The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-03-18
ROBERT E. LEE.
A Sketch of His Life and Work.
A composition written by a school
girl at Elrod and published by request. !

1NOUSl IL. LCS w do UOI IL VII q
plantation near the Potomac
river, Virginia, January the
nineteenth, eighteen hundred
and seven.
In colonial times many men,
bers of the Lee family were
among the foremost leaders of
the people. Roberts father wa
Light Horse Harry" Lee, Q
famous horseman who helped
Washington fight the British.
When Robert was four years
old the family left the pIanta-
ton and went to live in the town
of Alexandria. Seven years
later Roberts father died and
the boy was left to take care 0
his sick mother.
A mans part in life was Civ
en- to the lad, and most nobly he
met every duty as it came. He
attended school at Alexandria
and was always on time and
ready for his lessons. In his
manner he was quiet, and re-
spectful to everyone.
At Alexandria he prepared
himself for the military school
at West Point. He displayed
military ability of high order.
He wished to be soldier like
his father.
Robert was not guilty of any
bad habit and never spoke any
word that a Christian or gentle
man should not speak.
Lee was appointed second
lieutenant of engineers in the
United States army. Two years
later he was married to Mary
Randolph GUSTS, the great-grand-
daughter of George Washing
toms wife. By this marriage
Lee came into possession of Ar
lington and the White House
He is described by those who
saw him at this time as a young
man of great personal beauty.
In eighteen forty-six, when the
Mexican war broke out, Lee was
assigned to duty as commander
of the central army of Mexico,
in which capacity he served to
the end of the war. In eighteen
fifty-five he was called for the
first time to command men, for
his duties hitherto had been these
of military engineer, astronomer
or staff officer.
Lee remained there command
ing the department, until eight
teen sixty-one. He was then
called to Washington. at the
moment when the conflict be-
tween the North and South was
about to commence and appoint
ed colonel.
But Lee resigned He said, 81
am compelled to, l cannot con.
suit my own feelings in this
matter"
He was appointed major gen.
eral of the military forces of
Virginia.
Some of the battles in which
Lee was engaged were Chicahom.
my, Manassas, Sharpsburg,
Fredericksburg, Charlottesville
and Gettysburg.
At, the age of ffty-four,
physically and intellectually,
general Lee was at his best and
in the bloom of manhood. His
figure was erect and he bore
himself with the brief, some
what stiff air of command de-
rived from his military educa
ton and service in the army.
There was not a gray hair in his
head and his mustache was dark
and heavy.
General Lee was looked upor
as one of our most able generals
he was also a Christian man.
When returning from battle he
would receive every evidence of
admiration from friends and for.
mer foes.
For about five years after the
close of the war general Lee
continued to concentrate his en-.
tire attention and all his ener.
gies upon his duties as Presi.
dent of Washington College,
which attracted more than five
hundred students.
The sedentary nature of this
occupation was a painful trial tc
one so long accustomed to leac
a life of activity; but it was not
IN the character of tina individ.
ual to allow personal considera.
tons to interfere with the per-
Torrance of his duty.
General Lee was president Of
this school until his death, which
occurred October twelfth, eight
: teen hundred and seventy, in
the midst of his family.
His death seemed to make al
hearts stand still; and the tolline
of bells and public meetings Of
citizens wearing mourning mark.
ed, in every portion Of thu
South, the sense of a public ca.
lamity. The Virginia Legisla
ture requested that the remains
OF general Lee might be inferred
In Hollywood Cemetery, but Lees
family preferred that his re.
mains should rest at the scene O,
his last labors. General Lee re
quested that no funeral ORATOR
should be pronounced above hi
remains and Rever en- {
William N. Pendleton simply
read the beautiful burial servic,
OF the Episcopal church. The
coffin was then lowered to it:
resting place beneath the chapel
amid the sobs and tears of the
great assembly, and all tina
WAS mortal of III ,.L -.