The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-06-07

the local military companies will fire
salutes and hundreds Of school chill
dren will join in patriotic songs.
The statute is of life size and repre-
sents General Lee in a moment Of tri-
umph after one of his victories in a
spirnish about Vicksburg. 1t stands
on a redoubt in the Military Park
near the Alabama and Vicksburg rail-
road on a commanding imminence.
He was then in full development Of
young manhood and the pose is both
noble and heroic. The statue cost
s11 900. 1t is a tribute of affection
from his only son, Blewitt Lee, OF
Chicago, Captain William T. Rigby,
Chairman of the VickSburg National
Military Park Commission, and hun
dreds Of veterans of the south, who
followed the late general in battle,
and others who admired him. Rfgiby
although a Northern soldier, born IN
Iowa, was associated with General
Lee when the latter was himself chair
man OF the Park Commission. In con-
stant association he grew TO love the
years were devoted to cementing the
ties OF brotherhood between the north
and south. A little time before his
death General Lee. Captain Rigby and
Colonel John c. Everest, Of Chicago,
three members OF the park commits
sion, were making an inspection OF
the beautiful park, when they reach
ed the railroad retioubt where Gener-
al Lees greatest victory was won.
AS they stood upon this imIninence
Coptain Rigby went to General Lee
and asked him TO stand again upon
the spot where he had directed the
movements of his troops, explaining
70 him that years later, when he had
passed away, he wanted a monument
erected upon the very spot to CONNIE
morate his triumph. General Lee
yielded to the request and said: rig
by, you are all very good to me-" Cap
tain Rigby marked the spot and 1t Is
there the statue of General Lee will
stand forever as memorial.
Among the contributors to che statue
fund were former President Roosevelt
who admired General Lee.
General Stephen Dill Lee was born
at Charleston, South Caronfla, Sep
tember %, 1885, and spent his boy
hood in the ,Carohnas. He graduated
from West Point in 1854 as first neu-
tenant of artillery. He was assign
ed to the Fourth United States Artil-
lery and was connected with that arm
Of military service until he resigned
in 1861 to cast his fortunes with the
south to whose cause he offered his
l., r%f ha
two officers sent by General Beaure-
gard 20 demand the surrender of Fort
Sumter and when the order was refus
ed commanded the nearest water bat
terry to open fire. He was captain in
Hampton's legion where he served I'M
til November, 1861, when he was conf
mfssioned Major of Artillery and in
1862, was appointed heutenant-colonel
and gained distinction at Seven Pines
and the battles of The Wilderness. In
the Pope campaign in 1862 he was pro
NOTED TO rbe colonel. Late in that year
he was appointed a Ibrigadier gener-
al by President Jefferson Davis and
assigned to duty in the western divis-
ion of the Confederate states. He
was thereafter engaged in all the cam
paigns and movements that preceded
the investment and fall of Vicksburg.
After the surrender at Vicksburg ne
was paroled and later exchanged. In
the latter part Of 1868 he was named
Major General and the following part
was made Lieutenant General being
given command of the war Depart
ment Of Mississippi, Alabama Tennes-
see and Eastern Louisiana, and at the
close of the war was campaigning in
North Carolina.
After the war he was elected state
senator from Lowndes County Missfs-
sfppi. where he made his home. He
resigned from that position TO become
the first president of the Agricultural
and Mechanical College at Starkvifle
He retired from this position when
commissioned a member OF the Vicks-
burg National Military Park by Presi-
dent Mckinley and became chairman
OF that body. He led busy and &C
tive life in connection with the per-
feccion OF the great park system Of
which he was one OF the founders.
FOR RENT:-Ntce front room in the
Hobson Bldg. 1913