The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-05-30
Death of Gen.
Stephen D. Lee.

OF the death of General Stephen d.
Lee, commander in chief of the Unit
ed Confederate Veterans. the following
from the New Orleans Times4Demo-
crat is so complete and eloquent that
we cannot do better than reproduce
it here:
By the death of Gen. Stephen D.
Lee. who went to his long rest yester-
day, full of years and honors, the
Sout9 suffers a grievous loss. AS sol
tiier and citizen alike. Gen. Lee was
of full and noble stature. Among the
great captains of the gray hosts, his
genius, daring and skill gave him
high and conspicuous place, while In
the rebuilding Of the South, during
the period which tried mems souls to
the uttemnoSt and called forth the
highest qualities of civic leadership,
his admirable qualities OF heart and
head were no less useful. The forti-
tude with which the great leaders OF
the Confederacy accepted the stern
arbitrament of the sword and their
blameless conduct and magnificent e&-
ample during the dark days that fol
lowed the surrender, deserve place in
history as surely as their immortal
Magnificent in battle. the illlrStrious
Southern leaders were sublime in lie
feat
As soldier, Gen. lees place in his
tory is secure To military genius i'm
high degree ne added the qualities OF
absolute fearlessneSs, calm noise
muck and unerrring Judgment and the
splendid draining received at West
Point. Born of a distinguished South
Carolina family in 1888. he entered
ahe national military academy in 1850
graduating four years later as an ar
tillery officer. His first experience in
actual warfare was gained in the from
tier skirmishes with the Indians Or
the secession of his native state ne
Resigned his commission I'm the fed
eral army and rendered his sword tC
South Carolina ,AS aide to Gen
BeaureEard he was one of the officers
sent to demand the surrender of For
Sumter. From the beginning of the
long conflict TO its end, his service
was heroic and blameIeSs. His cour
Rge and skill earned promotion aftel
promotion. He was the trusted coun
sellor OF the commanders under whom
ne served and was frequently compli
mented for Sallantry. At Second Ma
nassas the superb handling of his bat
ferries broke the enemy's advance
After SharpSburg, where his cOmmant
Rgain distinguished itself he wa.
made hrigadier and assigned to com
mamd of Vicksburg. where he drov'
Sherman back to Memphis. He served
through the siege under Gen. Pember
ton. and after the surrender, was ex
changed, commissioned major genera
and assigned to command of the Con
federate cavalry operating in MiSSiS
sippi, where his daring and brillian
strategy lifted him still higher in tn,
esteem of superiors. In "a he wa,
commissioned lieutenant general ana
commanded a corps under Hood dur
ing the Tennessee campaign. At tn,
Franklin disaster, Lees corps hell
its lines, repulsed the enemy at Over
ton Hill and covered the retreat of tn,
shattered and disorganized army.
Wounded in a rear-guard action Of
that fatal day, Gen. Lee kept his sad
die until his corps was relieved II i
a tribute TO his capacity as a com
mander that, although an artillery OF
ticer by choice and training, he han
died artillery. cavalry and infantr
with almost equal success, and tina
his commands were noted for thei
iron qualities. steadiness under fir
and general dependability, no matte
how great the odds or how strongl