Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Fitzhugh LEE
Fitzhugh Lee, a nephew of Gen. Robert E. Lee, was a Confederate cavalry general in the Confederate Army, Governor of Virginia, diplomat, and U.S. Army general in the Spanish-American War.
LEE, Fitzhugh, soldier, was born in Clermont, Fairfax county, Va., Nov. 19, 1835; 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 academy in 1856, and was assigned to Carlisle barracks, Pa., where he taught horsemanship to raw recruits. As 2d lieutenant, 2d U.S. cavalry, he was stationed on the Texas frontier and took part in the subjugation of the Comanche Indians. On May 13, 1854, he was slier 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 secession in 1861 Lieutenant Lee resigned his commission in the U.S. army and returned to his 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 lst Virginia cavalry, Col. J. E.B. Stuart commanding, 1861-62. He succeeded Stuart in the command of the let 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, 1869, he commanded a brigade of cavalry in Stuart's division, made up of the let, 3d, 4th, 5th and 9th Virginia cavalry, made the raid around Pope's army at Catlett's Station, captured his headquarters and nearly succeeded in taking the commanding general prisoner. He took part in the battles of South Mountain (Crampton's Gap) and Sharpsburg, Sept. 14-17, Fredericksburg, Dec. 11-15, 1862, Chancellorsville, May 1-5, and Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. He was promoted major-general, Sept. 6, 1863; engaged in a cavalry fight with Custer and Kilpatrick at Gainesville, Va., Oct. 19, 1863, and commanded a division of cavalry in Stuart's corps in opposing Sheridan's raid, May 3-4, 1804, in the battles of the Wilderness, May 5-7; Spottsylvania, May 8-12; North Anna River, May 28-27; Hawes's Shop, May 28; Cold Harbor, May 31; Trevillian Station, June 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, where he commanded the cavalry corps he maintained his position during the night at Hatcher's Run, but was driven beck 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 army. After his surrender to General Meade at Farmville he returned to his desolated farm in Stafford county. He accompanied the Norfolk Blues to Boston, Mass., in 1784, and made a notable patriotic speech at Bunker Hill. In 1884 he was appointed a visitor to West Point. He was governor of Virginia, 1886-90, collector of internal revenue for the Lynchburg district by appointment 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-generals of volunteers appointed by President McKinley May 4, 1898, and given command of the 7th army corps and was selected by the 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 dei 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 Fitzhugh was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. volunteer army and appointed an aide-de-camp on his father's staff, and on Nov. 3, 1898, was appointed by President McKinley second lieutenant of infantry in the regular service. Afterward, being a fine horseman, he 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 the U.S. volunteer army as first lieutenant in the 89th regiment volunteer infantry, Oct. 28, 1899, for service in the Philippine Islands. General Lee was commissioned brigadier-general in the regular army, Feb. 13, 1901. [p.378]
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