Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-05
F,on ,bs RICHMOND Disp.seb, Aug. %.


We are indebted to Capt Arthur Lee Ro-
-. Tho Commanded the LoundoaH Artit-
is-v in The battle of Manassas, for The follow
in . Unpublished letter from Gen. Washing
ion 10 Richard Henry Lee.
This letter has been preserved in the Lee
family, who, though applied to by Bancroft,
Irving and others TOR copy for publication,
have hitherto refused it, on the ground that
il would be improper to give to the world
private letter from the Father of his country
rejecting upon any portion OF 1t while the
old Union endured But now that "these
people, have trampled the Constitution un-
der foot, destroyed the Government of our
fathers. and invaded and desoiated Washing
toms own county in Virginia, there can be
no inDropriety in showing his private opin-
ion of the Massachusetts, Yankees.
What would Mr. Everett say of this severe
but lust judgment of his own people of the
man he has been euologizing with his best
rbetoric fer wears past? None knows it's
,rutb better than Everett, and no man has
more in his soul of the miserable national pc
| c,iiarities which Washington in his trying
campaigns so plainly saw and so positively
| denounced Interest made him the studied
and persevering eulogist of the great man
who so ardently despised that meanness
wbich has so bountifully descended to him
aIono with blood he inherits. Interest made
him the supple tool of the vulgar despot OF
! the North. and forced him to repudiate all his
fine praise of the principles OF the Revolu-
ton and the American Constitution. The
Baltimore E1change, abiding to this man,
Justly declares that ten-fold worse than the
leader of mob which destroys printing
office. or the President or General who silen-
ces free speech by a squad Of soldiers, sis the
rhetorical, phrase polishing demagogue, safe
in his study, without personal risk or official
responsibility, prostitutes his talents to the
overthrow of public freedom and the corrup-
ton of people who look up to him as pa
triot and counsellor" .
OF the authenticity of this letter there can
be no doubt. The copy before us is certified
Loundoun county.
s .s-t Copy
CAMP AT CAMBRIDGE, Aug. 29th, 1875.
Dear Sir. Your favor of the first inst, by
Mr. Randolph, came safe to hand-the mer-
it's of this young gentleman, added to your
recommendation and my own knowledge of
his character, induced me to take him into
nv family as an Aid-de-Camp, in the room
of Major Mfflin. who have appointed Quar-
termaster General from thorough persua-
sion OF his Integrity, my own experience of
his activity, and finally, because he stands
unconnected with either of these Govern
ments; or with this, that, or 'tother man; for,
| Between You and /, there is more in this
| than you can easily imagine.
| As we have now nearly completed our
| lines of defence, we have nothing more, in my
| opinion to fear from the enemy, provided We
| can keep our men TO their duty, and make
| them watchful and vigilant; but it is among
| the most difficult task ever undertook in
my life to induce these people to believe that
| there is or can be danger, till the bayonet is
| pushed at their breasts; not that it proceeds
| from any uncommon proves, but rather from
an unaccountable kind of stupidity in the
lower class of these people, which, believe
me, prevails but too generally among the
| officers of the Massa cbusetts part of the ar
nv, who are nearly of the same kidney with
the privates and adds not little to my diff
fculties as there is no such thing as getting
officers of this stamp to exert themselves In
CARRYING orders into execution. To curry
favor with the men, (bv whom they were
chosen, and on whose smiles possibly they
may think they may again rely,) seems to be
one of the principal objects of their attention.
ubmit it, therefore, to your consideration,
whether there is, or is not, propriety In
that resolution of the Congress which leaves
the ultimate appointment OF all officers below
the rank of General to the Governments
where the regiments originated. now the ar
nv is become Continental To me, it ap-
| pears improper in two points of view-first.
| it is giving that power, and weight TO an in
| diyidual Colony which ought of right to be
| long to the whole. Then it damps the spirit
/ and ardor of volunteers from all but the four
| New England Governments, as none but their
| people have the least chance OF getting into
/ office Would it not be better, therefore, to
1 have the warrants which the COMMANDMENTS
Chief is authorized to give pro tempore, ap-
| proved or disapproved by the Continental
/ Congress, or a committee of their body,
| which should suppose in any long recess
must always set? In this case, every gentle
man will stand an equal chance OF being pro-
| noted according to his merit: in the ether,
| all offices will be confined to the Inhabitants
of the four New England Governments,
| which, in my opinion, is impolitlc TO de-
| gree. / have made pretty good slam among
| such kind of officers as the Massachusetts,
Government abounds in since caIae to this
| camp having broken one Colonel and two
Captains Tor cowardly behavior in action on
Bunker's Hill, two Captains for drawing
more provisions and pay than they had men
in their company, and one for being absent
from his post when the enemy appeared there
| and burnt house just by it. Besides these,
| / have at this time one Colonel, one Major,
| one Captain and two subalterns under arrest
for trial. In short, l spare none, and yet
fear it will not all do, as these people seem
to be too inattentiVe to everything but their
! interest. -.
| / have not been unmindful of that part of
| your letter respecting Point Alderton. Be
1 fore the receipt OF it, it had become an object
of my particular inquiry; but the accounts of
its situation differ exceedingly in respect to
| the command it has of the ship channel. But
tmy knowledge of this matter would not have
| been ceninad to Inquiries only if had ever
| been in a condition, since my arrival here, to
| have taken possession of such post; but
| YOU well know, my good sir, that it becomes
the duty of an officer to consider some other
matters as well as situation, namely: what
| number of men are necessary to defend
! place; how it can be supported, and how
| furnished with ammunition.
In respect to the first, conceive our de
fence of this place, Point Alderton.) must be
| nroportioned to the attack of Gen. Cages
| whole force, leaving him just enough to man
| his lines TO Boston and Charlestown Necks.
And with regard to the second and most inn
| portant. as well as alarming object, we have
/ only lS5 barrels of powder in all, (ineluding
the late supply from Philadelphia,) which is
not sufficient to give % musket cartridges to
each man, and scarcely to serve the arlliiery
in any brisk action one single day. Under
| these circumstances, / dare say you will
| agree with me that it would not be very ELI
! pible to take a post 30 miles distant Thy
land J from this place, when we have ALREADY
! a line of communication round Boston OF at
| least 10 miles in extent to defend II, any part
| of which may be attacked without having
fif the enemy will keep their own counsel, }
| an hours previous notice of it, and that 1t
would not be prudent in me TO attempt a
measure which would necessarily bring ON a
consumption of all the ammunition we have,
thereby leaving the army at the mercy OF
the enemy, or to disperse and the country to
be ravaged and laid waste at discretion. To
| YOU. sir, may account for nay conduct; but
l. cannot declare the motives of it to every
one, Notwithstanding know, by not doing
it. that | shall stand in a very unfayorabie
light in the opinion of those who expect
much, and will find little done, without un-
Outstanding, or perhaps giving themselves