Confederate Military History/Volume 3/Biographical/L
Brigadier-General Edmund G. Lee was born at "Leeland," Va., May 25, 1835. He was educated at Hallowell's school at Alexandria, and at William and Mary college, and then entered the profession of the law. With the earliest volunteers for the defense of the State he went to the front as second lieutenant of the Second Virginia regiment. Soon promoted first lieutenant, he was appointed aide-de-camp on the staff of Stonewall Jackson, of whose brigade the Second formed a part at First Manassas. Of the Thirty-third regiment, same brigade, he was promoted major, and later lieutenant-colonel; and in this rank he participated in the Valley campaign of 1862, and the subsequent operations of that year. At Fredericksburg, having been promoted colonel, he commanded his regiment. Early in 1863, on account of ill health, he retired from the service, but in the fall of the same year he returned to active duty and in June, 1864, was assigned to temporary command at Staunton, Va., with orders to do all in his power to organize the local forces and aid in the defense of the Valley. But the Confederates met with a serious reverse at that point immediately afterward; Gen. W. E. Jones was killed, and Staunton was occupied by the Federals. On September 20, 1864, Colonel Lee was promoted brigadier-general, and he was subsequently sent to Canada on secret service for the government. After the war his ill health compelled him to spend the winters in the far South. He died at Yellow Sulphur Springs, Va., August 24, 1870.
Major-General Fitzhugh Lee was born at Clermont, Fairfax county, Va., November 19, 1835. He is the son of Sydney Smith Lee, who was a brother of Robert E. Lee, and son of Gen. and Gov. Henry Lee. Sydney Smith Lee had a distinguished naval career for over forty years, beginning as a midshipman when fourteen years of age. He commanded a vessel at Vera Cruz, was three years commandant at Annapolis, and for the same period in charge of the Philadelphia navy yard; commanded Commodore Perry's flagship in the Japan expedition, and when the first Japanese embassadors came to America, he was associated with Farragut and D. D. Porter in a committee for their reception and entertainment. He resigned his position as chief of the bureau of coast survey to join the Confederacy, and was on duty at Norfolk; in command of fortifications at Drewry's bluff; chief of the bureau of orders and detail, and in command of fortifications on the James during the siege of Richmond. Fitzhugh Lee was graduated at the United States military academy in 1856, and after serving until January 1, 1858, in the cavalry school at Carlisle, Pa., as an instructor, he was assigned to frontier duty in Texas with his regiment, the Second cavalry. He served at several Texas posts, and on May 13, 1859, in a fight with Comanche Indians was shot through the lungs with an arrow, and his life despaired of. In 1860 he was ordered to report to West Point as instructor of cavalry. In 1861 he resigned his commission as first lieutenant, and tendered his services to his native State. He was commissioned first lieutenant, corps of cavalry, C. S. A.; promoted lieutenant-colonel, First Virginia cavalry (Stuart's regiment), August, 1861, and colonel, March, 1862. His first service was rendered in staff duty, under General Beauregard at Manassas, and as adjutant-general of Ewell's brigade during the battle of First Manassas. In the spring of 1862, with his regiment, he aided in covering the retreat from Yorktown, and in the raid of the cavalry under Stuart, around McClellan's peninsular army, he was particularly distinguished in the capture of the camp of his old Federal regiment, and in the defense as rear guard while Stuart's other commands built a bridge over the Chickahominy, which he was the last man to cross. He was recommended by Stuart for promotion to brigadier-general, which soon followed, and at the organization of the cavalry division, July 28th, he was put in command of the Second brigade, consisting of the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Ninth Virginia regiments and Breathed's battery. He took an active part in the cavalry operations in August, connected with Jackson's advance