The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-16

Lee, who was the greatest military genius in America. man of extra ordinary merit and the best soldier I ever saw on the field" President Da- wis, who was a distinguished partici- pant in the Mexican war stated in a Mexico crowned with honors, covered with brevetsS and was recognised. young as he was, as one of the ablest of his country's soldiers" In Febru- ary. 1881, when the war clouds were lowering and the country was con vulsed, especially in the South, Col onel Lee was ordered to report to Gen. eral Scott at Washington, which he did. Full of honors and possessing a character not surpassed as man and soldier, he appeared at the Capitol, hoping some means could be adopted to avert war. The object of his being summoned was to offer him the com mand of the Union army in the war with the South. General Scott urged him to accept the position of com mander in chief of the United States army Colonel Lee replied:. q will , take no part in the invasion of the Southern States" He resigned his poe sition in the United States army, pro- ceeded to Virginia and rendered his services to his native State. High command was at once assigned him which he accepted, holding the posi- ton of commander in chief of the Confederate forces at the close of the war. The great confidence was not misplaced. It existed to such a degree that the men believed. with Lee at their head, they were well nigh invin- cibie. will not attempt to follow General Lee through his various cam paigns in Virginia nor to recount the splendid victories he achieved. With ar, army one-fourth in number that of the enemy, he defeated every man placed in command of the army of the Potomac for the first three years of the war General Grant was the last to engage him and he achieved final success by continually conrronung him with fresh troops who were well armed, fed and clothed. while Lees forces were without ammunition. food and clothing.
 Robert E. Lee could not have been other than he was, nor have done other than he did. He came from one of the most distinguished families or the "Ofd Dominion The Lees or Vir- ginia could trace their ancestry back to the Norman conquest in lOee when Iauncelot Lee entered England with William the Conqueror. Throughout his entire life General Lee was not. only distinguished tor his extraordi- nary skill as a general, his dauntless coura xe and high leadership in battle, hut by his great physical beauty, charm of presence and dignity of man. ner, Lord Wooiseey. who visited the
 United States during the civil war, m a recent published biography speaks OF "the majesty of his manly bearing the 1anIaI winning grace, the sweetness of his smile and the impressive dig nIty of his old fashioned dress" and added: 'General Lee was the ablest veneral. and to me, seemed the great. est man I ever knew. He was one or inc few men who ever impressed me with their natural their inherent greatness" r
 The late Benjamin H. Hill Of deor- eia limited states Senator, thus oe- scr;haa General Robert E. Lee, a word nicfurA wonderful in it's cenciseness, comnleteness. truthfulness and beauty:
 ssTIe was a foe without hate; friend without treachery; soldier without cruelty: a victor without oppression, and d victim without murmuring. Ae was a public onlcer without vices. private citizen without wrong; neigh bor without reproach; Christian Wltn" out hypocrisy and a man without guile. Ire was d Caesar without his ambition; frederick without his tyranny; Napo- leon without his selfishness and Wash inRton without his reward. He was obedient to authority as servant, and royal in authority as King. He was as gentle as a woman fin life, and mod est and pure as a Virgin m tnougnt' watchful as a Roman Vestal in duty; submissive to law as Socrates ana grand in battle as Achilles"
 AS a soldier. his campaigns put him in the foreFn ost rank of the great sole diers of all time. but his signal valor is no mofe remarkable than the spirit with which he turned to the work of peace when the war was over. He in- stantly undertook the task of healing and binding up the wounds of his coun- trymen in the true spirit of those who feel malice toward none and charity toward all. He urged that all should unite in honest effort to obliterate the effects of war and restore the blessings of peace. He was offered positions of honor and | princely salary by a great corporation, only for the use of his name which he sternly refused. Lee would not sell his name and hts fame, having freely given them to the keep ing of his own Southland pure and priceless legacy! The South must hon. or and hold them forever. Washing ton. the warrior the statesman and the man, freed the country, conquered her enemies, rejected the crown, formed a government anu uleu on tne Dahk6 or the Potomac, and in the estimate of the Universe was first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his eountrymen." Lee, the immortal, the peerless. who won fame on a foreign shore fighting for his country. set lofty example of obedience to law in his youth. his every step guarded by duty. who was greater in defeat than any hero of antiquity in victory: who advanced his intellect with learning and thought. whose heart was a bower of love and tenderness who was for the nineteenth century what Washington was for the eighteenth.
 Lee. the general. the Christian, the hero. the man. stands without any oth- CT rival. Washington stands the fore most man in all the world and Robert B. Lee can take no second place.
 Our past Is full of glory,
 It is 3 shut in sea.