Omaha daily bee., 1918-03-26
CENTENNIAL OF
GREAT CAVALRY
LEADER TODAY
Light Horse Harry Lee, Intrepid
Revolutionary Military Genius,
Friend of Washington, Died
Hundred Years Ago.

Washington, D. C., March 25.-One
hundred years ago today occurred the
death of General Henry Lee, famous
commander of the revolution, init
mate friend of Washington, and
father of Geueral Robert f. Lee, who
commanded the armies of the con-
federate states in the civil war.
Few figures in the war of the
American revolution were so pictur-
esque as that of Henry Lee, famil-
iarly known as Light Horse Harry"
Born in Westmoreland county, Vir-
ginia, in 1856, he belonged to family
that has been conspicuous in the his
tory of Virginia since the earliest
days.
He was a great grandson of Col
Richard Lee, man of wealth and
distinction, who sold his estate in
England and came to America about
l640 as secretary of the Virginia COL
ony and member of the kings privy
council.
Educated in New Jersey.
Henry Lee received his education
at the College of New Jersey, gradu-
ating in 1916. Prevented from visit
ing Europe by the preparations for
active revolution, he returned to Vir-
ginia and at the age of 20 began his
remarkable military career by recruit
ing a company OF light horse" of
which he was made captain. In l777
he joined Washington's army in
Pennsylvania
1t was soon discovered that though
little more than a boy no man in the
army had better ideas of discipline or
was more successful in the enforce
ment of them. He took the most ex-
cellent care of his men and horses
and trained them so perfectly that he
could easily surpass every other COM
mander in the celerity of his move
ments and the rapidity and accuracy
with which he could obtain informa-
tion of the movements of the enemy.
Lees Legion" became a synonym
for swift and daring action, and the
captains company was selected by
Washington to act as the COM
mander- -in-chief's bodyguard at the
battle Of Germantown. He was pro-
NOTED major for gallant conduct in
battle in January, 1878, and was given
command of two troops of horse and
a company Of infantry. This corps
constantly hung on the flank of the
British army and annoyed both their
march and camp.
On July Il9, 1879, Lee surprised
the British troops in garrison al
Paulus Nook, New York harbor. IN
flcting great damage, capturing 160
prisoners and escaping with only two
men killed and three wounded For
this exploit he received gold medal
from congress.
| Less than two years later he was
promoted lieutenant colonel and
marched his legion to South Carolina.
where he covered the rear of General
Green's army, giving occasional op-
portunity for Tarleton's dragons to
measure swords with. the Virginians.
At every encounter Lee proved him.
self to be the master of Tarleton at
the impetus tactics for which the Eng
lish officer was distinguished.
At the battle of Guilford court
house his legion proved more than a
match for Tarleton's dragons. When
General Greene marched against Cam
den he sent Lee and Marion to cut
off Rawdon's communications with
the seacoast, and they captured Fort
Watson, which forced Rawdon to
abandon Camden. On May rs, Lee
reached Augusta, Ga, which city also
fell into his hands.
At the close of the war Lee set
tied down in his family mansion in
Virginia. But in 1886 he came to
congress from Virginia, subsequently
served in the Virginia house of dele
gates and became governor of the
commonwealth in 1892. Washington
had the warmest regard and the great
est esteem for Lee, and when the
whisky insurrection broke out in
Pennsylvania in 1894 Lee was appoint
ed commander of the army of $4,000
men that was formed to put down
he disturbance.
Lee was in congress in 1899. when
Washington died, and was appointed
by the house to deliver the. eulogy. It
was in this address that Lee gave
expression to the celebrated descrip-
ton of Washington as First in war,
first in peace and first in the hearts
of his countrymen."