The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1918-01-24

High tribute to the splendid mill
tary genius and noble character of
Robert E. Lee is paid by northern
student of military tactics and Span
ish-American War veteran, Maj. AL
fred S. Frost, officer in charge of the
Memphis army recruiting station.
Maj. Frost recently wrote an article on
the life and deeds of the great south
ern chieftain.
The sketch is of especial interest, in
that the author served as colonel of
volunteers in the war with Spain, took
part in several hot engagements and
was mentioned in official dispatches
for gallantry on the field of battle, and
recommended for promotion to the
rank of brigadier-general.
After the war ended he served as
professor of military science and
tactics in the New Mexico State Uni
versity, later was instructor for the
South Dakota State Guards, and serv-
ed as chief of police at Evanston, Ind.
He has been in charge of the local
recruiting office since June, 1914.
The article follows:
Bioeraphers are in the habit of de-
voting considerable space to the
ancestry and boyhood of their sub
jects. This custom is in response to
the deep-seated conviction that here
dity and early environment are power
full forces in shaping a mans career
and the consequent curiosity as to
what these were in the cases of men
who have achieved sufficient distinction
to make their biographies marketable.
In tracing the ancestry of Robert E.
Lee we find line of men who were
prominent in public affairs and can
fairly conclude that our hero was "to
the manner born" To begin with,
Robert E. Lee was we'll born and dur
ing his plastic period was surrounded
by all the ennobling influences to be
found in a good Christian home.
Later he left that home and under
went the strict course of discipline and
instruction at West Point, a school
where manliness and honor are kept
before the cadet as the greatest things
in life.
Lieut.. Robert E. Lee was for
tunate youth-doubly so-for he not
only had the advantages of disposi-
tion and training, but, in addition,
his family were among the recognized
political and social leaders of his
state, then known as the mother of
presidents. The latter advantage is
popularity supposed to be an absolute
one, but it is not. Probably most of
my older hearers can point out in
stances where wealth and family in
fluences were thrown away upon men
whose characters were defective and
seemed to bring curses instead of
blessings. This advantage was not
thrown away upon Robert E. Lee
He married well and happily and his
home life was exemplary. He rose in
his profession and came under the eye
of men like Gen., Scott, who had the
warmest admiration and regard for
him.
At the outbreak of the Civil War he
had attained the rank Of lieutenant
colonel in the United States army,
He had no rapid, meteoric rise, but got
his promotions in the regular course
Of events. Vulgar self-seeking was
foreign to his nature for he was ever
a modest man preferring to labor and
wait for professional rewards.
That Lee loved his country in the
broader national sense there can be
no doubt. In common with most
southern gentlemen, however, he be-
lieved that his first duty was to his
state, and that he must yield obedi-
ence to the will Of that state as ex-
pressed by the majority of its voting
citizens.