Harvey Lee
Encyclopedia
Harvey Lee was a lawyer, politician, judge and soldier. He was Captain of a company of Illinois Volunteers in the Mexican–American War
and Lieutenant Colonel of California Volunteers in the American Civil War
.
During the Mexican–American War
Harvey Lee from Fayette County, Illinois
was a Captain of a company from Alton, Illinois
, in the 2nd Illinois Volunteers; for the war with Mexico from August 1847 until the Regiment disbanded July 1848. His unit saw no fighting but was part of the garrison of Tampico
.
Lee came to California after the Mexican War, and practiced as a lawyer in Benicia, California
. On September 13, 1853 he was married to Mary Ferguson, of Benecia. In 1858 he was elected a member of California State Assembly
, for the 18th District in Amador County. He was then appointed as recorder of the California Supreme Court in 1858-59 by the Assembly, unlike all previous recorders who had been appointed by the court.
The court was not happy with this new arrangement. Justice Stephen Johnson Field
later commented that Lee’s work was so defective that the judges sought to have the new law repealed and the appointing authority returned to the court. As a result of this dispute, Lee held bitter feelings toward the judges that he vented during a conversation with the clerk of the court, a Mr. Fairfax. An altercation ensued in which Lee drew his sword cane, and ran it into Fairfax’s body twice, inflicting a serious wound in the chest just above the heart. Fairfax drew his pistol in self-defense as Lee raised his sword for a third thrust but, let the pistol drop, restrained by the thought of Lee’s wife and children.
During the American Civil War
he was given a commission as a Lt. Colonel of 4th Infantry California Volunteers in 1861. He first served at Benecia, and then at San Pedro
at Camp Drum
. He later became Commander of the District of Southern California
, from February 7, 1863 to April 10, 1863. Sent in March 1863 to Fort Yuma
, Lieutenant Colonel Harvey Lee, either signed as a witness or authenticated the copy of an April 9, 1863 peace and mutual defense treaty between the Indian tribes along the Colorado river and in western Arizona. Lee's junior officers believed that their commander slipped in and out of insanity. He was relieved of command of Fort Yuma on April 20, 1863 and was ordered to report to Headquarters in San Francisco and resigned from the Army thereafter.
Elected again a Member of the California state assembly, in 1865 for the 14th District. He served in the assembly until 1866 when he was appointed District Judge of the 16th Jusidical District. He held that office only a short while until his death on August 19, 1866 at the age of 47, in a buggy
accident. He was buried in the Sacramento City Cemetery.
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
and Lieutenant Colonel of California Volunteers in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
During the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
Harvey Lee from Fayette County, Illinois
Fayette County, Illinois
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 22,140, which is an increase of 1.6% from 21,802 in 2000. Its county seat is Vandalia...
was a Captain of a company from Alton, Illinois
Alton, Illinois
Alton is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about north of St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 27,865 at the 2010 census. It is a part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area in Southern Illinois...
, in the 2nd Illinois Volunteers; for the war with Mexico from August 1847 until the Regiment disbanded July 1848. His unit saw no fighting but was part of the garrison of Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
.
Lee came to California after the Mexican War, and practiced as a lawyer in Benicia, California
Benicia, California
Benicia is a waterside city in Solano County, California, United States. It was the first city in California to be founded by Anglo-Americans, and served as the state capital for nearly thirteen months from 1853 to 1854. The population was 26,997 at the 2010 census. The city is located in the San...
. On September 13, 1853 he was married to Mary Ferguson, of Benecia. In 1858 he was elected a member of California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
, for the 18th District in Amador County. He was then appointed as recorder of the California Supreme Court in 1858-59 by the Assembly, unlike all previous recorders who had been appointed by the court.
The court was not happy with this new arrangement. Justice Stephen Johnson Field
Stephen Johnson Field
Stephen Johnson Field was an American jurist. He was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court of the United States Supreme Court from May 20, 1863, to December 1, 1897...
later commented that Lee’s work was so defective that the judges sought to have the new law repealed and the appointing authority returned to the court. As a result of this dispute, Lee held bitter feelings toward the judges that he vented during a conversation with the clerk of the court, a Mr. Fairfax. An altercation ensued in which Lee drew his sword cane, and ran it into Fairfax’s body twice, inflicting a serious wound in the chest just above the heart. Fairfax drew his pistol in self-defense as Lee raised his sword for a third thrust but, let the pistol drop, restrained by the thought of Lee’s wife and children.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he was given a commission as a Lt. Colonel of 4th Infantry California Volunteers in 1861. He first served at Benecia, and then at San Pedro
San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
San Pedro is a port district of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was annexed in 1909 and is a major seaport of the area...
at Camp Drum
Camp Drum
Camp Drum refers to two US military facilities:*A Civil War era military encampment active from 1862–1873 near Los Angeles; see Drum Barracks. The Drum Barracks Civil War Museum presently occupies part of the original camp....
. He later became Commander of the District of Southern California
District of Southern California
During the American Civil War, the Army had reorganized including the new Department of the Pacific which was created on January 15, 1861. By 1863, the department had five districts including the District of Southern California established on September 25, 1861...
, from February 7, 1863 to April 10, 1863. Sent in March 1863 to Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma is a fort in California that is located in Imperial County, across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona. It was on the Butterfield Overland Mail route from 1858 until 1861 and was abandoned May 16, 1883, and transferred to the Department of the Interior. The Fort Yuma Indian School and a...
, Lieutenant Colonel Harvey Lee, either signed as a witness or authenticated the copy of an April 9, 1863 peace and mutual defense treaty between the Indian tribes along the Colorado river and in western Arizona. Lee's junior officers believed that their commander slipped in and out of insanity. He was relieved of command of Fort Yuma on April 20, 1863 and was ordered to report to Headquarters in San Francisco and resigned from the Army thereafter.
Elected again a Member of the California state assembly, in 1865 for the 14th District. He served in the assembly until 1866 when he was appointed District Judge of the 16th Jusidical District. He held that office only a short while until his death on August 19, 1866 at the age of 47, in a buggy
Horse and buggy
A horse and buggy or horse and carriage refers to a light, simple, two-person carriage of the late 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, drawn usually by one or sometimes by two horses...
accident. He was buried in the Sacramento City Cemetery.