he combined in his character and temperament all the qualities of
a tactful teacher and an inspiring leader. Quiet and dignified,
but extremely sympathetic, he governed the cadets without seeming
to command them and, as at his own home, he exerted a peculiarly
happy influence upon all with whom he came into personal contact.
Among the cadets during his service at West Point were J. E. B.
Stuart, who was to prove himself one of the greatest cavalry leaders
that this country has ever produced, and his elder son, Custis Lee,
who, improving on his father's almost perfect record, graduated
first in his class.

About this time certain important changes were effected in the
organization of the regular army, and the popular Superintendent
of West Point was immediately appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the
newly formed Second Cavalry, with orders to proceed to Texas and
protect the settlers against the attacks of hostile Indians. It
was with keen regret that Lee received this assignment, for, though
intended as a promotion, it removed him from the corps of engineers
to which he had always been attached and obliged him to break all
his home ties for what was practically police duty in the wilderness.
Nevertheless, no thought of resigning from the army apparently
crossed his mind. He soon joined his regiment in Texas, where, for
almost three years, he patrolled the country, ruling the Indians
by diplomacy or force, as occasion required, practically living in
the saddle and experiencing all the discomforts and privations of
garrison life at an outpost of civilization.

Almost his only relaxation during this lonely and exhausting service
was his correspondence with his wife and children, and his letters
to them, written in rough camps and on the march, show that his