Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-05-04

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argument.
: Fitzhugh Lees Brilliant And Use
ful Career.
OF the very best type Of American sol
diers and citivens was Gen. Fitzhugh
Lee, of Virginia, whose death In WASH
ington was announced in The SUS yes
terday. General Lee sprang from distin-
guished ancestry and was the descend
ant of men Of action. His grandfather
was Gen. Henry Lee, the Light Horse
Harry" OF the Revolutionary army. His
father, Capt. Sydney Smith Lee, was an
officer of the United States Navy and
Commodore Perry's feet captain when
the Perry expedition was sent to Japan.
Thus Fitzhugh Lee inherited his martial
proclivities and the chivalrous character
istics which he preserved to the day OF
his death.
When Fitzhugh Lee resigned from the
United States Army at the outbreak of
the Civil War and offered his services to
his native State he was actuated by the
Hottest and most patriotic motives.
Mr.. Charles Francis Adams, of Boston,
in an address at Charleston, s. c., year
cor two ago frankly avowed, as Northern
soldier and thinker, that aSouthern man
trained in the school OF States rights
could not logically do otherwise than
take the part Of his State when the rup-
ture came. In NJ. Adams view both
parties to the controversy had right on
their side. Fitzhugh Lee, like his illus
trious uncle, Robert E. Lee, took the side
to which he was drawn by conviction,
by association and 10y tics of family
Throughout the long conflict he bore
himselfgallantly. He was born cavalry
man, a dashing and determined fighter,
who loved the fierce JOY of battle He
rose to the rank of major general, and in
the last month of the war was in CON-
mand of all of the cavalry Of the Army of
Northern Virginia. His last exploit be
fore the surrender at AppOmattox was
among the most courageous and skillful
Of his career. He led a charge of his
troopers against General Crook 3 cavalry
division and defeated it, holding the key
to the situation until Sheridan and Ord
arrived with superior forces and put an
end to the struggle. The next day Gen.
Robert E. Lee SUI rendered From the
beginning to the end of the war Fitzhugh
Lee was ranked among the hard-fghting
soldiers OF the Coniederacy. History has
given him an honorable place among the
officers who made the fame Of the Army
of Northern Virginia imperishable.
II Gen. Fitzhugh Lee served the South
iearlessly and faithfully in war, his splen-
did qualities were no less valuable to his
State altar peace was concluded. The
decentralization produced by war has
grown to be u proverb. The plight of
the South after the four years conflict
was almost Undesirable. Gen. Fitzhugh
Lee, together with his uncle, Gen. Robert
Il. Lee, urged the people of his State to
accept the result as calmly and heroically
as possible. to return to their various oc-
cupaticns and to make the best of the
situation. Fitzhugh Lee himselfset them
an example by buekling down to work
on his farm in Northern Virginia, thus
cnacting the role OF iInother Cincinnasas.
For the dashing sabreuer, It is said, put
his hand to the plow and toiled as
though he had never been the idol of the
intrepid cavalrymen Of the Army OF
Northern Virginia. All through the
dreary period following the first at
tempts of the South to rehabilitate itself
General Lees counsels were counsels of
moderation and hopefulness. Hebelieved
that it would be best for both North and
South II an early reconciliation could be
effected. All his labors Were directed to
that end. Just ten years after Appomat-
tox he spoke in Boston, at the Bunker
Hill celebration, pleading for restora-
ton OF good feeling and for fraternal re-
lations between the North and South.
The service which he rendered to the
South-indeed, to the nation-in break
ing down the barriers of sectionalism
constituted one OF the most creditable
features of his career.
The high regard in which General Lee YVES
held In his native State was atttesfed by bis
election ~ Governor Of Virginia In lisa. That
was campaign which will be long remember.
ed by the virginians OF that period. General
Lee had never been considered much CT n no
litical caEpaigner when the nomination FOR
Governor was conferred upon him. He sur
prtsed his friends and startled his foes by the
-vigor and ability which he carried into the
contest. The blare Of the bugle was an appeal
which the Confederate veterans found irresis-
tole. Later, II General Lee had been more
practical politician, he would have been elect
ed 20 the United States Senate. There seems
to be no question that he was the choice OF a
majority Of virginians. General Lees servi-
ces 70 the nation in the latter part of his c.
yeer are fresh in the memories Of the people.