Washington Journal., 1942-01-16
S%OuthernerS Celebrate
Robert E. Lees Birth
A chivalrous chieftain Without Fear or ReprOach
By EDWIN EMERSON

versary of the birth of Robert ~. Lee, COM
mander-in-chief of the Confederate Army
during our Civil War. Despite the fierce
hostility and rancor of that fratricidal conflict,
General Lee, now dead more than 20 years,
steadily has retained the high esteem that he
won both in the South and in the North by
his brilliant military leadership and chival-
rous conduct as a gentleman and scholar. The
North's forbearance from vindictive recrimi-
nation against Lee in no small degree is
due to the fact that this most formidable of
warriors was recognized as the most gener-
Gus and forgiving of foes. Furthermore
Lee never was a politician, but a ! pure soldier,
who won his promotions and honors by merit
alone and by distinguished gallantry in
action.
His Lineage and Education
He was born on January 10Th, 1907, at
Stratford. Westmoreland County, Virginia,
of English cavalier stock, the son of "Light
Horse Harry Lee, one Of George Washing
toms ~favorite cavalry leaders and later a
governor of Virginia, who had welded III
second marriage Ann Hill Carter OF Shirley
in Virginia. His father died when Robert
was eleven years old. His mother then moved
from Stratford to Alexandria into the old
Potts house, until then the property OF VII
liam Fitzhugh Of Chatham, Virginia, under
whose hospitable ~rooftree the Washingtons
had spent many a night.
Robert got his early schooling at the Alex
andria Academy and from Benjamin Halo
well. a Quaker, who kept school next door to
the Lees on Orinoco Street. There he was
prepared for his promised nomination to the
U. S. Military Academy at West Point. In
1929 he was graduated from West Point,
standing next to the top Of his class. tie was
commissioned a second lieutenant and entered
the Engineers Corps.
Two years after leaving West Point he
married Mary Gusts, a great-granddaughter
of Martha Washington and took up his abode
with her on the Custis estate upon the heights
of Arlington across the Potomac from Wash
ington. In 1882, while they were stationed at
Fortress Monroe, their first child was born
and christened George Washington GUSTS
Lee. He, like his father, grew up to be
graduated from West Point and to serve IN
our Civil War as a Confederate officer until
his capture after the fall Of Richmond, which
he had helped to defend.
Lee Learned Art of War in Mexico
In our Mexican War, 1868, Robert E.
Lee served as an engineer captain, first under
General Wool in northern Mexico, and then on
tlG Stall VI w lit ROOtO OhAOUShOhO oH
generals victorious campaign from Vera
Cruz to Mexico City. It so happened that
Ulysses S. Grant served in that campaign as
a young infantry lieutenant beside many
other northern and southern officers, who
later figured prominently in the War between
the States.
Lee endeared himself to Scott by his
engineering capacity during the siege Of Vera
Cruz, and later by his efficiency and boldness
as a reconnaissance officer within the enemy's
lines. After gallantry in action during the
Battle of Cerro Gordo, April Is, 1847, he won
a citation and promotion. Four months later,
after the twin battles Of Contreras and Churu-
busco, where Lee, volunteering his services
under fire, placed two batteries in action, he
was again mentioned In dispatches by Gen
eral Persifer f. Smith, who wrote: u wish
to record particularly my admiration OF Cap
tain Lee of the engineers. His ~reconnals-
sances, though pushed far beyond the bounds
of prudence, were conducted with so much
skill, that their fruits were Of the utmost
value-the soundness of his judgment and
personal daring being equally conspicuous. "
General Scott in his despatch wrote: "The
brilliant victory Of Contreras on the follow
ing morning was made possible by Captain
Lees services that night, describing them
as Hthe greatest feat of physical and moral
courage performed by any individual pending
the campaign. Therefore he recommended
him for the brevet Of lieutenant colonel, Lee
having previously been brevetted a major
after Cerro Gordo.
Superintendent at West Point
Returning home from Mexico at the age Of
AZ, Lee was promoted to the regular rank Of
major. While recovering at Baltimore from
a painful wound he had received during the
storming Of Mexico City, he was visited by
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