The Monticellonian., 1908-06-04
GEN. s. D. LEE IS DEAD
PASSES AWAY PEACEFULLY psT
 VICKSBURG, MISS.
Death Comes Near Battlefield Most Connected With His Name-Gen. Lee Was One of Only Three Sur viving Confederate Generals.

Nicksburg, Miss.-Gen. stephen D Lee, commander-in-chief of the United Confederate Veterans, knghtly gentle man and chivalrous soldier. and beloved by every man, woman and child oi Dixie Land, answered the last roll call a few seconds before 6 o'clock this morn ing. lis death was painless and he passed peacefully into the Nalhalla of the South's immortals.
 Dr. J. A. K. Birchett, his physician. states that the specific cause of his 1eath was cerebral hemorrhage and stroke Of apopleXy affecting his left side. This was caused by an overtax- ing exhaustion in greeting and weeom- 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 lore. He was overjoyed, especially at meeting Col. W. II. Ncedham of Iowa, the only Federal soldier who had broken into Confederate lines in the assault on Nicksburg and escaped with his life. His heart was stirred with powerful. overmastering emotion, he thrilled with glowing cloquence and delivered by far the most powerful brotherly address ever made by him.
 
 It completely exhausted him. The ill- tense heat of the day. affected him. Re. turning to his hotel, he ate hearty meal Friday right he was seized with acute indigestion. Saturday he rallied. Monday evening his recovery seemed SD sure that he planned to leave here Tues- Jay. Tuesday evening he collapsed. He paralysis was upon him. His mind wan- dered. At times there seemed to be signs of returning consciousness. Ii 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 Nieksburg for Co- lumbus via Meridian The sorrowins family and an official escort will 70 with the train.
 It was fitting that his life should end here on the mightie-t battlefield of the south, for it was in the Nieksbure cam. Pli2n he won his spurs and revealed an intrepid gallantrF Hnexeelled hy anv warriors of history. It was within Il few miles of Nicksburg that he won his greatest battle, Chiekasaw bayou, and deeisively defeated the Northern gen eral. ". T. Sherman.
 Work of Last Year.
 The latter wears of lis life Were al- most completely wrapped up in the de velopmcnt of the Nicksbgre National Military park, of which he was com missioner. The last ten years of lis lie he dedicated to the beautiful work of more closely rruuiting the blue and the gray in the common brotherhood ot man. The scores of reunions held here gave him a national field for this glari- ous promotion and he had come to be known to more surviving Federal sol- dicrs as q peaccma&er than any other southern commander. Resolate. daring during the great seige his signal defeat of sherman at (hickasaw bayou put oil the seize of Nicksburg for months.
 Gen. Lee died at the official residence of the National Military Park commis- sion, of which he was member Chair man W. T. Rigby immediately notified his fellow commissioners and the war department.
 Gen. Lee had prepared his annual ad- dress to the United Confederate Neter- ans, which was to have been delivered in early June at Birmingham. It is the grandese paper ever prepared by him and will be published.
 Casket Draped in Loved Flag.
 The casket of Gen. Lee s wrapped in a Confederate flag. Hundreds of Nieks- burg citizens paid their last respects. Telegrams of condolence poured in from the most distinguished men of the na- tion, and especially the South The public schools of the city were closed. Mayor Griffith issued an official proela- nation and wired President Roosevelt
 The ladies' organizations were tender in their tributes, and the room where he sleeps is banked with flowers from the Daughters of the Confeieraey, Ladies of the Confederate Memorial association and Daughters of Veterans.
 He was an intimate friend of Presi- dent Roosevelt of late years. The presi- dent had great affection for the great est living Missssippian. He was the personal escort to President Roosevelt on his visit here last October, and to Mrs Roosevelt when she came here to board the yacht Mayilower in April
 Flags are at half-mast at National Park headquarters and draped flags are seen everywhere here
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