Immediately after
his graduation he received the appoint
ment of second lieutenant of engineers
in the army Of the United States.
Lieutenant Lee was man of noble
and commanding presence and a Won
derfully graceful figure. He was one
with whom no one ever wished or VEN
tured to take a liberty. although he
was kind and generous to all his sub
ordinates. He was admired and re-
spected by both men and women. was
model soldier and an ideal Christian
man. was endowed with every great ami
noble quality that could exalt human
nature.
Having been appointed commander
in-chief of the Virginia troops. with
the rank of general i'm the Confederate
army he entered enthusiastically upon
the duty of forming an army from the
levies.
| General Lee was remarkable for his
rapid dispatch of business and his
ready appreciation of character. Such
was his wonderful talent for organiza-
tion that i'm twp months after his haV-
! ing been made commander-in-ch chief ne
WAS able to equip for a field sixty reg
/ iments of infantry and cavalry.
/ General Lee WAS 4 great soldier.
+ both by nature and education. He BE-
came master of the science of war b.
! his diligent study ana by his long and
varied experiences. aud was along al
lines Il man of merit.
\ great soldier is something more
than a fighter of battles. He must
have breadth % view sufficient to take
in the widely separated movements
and To form great combinations. All
through the war General Lee showed
that h. had this brea !th of view which
ius
Before a battle h. neglected nothing
that might be needful either for attack
or for emergencies. He knew his men
what they could do. and how far n
could trust them. He, made a league
with every river and mountain. he
studied his opponent. knew his peca-
lliarities and adapted himself To them
No one could foresee General Lees
methods. for ne varied them with ev-
Iery change OF the commanders oppos-
iei TO him. He had one method witt
with Hooker. ard Yet another witt
Grant.
/ There was i'm this great general thai
harmonious blending Of caution and
holdness. without which a general mus
often either rashly expose himself :,
-,
tory. He had the power TO win tn
confidence and inspire the enthusiasm
of his men. Nothing could shake III.
confidence which his men had in him
In the darkest hour the sight of theI
beloved leader or even the mention o
his name stirred the hearts of his vet
e~ans. They spoke Of him with affec
lticn and pride which has not dimme,
by the lapse Of years.
l. is sometimes said that while Gen
eral Lee was without a peer in DE-
feuse he was not so great in attacks
But We may see how great he was il
defense by the series Of combats froT
the wilderness 20 Cold Harbor The
is hardly anything in the history of an
cient or modern warfare that equal
the skill with which he met and re
pulsed Grants obstinate assaults.
General Lee occupied the most prom
inet positions in the war. and cam
from the army with a brilliant repu
ta;ion. He was admired and extolle
throughout the Southern States, an
was esteemed scarcely less by his Zoe
in war.
Nothing reveals his simple NOR
grandeur more than that when nothin
more could be accomplished in arm
h. turned all his influence toward mas
r ing peace with the people again.
= whom n had wage3 war.
= But let Us turn ROW and view Lee &
n a man. The whole South looked 70 hi
y as cheir greatest hero. He was sir
< gularly free from he faults which
often mar the characters Of great me
Il -. go