The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20
Robert EdW0rd Lee

To all who admire genius in great
( commander. to all who prize true worth
and merit in a citizen Of spotless integrity
/ 70 al who appreciate self-sacrihce and
F magnanimity I'm a patriot TO ali who love
F nobleness Of mind and uprightness Of life.
both public and domestic no man appeals
perhaps more strongly or awakens q
/ keener interest than does Robert Edward
/ Lee. A soldier without an equal. a man
without a peer.
/ The eldest son Of Light Horse Harry
/ Lee the valiant and courageous soldier Of
the Revolution. Robert spent his youth IN
+ such pastmes and occupations as were
/ customary and becoming I'm the son Of
/ large land owner and prominent citi-
/ zen I'm the early days OF the
| Commonwealth. While comparatively
young he entered West Point Military
/ Academy. His handsome and comely fig
ure. combined with his graceful and SOL
/ dierly bearing won admiration from all
/ His scholarly attachments and department
while there were such as 20 cause his ap-
pointment upon graduation TO the United
States corps OF engineers position Of
honor and distinction.
Throughout the Mexican War he rem
dered invaluable aid to General Scott
and was recognized by him as the fore
most officer OF that celebrated campaign.
/ We see the keynote Of his whole life
! sounded when at the outbreak OF the
Civil War he was called upon to decide
/ whether be would support the Union. or
cast in his lot with and share the fate OF
his native State. IL was a crucial point.
n crisis IN the life OF our great hero. On
one side. by the Offer Of the supreme COM
mand of the whole northern army. lay
i hopes of q brilliant military career final
/ success, honor ana glory. on the other
side. lay no such prospects OF earthly
/ gain. no such glorious aspects OF success.
/ but the call Of duty was loud and clear
I Il was indeed a critical moment. but his
ears were not deafened 70 that call He
! heard It's pleadings-he obeyed
on Offering his services to his native
! State, he was appointed commander oe
/ Virgtnias troops in tie field and labored
70 drill train and provide for their needs
in the war which he knew 20 be inevitable.
When in tho baule of Seven Pines"
The Army Of Northern Virginia" was
/ deprived OF it's general-in-chief by the
| severe wounds OF Johnston. he was ap-
/ pointed 70 succeed him ia this important
/ and responsible position.
At this time the cannon OF Mcclellan
were laundering almost AZ the very gates
/ Of Richmond itself. Lees position was
/ difficult that OF the South dangerous ana
]
YVES equal 70 the emergency. Lee display
/ ed such energy, insight and ability that
/ after several days Of the most arduous
/ labor and desperate fighting Mcclellan
! was compelled 70 fall back and thus the
capital OF the COnfederacy was freed
from an impending capture. After This.
/ three separate invading armies IN success
/ sion attempted 10 force their way to
/ Richmond. Il being the ultimate end Of
/ each campaign. But each army was hurl-
| ed back upon Washington with ever In
/ creasing force. The battles OF Second
/ Manassas Fredericksburg and Chancel-
/ larsville are fair instances OF the over
whelIning defeats inflicted by Lee upon
I tie North about this time.
In the summer Of the same year Lee
/ determined 20 move north. For doing this
/ he had . three-fold end in view; he
! hoped to encourage tho already half in
/ cIned Narylancers 20 declare their in
/ dependence ne cherished hopes Of captur-
/ ing Washington and finally he deemed Il
/ probable that this move especially II he
| could accomplish one Of the aforegne-l-
toned obieots) would influence foreign
nations 70 recognize the Independence Of
{ the Confederacy. But aIasi All his
plans were frustrated at Gettysburg.
After the unsuccessful termination OF
this campaign tho Confederates fell back
20 persevere doggedly % the end Later
Lee engaged the almost innumerabe hosts
o. the victorious Grant In the remarka-
BILE battles Of the Wildern ess. but against
s'ich fearful odds ne could hold out no
longer. Accordingly he surrendered the
last remnant Of his worn and exhausted
army 20 Grant 81 Appomattox.
After an unsuccessful attempt on the
part OF the North 20 indlct General Lee
ON tho charge ~ treason ne was made
President % Washington College. and
tried 20 divert his mind from the misery
and distress he saw around him on every
side by educating the hardened soldier II
the battle field. thus rendering him 10
ror the duties OF life which would dcvolve
upon him in his new calling.
but rae scenes " des0lation ana sorrow
} which pervaded his native land well nigh
1 broke bis great heart Amid these sad ex-
I Teriences Lee passed away. lie had COM
forted. DO had encouraged. he had sor-
rowed for. he had weUt for his sunerin =
+ felow-couutry- men. Friend and zoe alike
honored his memory The South mourned
I Lcr great loss and could not be comf0rted.
y man 81 cosmopolitan reputation ana
! renoWnt his famc has confined itself not
% America nor 20 Europe. but has pcue-
trared every corner ~ the globe. When
shall his glory fade or wax dim iu the
'lnt- ~ trl people ~ tii- Southland
~ his' When shan be b. forgotten By
mankind or when shall ne pass from tho
memory % por.er.tv ard thc civilized
] W.