LEE with all nations; shut up every avenue to foreign influence; contract rather than extend national connection; rely on yourselves only: be American in thought and deed. Thus will you give immortality to that union, which was the constant object of my terrestrial labors; thus will you preserve undisturbed to the latest posterity the felicity of a people to me most dear; and thus will you supply (if my happiness is now aught to you) the only vacancy in the round of pure bliss high Heaven bestows." national voice in succession to the ardu- serve good faith to, and cultivate peace ous office of guiding a free people had new difficulties to encounter. The amicable effort of settling our difficulties with France, begun by Washington, and pursued by his successor in virtue as in station, proving abortive, America took measures of self-defence. No sooner was the public mind roused by a prospect of danger, than every eye was turned to the friend of all, though secluded from public view, and gray in public service. The virtuous veteran, following his plough, received the unexpected summons with mingled emotions of indignation at the unmerited ill treatment of his country, and of a determination once more to risk his all in her defence. The annunciation of these feelings in his affecting letter to the President, accepting the command of the army, concludes his official conduct. Lee, HENRY, banker; born in Boston, Mass., Sept. 2, 1817; graduated at Harvard College in 1836; served during the Civil War on the staff of Gov. John A. Andrew; subsequently became a member of the banking-house of Lee, Higginson & Co. He is the author of The Militia of the United States. First in war, first in peace, and first in Lee, RICHARD HENRY, statesman; born the hearts of his countrymen, he was sec- in Stratford, Westmoreland co., Va., Jan. ond to none in the humble and endearing 20, 1732; was educated in England, and scenes of private life. Pious, just, hu- returned to America at the age of ninemane, temperate, and sincere; uniform, teen. In 1756 he was appointed justice dignified, and commanding, his example of the peace, and entered the Virginia was as edifying to all around him as House of Burgesses in 1757, where he was were the effects of that example lasting. To his equals he was condescending, to his inferiors kind, and to the dear object of his affections exemplarily tender. Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence, and virtue always felt his fostering hand. The purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues. His last scene comported with the whole tenor of his life. Although in extreme pain, not a sigh, not a groan escaped him; and with undisturbed serenity he closed his well-spent life. Such was the man America has lost! Such was the man for whom our nation mourns. Methinks I see his august image, and hear, falling from his venerable lips, these deep sinking words: RICHARD HENRY LEE. "Cease, Sons of America, lamenting our separation. Go on, and confirm by your wisdom the fruits of our joint councils, joint efforts, and common dangers. Reverence religion; diffuse knowledge throughout your land: patronize the arts distinguished as a debater and a clear poand sciences; let liberty and order be in- litical writer. Mr. Lee supported Patrick separable companions; control party Henry's resolutions, and was among the spirit, the bane of free government; ob- foremost men in Virginia in forming and LEE putting in motion the machinery against that occasion was a brilliant display of royal oppression and parliamentary rule. eloquence. Leaving Congress in June, He was a delegate to the first Congress 1777, he was again in that body in 1778-80, (1774), was a member of all the leading 1784-85, and 1786-87. In 1784 he was committees, and wrote the memorial of chosen president of Congress, but retired Congress to the people of British America. at the end of the year. Mr. Lee was opIn 1775 he wrote the second address of posed to the national Constitution, beCongress to the people of Great Britain; cause it superseded State supremacy, but and from his seat in that body, in June, he was a supporter of Washington's 1776, he offered the famous resolution administration, and was United States which declared the English-American Senator from Virginia from 1789 to colonies to be "free and independent 1792. He died in Chantilly, Va., June 19, States." It is said that his speech on 1794. LEE, ROBERT EDWARD Lee, ROBERT EDWARD, military officer; Mary, daughter of G. W. P. Custis, the born in Stratford, Westmoreland co., Va., adopted son of Washington, and by her, Jan. 19, 1807; son of Gen. Henry Lee; in 1857, he became possessor of the estate graduated at the United States Military of Arlington, opposite Georgetown, on the Academy, second in his class, in 1829. Potomac, and the White House" estate, Entering the engineer corps, he became on the Pamunkey. He was in command captain in July, 1838, and was chief en- of a regiment of cavalry in Texas in gineer of General Wool's brigade in the 1860, and towards the close of that year war with Mexico. At the close of that he obtained leave