northward, and in the capture of Manassas depot; participated in Stuart's advance into Maryland, screening the movements of the army, and after McClellan could no longer be held in check at South mountain, his brigade covered the retreat through Boonsboro, where there was a fierce and protracted fight. He succeeded in delaying the enemy through the greater part of September 16th, and then joined the army before Sharpsburg. In November his brigade was reorganized. He served on the Confederate left above Fredericksburg in December, took part in the raid on Dumfries and Fairfax Station, and in February, 1863, moved to Culpeper to guard the upper Rappahannock, giving battle to Averell at Kellysville, an action which Stuart reported as "one of the most brilliant achievements of the war," which he took "pride in witnessing." At the field of Chancellorsville he led the advance of the flank movement, rode with Jackson to reconnoiter the position of Howard, and commanded the cavalry in the Sunday battle. During Stuart's raid of June, 1863, he captured part of Custer's brigade at Hanover, and reached Gettysburg in time for a fierce hand-to-hand cavalry fight on July 3d. During the retreat he rendered distinguished service. He was now promoted major-general and in September took command of one of the two cavalry divisions, with which, when R. E. Lee decided to push Meade from his front on the Rapidan, he held the lines while the main army moved out on the enemy's flank. He fought about Brandy Station and encountered Custer at Buckland Mills. After the contest with Grant in the Wilderness his division, thrown in front of the Federal advance toward Spottsylvania, engaged in one of its most severe conflicts. The Confederate troopers were a terrible annoyance to the Federals, "swarming in the woods like angry bees," and Sheridan started on a raid to Richmond to draw them off. At the resulting battle of Yellow Tavern, where Stuart was fatally wounded, at Hawes' Shop and Cold Harbor, and at Trevilian's, he contested with Sheridan the honors of the field, and August, 1864, found him again opposed to that famous Federal officer in the Shenandoah valley. Here he commanded the cavalry of Early's army. He fought the spirited battle of Cedarville, and at Winchester, September 19th, displayed great courage and energy in attempting to save the field. In the midst of a terrible artillery fire his famous horse "Nellie" was shot, and at the same time he received a wound in the thigh which disabled him for several months. On recovering he made an expedition into northwestern Virginia in the following winter. Upon the promotion of Hampton to lieutenant-general, Lee became chief of the cavalry of the army of Northern Virginia, and commanded that corps at Five Forks. After rendering invaluable service on the retreat, he was ordered to make an attack, on April 9th, at Appomattox, supported by Gordon, and in this movement, which met overwhelming opposition, his cavalry became separated from the main body. He participated in the final council of war, and after the surrender returned to Richmond with Gen. R. E. Lee. He then retired to his home in Stafford county, and resided later near Alexandria. In 1874 he delivered an address at Bunker Hill which greatly aided the restoration of brotherly feeling. He was a conspicuous figure at the Yorktown centennial, and at the Washington centennial celebration at New York city, at the head of the Virginia troops, he received a magnificent ovation. In 1885 he was nominated for governor by the Democratic party and made a memorable and successful campaign against John S. Wise. After serving as governor until 1890, he became president of the Pittsburg & Virginia railroad. In 1896 he was sent to Cuba as consul-general at Havana, under the circumstances one of the most important positions in the diplomatic service. In this he represented the United States with such dignity and ability that he was retained in the place after the inauguration of President McKinley, through all the trying difficulties preceding the war with Spain. After the outbreak of war he was made a major-general of volunteers in the United States army, and at the close of hostilities was appointed military governor of the province of Havana.
