Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 35.djvu/155

Rh His address on "Chancellorsville," a battle the most illustrative of what the highest military genius and audacity can accomplish with greatly inferior numbers and resources, is an admirable contribution to history.

He was a born soldier. Early became famous in conflicts with the Indians. General Scott, in published orders, says: "Major Van Dorn notices the conspicuous gallantry and energy of Second Lieutenant Fitzhugh Lee, adjutant of the expedition, who was dangerously wounded." Contrary to the expectations of his physicians, he recovered, and we find him mentioned again the next year by General Scott as having, in command of a part of his company, had a fight with the Indians, in which rapid pursuit, recovery of stolen property, and a personal combat with one of the chiefs, are all highly commended.

In 1860 Fitz Lee was at West Point as an instructor of cavalry. Promptly resigning his commission when Virginia seceded, he served first as staff officer of General Ewell, and shortly after was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 1st Virginia Cavalry, and at the reorganization in April, 1862, was elected its colonel. His regiment was with Stuart in the famous raid around McClellan, which blazed the way for Jackson's subsequent flank movement. After the battles around Richmond Stuart was made major-general, and Fitz Lee succeeded to the command of his brigade, consisting of the ist, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 9th Regiments of Cavalry and Breathed's Battery of horse artillery.

His services in the campaign against Pope were recognized in highly complimentary terms by the commanding general. Just before the second battle of Manassas a chivalrous incident occurred. General Fitz Lee had surprised and captured a squadron of the 2nd United States Cavalry (regulars), and discovering some old comrades among the officers, he merely took their word that they would not escape, and kept them at his headquarters as guests. They rode with his staff and himself during a few days' subsequent operations, and were occasionally under the fire of their own men. Through the intercession of General Lee these captives were made an exception to the retaliatory rule against the officers of Pope's Army, and were paroled and furnished with horses to ride to their own lines.

His relief of D. H. Hill's pickets at South Mountain Pass,