Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-01-17

was offered position as instructed
at West Point in the proposed w9ri
of building up skilled corps OF ssp
ners and miners for the army. Bn
Lee. in a courteous reply, begged per
mission to leave the position "to able
hands" because of Fan apprehension o
being unable to realize your expecta
,ions-"
In lS4l we find Lee in military charg'
of New York harbor. with headqusrier
at Fort Hamilton. There he remained
until the var with Mexico in l846. Hh
work there kept him continuously busy
He decIin ed TO act sa executor OF ~
Carter esta te because lack Of time would
render him 'guilty of injustice to th'
legstees." Further he said : "My pri
vafe affairs have suffered ever since
have been 10 the army from the imprac
ticality of my attending to them"
General Meigs gives US glimpse ol
Lee during the engineering days on th'
Mississippi as "a man 10 the vigor o
youthful strength, with a noble and com
msnding presence, and an admirable
graceful and athletic figure. He was
one with whom nobody ever wished Of
ventured to take liberty, though kine
and generous to bis subordinstes, ad
mired by all women and respected by al
mep. He was the model of a soldier
and the beau ideal OF Christian man.
10 the $4,000 American soldiers who
gathered around the walled town OF Vers
Cruz in March, 1S47, was Robert E
Lee, captain of engineers, and mem
Der of General Scott's staff. At Arling'
ton he left his beloved wife and seven
children with his prayers and blessings.
az therefore trust that this Ia
the last time shall be absent from you
during my life."
General Scott spoke more commend
ibgly of him than of any other officer,
and in 1852 The Secretary of War as
signed him to the position of superin-
tendent of the West Point Military
Academy, where he discharged his duties
with signsl success.
In 1855 he was promoted to lienteu-
ant colonel OF the Second Cavalry and
sent to the scene of Indian troubles 10
western Texas, where he spent seversl
years in garrison duty.
That hour was now at hand that re-
required Lee to resign his commission
in the army of the United States. His
heart WAS full of love for the old Union,
which bis father bad helped to establish.
He did not believe in secession a. q
legal method for the redress OF griey-
ances. As 10 slavery, be said that "ii
he owned all the negroes in the South
he would gladly yield them up for the
preservation of the Union" He also
loved his own people and his native
State, and for Virginia be was ready to
sacrifice property and life.
Francis p. Blair, at the suggestion Of
President Lincoln, came to offer Lee the
command of the proposed army to invade
the South. He cAndidly but courteously
declined to take any part 10 the invasion,
but upon reflection later forwarded his
resignation to General Scott. Several
days later, on invitation Of the Governor
OF Virginia, be went to Richmond, where
the convention rendered him the COM
mission of commander of the forces of
Virginia. In 1861 he was assigned the
command OF the forces OF the Southern
Confederscy
On the morniog of April Q, 1865,
when General Lee found further hos
t.lities useless, he said; There is
nothing left but to 60 to General
Grant, end ueu'd rather die thous-
and DEATH. How easily could
get rid OF this, and be at rest l have
only to ride along the line and all will
be over. But it is our duty to live.
What will become of the women and
children of the south il we were not here
to protect them?" He srrayed himself
in a new Confederate uniform and rode
to the Mclean house to hand over his
army to Grant. The latter manifested
no spirit of exultation
When the Confederate soldiers saw
their beloved leader riding back from
the place of negotiation their grief was
uuspeakable. They halted his horse
and gathered 10 clusters about. Tears
we're running down every cheek as the
grim, ragged veterans came up to wiring
bis hand. Only sobs we're heard or
prayers uttered 10 broken words calling
down the benedictions Of heaven upon
Lee. The tears in his own eyes formed
his answer TO the agony of his men. He
could o1ly say in tone that trembled
with SORROW: "Men, we have fought
through the war together. have done
the best could for you. My heart is
teo fall to say MORE"
Arlington was then held by the fed
erals, and in the latter part Of June,
1865, Lee led his family TO quiet couu-
try home in Powhatan county, ON the
James river. There he busted himself
in vain efforts to collect material for
hist ry OF his military campaigns.
On August 4, 1866 General Lee was elected
president Of washington College, In Vir-
sinia. As the ideal hero Of his people, he at
once drew about him the young men Of the
South and Southwest. His ability in organ
izstion secured enlarged courses Of iustruc-
tion, and his name and fame brought in-
nUN nlnC WkIN nI