Fitzhugh Lee was a Confederate cavalry general in the American Civil War, the 40th Governor of Virginia, diplomat, and United States Army general in the Spanish–American War.
Background
Lee was born in Clermont, in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States on November 19, 1835. His father, Sydney Smith Lee, was a fleet captain under Commodore Perry in Japanese waters and rose to the rank of commodore; his mother was a daughter of George Mason.
Career
Graduating from West Point in 1856, Lee was appointed to the 2nd Cavalry, which was commanded by Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston, and in which his uncle, Robert E. Lee, was lieutenant-colonel. As a cavalry subaltern he distinguished himself by his gallant conduct in actions with the Comanches in Texas, and was severely wounded in 1859.
He became brigadier- general on General J. E. B. Stuart's recommendation on the 25th of July 1862, and served under that general throughout the Virginian campaigns of 1862 and 1863, becoming major- general on the 3rd of September 1863.
He conducted the cavalry action of Beverly Ford (17th March 1863) with skill and success. He took part in Early's campaign against Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, and at Winchester (19th Sept. 1864) three horses were shot under him and he was severely wounded.
On General Hampton's being sent to assist General Joseph E. Johnston in North Carolina, the command of the whole of General Lee's cavalry devolved upon Fitzhugh Lee early in 1865, but the surrender of Appomattox followed quickly upon the opening of the campaign.
In 1875 he attended the Bunker Hill centenary at Boston, Massachusetts, and delivered a remarkable address.
In this post (in which he was retained by President McKinley) he was from the first called upon to deal with a situation of great difficulty, which culminated with the destruction of the " Maine " (see Spanish-American War). Upon the declaration of war between Spain and the United States, he re-entered the army. He was one of the three ex-Confederate general officers who was made major-generals of United States Volunteers.
Membership
In 1885 Lee was a member of the board of visitors of West Point, and from 1886 to 1890 was governor of Virginia.