Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 12.djvu/87

LEE. motion, and for his sprvioes in the last ras bre- vetted colonel. He was engaged in engineering work in the City of Mexico, and after the war was put in charge of the defenses then being con- structed at Baltimore. In 1852 Lee became su- perintendent at West Point, and in his three years of service there improved the discipline greatly and lengthened the course of study to five years. On the formation of a new cavalrj' regiment in 18.55, he was appointed lieutenant- colonel and saw senicc in western Texas against the Indians. In .Tuly the command of the regi- ment devolved on him, but three months later he was called home by the death of his father-in- law. Mr. Custis. Eeturning to his command, he continued with it until the fall of 1859, when he obtained leave to visit his family. During this visit he commanded the troops which suppressed the .lohn Brown raid. He was then called to Richmond to advise the Legislature with regard to defense, sliovild an invasion again occur. Returning to Texas, he was in charge of his former department, until, on the secession of that State in 1861, he was recalled to Washing- ton.

Lee was earnestly oppo.sed to disunion, but his future actions were clearly foreshadowed in a let- ter to his son: "Still, a union that can only be maintained by .swords and bayonets, and in which strife and civil war are to take the place of brotherly love and kindness, has no charm for me. I shall mourn for my country and for the welfare of mankind. If tlic I'nion is dissolved and the Government disrupted, I shall return to my native State and share the miseries of my people, and, sa^e in defense, will draw my sword on none." Miile deploring the actions of his peo])le. he believed that they had been wronged, and his siTiipathy drew him to them. In the last analysis, too, he was a States-rights man ; for he "would defend any State if her rights were invaded." He reached home on March 1, 18i;i. and on April 18th Frank P. Blair, on be- half of President Lincoln, visited him and offered him the command of the Army of the United States. Lee wrote later, "I declined the offer he made me to take command of the army that was to be brought into the field, stating, as candidly and courageously as I could, that, though opposed to secession and deprecating war, I could take no part in an invasion of the Southern States." On April inth President Lincoln declared a blockade of the Southern ports : troops began to pour into Washington; the invasion of his State had, in Lee's opinion, begun, and on .pril 20th he re- signed, three days later taking command in Rich- mond of the military forces of Virginia. On May 2oth he ceased to be a major-general in the army of bis State, and becime a brigadier in the service of the South, no higher rank having then been created by the Confederate Government. Lee found Virginia totally imprepared for the conflict, but acting as the commander-in-chief of the State troops and working steadily with Gen- eral Gorgas, the chief of ordnance, he had by the end of May .30.000 men equipped and in the field and many regiments well advanced in organiza- tion. On Tune 8th President Davis took charge of all military movements and General Lee, though anxinus to take the field, remained at his side as an adviser.

His first operations in the field were in West Virginia during the summer and autumn of 1861, and were on the whole unsuccessful. The dis- advantages he had to contend with were great, his suhcirdinates were at loggerheads, and the enenn' under General McClellan was strong and alert. Assigned to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, he devoted him- self to the task of creating coast defenses and in- terior works to protect the country on which the Confederacy was absolutely dependent for sup- plies. His grasp of the situation was masterly, .and his personal presence did much to stimulate the rapidity with which the defense was made efficient. In March. 18(i2. he was recalled to Rich- mond to direct the military operations of the Confederacy, under the supen-ision of President Davis, and it speaks well for the serenity of Lee's character that this somewhat trying situation produced so little friction. Men and supplies had to be prepared to meet McClellan's advance up the Peninsiila, where some victory was expected from the victors of the first Bull Run to compen- sate for the disasters of Forts Henry and Donel- son, and of Roanoke Island. I^e kept in full com- munication with .Jackson's movements in the Valley of Virginia, giving him free hand. When Gen. Joseph E. .Johnston, who had command in the Peninsula against McClellan, wished to draw strongly on the defensive forces of the interior and to risk all on one battle, Lee, believing that a smaller army could be successful, opposed him, and was supported in this opinion by President Davis. .Johnston steadily retreated before McClel- lan until .Jackson's famous dasn prevented Mc- Dowell, with his force of about 40.000, from join- ing the main Federal army; then he turned and fought the indecisive battle of Seven Pines (Jlay .31-.June 1). Lee took no part in this fighting, but on .June 3 he took command, for .Tohnstcm had been wounded and the next in rank, Gen. G. W. Smith, was in bad health. Setting about vigorously to secure reenforcements and sending Stuart on his brilliant circuit of the Federal army, the new commander resisted the gen- eral desire for him to fall back on Richmond, and took the ofjensive. Some tremendous fighting at the battle of Gaines's Mill forced ilcClellan to retreat toward his gunboats on the .Tames. The fierce fight of Malvern Hill, where the Confeder- ates were unable to dislodge the Federals, allowed McClellan to reach his place of safety. The Federals had been driven back but not routed in these terrible seven days' battles around Rich- mond, June 25-.July 1. and Lee was not satisfied with what he had done. It is possible that if he had had the right support from his subordinates he would have carried out his original plan of de- stroying the opposing army. General Pope soon after this took command of the Federal armies in Virginia west of Washington, while General ilc- Clellan retained position on the James River. T^ee, assuming that Richmond was no longer in serious danger from McClellan's forces, planned to throw his whole available strength against Pope. A series of rapid and unexpected blows fell upon the outer armies under Pope's com- mand, his store of provisions was captured, and on August 20 and 30, 1862. Pope's main army was signally defeated by Jackson and Lee on the same field that had witnessed the first battle of Bull Run. Lee then projected the invasion of Maryland. as well for political as for military re.i.sons. On September 7th his entire army was near Frederick City.