Major-General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee, the second son of Gen. Robert E. Lee, was born at Arlington, Va., May 31, 1837. He was educated at Harvard college, where he was graduated in 1857. In the same year he was appointed second lieutenant of the Sixth infantry, United States army, and in this rank he served in the Utah campaign under Albert Sidney Johnston, and subsequently in California. Early in 1859 he resigned his commission and took charge of his farm, the historic White House, on the Pamunkey river. He was heartily in sympathy with the Confederate cause, and organized a cavalry company early in 1861, becoming one of the leading spirits in the formation of the gallant body of troopers which were subsequently distinguished in the history of the army of Northern Virginia, and contributed so effectively to its successes. In May he received the rank of captain, corps of cavalry, C.S.A., and in the same month was promoted major in the regular army. During the West Virginia campaign he acted as chief of cavalry for General Loring. In the winter of 1861-62 he was ordered to Fredericksburg, Va., and was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Ninth Virginia cavalry regiment, promotion to the colonelship following in March. With his regiment he was attached to the cavalry brigade of J. E. B. Stuart, and shared its operations during the retreat from Yorktown toward Richmond. In the famous raid around McClellan's army Stuart's men were led by the three colonels, Fitz Lee, W. H. F. Lee and W. T. Martin; the artillery under Breathed. His troopers defeated the enemy's cavalry at Hawes' Shop, June 13th, during this expedition. Upon the organization of the cavalry division in the following month, his regiment was assigned to the brigade of Fitzhugh Lee, and he participated in the operations of this command in the campaign of Second Manassas. After serving on the advanced line before Washington, during the advance into Maryland, he was particularly distinguished in the rear-guard fighting after the action at Turner's pass. Squadron after squadron of his regiment bore the brunt of the attacks of the Federal advance until they were the last to enter Boonsboro. At this point Colonel Lee was unhorsed and run over in crossing a bridge; and severely bruised and at first unconscious, lay by the roadside for some time in full view of the passing enemy. He managed to escape and finally reached the army on the Antietam, where he was welcomed as one from the dead. Subsequently he commanded a detachment of Lee's brigade during the Chambersburg raid, and held the advance during the return movement in the rear of McClellan's army. His intrepid conduct and coolness in demanding the surrender of a largely superior force of the enemy which held White's ford on the Potomac, caused the withdrawal of this obstacle which might have been fatal to the safe return of Stuart's command to Virginia. At the reorganization in November he, having been promoted brigadier-general, was given command of the brigade of cavalry consisting of the Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, Fifteenth Virginia and Second North Carolina. During the operations preceding and following the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville he was frequently engaged, and during the combats with Pleasanton's cavalry before the .jpg)
| Maj.-Gen. L. L. Lomax. | Maj.-Gen. Wm. Smith. | Maj.-Gen. Samuel Jones. |
| Brig.-Gen. R. D. Lilley. | Brig.-Gen. H. H. Walker. | Brig.-Gen. Jno. B. Floyd. |
| Maj.-Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. | Brig.-Gen. A. W. Reynolds. | Brig.-Gen. J. D. Imboden. |
| Brig.-Gen. R. L. Page. | Brig.-Gen. Eppa Hunton. | Brig.-Gen. W. C. Wickham. |
Brigadier-General R. D. Lilley entered the Confederate service in the spring of 1861 as captain of the Augusta Lee Rifles, a volunteer company, which marched through the mountains under Col. J. M. Heck, after the battle of Philippi, to recruit the forces in western Virginia. At Huttonsville, General Garnett ordered two regiments to be formed from the volunteer and militia organizations, and the Rifles was assigned to the Twenty-fifth Virginia infantry, under Colonel Heck. This regiment occupied Rich mountain, and there Captain Lilley, in command of his company, took part in the defense of Camp Garnett. During the night retreat from that post, he and part of his company followed the lead of Major Hotchkiss, over the mountain, and reached Beverly in safety; but the remainder of the column became separated and were captured by McClellan. He remained with the army of the Northwest through the fall and winter of 1861, and shared its valorous service in the defeats of the Federals at the Greenbrier river and Alleghany mountain, and at McDowell in May, 1862. Subsequently his regiment was attached to Early's brigade of Ewell's division, and he was identified with the career of that famous brigade throughout 1862. At the battle of Cedar Mountain he attracted the attention of General Early by his gallantry in advancing among the foremost, with a small body of men, including the color-bearer, after the regiment had been thrown in disorder by a rear attack. At Second Manassas he again won commendation for his gallantry in driving back a column of the enemy while in command of the brigade skirmish line. He was promoted major in January, 1863. In April and May, the Twenty-fifth was with Imboden in western Virginia, and rejoining the army was assigned to J. M. Jones' brigade of the Stonewall division. Major Lilley won high praise by his services in command of the skirmish line of this brigade at Gettysburg, and was promoted lieutenant-colonel. He served with distinction at Mine Run, and after the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court House was promoted brigadier-general and assigned to the command of Early's old brigade. In this capacity he served in the expedition through Maryland against Washington. Soon after his return to the Valley he was severely wounded and captured at a battle near Winchester, July 20, 1864, but was recaptured four days later. On November 28, 1864, he was given command of the reserve forces of the Valley district, where he served during the remainder of the war. General Lilley died November 12, 1886.
