The Green Forest tribune., 1908-06-05
GEN. s. D. LEE IS DEAD
PASSES AWAY DAT
 vICKSEURG, MISS.
Death Comes Near Battlefield Most Connected With His Name-Gen. Lee Was One of Only Three Sur viving Confederate Generals.

viving Confederate Generals.
 Vicksburg, Miss.-Gen. Stephen D. Lee, commander-in-chief of the United Confederate Veterans, knightly gentle man and chivalrous soldier, and beloved by every man, woman and child of Dixie Land, answered the last roll call ] few seconds before o'clock this morn ing. His death was painless and he passed peacefully into the Valhalla of the South's immortals.
 Dr. J. A. K. Birchett, his physician, states that the specific cause of his death was cerebral hemorrhage and stroke of apoplexy affecting his left side. This was caused by an overtaX- ing exhaustion in greeting and welcom- ing here last Friday four regiments of Iowa and Wisconsin soldiers which met in reunion.
 Gen. Lee met then for the first time after the war men whom he had fought on the battlefield forty-five years be- fore. He was overjoyed, especially at meeting Col. W. H. Needham of Iowa, the only Federal soldier who had broken into Confederate lines in the assault on Vicksburg and escaped with his life. His heart was stirred with powerful, overmastering emotion, he thrilled with glowing eloquence and delivered by far the most powerful brotherly address ever made by him.
 It completely exhausted him. The in tense heat of the day affected him. Re turning to his hotel, he ate hearty meal. Friday night he was seized with acute indigestion. Saturday he rallied. Monday evening his recovery seemed so sure that he planned to leave here Tues day. Tuesday evening he collapsed. He entered q state of coma. The hand of paralysis was upon him. His mind wan dered. At times there seemed to be signs of returning consciousness. It was evident Wednesday afternoon that he was to die. He grew weaker during the night and died as morning came. \ special train will leave with the body at 7:20 o'clock tomorrow morning over the Alabama X VicEsburg for Co lumbus via Meridian. The sorrowina family and an official escort will gc with the train.
 It was fitting that his life should end here on the mightiest battlefield of the South, for it was in the Vcksburg cam paign he won his spurs and revealed ar intrepid gallantry unexcelled by any warriors of history. It was within a few miles of Viebsburg that he won lis greatest battle, Chickasaw bayou, ana decisively defeated the Northern gen eral, W. T. Sherman.
 Wo-k of Last Year.
 The latter years of his life were al most completely wrapped up in the de velopment of the Vicksburg Nationa Military park, of which he was a com missioner. The last ten years of his | life he dedicated to the beautiful work of more closely reuniting the blue ant the gray in the common brotherhood O man. The scores of reunions held her; gave him national field for this elori ous promotion and he had come to b, known to more surviving Federal sol diers as q peaeemaker than any otheI Southern commander Resolute, darn. during the great seize, his signal defeat of Sherman at Chickasaw bayou put of the seige of Vicksburg for months.
 Gen. Lee died at the official residenc, of the National Military Park commis sion, of which he was a member. Chair man w. T. Ri9by immediately notified his fellow commissioners and the wa department.
 Gen. Lee had prepared his annual ad dress to the United Confederate N'eter ans, which was to have been delivere; grandesC paper ever prepared by hin and will be published.
 | Casket Draped in Loved Flag. The casket of Gen. Lee is wrapped il Confederate flag. Hundreds of Nicks burg citizens paid their last respects Telegrams of coincidence poured in iron the most distinguished men of the ma tion, and especially the South. Tn public schools of the city were closed Mayor Griffith issued an official procla nation and wired President Roosevelt.
 The ladies' organizations were tende in their tributes, and the room where h sleeps is banked with flowers from tn Daughters of the Confederacy, Ladies o | the Confederate Memorial association and Daughters of Veterans.
 He was an intimate friend of Pres | dent Roosevelt of late years. The pres dent had great affection for the great est living Mississippian. He was tn l personal escort to President Roosevelt on his visit here last October, and t Mrs Roosevelt when she came here t board the yacht Mayflower in April.
 Flags are at half-mast at Nationa Park headquarters and draped flags ar seen everywhere here.