Biography

"Col. Francis Lee was stationed at Jefferson Barracks. At the time of his death in St. Louis, on the 19th of January, 1859, he was colonel of the Second Regiment of United States Infantry. His funeral services were held at the Second Presbyterian Church, corner of Walnut and Fifth Streets, and the remains were escorted by his regiment to the barracks, accompanied by the general, regimental, and battalion staffs and a large number of citizens.

Col. Lee was born in Pennsylvania, April 13, 1802. At the age of sixteen he entered the Military Academy at West Point as a cadet, and four years afterwards, July 1, 1822, received his commission as second lieutenant of the Seventh Infantry. Two years later, in September, 1824, he was promoted to a first lieutenancy, and from May, 1826, to May, 1834, was assistant quartermaster. Upon the reorganization of the army in September, 1836, he was made first lieutenant, and captain in July, 1838. Upon the breaking out of the war with Mexico, in
1846, he was appointed chief engineer of the army commanded by Brig.-Gcn. Wool, and on April 18,
1847, while in command of the Fourth Regiment, was breveted major "for gallant and meritorious conduct" in the battle of Cerro Gordo. On August 27th he was breveted lieutenant-colonel "for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco," and colonel on September 13th of the same year for similar conduct in the battle of Chapultepec, in which he was wounded. He had previously distinguished himself at the siege of Fort Brown, and his conduct on the occasion of the taking of the City of Mexico was also highly meritorious. He was made superintendent of the West Point Military Academy Sept. 1, 1852, and succeeded to the colonelcy of the Second Regiment of infantry, Oct. 18, 1855, which rank he held at the time of his death. He was commander of the Department of the West, stationed in St. Louis, until the fall of 1858, when he was relieved by Col. E. V. Sumner. His services in the war with Mexico, wherein he earned such deserved renown, were not without their sacrifices. Like many others, he contracted a disease which undermined his constitution and eventually brought him to his death-bed.

Col. Lee, besides being a gallant officer, was in all s respects an upright and honorable man. His many amiable traits, his sociable disposition, and his frank, punctilious integrity won the regard of all with whom he was brought in contact."