Major-General Lunsford Lindsay Lomax, a distinguished officer of the Confederate States provisional army, who rose from the rank of captain to that of major-general in the army of Northern Virginia, was born at Newport, R. I., the son of Mann Page Lomax, of Virginia, a major of ordnance in the United States army. His mother, Elizabeth Lindsay, was a descendant of Captain Lindsay, who commanded a company in the light horse cavalry of Harry Lee during the Revolution, and lost an arm in the war for independence. His father, also, was of an old Virginia family. Young Lomax was educated in the schools of Richmond and Norfolk, and was appointed cadet-at-large, July 1, 1852, to the military academy at West Point, where he was graduated July 1, 1856, and promoted to a brevet lieutenancy in the Second cavalry. He served on frontier duty in Kansas, Nebraska and that region, with promotion to second lieutenant of the First cavalry, September 30, 1856, and first lieutenant, March 21, 1861, until the secession of his State from the United States. Resigning April 25, 1861, he offered his services to Virginia, and was appointed captain in the State forces April 28th. He was at once assigned to the staff of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, as assistant adjutant-general, and later was transferred to the field of operations beyond the Mississippi, as inspector-general upon the staff of the gallant Texan, Brigadier-General McCulloch, who commanded a division of Van Dorn's army. After McCulloch fell he was promoted inspector-general on the staff of Maj.-Gen. Earl Van Dorn, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He served in this capacity from July, 1862, until October, when he was made inspector-general of the army of East Tennessee. While with the western armies he participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Ark., Farmington and Corinth, Miss., the first defense of Vicksburg from siege, Baton Rouge, La., Spring Hill and Thompson Station, Tenn. On February 8, 1863, he was promoted colonel and called to the eastern campaigns. As colonel of the Eleventh Virginia cavalry, in W. E. Jones' brigade, he participated in the raid in West Virginia, and the subsequent Pennsylvania campaign, including the battles of Brandy Station, Winchester, Rector's Cross-roads, Upperville, Gettysburg and Buckland. On July 23, 1863, he was promoted brigadier-general and assigned to the command of a brigade of cavalry organized for him of the Fifth, Sixth and Fifteenth Virginia regiments, and the First Maryland cavalry. Under his command this brigade was one of the principal factors in the subsequent operations of Fitz Lee's division, including the fighting at Culpeper Court House, Morton's Ford, the second encounter at Brandy Station, Tod's Tavern, the Wilderness campaign. Cold Harbor, Yellow Tavern, Reams' Station and Trevilian's. His gallant and cool leadership in these important engagements led to his promotion, August 10, 1864, to the rank of major-general. He was given command of a division composed of the cavalry brigades of Bradley T. Johnson, W. L. Jackson, Henry B. Davidson, J. D. Imboden and John McCausland, and rendered prominent and distinguished service in the Valley campaign of the army under General Early, at the battles of Winchester, Tom's Brook and other encounters. At the battle of Woodstock, October 9th, he was made a prisoner by Torbert's cavalry, but made his escape about three hours later by personally overthrowing his captor. On October 31st he was assigned to the command of the cavalry wing of the army under Early, and on March 29, 1865, was put in entire command of the Valley district of the department of Northern Virginia. After the fall of Richmond he moved his forces to Lynchburg, and when Lee surrendered sent the news to General Echols, with whom he endeavored to form a junction with the remnants of his own, Fitz Lee's and Rosser's divisions. He succeeded in joining the army in North Carolina, and surrendered his division with Johnston, at Greensboro. Thence he returned to Caroline county, Va., and engaged in farming, to which he quietly devoted himself during the succeeding years until 1889, when he was called to the presidency of the college at Blacksburg. He resigned this position after five years' service. For several years he has been engaged in the official compilation of the records of the war, at Washington, D. C.
