The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20
High School Pupils Fine Essay
on Great Confederate
Chieftain.
Essay read at Richmond High School
celebration on Friday by Miss Emma
Wilson MCrrfrr one Of tho r,ttrffc


Wilson Morriss. one OF the pupils.
~ OBEhr EDWARD LEE. the son
o. General Henry Lee. commonly
n known as "Llsht-Horse Harry
A u Lee. and Anne Hlu Carter. was
born January 70. 1907 at STRAIT
io,d. Wostmoreland county. Va. When
he was only six years old his father lef-
home. seeking health. Robert never saw
him again, as De died while away. Thus
- was his mothers love ana care that
made Robert what he was. As youth
Doe was ohservant re7pectfgi and digui0ed.
devoted 90 his mother ana showing tho
utmost consideration for hcr. tie OBJ
talned his early education nj good uri-
Nate schools in Alexandra. being scdat.s
ana studious. he stood high lu the este
nation 81 his teachers. and was beloved
10y mis- comrades. when eighteen years
old. cadetship IN the United States Nil
ilary Academy az West Point was OBJ
tained FOR him boy General Andrew Jack
SON. While here Dc gave tho closest rt-
tention 20 all his duties. and perfect obe-
dience 20 all military drills. tactics and
commands lle held positions ~ high
honor in his class. and graduated second
IN class % forty-slN. without having
received single dcmorlt. and having
conscientious.y discharged All duties con-
haed 20 him Upon leaving West Point
he was commissioned hrevct second uau-
tenant IN 1he Engineering Co~ps. whore
Doc won high reputation Two vo,-s rato-
ne married Mary CIstis. granddaurnte-
- Martha Custis
Later Lee was made first lieutenant and
t-en captain. He served fn tile Afexi-
can War and was frequently consulted
oy General scott. He surpassed an other
,"l.er7 IN caring. scientific cognsols ana
iaith1ll execution ~ orders General
scott said his own Success was le-c-sl,,
QUO - the skill valo- and urdaurted
courage NJ Robert = Lee" - the close
oi me va Lee was made member ~
mo Dhliea states Board % Engineers.
later was superintendent ~ West POINT
Academy. ana afterwards served In yvest
en- Texas. protecting tho border SETTLERS
rom me Indians. where ne was promoted
~ tho rank ~ colonel when John r~,v-,
raided Iiarpers Ferry he WIS o.. tfs
nome Arlington. on frr'ourh Tho Wa
I'epir tinent' recognizing that = man ~
H'-hu judgment. experience and cori-ara
was needed % suppress tho raiders e.
lected Lee. That he was ernfnor+1, emo
cessful IS Wei known
So busy was he uith ffs duties ,-
eNas that ftte ~ tho STRIFE be+y~oor
we North md South reached hie ears
Nhen virginia seeded. Lee felr thar r.
ms aHt5. however painful 90 might
re for him 20 part from his old c..-r 4,1a-
% inin her md swear allegiance - ,ae
stars and Bars TIe was e-trea+es ,...|
General Scott 20 servo the T-rfor ,.7
Lincoln otered I'm the command ~ -ba
fe9Nf-l a-rnv but he refused e9vs7~.
mat Dc could take no part fr an fn,a
SION ~ the southern States Ana DO
,-'"r it'ered ~ his allegiance 10 his no.
lofe south. cr doubted tho co-~o~.-ee-
~ Ais decision TO said long artervv- IDS.
.'lid have taken no Other course
N'..''t flshonor. and 70 q MI were ~ DO
gone over again should act IN r-eo,eo-,.
rho sane manner
When he reached Richmond no v-,s
epl'pihte4 commander -in-chirr OF ,ra
iIsinia Forces. and was one o. tho eve
-."l generals IN the Confederate service
Snly. ls' he took command in West Viz
F4nia The campaign failed through the
fanlt of others. and the n,-,rspare-s c-i.t-
ciseo MIN severely. He was then r,.f o.,
'..'l%- "' u" sracosst defenses in south
carolina and Georgia. where he ais
paved remarkable skin in engineering.
Fehruary 1852. he was Amounted --rf-
iafF adviser % President Davis. which
position he held until the vvoundino ~
General Johnston az Seven Pines who,
be was given command of tile ARMY of
Northern Virginia Il IS Impossible 20
speak here 90 IFS numerous battles
ifice IL % say that he displayed al
most slperhuman SKIN and ingenuity IN
resisting So long and so faithfully such
enormous Odds and met and overcarl-
obstacles with the resourcefulness of the
highest military genius. Lees plan az
action at Gettysburg has been severely
criticised. IL is rather unjust 20 criri-
else on account % the result produced.