Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-29
GEN. LEE GETS
FINAL SUMMONS
LAST "TAPS" SOUNDED FOR
SOUTHERN HERO
commander-in-chief of United Vet
Grams Succumbs to Attack Fol-
lowing Active Preparations
for Reunion

By Associated Press.
VICKSBURG, Miss. May 2S.-Gen.
Stephen D. Lee, commander in chief of
the United Confederate Veterans and
one of the last three surviving lieuten-
ant generals of the Confederacy, died
here today at the residence of Capt. w.
T. Ridby.
Overexertion last Thursday at the
ceremonies attendant upon the reunion
of Iowa and Wisconsin veterans of the
G. A. r. at Vicksburg brought about
Gen. Lees illness. Following the re-
ception of the northern visitors, in
which Gen. Lee took a leading part,
he suffered an attack of acute indiges-
ton, but later rallied and during the
past week showed much Improvement
Yesterday afternoon he again collapsed
and grew gradually weaker, until death
relieved his sufferings shortly after q
o'clock this morning.
Gen. Lee was born in South Carolina
in 1883. He received his appointment
to the United States Military academy
at West Point and graduated at that
institution, receiving his commission in
the artillery. AT the outbreak of the
Civil War Gen. Lee resigned his COM
mission in the United States army and
entered the Confederacy. He served the
Confederate army in Virginia until after
the battle of Antietam, when he was
made a brigadier general and sent to
Vicksburg.
Gen. Lee played a prominent part in
the siege of Vicksburg and after the
fall of that city was taken prisoner.
He was exchanged later and promoted
to the rank of major general and or
dered to the southwest.
He was subsequently assigned to the
army of Tennessee with the rank of
lieutenant general and served until the
close of the war. At the close of the
war Gen. Lee devoted himself to the ed
ucation of southern youths as president
of the Mississippi Agricultural and Me-
chanical college.
On the death of Gen. John B. Cor
don Gen. Lee was unanimously chosen
commander in chief of the United Con-
federate Veterans and was the most
conspicuous figure at the annual re-
unions. Just before his death he was
preparing for the reunion, June 8, at
Birmingham, and had already complet-
ed the task of assigning commanders
and sponsors for those positions which
are appointive on such occasions.
Gen. Lee held under the United
States government the office of COM
missioner of Vicksburg National Mill
tary park. 1t was in this park that
several hundred handsome monuments
were unveiled by the Iowa and Wiscon-
sin veterans last Thursday.
Gen. Lees home was at Columbus,
Miss, and the body probably will be
taken there for interment.
Gen. Lee died at the official residence
of the Vicksburg National park COM
mission, of which he was member.
Gen. Lees sister, Mrs. James Harrison
of Columbus, was at the bedside at the
time of his death. Blewitt Lee, a son,
who is general attorney of the Illinois
Central at Chicago, is en- route for
Vicksburg.
President Roosevelt, who was great
admirer of Gen. Lee, was among the
first to send condolences.
An incident in connection with Gen.
Stephen d. Lees military career not
generally 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 Gen. Beauregard to demand
the surrender of Fort Sumter, and on
refusal of this demand he ordered the
nearest battery to fire on the fort.