Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-21
Letter from lieutenant General JuDal 4. Ear

Letter from Lieutenant General Jubal 4. Early.
The Mexican Times, a copy Of which, dated Janu-
airy both, has reached Us, contains the letter from
General Early that appeared, some two months ago,
in the New York NerS, giving an account OF his
military operations in the summer and fall OF 1854
and his estimate Of numbers on both sides. The
letter is furnished to the Times by General Early
who has reached the city OF Mexico, and who says,
in a uote to the editor dated January 10:
The main object of this communication is to
show the very great disprOpOrtiOn between the forces
OF the Confederate States and those Of the United
states in the late war. l have not undertaken TO
point out the errors Of statement, in regard TO bat
ties and operations in the field, committed by Mr..
Stanton and General Grant in their reports, when
are numerOus-because to do so would require too
much space for a communication to q newspaper.
have confined myself to facts in regard To the
strength of the Confederate armies which came With
in my own knowledge but a correct idea OF the
superiority in numbers Of the Federal forces every
where NAV he formed, when il is seen by Mr.. stan,
toms report that there were called into the United
States service, from the loyal States alone,
2656,553 men during the war, and II IA recOhected
that the white population of all the southern states
including ssOuri, Kentucky, Maryland and Della
ware-amounted to only S,0OO,OOO: 50 that the num-
Der of men called into the service Of the United
states amounted TO one third as many as all the
white men. women, and children OF the Southern
states. provided all the lalleI Adu tulpLdOtu te
cause of the COnfederacy.
In the overwhelming odds in men and resources
which the United States had against us, are to be
found s~uficiet reasons for the failure Of our cause,
without looking for others; aud no man with =
proper sense Of ~prOpriety can read, without feelings
OF uumitigated disgust, the abuse which a few wrI-
tiers in the southern States, who contributed moth
ing 10 the success Of the cause themselves, have at
tempted TO heap on President Davis,
A feeling Of selfrespect, If nothing else, should
restrain every Southern man from uttering aught oil
reproach against our leader under his present mis-
fortunes, and the generous everywhere can but re-
spect the prisoner of Fortress Monroe.
In A ride from the State Of Virginia through the
STATES Of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
I Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas, did not
ind A solitary good man or woman who did not eX-
press the deepest sympathy and prOfOundest respect
for Mr.. Davis, and il may be assumed as certain
that. wherever any pretended Confederate, at home
or abroad, il found denOuncing him. that man has
either done nothing for the cause himself, or has
beeu a positive injury TO it.
President Davis, during the long and severe strug
/ se which he sustained by the energy and integrity
Of his character, may have errors Of judg'
ment As to men and measures-not 10 have done SO
would have required him to be more than human
but when the history Of that struggle is fairly and
truly written, all men will be compelled 10 yield
HIM credit for the purest and lOftiest patriotism.
Al present he IS suffering obloquy and imprison'
ment for the cause Of his countrymen, and he i:
entitled TO, aud receives the sympathics Of all the
good and true among them.
Respectfully. J. A EARLY.