The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-19
HATH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF GEN. ROBERT [. LEE
America'S Foremost Military Leader Was Born In Strat-
 ford, Westmoreland Coun-
 ty Virginia, In 1907

1OurCeenCn anniversary Ol CHe birth of General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate forces during the war between the states.
 The day has been set aside as a holiday in all of the southern states, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Missis- sippi South Carolina. North Carolina and Virginia.
 In this city it will be celebrated by the closing of the banks for a whole holiday and partially by the postoffice. In the public schools there will be no holiday but the anniversary will be celebrated in exercises suitable to the occasion.
 Gen. Robert E. Lee, one of the great est of modern commanders, was born at Stratford in Westmoreland county, Virginia. January 19, 1907. He was the son of Gen. Harry Lee. better known as Light Horse Harry" distin- guished leader in the Revolution, who was afterward governor of Virginia.
 Robert E. Lee, entered West Point at the age of 19 and graduated in four years with a commission in the corps of engineers During the entire four years at West Point he is known not to have received one demerit. When the Mexican war broke out, Lee, who was now captain served in the army un- der General Scott. In the siege of Chapultepec, during that war he was so distinguished for his bravery that hes was made q colonel. Later he was appointed superintendent of the aca- demy at West Point. %e
 When the Civil war broke out, he was colonel of the first regiment of cavalry, United States army, but, on hearing that his native state had se- ceded. he respectfully resigned from the United States army.
 LEE AND SCOTT
 At the time that the Virginia con- vention adopted the ordinance of seces sion, Lee held the closest relation to sGeneral Scott, the commander of the United States army, who was then dis abled for service in the field. Lee ap- peared certain to succeed Scott if he remained in the field. General Scott also Virginian by birth, used every argument to persuade Lee not to re- sign, but to remain firm in his ad herence to the United States. But Lee after severe mental struggle, decided that he owed his first duty to his state In letter to his sister he said: With all my devotion to the union, and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, 1 have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home. l have. therefore, resigned my commission in the army, and save in defense of my native state, with the sincere hope that my poor services may never be needed, l hope I may never be called on to draw my sword Accordingly, after a service of 25 years in the United States army, Lee rendered his resignation, which was reluctantly accepted by General Scott. Very soon after he was pu. in command of the Virginia forces.
 Throughout the war General Lee was conspicuous for his leadership. fact recognized on both sides of the strug- gle. As commander of the army Of northern Virginia, he compelled Me Clellan to give up his siege of Rich mond and at Manassas forced the fed eral troops to retire behind fortifca- tions in Washington.
 BRILLIANT STRATEGY
 Then he decided on an invasion of Pennsy sylNania which suffered. however. defeat. In many other battles of the war, Lees brilliant strategy was sue cessfully put up against the vastly superior numbers and equipments of the fedetal forces, winning him dis tinction for generalship on both sides of the contest and throughout the world.
 Bat strategy. even the most bril- liant cannot win against the odds that faced the great commander and so following the siege of Petersburg. by the federal troops under Ulysses S. Grant, Lee was forced to surrender what remained of the army, virtually ending the war
 In the same year he was elected president of the Washington and Lee university at Lexington, Va. and re- mained in that office until his death in 1870. 5l years agoi
 The personal history of Lee is lost in the history of the great crisis in the national life of America; friend and foe alike Acknowledge the disin- terestedness of his motives, his self denying sense of duty, and the unrepin- ing loyalty with which he accepted the ruin of his party. Perhaps nothing NcHio OSesCA dCqudlHI Teduerf or Lees history with the personal Lee better than the words of his famous farewell to his army:
 LEES FAREWELL After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the army of northern Vir- ginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources l rGed not tell the survivors of so many hard fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last. that I have consented to this result from no distrust of them; but feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish noth- ing that could compensate for the loss that would have attended the continual tion of the contest I have determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past service have endeared them 1 to their countrymen.
 By the terms of the agreement of ficers and raen can return to their homes and remain there until ex- changed. You will take with you the consciousness of duty faithfully per- formed, and I earnestly pray that il ] merciful God will extend to you his blessings and protection with an ever-increasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country. and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration of myself bid yOu an affartiorota Fara