Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-04-30
OFFICER OF OLD ARMY
ON LEES CADET DAYS
Interesting References to Virginia's Beloved
Soldier in General j. P. Farley's Book
or West Point Touching Renlin-
iscences OF Early War Times.

ny bflSaIlef GeneIal j. +. Farley, u.
S. A.. OH the centennial occasion of the
reunion Of the graduates of the Acad.
envy Eeli on Juno 10. 1902 there are
many interesting references 10 the late
General Fitzhugh Lee. who was class
, mate anu a friend of the writer There
arc also numerous touching reminls-
! ceRceS of early war times.
Following are extracts from the
book:
1t is said that, heading his runaway
horse for Constitution Hollow" both
horses and man landed, top.side up, at
IFS bottom. "Fitz" the first on his legs
always landing on his feet'), thus
addressed himself to the crestfallen
animal: Now, d--n you, hope
you've had enough.
The mare was the Xantippc of the
stables. and "Fitz" had purposcly head
ed her for the hollow "to settle n
score" with the old lady.
This story follows on the lines of
another, where the feat performed was
that Of horse and man plunging over
the most prccipitiOus bank on the Old
South road. The horse, In this case,
cushioned tho blow and his cadet rider
lived To tell the tale.
General Lee himself gives us this,
in letter to the writer and vouchcs
for its truth: 81 remember, In my first
class year at West Point, riding a very
vicious horse named Quaker, who was
SO Wild that his name was not put in
the list of horses to he drawn for by
the first class men, and / remember
that he ran away with mo In charge
OH the plain and jumped over the very
high hedge which surrounds the hotel,
alightins inside the grounds have
been informed since that no horse at
West Point has ever cleared that
hedge"
While VIC arc on the lookout for true
stories relating to this distinguished
soldier, let us see what Maj.-Gen. John
Gibbon, u. S. A., has TO say of his
meeting General Fitz Lee, at Mclean
House, AppomattoX county, Va, in
April, 1865 Going TO the door,
found Gen. FitZ Lee seated on his
horse and looking, as | thought, some
what uneasy. He had been cadet
under me at West Point and had not
seen him for years. AS looked up ut
him, vision of the past came up be-
fore me, and ! could think only of n
little rollicking fellow dressed in cadet
gray, whose jolly songs. and gay spirits
were the life of his class. Ny salll-
tatiOn Of Hello, FitZ! Get off and come
(, In, seemed to put him at his case
at once, and brought him to his feet.
He came into the house and told mo
his story. Before leaving. with grim
hTmor, he took from his pocket FIVE
dollar Confederate note, and writing
across it's face, For Mrs. Gibbon, with
the compliments Of Fitz Lee, he said,
Send that to your wife and tell her It's
the last cent | have in the world
Twas well thought. General Lee,
for who. If not woman, can understand
or better appreciate the sentiment
which belongs Ia West Point--to her
sons, and Is part of her very lifc-the
dear one who has shared the troubles,
joys and triumphs of her own cadet?
"Therc are" she writes. certain
lines which make me actually sec
West Point"
"In the silent watches Of the night,
in fancy's dream. hear the gay lift of
the Blue Danube and see the slim
gray coats, whirling round the old
hall in the giddy mazes of the dance,
with some fair partner"
Z How many memories are treasured
up i'll TIC ueaT, IOtlO ncdft, HOW many
like her have entered with, perhaps, a
sisterly interest in, all of brothers
class, and have felt the charm of West
Point with youthful enthusiasm and
intense delight.
eyes writes the widow of gallant
officer, 81 went to West Point in 1347
and in 1919 and danced with the
q. cadets.
"In 1863 I was present with my sister
at the graduating of her brilliant, gal.
liant son--and we were all SO devoted to
him, and little thought that his career
would so soon bc over"
Her words breathed inspiration, re-
flected In the mellow light of other
4 days-of days. when we we're young
together
,5"May coming years with her most
kindly deal
t%And sweeter blessings day by day re-
2h veal;
4 Her cup of life with richest joys DER.
W, ". flow.
Health. wealth and happiness- 7all the
5is good we know H. .$
What more can be said of Fltzhugh
( Lee. He has fought for us and
Il against lis and once again for lis, and
B now al. is forgiven and forgotten that
could in anywiso detract from the
!. lusters of tho star which he wears
with 80 much honor In the strap upon