The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-01-19

on the staff of Gen Scott at Vera
Cruz. The fleet and batteries of Gen.
Scott had been firing on the Mexican
works for six days. On the seventh
day Gen. Scott ordered Capt Lee, as
sisted by Lieut.. Beauregard, to direct
the firing of his batteries on the Mex
lean works. Before the sun went
down the Mexican colors went down.
He paved the way, as it were, for the
advance of the American army to the
City of Mexico.
| shall never forget a remark that
/ heard DR.. Brent make at the post
office in the little town in Virginia
part of April, 1851. The people were
standing around waiting for the mail
from Richmond to be opened. From
the first paper that was opened some
one read Col. Robt. E. Lee has re-
signed his position in the regular
army and rendered his services TO the
governor of Virginia" DR.. Brent re-
marked, IF Robt E Lee is with us
we're all right. Gen. SCOTS success
in Mexico is due in a great part to
the valuable services rendered him by
Robt K. Lee" Gov. Letcher accepted
his services and appointed him to or
ganiZe and command the Virginia vol
unteers then being raised for the war.
The place we will speak of him
is at Harper's Ferry, Va. In 1883
when Jno Brown started his raid,
when pursued by the Virginia authori-
ties, he retreated to the federal arse
nal at Harper's Ferry and barricaded
himself in one of the buildings. Col.
IL H.
troops around Washington, being lieu
tenant colonel OF the second Z. S.
cavalry He was directed by Jno. B.
Floyd, Ga Virginian) secretary of war,
to proceed to Harper's Ferry and take
possession of the government proper
", which he did with a squadron of
cavalry and a company of the u. S.
marines. The government had an ar
senal at Harper'S Ferry for the manu-
facture of small arms. On his arrival
there he found Brown and his follow
ers barricaded in one of the build
ings. He ordered the marines 20 bat
ter down the doors and capture Brown
and his followers, which they did and
turned them over TO the Virginia
authorities.
Gen. Lee, like a larger majority of
the people of Virginia, was opposed to
secession. The legislature voted down
a secession resolution by a majority
of . to l in March 1861. But when
Lincoln called for $4,000 troops. they
cast their lot with the rest of the
South. All of her sons in the T. S
army resigned their positions Except
Geo. H Thomas. who remained in the
army and became one of the dist1n-
guished officers in the federal western
army) and rendered their services TO
the governor of the state of Virginia
The Confederate government was
established in Richmond the latter
part of June 1861. Mcclellan was or
ganizing a large army in Western NIr-
ginia Lee was ordered there TO op-
pose him, but when Mcclellan COM
menced to advance with his large and
well equipped army. Lee. for the want
of men and equipment, was forced TO
withdraw his small and poorly
equipped army nearer his base OF
operation. He was relieved OF that
command and ordered TO the COM
mand OF the department OF South
Carolina and Georgia with headquar-
tiers at Charleston, where he re
manned until the wounding or Gen
Joseph F. Johnson at Richmond He
was then ordered 10 proceed TO Rich
mond and take command of the army
OF northern Virginia
The campaign of the army OF north
ern Virginia from May TO the middle
of September was the most brilliant
of aRy army under the sun, consider
ing the number of men and equip
meat. In June 1862 there were 20O,-
coo federal soldiers in Virginia By
the middle of September there were
not more than 10000 in the state,