The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-24
LETTER FROM GENERAL LEE
ON THE NEGRO ENLISTMENT

AGA AGA FAON GENEKAL LEE
| ON THE NEGRO ENLISTMENT
The following letter from General Lee.
on the subject of putting negroes into
the army, clearly defines his views ON
that important subject:
HEADQUARTERS 1's
CoSFEDERArE STATES ARMIES,
February 18, 1865.
"Hon. E. Barksdale, House of Represen.
tatiues, Richmond:
Sir: l have the honor to acknov-
ledge the receipt of your letter ef the
18th instant, with reference to the em.
ployment of negroes as soldiers. 7
think the measure not only cxpedient.
but necessary. The enemy will cor.
talnly use them against us if he can Get
possession Of them and as his present
numerical superiority will enable him to
penetrate many parts of the country. /
cannot see the wisdom of the policy Of
holding them to await his arrival. when
we may, by timely action and judicious
management, use them to arrest his pro-
gress. | do not think that our white
population can supply the necessities of
long war without overtaxing its capa-
city and imposing great suffering upon
our people; and | believe we Should
provide resources for protracted strup-
gle-not merely for q battle or . cam.
paign.
TN answer to your second question.
| can only say that, in my opinion, the
negroes, under proper circumstances.
will make efficient soldiers. think we
could at least do as well with them ss
the enemy, and he attaches great impor-
tancc to their assistance. Under GOOD
officers and good instructions, do not
see why they should not become SOL
d'ers. They possess all the physical
qualifications, and their habits of obe-
dience constitute q good foundation for
discipline. They furnish q more pro-
missing material than many armies of
which We read in history, which owed
their efficiency to discipline alone.
think those who arc employed should be
freed. 1t would be neither just nor wise.
in my opinion, to require them to serve
as slaves. The best course to pursue. it
seems to me, would be to call for such
as are willing to come with the consent
Of their owners. An impressment or
draft would not be likely to bring out tho
best class, and the use Of coercion would
make the measure distasteful to them
Ind to their owners.
~ have no doubt that If Congress-
would authorize their reception into
SERVICE and empower the President 10
all upon individuals or States for such
IS they are willing to contribute, With
he condition of emancipation to all en-.
oiled, sufficient number would be
orthcoming to enable US to try the sx-
pertinent. If itproved successful, most
Il the objections to the measure would
disappear, and if individuals still re-s
NAMED unwilling to send their negroes
o the army, the force Of public opinion
n the States would soon bring about
UGH legislation as would remove oil
bstacles think the matter should be-
eft, as far as possible, to the people and
0 the States, which alone can legislate
8 the necessities of this particular ser..
ice may require. As to the mode Of
rganizing them, it should be left q FREQ
'om restraint a. possible. Experieoce
ill suggest the best course, and It would
e inexpedient to trammel the subject with
rovisions that might in the end, pro-
ont the adoption Of reforms suggested
y actual trial.
with great respect
"Your obedient servant,
"R. =. LEE, Genceal.N