Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/372

 364 Southern Historical Society Papers.

but the highest praise belongs to Lee's inciting and sustaining: mo- tive — duty. To bear to the commanding general the needful infor- mation he dared and suffered for that which is the crowning glory of man — he offered himself for the welfare of others.

He went to Mexico with the rank of captain of engineers, and by gallantry and meritorious conduct rose to the rank of colonel in the army, commission by brevet. After his return he resumed his duties as an officer of the engineer corps. While employed in the con- struction of Fort Carroll, near Baltimore, an event occurred which illustrates his nice sentiment of honor. Some members of the Cuban Junta called upon him and offered him the command of an expedi- tion to overthrow the Spanish control of the island. A very large sum of money was to be paid immediately upon his acceptance oi their proposition, and a large sum thenceforward was to be paid monthly. Lee came to Washington to converse with me upon the subject. After a brief discussion of the military problem, he said it was not that he had come to consult me about —the question he was considering was whether while an officer in the United States army, and because of any reputation he might have acquired as such, he could accept a proposition for foreign service against a government with which the United States were at peace. The conclusion was his decision to decline any further correspondence with the Junta.

In 1852 Colonel Lee was made superintendent of the United States Military Academy — a position for which he seemed to be peculiarly fitted as well by his attainments as by his fondness for young people, his fine personal appearance, and impressive manners. When a year or two thereafter I visited the academy, and was surprised to see so many gray hairs on his head, he confessed that the cadets did exceed- ingly worry him, and then it was perceptible that his sympathy with young people was rather an impediment than a qualification for the superintendency.

In 1855 four new regiments were added to the army — two of cav- alry and two of infantry. Captain Lee, of the engineers, brevet- colonel of the army, was offered the position of lieutenant-colonel of the Second regiment of cavalry, which he accepted. He was a bold, gmceful horseman, and the son of Light-Horse Harry now seemed to be in his proper element ; but the chief of engineers endeavored to persuade him that it was a descent to go from the engineer corps into the cavalry. Soon after the regiment was organized and as- signed to duty in Texas, the colonel, Albert Sidney Johnston, was selected to command an expedition to Utah, and the command of