Stephen Dill Lee

Graduated USMA Class of 1854 on artillery and staff duty and resigned his US commission in February 1861. He was then a Capt. on Beauregard's staff and was at Fort Sumter (at least one account has him "firing the first shot"). He served in the ANV artillery at Seven Days and Second Manassas.

Commanded the 2nd Battalion of Longstreet's Corps Artillery which he deployed late on the 15th on the West side of Antietam Creek. He exchanged fire with the Federal batteries accross the creek on the 16th the fight becoming more intense as sundown approached.

On the morning of the 17th he positioned his batteries on the high ground near the Dunkard Church, and was heavily engaged against the assaults of the Federal I and 12th Corps through the Cornfield and to the West Woods. About 10AM, he was ordered to the vicinity of Sharpsburg in the face of Burnside's afternoon drive from the Lower Bridge, and was furiously engaged there as well.

In November 1862 he was appointed Brigadier General He was chief of Pemberton's artillery on the Vicksburg campaign, was captured at the surrender of Vicksburg, and exchanged one month later. In August 1863 he was promoted to Major General and held the cavalry command in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana. In June 1864 he was made LGen. and took over command of Hood's Corps in the Army of Tennessee, fighting at Ezra Church, Franklin, and in the Nashville (wounded) and Carolinas campaigns.

He was a farmer, politician, and college president. He was active in Veterans groups and in the creation of the Vicksburg National Park. He was President of Mississippi A&M College from 1880 to 1899. He inspired considerable (more recent) controversy due to his published views after the War on race and the "Lost Cause".

He was the youngest Confederate LGen and was a distant relative of R E Lee. His home in Columbus, Mississippi is now a museum.

There is an impressive monument to him at Vicksburg. See a glowing bigraphical essay about him from 1909 Confederate Veteran Magazine. Also a quick bio sketch online (site gone 2/2004) from the SCV - be aware also that he has inspired controversy due to his published views after the War on race and the "Lost Cause".

There's another Photo of him at the Alabama Archives, and a Set of them at Generals and Brevets.

9/22/1833; Charleston, SC

5/28/1908; Vicksburg, MS; burial in Friendship Cemetery, Columbus, Mississippi