The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-06-04
CONFEDERATE
GENERAL DIES
PASSING OF STEPHEN D. LEE,
MANoER-lN-cHlEF CON-
FEDERATE VETERANS.
LIEUTENANT GEN ERAL
DEATH COMES AT VIckSBURG
WHILE PREPARING FOR CON-
ING REUNION.

Vicksburg, Miss.-General Stephen
ID. Lee, commander-in-chief of the
United Confederate Veterans, and one
of the last three surviving lieutenant
generals of the Confederacy, died here
Friday at the residence of Captain w
T. Ridby
Over-exerton last Thursday in the
ceremonies attending the reunion OF
Iowa and Wisconsin veterans of the
Grand Army of the Republic at Vicks'
burg brought about General Lees i'll,
ness Following the reception of the
Northern visitors, in which General
Lee took a leading part, he suffered an
attack of acute indigestion, which final
ly occasioned his death.
At the time of his death, although
not a ranking officer of the Confeder-
ate veterans, General Lee was com
mander-in-chief. Lieutenant-General A
P. Stewart of Chattanooga is ranking
officer but on account of his infirmities
he has not taken an active part in the
affairs of the organization for many
years.
General Lee was born in South Caro-
lima in 1888. He received his appoint
ment to the United States Military
academy at West Point and graduated
at that institution, receiving his COM
mission in the artillery. At the out
break of the Civil War General Lee re-
signed from the United States army
and entered the Confederacy.
He served in the Confederate army
in Virginia until after the battle of An
tietam, when he was made a brigadier
general and sent to Vicksburg.
General Lee played prominent part
in the siege of Vicksburg. and follow
ing the fall of that city was taken pris-
oner. He was later exchanged, pro
NOTED to the rank of major general
and ordered to the southwest. He was
subsequently assigned to the Army of
the Tennessee, with the rank of lieu
tenant general, and served until the
close of hostilities. At the close of the
war General Lee devoted himself to
the education of the Southern youths
as president of the Mississippi Agricul-
tural and Mechanical college.
On the death of General John B. Cor
don, General Lee was unanimously
chosen commander-in-chief of the
United Confederate Veterans, and was
always the most conspicuous figure at
the annual reunions. Just before his
death he was preparing for the re-
union June Sth at Birmingham, and
mad already completed the task of as
signing commanders and sponsors for
those positions which are appointive
on such occasions.
General Lee held under the United
States government the office of commits
sioner of Vicksburg National Military
park. 1t was at this park that several
handsome monuments were unveiled
by the Iowa and Wisconsin veterans
Thursday.
General Lees home was at Colum-
bus, Mississippi.
President Roosevelt, who was a
great admirer of General Lee, was
among the nrst to send condolences.
An incident in connection with Gen
eral Lees military career not general
ly known is the fact that he directed
the firing of the first shot of the Civil
War. He was one of the two officers
of the South Carolina troops sent by
General Beauregard to demand the
surrender of Fort Sumter, and upon
the refusal of this demand he ordered
the nearest battery to fire on the fort.