Brigadier-General Armistead Lindsay Long was born in Campbell county, Va., September 13, 1827. He was educated at the United States military academy, with graduation in the class of 1850, and promotion to brevet second lieutenant of artillery. He served in garrison at Fort Moultrie until 1852, and on frontier duty in New Mexico, with promotion to first lieutenant. Second artillery, until 1854. His subsequent service was at Fort McHenry and Barrancas barracks, until 1855, when he was again ordered to the frontier. With the exception of a period at Fortress Monroe he was on duty in Indian Territory, Kansas and Nebraska until 1860. When the crisis arrived between the North and South he was stationed at Augusta arsenal, Ga., but was transferred to Washington, where he served as aide-de-camp to General Sumner until his resignation, which took effect June 10, 1861. Repairing to Richmond he accepted the commission of major of artillery in the Confederate service, and soon accompanied Gen. W. W. Loring, assigned to the command of the army of Western Virginia, as chief of artillery. He served in the Trans-Alleghany, performing the duties of inspector-general in addition to those of his regular position, during the summer and fall of 1861, and was then ordered to report to Gen. R. E. Lee in the department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The association with the future commander-in-chief of the Confederate armies, begun amid the mountains of West Virginia, was continued throughout the four years' war, with intimate friendship and confidence. When Lee was given command of the army of Northern Virginia, Long was appointed military secretary with the rank of colonel. During the subsequent campaigns he rendered valuable service upon the field, especially in posting and securing the artillery. His efficiency in the disposition of artillery was particularly shown upon the fields of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In September, 1862, he was promoted brigadier-general and assigned to the duty of chief of artillery of the Second corps of the army. He was actively engaged during the Bristoe and Mine Run campaigns, and throughout the severe fighting of 1864 managed his artillery with vigor and unfailing judgment, sharing the battles of Ewell's corps until disabled by illness. He organized the artillery which accompanied Early in his campaign against Washington. Throughout the disasters which befell Early's army in the Shenandoah valley, subsequently, his artillery corps behaved with a steadfast gallantry and unfaltering courage that elicited the unbounded praise of the lieutenant-general commanding. General Long was with the Shenandoah army at the final disaster at Waynesboro and afterward accompanied Gordon's corps in the withdrawal from Richmond, participated in its engagements in April, 1865, and finally was surrendered and paroled at Appomattox. After the war closed he was appointed chief engineer of the James River & Kanawha canal company. Soon afterward he lost his eyesight by reason of exposure during his campaigns. He then removed to Charlottesville, where he passed the last twenty years of his life in total darkness. During this period his active mind was much employed in recalling the incidents of the war, and it was then that he wrote the Memoirs of Gen. R. E. Lee, a model of biographical history, containing a very clear and most intelligent account of the military operations of the army of Northern Virginia. This book was published in 1886. He also prepared reminiscences of his army life, and a sketch of Stonewall Jackson, which so far has not been published. By reason of his infirmity he was compelled to use a slate prepared for the use of the blind, and to depend on members of his family and on friends for much assistance. Under all these disadvantages he worked along uncomplainingly, drawing his interest and delight from what was most pleasant in his past life, cheerful, and always with placid courage looking forward to the end of his sad but honored career. He died April 29, 1891, leaving a wife and two children, Virginia L. and E. McLean.