of absence and returned war he had earned three brevets-major, home, where he was when appointed to lieutenant-colonel, and colonel; and he the command of the Virginia forces. was a great favorite with General Scott. For a while he did not have a separate From Sept. 3, 1852, to March 3, 1855, he command in the field, and for more than was superintendent of the Military Acad- a year did not fill any important place in emy. In the latter year he was promoted the Confederate army. He was nominally to lieutenant-colonel of cavalry, and in superintendent of fortifications at RichMarch, 1861, to colonel. Accepting the mond and elsewhere, and was the military doctrine of State supremacy when Vir- adviser of President Jefferson Davis and ginia passed an ordinance of secession, in of the Confederate Secretary of War. April, 1861, Lee went to Richmond, ac- When Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was cepted (April 22, 1861) the command of wounded (May 31, 1862), in the battle of the forces in that commonwealth, and re- Seven Pines, near Richmond, the comsigned his commission in the National mand of the Confederate army of Northarmy. In accepting the office of com- ern Virginia was given to Lee, June 3, and mander of the Virginia forces, he said: on the 26th of that month he began the "Trusting in Almighty God, an approv- series of conflicts before Richmond known ing conscience, and the aid of my fellow- as the Seven Days' Battles. He was citizens, I devote myself to the aid of my finally compelled to surrender his army to native State, in whose behalf alone will I General Grant at Appomattox Courtever draw my sword." Lee's services had house, April 9, 1865, on most generous always been very acceptable to his govern- terms for himself and his followers. He ment. He was an officer of fine culture, had been appointed general-in-chief of the a soldier brave and discreet, and an en- Confederate armies in February precedgineer of great skill. He had superintend- ing. After the war he retired to private ed the construction and repairs of the life, refusing even to attend public gatherforts at the entrance to the harbor of New ings of any kind. In October, 1865, he York after 1841, and was a member of accepted the presidency of Washington the board of engineers of the Atlantic College (now Washington and Lee Unicoast defence. He had married, in 1832, versity), at Lexington, Va., which he held until his death, Oct. 12, 1870. Lee's sons Cox, Schenck, and Benham. The bellig erents remained in sight of each other for about three weeks. Wise, then under Lee's command, was recalled to Rich mond. Lee's campaign in western Virginia was regarded by the Confederate government as a failure, and he, too, was soon afterwards recalled and sent to South Carolina, where he planned and partially constructed the coast defensive works. See CHARLESTON, In the summer of 1861 General Reynolds had been left by Rosecrans to confront General Lee in the Cheat Mountain region. Lee was then in chief command in western Virginia. He had sent General Floyd to drive the Nationals out of After his disastrous experience at the Kanawha Valley, but the latter was Gettysburg (July 1, 2, and 3, 1863), Gendefeated (Sept. 11) at Carnifex Ferry, eral Lee began a retreat for Virginia on and fled to Big Sewell Mountain. Reyn- the night of the 5th, having previously olds's command consisted of Indiana and sent forward his enormous wagon-trains Ohio troops. With them he held the and sick and wounded men. Sedgwick's roads and passes of the mountains of corps and Kilpatrick's cavalry were sent the more westerly ranges of the Alle in pursuit. Sedgwick overtook the Conghany chain. His headquarters were at federate rear-guard at a pass in the South Cheat Mountain pass, and Lee's were at Mountain range, but was recalled, and Huntersville, in Pocahontas county. It the whole army, having rested, were put was evident early in September, by the in motion for a flank movement through activity of Lee's scouts, that he was pre- the lower passes of South Mountain. But paring to strike a blow somewhere. It the movement was so tardy that when was finally made clear that he was about Meade overtook Lee (July 12) he was to strike the Nationals at Elk Water, at strongly intrenched on the banks of the the western foot of Cheat Mountain. His Fotomac, near Williamsport, waiting for object evidently was to secure the great a flood in the river, caused by recent Cheat Mountain pass, and have free com- rains, to subside. While Meade was premunication with the Shenandoah Valley. paring to attack Lee, the latter escaped For this purpose he marched from Hun- over the river. General Hill's rear-guard tersville, in the night of Sept. 11, to make had been struck by Kilpatrick, and lost a simultaneous attack on Elk Water, the 125 men killed and 1.500 made prisoners. pass, and a station of Indiana troops on Kilpatrick's loss was 105 men. Thus the summit, under Colonel Kimball. ended, in utter discomfiture and repulse, About 5,000 Confederates, under General Lee's second formidable invasion of MaryAnderson, of Tennessee, attempted to take land. the summit and the pass, but were re- Lee's Final Struggle.