The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-11-20
LETTER OF GEN. WISE.
RICHMOND, Va, Oct. 8,

hlCnMOND; IA, OCU. ., loOf'
To Messrs E. 3. Treat & Co., Publishers,
654 Broadway, New York:
Gentlemen-Y onrs, dated September "a,
1867, and post-marked October 9Th. was re-
ceived by me yesterday, and the book en-
titled Lee and his Lieutenants," by i. A..
Pollard, author, published by You in New
York, as STANDARD Southern Biographies
of the war;" forwarded by you g. at the re-
quest of the author came to my hand to-
day.
If the author meant kindness. he don't
know what insult and ipjuryar ifa com:
pliment. lie Numbered most awkwardly (;
and, if to taunt me with his travesty Of my
biography, he is simply innocent, and l
need only expose the motives of his malig-
nifty to account for his mendacity. When
Mr.. Pollard's book. called "The Lost Cause y
was republished in 1866, he wrote to me
for my approval, and correction of the parts
relating to myself, and which embraced any
important facts within my personal knowl
edge. 1 read enough Of it TO see that it
was replete with errors objectionable III
any one protesting to write history; and
that, in respect to my own part in the war
it was tissue Of Misrepresentation; and
that, rs to the most important facts Of the
professed history with which was con
nected or acquainted, it was inaccurate Of
grossly erroneous in every single state
ment. Its authorship bore the marks OF q
reckless partizan who was never in tue
rank or file of the army; OLA newspaper
paragraphist, (never, as he processes, edl
tor OF the Richmond ESaminer), careless
OF his own reputation as lie is that of 9th
er3; of ii parasite Of patronage, u pander o.
prejudice. and pntfer OF false praise; of 6
book-maker with The purpose to make
money and spit spleen, in the one cast
malignant, and i'll both cases mischieyous
accordin, ;ly wrote him u plain reply
quoting from the first words Of the preface
to his Lost Canse"
"'rhe facts Of the war of the COnfede
rates in America have been at the mere,
of many temporary agents; they have beer
either confounded with Sensational rumor
or discolored .byviolent preiudices; in thi
condition they are not only not history
but false schools ofpresent public opinion.
directly applied these, bis own words
to his own book; expressed my decide,
disapproval of it, and declined the troubl
of correcting it, SO far as was concerned
This letter be never published i'll The pnbli
Journals, nor in his card of testimonials
but put his Lost Cause" forth as havin
been approved by the most distinguishe
Confederate leaders" The consequence 9
this candid disapproval of his Los
Cause" (and l have never seen the frs
leader who does approve it) is his biogr;
ply of myself among the Lieutenants
Lee. He now expressly. aud most justl,
excerpts me from the class of the mos
!, distinguished J" but his right to make til
. exception, truly even, don't excuse h
i. founding just Judgment upon false stat
ments from motives of pique or preiudic
He has, in the language of the preface I
his last book, pretending to be q biOgraph
R in which he admits automatically" is mol
. difficult than in his history,"-been de
!. cicnt IN research" and has misused IN
!. abused his discoveries"
:. Ofmy public life and its motives al
. meaning, Mr.. Pollard has had but little o
. portunity of judging, and Of my priva
Il life he literally knows nothing; yet he b
s taken occasion Of both his books Lost al
e and Last, to misrepresent my conduct
r, the war, from beginning to end, and h
published his private gossip to affect n
e personal as well aspublic reputation. ~
e motives of the Misrepresentation of b
# first book, Lost" may have been tho
~ Of paltiality to some others with whom n
y course came in collision; but the motiv
y of his trade in his Last, upon my person
!, character and private intercourse, are n
q so venial, and prove that if / am I" a1aict
q IN mind" body or estate, be is more TIL
ID afflicted-he cursed in the very heart al
core Of his moral nature.
70 My public course, in peace or war, he
- incapable Ofcomprehendlng capable on
10 Of misrepresenting; and my private i
has been so far removed and aloof from
that we have been we'll enough acquaint
y only to keep apart from each other. !
or upon both he pronouncesa Judgment viii
se he calls historical!" All desire to s
al is, that E. A. Pollard's books, Lost AZ
i'll Last" are not the history of my condr
IN in the war; and are not the biography
any part Of my life. Both are worse tn
hction--they are false. a'g .
Is il asked in what particular v
g answer that neither book, Lost or Last,
worth che time or trouble it would take
correct them; and, if they were, l ha
IT. not the time to spare from my daily lab
le for my daily bread to undertake. the ta
They need SO much correction that tn
o. are past all hope Of reform-they are so
to roneous in substance and coloring tina
to should have to write history and biog
ply myself, and this is not the time
" either, and have not the time at all.
er With thanks for yonr courtesy as p
,;r fishers, I am, gentlemen,
- Most respectfully yours,
HENRY A. WISE
n -~..~u-..--~~~~~