Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/403

 LEE

LEE

LEE, Fitzhugh, soldier, was born in Clermont, Fairfax county, Va., Nov. 19, 1«35 ; son of Capt. Sydney Smith Lee (q.v.)and Anne Maria (Mason) Lee ; grandson of Gen. Henry and Anne Hill (Carter) Lee and of Gen. John and Anne Maria

(Murray) Mason ;and great-grandson of George Mason, the statesman. He was graduated from the U.S. Military acade- my in 1856, and was assigned to Carlisle barracks, Pa., wliere he taught horseman- ship to raw recruits. As 2d lieutenant, 2d U.S. cavalry, he was stationed on the Texas frontier and took part in the subjuga- tion of the Com- anche Indians. On May 13, 1854, he was shot through the lungs by an Indian arrow. He also had repeated hand-to-hand engagements with mounted Indians, notably on Jan. 15, 1860. He was recalled from the frontier in May, 1860, and was instructor in cavalry tactics at the U.S. Military academy, 1860-61. When the people of Virginia confirmed the act of se- cession in 1861 Lieutenant Lee resigned his com- mission in the U.S. army and returned to liis native state where he was commissioned assistant adjutant-general with rank of captain, in the Confederate army. He served on the staff of General Ewell in the first battle of Manassas, July 21, 1861, and was made lieutenant-colonel of the 1st Virginia cavalry, Col. J. E. B. Stuart commanding, 1861-62. He succeeded Stuart in the command of the 1st Virginia cavalry in April, 1862, and took part in General Stuart's raid around McClellan's army, June 13, 1862. He was promoted brigadier-general, July 25, 1862, and in the second battle of Manassas, Aug. 29-30, 1862, he commanded a brigade of cavalry in Stuarfs division, made up of the 1st, 3d, 4th, 5th and 9th Virginia cavalry, made the raid around Pope's army at Catlett's Station, captured his head- quarters and nearly succeeded in taking the commanding general prisoner. He took part in tlie battles of South Mountain (Crampton's Gap) and Siiarpsburg, Sept. 14-17, Fredericksburg, Dec. 11-15, 1862, Chancellorsville. May 1-5, and Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. He was promoted major-general. Sept. 3, 1863 ; engaged in a cav- alry figlit with Custer and Kilpatrick at Gaines- ville, Va., Oct. 19, 1863, and commanded a divi- sion of cavalry in Stuart's corps in opposing Slier- idan's raid, May 3-4, 1864, in the battles of the

Wilderness, May 5-7 ; Spottsylvania, May 8-12 ; North Anna River, May 23-27 ; Hawes's Shop, May 28 ; Cold Harbor, May 31 ; Trevillian Sta- tion, Jvme 11-12 ; and Cedarville, August 16. At Winchester, Sept. 19, 1864, he had three horses shot under him and was so severely wounded as to be kept out of active service for several months. At Five Forks, April 1, 1865, wliere he com- manded the cavalry corps he maintained his posi- tion during the night at Hatcher's Run. but was driven back the next day, and at Sailor's Creek and Farmville, April 6-8, 1865, made determined stands against the Federal army which opened the way for the retreat of the main army toward Appomattox Court House, and advancing on the Lynchburg road he was cut off from the main arm}'. After his surrender to General Meade at Farmville he returned to liis desolated farm in Stafford county. He accompanied the Norfolk Blues to Boston, Mass., in 1874, and made a not- able patriotic speech at Bunker Hill. In 1884 l)e was appointed a visitor to West Point. He was governor of Virginia, 1886-90, collector of internal revenue for the Lynchburg district by appoint- ment of President Cleveland, 1893-96, and was U.S. consul-general at Havana, Cuba, 1896-98. On the outbreak of the war with Spain in 1898 he was commissioned one of the six major-gen- erals of volunteers appointed by President McKin- ley May 4, 1898, and given command of the 7tli army corps and was selected by tlie President to lead the assault on Havana, Cuba, should it become necessary to attack that city. His corps was not ordered to Cuba until Dec. 12, 1898, and on Jan. 1, 1899, he was made governor of the provinces of La Habana and Pinar del Rio. In March, 1900, when the provinces of La Habana, Pinar del Rio, Matanzas and Santa Clara were consolidated as the department of Havana, he became governor-general of the new department. He was married at Alexandria, Va., in 1871, to Ellen Bernard Fowle, and they had three daughters, Ellen, Nannie and Virginia, and two sons, Fitzhugh and George Mason. His son Fitz- hugh was commissioned a lieutenant in the L'.S. volunteer army and appointed an aide-de-camy on his father's staff, and on Nov. 3, 1898. was ap- pointed by President McKinlej' second lieutenant of infantry in the regular service. Afterward, being a fine horseman, lie was transferred to 1st cavalry, U.S.A. and ordered to the Philippines. George Mason, General Lee's second son, was educated at the U.S. military academy but left before graduating to accept a commission in thr U.S. volunteer army as first lieutenant in the 39th regiment volunt'^er infantry, Oct. 28, 1899, for service in the Pliilippine Islands. General Lee was commissioned brigadier-general in the regular army, Feb. 13, 1901.