Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-07-03
vIncrNIA's GREATEST mEno.

OF the Union, for IL has produced
hcroes-not merely heroes that vii,
be counted as makers OF Virginia his
tory, but in the history Of our coun
try and OF the world
But now the question arises
which Is the greatest hcrc?" Some
or my fellow members may saw
george Washington. Truly he was n
great Misunderstanding for and win
h'hs american Independence, "a lead
ing maker Of the republic. and it's
frs; President. Others NAV saw ,bat
lhonas Jefferson IL the greatest Vir-
Glnihn. He also was Il great Ameri-
can'--author OF the Deca ration Of In
dependence. founder Of the Demo-
cratic party, President of the United
states. and founder Of the University
OF virginia. But who is the name of
the War Between The States. whose
military tactics are studied by many
countries OF the world. whose bravery
In the Mexican war won him world
wide fame, and whose noble char
acter Is admired by every one who
mas ever heard the history of his life?
ne answer To nay inquiries come
from many throats. answering Rob
crt Edward Lee" Yes. he IL is to
whom refer. the greatest hero OF
my native State.
Ice was born in WcstmoreIand
county Va. near the birthplace OF
Washington. on the 10Th of January
lsV' His father died when he was
Young. consequently his training was
'cit to his mother. TO which he was
always Kind and ohcdicnt Al the
age OF Is years he entered West Point
Military Academy. where. after four
years Of hard work. ne graduated
second in his class. In all four years
ne did not get a single demcrit (as
his habits and conduct were perfectly.
ana his brenst plate and musket were
always kept clean
Lee distinguished himself in the
Mexican war by showing his bravery
on the field. General Scott. the com
mn der-in- chief OF the United states
army. said that Colonel Lee was the
hravest soldier on the field h.. had
ever seen. In places which no other
soldier could go unless captured Lee
could go, often winning the victory.
once the McxicaIri, who were sta
tiohed on mountain. fortified all
the roads $50 they thoughD so that
the Americans could not attack them
Lee, At the head OF some Americans
searched in vain for an unfortIfcd
mountain road by which means he
could reach the summit Of the noun
tain. Finally he discovered a mere
mountain path leading behind the
M"xicans With much difficulty the
Americans climbed the mountain.
completely surprising the enemy.
Thus i, vas by Lees management
mat the MeNicans were captured.
y" ME AT home on 4 furlough Lee
captured John Brown, who WAS STA
TONED at Harpcr's Ferry Brown
had been raiding the country, trying
10 get the negroes to go AGAINST
their masters and. therefore. free
them. When Lee commanded tina, he
should surrender. he refused. so Lee
took the fort" by storm.
General Scott. the commandments
chief OF the United States Army. was
getting more aged and inactive. so
he resigned his position and recon-
ihended Colonel Lee as the man to
MI his vacancy. Accordingly. Presi-
dent Lincoln wrote TO Lee. asking
nam TO become commander-i in chic {
OF the United states Army What
hard question this was for Lee
!" decide The Southern States.
among them Virginia, had seeded
from the Union and formed sepa-
rate government. known as the Con-
iederacy. SO he felt IL his duty 10
go into the service OF Virginia But
ne thought Of the high position Of
'ered him also. Though il was n
hard question to decide. his decision
showed that he had the courage TO
90 the right thing. for he did not
accept the high position offered him,
resigned his position in the United
states Army and went into the scrv-
ice Of Virginia as communicative
Il. mr. ole
'he character of Lee Although he
was opposed to secession. he did not
accept the position offered him, but
drew MS sword for his native State
In the War Bctwcen the states
Lees policy was TO do as much harm
as he could without being seen by
the enemy. Men were few and pre-
cious to the South, so every one who
was killed. wounded or captured was
great loss to the Confederacy. But
the policy OF the Federal generals
was very diferent-men were plenti-
iul, so the missing ones could easily
be supplied. Another difference was
in the generals of the two armies
Lee, although an old man by now
in all his victories or defeats, still
remained the commander in chief OF
the, army OF the South, whereas
many changes were made in the
Northern generals, as Mcclellan,
Burnside, Hooker, Meade. and finally
Grant. were all commanders-in- chief
Of the Federal forces at different
times.
at the first of the war it looked
as IL the Confederacy would triumph.
But at the Battle Of Gettysburg all
was changed. The brave Confeder-
ates. under Lee. charged three times,
but were repulsed in each attack
This battle was the turning point of
the war. II is interesting to know
that Lee won the battles Cat frsD
when they were fought on Southern
soil. but in the Northern campaign
he was defeated. Lee, howevr, did
not blame his men. but himself.
This is another proof OF his char
act.:
From this time until the end OF
the war the Federals were victorious
In nearly every battle fought. In the
South food was very expensive, and
in many cases, it could not be oh
tained for any price. All now seemed
failure for the Confederacy, ana
matters OF this kind continued to
grow worse and worse. until Lee was
forced to surrender to Grant.
II was at the house of Mr. Mel enn