The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-29
OF DISTINGUISHED
VIRGINIA. FAMILY
General Lee Had All That Noble
Blood and Honored Par
entage Could Give.

Fltahugh Lee was the son Of Captain
Sidney Smith Lee, of the United States
navy, a brother of General Robert r. Lee,
and was born at Clermont. in Fairfax
county, the residence Of his maternal
grandfather, General John Mason, on
Nov. 10, 1885, His mother was a grand
daughter OF the great Virginia statesman
and author OF the immortal Bill of Rights,
George Mason, and was a sister Of James
AI Mason, who for years represented Vlr-
ginia in the United States Senate, and
who together with Mr. SlidclI, were spc-
| cial commissioners Of the Confederate
| government to England, their removal
| from the British steamer Trent giving
| rise 10 u serious international INCIDENT.
on his fathers SIDE he was descended
/, from a long and distinguished line OF
Lees, whose careers have shed lustre upon
| American history.
1 In 1852, when the future general was
ia lad of sixteen years. he was appointed
by President Willard Fillmore a cadet
| at large to the United States Naval
| Academy, and after due course there was
graduated in tho class Of 1856. While not
standing at the head Of his class In
scholarship he stood first in horseman-
shin and was during his entire life dis
| t!nguished as an equestrian, lie sat a
| horse superby and was always the idol
of the people whenever he appeared mount
ed in any gathering.
The young lieuenants first appoint
mcnt was to the famous Second Cavalry,
a regiment differed by galaxy OF men
as distinguished as ever were included IN
one command, Albert sidney Johnston
was colonel Robert e. Lee, Lieutenant
colonel; George II. Thomas the Rock OF
Chlcknmauea,'' and William ], lIardee
, the standard tactcian of the Confed
rcracy, We're majors; while Earl van
Dorm, T.. Kirby Smith, Cakes. Palmer, r
w johnson, y, Il. Evans and Charles w
Field were captains. and John Il. Hood
!, George Cosby, James p. Major and Fiiz
hugh Lee We're among the lieutenanls
every one of whom were destined to be
come general officers of the armies o
|, the Confederacy or of the United States
: Fought the Indians.
General Lee served for a year as in
structor of recruits at the Carlisle bar
!. racks, and at the end of that time wa
ordered TO report TO his regiment the
on, the frontier of Texas. III that vcp,
ity he saw much service against IN
hostile Indians and attained great dls
tinction, being several times honorabl
= mentioned In official reports for his ga
II lantry and skill 1t Was In n fight vii
Il a forcc Of Comanche Indians May ]
1859, that the future general of cay
airy received a severe wound. which WI
for time believed to he serious J.
=, Was pierced through the lungs By Z
= Indian arrow. He had TO be borne mo-
"a than 3o miles across the country {
a litter borne by horses, and the 81
g geons were fearful that his wound Won
~ prove fatal, lie recovered however, ~
rcjoined his command before the end
Inc year In January, 1860. he dist
n guished himself in n dashng and 81
!. cessful fight with Indians in the cour
Of which he had u thrilling single con
bat with powerful Indian chief. ~
M young officer endorsed and forced
y, defend himself had his revolver stru
~ from his hand after the redskin n
struck aside the shot aimed for him a
on was apparcn,ly tthe mercy OF the 10
erng savage With knife raised ALI