WILLIAM RAYMOND LEE. 347 



remained there for nearly the prescribed term, but left before 

 receiving his commission. He followed the calling of a civil 

 engineer, and was for many years the Superiutendent of the 

 Boston and Providence Railroad. 



On the breaking out of the Civil War, Lee promptly offered 

 his services to Governor Andrew. He had never been in the 

 army, but he had had a military education ; and although he 

 was far beyond the usual age for active duty in the field, he gal- 

 lantly took his place as colonel of a regiment. This regiment, 

 the Twentieth Massachusetts, was his creation. He selected the 

 field and staff officers, and most of those of the line. He gave it 

 its standard of military duty. He inspired his command with 

 his own high spirit of devotion and steadfastness. Well did the 

 regiment repay him by its magnificent behavior on many a 

 bloody field. 



Colonel Lee was taken prisoner at the unfortunate affair of 

 Ball's Bluff, and was one of the hostages selected by the Con- 

 federate government to receive the treatment which was awarded 

 to Confederate privateersmen by the mistaken policy pursued by 

 Federal authorities at the outset of the war. His sufferings were 

 severe, and for a time even endangered his life. Fortunateh'', 

 this exceptional treatment did not last long, and early in 18G2 he 

 was exchanged. He led his regiment throughout the Peninsular 

 campaign ; he was at Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Savage's Station, 

 Glendale, and Malvern Hill. Then the Army of the Potomac 

 was removed from the Peninsula. In the bloody battle of 

 Antietam, the regiment, still under Lee, suffered heavy loss, but 

 fully sustained its reputation. But the strain of field service 

 proved too much for its commanding officer. Few men at the 

 age of fifty-five can long continue to bear the hardships and 

 labors inseparable from active service in the line. After a 

 vain struggle with increasing infirmity. Colonel Lee was obliged 

 to resign. 



His militar}^ life was brief, but distinguished. It was also 

 eminently useful. His spirit of unreserved devotion to the cause, 

 his noble example in bravely and uncomplainingly enduring all 

 the hardships of a soldier's life, his strict, high standard of mili- 

 tary honor and duty, inspired his regiment with the like high 

 principles and sentiments ; while his great kindliness of heart, 

 his unselfishness, and his uniform considerateness for the rights 

 and feelings of his officers and men made him beloved and re- 



