LEE, STEPHEN DILL (1833-1908), Confederate general in the American Civil War, was born at Charleston (S.C.), on Sept. 12, 1833, of a distinguished South Carolina family. Gradu ating from West Point in 1854, he served in the U.S. army until 1861, resigning on the secession of South Carolina. He was aide de-camp to Gen. Beauregard in the attack on Ft. Sumter, and cap tain of a light battery in Gen. Johnston's army later in the year 1861. Because of distinguished conduct on the fields of battle, he rose to the rank of brigadier-general in Nov. 1862, and took command of defences at Vicksburg. Until its surrender to Gen. Grant in July, 1863, he served with great credit, and on becoming a prisoner of war, was immediately exchanged, promoted major general, and assigned to command the cavalry troops of that arm in the south-western theatre of war. After harassing the advance of Sherman's column on Meridian he took Gen. Polk's place as
commander of the department of Mississippi. In June 1864, on Hood's promotion to command the army of Tennessee, he was made a lieutenant-general and assigned to command Hood's old corps in that army. He fought at Atlanta and Jonesboro, ac companied Hood in the bold advance to Nashville, and fought in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, after which, in the rout of the Confederate army, he kept his troops closed up, and for three consecutive days formed the fighting rearguard of the otherwise disintegrated army. Lee was himself wounded, but did not give up the command until an organized rearguard took over the post of danger. On recovery he joined Gen. J. E. Johnston in North Carolina, and he surrendered with Johnston in April 1865. After the war he settled in Mississippi and devoted himself to planting. He died at Vicksburg on May 28, 1908.