-While the Conpulsed. On the 12th Lee advanced in federates were leaving Richmond, Lee's heavy force upon Elk Water, but was army was withdrawing from Petersburg. driven back. He was satisfied that his He hoped to conduct his army to Danville, plan for seizing and destroying Reynolds's on the southern borders of Virginia, army and opening a way to the Ohio had whither his government had fled. He ap failed, and he hastened to join Floyd on pointed Amelia Court-house as the point Big Sewell Mountain, between the forks for the concentration of his army. There of the Kanawha. In the encounters dur- his forces would reach the Danville Railing two or three days, Reynolds lost ten way, and thereafter use it in their flight men killed, fourteen wounded, and sixty- into North Carolina. At the time when four made prisoners. The Confederates he sent his despatch for the evacuation of lost about 100 killed and wounded, and Richmond he ordered commissary and ninety prisoners. The joint forces of Lee quartermaster's stores to be sent from and Floyd, on Big Sewell Mountain, num- Danville to Amelia Court house for the bered about 20,000 men, and there they use of his army. They were promptly were confronted by 10,000 Nationals, forwarded; but when the officer in charge under Rosecrans, assisted by Generals reached Amelia Court house he received orders from Richmond to hasten thither veterans becoming prisoners. With his with his train. The stupid fellow obeyed, dreadfully shattered army, Lee crossed but took with him the supplies. The gov- the Appomattox that night (Aug. 6 and ernment, in its flight, occupied the whole 7) at Farmville, setting fire to bridges be train. The stores were left at Richmond hind him. They were not all consumed. and destroyed in the conflagrations. Lee The Nationals crossed and captured was almost hopeless when he discovered eighteen guns abandoned by a rear-guard. this calamity, for it threatened his army Lee's troops and animals were perishing with starvation. He knew that Grant, for want of food. Thousands let their for the sake of celerity in pursuit, would muskets fall because they were too weak break up his army into detachments; and to carry them and walk. Lee would not Lee hoped, by a bountifully supplied army listen to a proposition of his officers to well in hand, to fall upon these frag- give up the contest, and resolved to make ments and cut up the National army in further efforts to escape. Nearly the detail. Now he was compelled to detach whole of Grant's army joined in vigorous nearly one-half of his army to forage pursuit of the Confederates, and Lee for supplies to keep his forces from surrendered at Appomattox Court-house, starving. April 9, 1865. Terms of the Surrender.-The following is the correspondence that passed between Generals Grant and Lee, which resulted in the surrender of the army of the latter: I. "April 7. "Gen. R. E. Lee, Commander, C. S. A.: ing of you the surrender of that portion Grant, meanwhile, had taken possession of Petersburg, and his army moved in vigorous pursuit. Sheridan's cavalry and Warren's corps struck the Danville Railway (April 4, 1865) at Jetersville, 7 miles southwest of Amelia Court-house. Some of his cavalry then pushed on to Burkesville Station, at the junction of that road with the Southside Railway. Sheridan now stood squarely across Lee's pathway 'SIR,--The result of the last week must of retreat, and held possession of his chief convince you of the hopelessness of furchannel of supplies from Lynchburg and ther resistance on the part of the Army Danville. Lee attempted to escape by of Northern Virginia in this struggle. I way of Farmville. Sheridan sent General feel that it is so, and regard it as my Davies on a reconnoissance, who found duty to shift from myself the responsibility part of Lee's army moving westward of any further effusion of blood by ask(April 5), his cavalry escorting a train of 180 wagons. Davies fell upon the escort, captured many men and five guns, and destroyed the wagons. Lee's accompanying infantry had pressed Davies for a while, but, reinforced by Generals Gregg and Smith, he extricated himself. On the morning of the 6th nearly the whole of the Army of the Potomac were at Jetersville, and moved upon Amelia Court-house. Sheridan discovered Lee's army moving rapidly westward, and made a rapid pursuit, in three columns. Great efforts were made to check Lee's retreat. He was smitten severely at Sailor's Creek, a small tributary of the Appomattox, where another train of 400 wagons, sixteen guns, and many men were captured. By this blow Ewell's corps, following the train, was cut off from Lee's main army. Very "R. E. LEE, General. soon afterwards that corps was captured, "To Lieut.-Gen. U. S. Grant, Commanding Ewell and four other generals and 6,000 Armies of the United States." II. "April 7. "GENERAL,-I have received your note of this date. Though not entirely of the opinion you express of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and, therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender. |