Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-07-10
Bright Stories by Members of the Club
NIHGINIA'S GREATEST HERO,
RhDEItT L.. LEE.


Robert Edward Lee was born at
Stratford. In Westmorcland County,
Virginia, on the 18Th of January. 1907.
His father. General Richard Henry
Lee. or Light Horse Harry Lee. AZ he
was called, was great general IN
the Revolutionary War. and "a great
statesman after independence was
won.
Henry Lee was parricd twice. first
To his cousin. Matilda. and Then to
Miss Anne i'm Carter, Il daughter or
Charles Carter. Esq. by his marriage
to Matilda he inherited iStratfora.
which was the old Lee home In the
oldcn days Of Virginia. Soon after
X. Fl: Lee was born lis father moved
to Alexandria. and after his fathers
death In ISIS his mother continued TO
reside In that city.
Lees early school life was in Alex
andra. bishop Meade taught Lee
and his sisters and brothers about
the Bible and the Episcopal catcchism.
At the age Of Is he entered the United
states Military Academy at West
Point. He Was a good and faithful
student for four years and in the
fourth year. which Was 1929. he
graduated second in "A class Of forty
six. After his graduation he was
assigned second lieutenant OF corps
of engineers.
In 1892 he married Mary Gusts
the daughter Of Mr.. George wash
ington Parkc Gusts, who was the
adopted son of George Washington
Al the death OF Mr. GUSTS Mrs. Lee
inherited Arlington. but during the
war Between the states II was taken
by the Federal government
When the Mexican War broke out
Lee WAS made chief Of the eng incers.
During the war he vas admired ny
General Scott for his bravery. Sc"'.
gave much credit TO him. lie shln
that Lee had made the victories OF
Ncra cruz and Ccrro Gcrdo possible
After this war Lee Was made ileu-
tcnant-coIonci Of "A calvary regiment
when the southern states began 20
scc,dc Lee was in charg" oi fcHerd !
troops on the border. In Texas ne
was called to Washington ana SCOT
mad. him a full colonel TO keep MN
rror, rcsirniug. General scott recon-
mendcd Lee to succeed MN az CON-
,u.ndcr-in.chicf OF the United states
Army president Lincoln offered nam
that rank. but Lee refuses upc'a use
bis state had scccded aud he thouEit
his first duty Was TO his STATE
finally left the army, ana whch he
signed ~" said in "a letter 70 Gene 20
Scntt. save in defcns" OF my ma
tive state. never desire aE"'" W
draw my sword.
On Entering Richmond he Was re
co;y,d with a reception. The prcsi-
dent Of the convention that ma" 90
sucd the secession proclamation
cciycd him cordially and mace Nun
maior.eoncral OF the virginia NM
tnry corps. He was later mace com
mander- in-chicf 81 the Cohiehcr"''
army lie tough, ia many nht :.
during the war. Some were victories
-
In victories. hut Drawer In defeats
lie never blamed a defeat on any one
I'm, himself. At last he was forced
IN surrender on April 9. 1868. at Mp
pona,tox Courthouse. lie .urr"nacreh
In an old friend OF the Union army
who was General Grant
The surrender took place In house
near AppomattoX Courthouse. Grant
was young man of u, ana nus aa'r
and beard were brown. WINE lie. WAS
a man OF IS and his hair and pearu
were silvcry gray. I'll" rms oil sur
render were quickly drawn up ana
signed. Grant did not take Lees
sword. Lee asked for provisions Tor
his haif-starvcd army. This Grant
gave and he also said that each SOL
dicr who owned his horse could take
il home To help pillow.
After the States had gone back to
the Union. Lee became president OF
Washington College. now Washing
ton and Lee University, ut Lexington.
He was its president for five years.
Though many high positions IN the
United states were offered him. he
refused them All and remained presi-
dent of the college until his death
Lee died in Lexington, Va. on Oc-
,obcr II. 1870 He was buried In the
chapel at Washington and Lee Uni
vcrsity. At his funeral were many
Northern people. as we'll as those or
the south. He. like Washington. was
said To he first in war. first in
peace and first in the hearts of his
c0unirymen."
II think that 4. Il. Lee is Nirginia's
greatest hero. because he gave up
one of the highest honors of the
Union. because he thought his first
duty was to his state. He also gave
up great Offices 10 be president OF
college and educate or influence the
education Of American citizens and
children.
LUCY s. GILLIAN.