The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-05-18

Stratford, Virginia, on January ~,
1907, was the gredt-great-grandson of
the pioneer of the Lee family in Amer
ica. The father Of Lee was General
Henry Lee, otherwise known as Light
Horse Harry" a dashing general in
the Revolutionary War who later be-
came governor of Virginia and men,
Der of Congress His mother was
Anne Hill Carter who came from one
of the best families in Virginia.
/ His father died when Robert was
eleven yeas cid and his mother once
said of him, "How can l do without
robert! He is both a son and daugh-
ter to me-" For, in fact, he took
the keys and kept house for her.
In his boyhood days he went to school
in Stratford and in 1925 entered West
Point. At the age of twenty-five he
was graduated from that institution
carrying off second honor and the
distinction of having received not a
single demerit. Immediately after
his graduation he was appointed sec
Cnd lieutenant o. engineers. While
engaged in this work he performed
many important undertakings and
was promoted step by step to the
captaincy Of the engineers.
During these youthful ye:rs, Lee
was remarkable for his personal ap-
pearance. He hsd a handsome face
and superb figure. He was dignified
end dutiful in the smallest detail and
respected by all. His moral character
was living example of the fact that
there need be no such thing as a
double standard Of morality.
At the beginning Of the Mexican
War he was placed, at the special
request of General Scott, on that Of
ficer's personal staff. 1t was he who
built the batteries that were so ef-
fective in the taking of Vera Cruz,
and all during The war he showed
great bravery and courage. General
Scott, more than once said that his
success in Mexico was due to the
great ability of Captain Lee.
During the subsequent years of
peace he was of great service to his
government. It was he, who, COM
manded by President Buchanan, quel-
led the John Brown uprising with
great vigor.
At the beginning of the Confederate
War Lee was ftty-four years old
having been in the service of ais gov
crnment for thirtv-two years cr more.
Although greatly opposed to secession
lie said that he felt duty-bound to
fight for his state. At the beginning
Of the war between the two sections
of the country, Lee was called to
Washington and the cornmandership
Of the United Ststes forces was almost
forced upon him, but he refused this
honor and imme iiately sent in his
resignation. He then went to Virgin
ia and accepted the leadership Of the
Virginia forces. AS the North and
the South fought, so did Lees two
selves fight. Part of him hating
secession and wac and the other part
making him help his native state and
subsequently the South in her fight
against injustice.
On the severe wounding and illness
cf two generals in the battle of Sew
en- Pines, he was placed at the COM
nand of the army of Northern Vir-
ginia. His strategic manoevers and
great ability stopped McClellan's "on
to Richmond" march and thus failed
the Peninsular campaign. He dealt
similarly with Pope; and all during
the war handled the larger armies
Of the North with great skill. But
the increasing resources of the North
and the decreasing resources of the
South could only result in the victory
of the former. Although Lees tender
care of his soldiers, his respect fol-
| his officers and his love for them all
won him their love and loyalty, to
the end that they fought desperately
for him, the uneven numbers in the
two forces resulted in Lees surrender.
| ing to General Grant at AppomatoS
courthouse, Virginia in 1865.
The rest of his life was spent as
president of the "Washington and Lee
University" On October 18th, 1876
he died having malady that his
friends knew was sympathy and sor'
row for his people.
Comparing Lee with other grea,
commanders can be best expressed
by the graphic, concise sentences Of
Benjamin H. Hill-"When the future
historian shall come to survey the