FAMILY: Philip Lightfoot Lee, Bullitt Co., KY ********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net Transcribed by: kybrenda@aol.com Date: 05 Oct 2000 *********************************************************************** The following articles sent to me by Porter HARNED Of Orphan Brigade Kinfolk. He also included a photo and I will be sending to Maria for the Photo Page.. If you have additional info on Philip Lightfoot LEE please post to the list.. If you are a direct descendant please post to the list. Philip Lightfoot LEE was born in Bullitt County, KY on October 22, 1832. His father was Wilford LEE, his mother was Margaret HILL, Wilford's Second wife.. Philip LEE was educated at a St. Joseph's College in Bardstown, Ky and, in 1852 graduated from the University of Louisville Law School. He practiced his profession in his home county and served as a state Legislator for two terms, elected in 1853 and 1855. He was a noted orator and debator. During these same years, Philip LEE served as captain of a company of the State Guard under Simon jB. BUCKNER. When the Civil War began, he led a company of over 100 men to Camp BOONE, TN, where he was elected captain of Co. C., 2nd Kentucky Regiment. He first saw combat at Fort Donelson where he was captured. He was held as a prisoner of war for six months in Indiana. later, he fought at Chickamauga (after which he was promoted to major), and on the campaign from Dalton to Atlanta during which he was wounded twice, first at Resaca, then at Dallas. After the Battle of Jonesboro he was promoted to colonel, the rank he held until the end of the war. his last engagement was a McCLELLAND's Ford, SC where in a "well jplanned, timely, and properly executed amubuscade" his regiment repulsed a much larger column of Union troops. LEE surrendered near Columbia, SC in May 1865. He returned to Bardstown and went into law practice there. He married Belle BRIDGEFORD on June 23, 1866 and moved the following year to Louisville, his wife's hometown. In 1868 Phillip LEE was elected as the commonwelth Attorney of the 9th Judicial District and was re-elected in 1874. Of him it was said, "He became in a short time celebrated as one of the best Commonwealth's Attorneys in the counrtry. The effect of his speeches before juries was remarkable...he seldom failed to use his tact, skill, and knowledge in finding the way to enlist them on the side of his cause. In denouncing murderers he was terrific, and he did more than all others to make murder upopular in this city if not in the state. Philip LEE died on July 12, 1875. he was constantly ill during his last two years of life, but the nature of his disease is not known. At the announcement of his death " the fire alarm bells were tolled and the city-hall flage placed at half mast. His funeral was a Calvary Church on July 14, 1875. His obituary invited all ex-confederates in the area to join the funeral procession. This account was taken largely from Co. Philip LEE's obituary appearing in the Courier Journal, Tuesday, July 13, 1875. Philip Lightfoot LEE The philosphy which motivated many members of the Orphan Brigade was quoted often by the loquacious and personable Phil LEE of the 2nd KY. "I am for the Union, " he stated. "But if the Union is divided, I am for KY. Should Kentucky be divided, I am for Bullitt County. Should Bullitt County be divided, I am for Shepherdsville. And should Shepherdsville be divided, I am for my side of the street." It was devotion to his side of the street which caused this man, who had been elected tot he State Legislature before the age of 21 and who had already begun to carve out for himself a niche in Kentucky politics, to raise a company of men for Confederate servic and to lead them through 4 years of war. Philip LEE, thought to be a distant relative of the Virgina family which produced the great Robert E. LEE, possessed an ability to sway his herers with his ready wit and talent for debate. What he felt to be true, he stated boldly and confidedently, such as his position that the policy of neutrality was a sham and a trick to lull a "too-confiding people" into a belief that KY could be protected by such a position. Notwithstanding his lack of confidence that the United States would honor Ky's neutrality, LEE himself led his company of recruits across the state line into Tennessee rather than violate the stand of his beloved state. Like their leader, they were young men with only one married man amongst them. These recruits became Co. C of the 2nd Kentucky Infantry and the service they rendered was a credit to both themselves and their Captain, to which position Philip LEE was elected in the summer of 1861. The 2nd Kentucky alone of the Kentucky brigade was sent to Ft. Donelson early in 1862. Surrendered with the rest of the fort's defenders, they were impirsioned at Camp Morton for 6 months before returning to active duty just in time for the battle of Hartsville, TN. it was at this battle that Lt. John ROGERS, Philip LEE"s earliest and dearest friend, was mortally wounded dying in LEE's arm. When the Orphan Brigade lay down its arms at WAshington, Georgia on May of 1864, Gen. Joe LEWIS spoke tot he men, encouraging them to lay aside their grievances and be good citizens-- although, he staed, he did not feel that reconcialtion could ever induce him to exchange the gray uniform for that of the blue. Phil LEE, as usual, had a response. "The General speaks of not wearing the Yankee uniform", he joked. "But as for Phil LEE, my opinion is that henceforth he will wear NO Uniform of Any sort. True to his word, Phil returned enthusiastically to the civilian life, reestablishing himself as one of Kentucky's ablest prosecutors. Unfortunately his career was short-lived, perhaps combining witht he rigors of war to break down his health. He suffered for two years before dying at the much too young age of 42. He is buried in Louisville's Cave Hill Cemetery where his tombstone proudly proclaims, "Born In Bullitt County" Phil would have liked that.