The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-19
GEA'L c. v. {. LEE
DIES At HOME
CONTINUED from First Page.

graduating with the highest hon6rs Of
his class in June, 1854
/ July /, 1854, he was appointed
I brevet-Hentenant In the corps or err
gineers, United States army; March
/ 3, 1855, second lieutenant; and, Octo-
| Der 20, 1859, first lieutenant of the
same corps. While In the engineer
] corps, he served in Georgia, Florida,
and California, and In the engineer
! department at Washington, winning
high reputation as an engineer on
harbor defenses and river improve
| ments For nearly two years before
4 the breaking out Of the War between
1 the states, his duties In the depart
/ ment at Washington allowed him to
\ make his home at Arlington, and in
/ the absence Of his father, who was on
] duty in western Texas, to superintend
/ Arlington, the estate which his grand
father Gusts had left to him. He
/ gave evidence of self-aacrifice by
\ quietly having deed to the estate
4 made to his father and mother; and
i one of the many beautiful and af-
/ fectionate letters which his father
4 wrote him was one OF grateful appre-
/ eiatihn of his ACT. but firmly declining
] to receive the proffered gift.
4 Joins Confederacy
Gusts Lee naturally loved the old
] flag and his associations in the army
I We're strong; but the grandson of
/ "Lieht-Horse Harry and son of Rob-
4 arte Edward Lee could not hesitate In
/ such a crisis. Accordingly. May 2.
7 1881, he resigned from the United
1 States army. and rendered his SER
4 vices to his native Virginia On May
| 10th, he was appointed major of en-
1 eineers In the Provisional army of
1 Virginia, on July LIST, he was made
! captain OF engineers in the Confed-
/ crate army; and on August 81, 1861,
/ he was appointed colonel and aide
/ de-camp to President Davis In this
| position he rendered most valuable
! service, being the confidential messen-
ger between the president and Gem
eral r. e. Lee. and performing many
delicate and important duties. June
2b. 1859, he was made briEadier-gen-
eral, and put in command of local
defense troops around Richmond.
October 20, 1864, he was promoted
major-g general, and commanded troops
defending Richmond, north of Chains
Bluff
General Lee was anxious, during
the whole war, to he in active service
"1n tire ffa}tf,@ sidt~ wag prevented" by
mis- duties IN Richmond ana by other
causes, from rendering regular SER
vice.
In the spring of 1864. however,
President Davis sent messenger to
General Lee. to say that il he would
order his son Gusts to a certain Inn
portant command, he would make
him ma1or-generat. or IL necessary,
acknowledgements, at the same time
expressing the highest opinion of his
ability as soldier General Robert
Il. Lees reply was characteristic. He
said to the distinguished general who
80 rIsst
much obliged to the president for the
high opinion he expresses of Gusts
Lee. and ! hope that, If Gusts has the
opportunity. he will prove himself
not entirely unworthy of the presi- !
dents high opinion. But he is an
untried man in the field---against his
will and my own, the president has
kept him on his staff==and ! will not
take an untried man and promote
him over my veteran officers. espec- /
tally when that man is my own son. |
The president can do what he pIeases, |
but I win not be party to any such
transaction"
Would Take Brothers Place.
While his brother, BrigHdier- Gen |
erai w. H. r.. Lee, was a prisoner ut |
Fort LAFAYETTE as hostage for two
federal officers tprisoners) who had
been selected by lot to suffer for two
General Custis Lee nobly offered to
exchange places with him, as his
brother was married and he was not. |
General Custis Lee then resumed /
his duties in Richmond and held his
command until Richmond was evac- |
uated In the disastrous affair at |
Sailors Creek on the retreat from
Hichmonds General Gusts Lee. with |
General Ewell and q large number Of
others, was taken prisoner Like his4
father and others Of the most distin-
guished soldiers, he accepted the /