Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-11-22
LETTER OF GENERAL WISE.

RICHMOND. Va, Oct. s, 1867.
10 1leSSrS. E, 3. Treat d; Co., PubHskere,
654 Broa0ecoy, Ne,O York.:
GENTLEMEN Yours, dated September
18th, 1867, and poStmarked October 5th,
was received by me yesterday, and the
book entitled Lee and his Lieutenants," /"
by Il. \. Pollard, author, published by
you III New York, as "Standard Southern
Biographies of the War;" forwarded by
you '' at the request Of the author" came
to my hand to-day.
If the author meant d kindness, he don't
know what Insult and injury are if q COM
pllment, he blundered most awkwardly :;
and, If to taunt me with his travesty Of my
biography, he is simply insolcnt, and I
need only expose the motives of his Tnalig-
nifty, to account for his mendacity. When
Mr.. Pollard S book, called 1.-The lost Cause"
was republished in 1866, he wrote to me for
my approval and correction OF the parts re-
lating to myself, an2 which embraced any
important facts within my personal knowl-
edge. l read enough Of it to see that it
was replete with errors objectionable in
any one processing 50 write history and
that, III respect to my own part IN the war,
1t was tissue Of misrepresentation and
that, as to the most important facts of the
prOfessed history with which [ was con-
nected or acquainted, it was inaccurate or
grossly erroneous in every single state
ment. Its authorship bore the marks of a
reckless partlZan who was never in the rank
or file OF the army; Of a newspaper para
graphist, (never, rs he processes, editor Of
the Richmond Examiner), careless of his
own reputation as he is of that of others :;
OF q parasite OF patronage, q pander OF pre-
ludlce, and pCtler Of false praise; of q book
maker, with the purpose to make money
and spit spleen, IN the one case malignant,
and i'll both cases mischievous. I accord
ingly wrote him plain reply, quoting from
the first words Of the preface to his $ Lost
Cause"
"Ino facts OF the war of the Confeder-
ates III America have been at the mercy of
many temporary agents they have been
either cOnfounded with sensational rumOrs
or discolored by violent prejudices in this
condition they are not only not history,
but false schools OF present public oDln-
ion"
[ directly applied these, his own words,
to his own book expressed my decided
disapproval of it, anu declined the trouble
of correcting 1t, so far as [ was concerned.
This letter lie never published in the pub
lie journals, nor in his card of testimonials;
but put his 8 Lost Cause" forth as having
been "approved by the most distinguished
Confederate leaders. The consequence
of this candid disapproval OF his Lost
Cause' (and l have never seen the first
leader who does approve it, is his biOgra-
ply of myself among the Lieutenants of
Lee. He now expressly, and most Justly
excerpts me from the class Of 1.-THE most
distinguished - but his right to make the
exception, trul.. even, don't excuse his
founding just Judgment upon false state
ments from motives OF pique Or prejudice.
He has, III the language OF the preface Of
his Last Book, pretending to be biography
in which he admits authenticity" is more
difficult ethan in history"-been "detcient
IN rc-search," and has misused and abused
' his discoveries.
Of my public life and It's motives and
meaning, Mr.. Pollard has had but little
opportunity of Judging, and of my private
life he literally knows nothing ; yet he has
taken occasion of both his books, Lost and
Last, to misropresent my conduct IN the
wal, from beginning to end, aud has pub
lished his private gossip to affect my per
sonal as well as public reputation. The
motives OF the misrepresentation Of Lis
first book, Lost" may have been those
of partiality to some others with whom my
course came i'll collision but the motives
of his TRADE in his Last, upon my personal
character and private intercourse, are not
50 venial, and prove that if [ am '|ot'ljcteo
in mind," body or estate, he is more than
aiilicted-he is cursed in the very heart
and core of his moral nature.
My public course, in peace or war, he Is
incapable Of comprehending- capable only
of misrepresenting and my private life
has been SO far removed and aloOf from his
Il I'D
only to keep apart from each other. Yet
upon both he pronounces judgment which
he calls s historical !" +" All [ desire to say
is, that E. 4. Pollard's books, ''Lost and
Last" are not the history of my conduct il
the war, and are not the biography Of any
part of my life. Both are worse than fc
tion-they are false.
| Is it asked-"in what particulars 2"
answer that neither book, Lost or Last, il
worth the time or trouble it would take tc
correct them; and, if they were, have moi
! the time to spare from my daily labors fOl
| nv daily bread to undertake the task
They need so much correction that they
| are past all hope Of reform-they are sc
erroneous in substance and coloring that
should have to write q history and biOgra
phy myself, and this is not the time fo1
either, and [ have not the time ut all.
may well illustrate my point by biographl
| ical anecdote Of man whose life WIS much
worthier than mine of being written.
At large festival in Richmond, IN lo4o
in honor Of the visit of Henry Clay to the
scenes of his early youth, at dinner where
the cloth was spread for twelve hundred
guests, among the hosts assembled wa'
that eminent lawyer, scholar, jurist anC
statesman. Benjamin Watkins Leigh, one
of the purest, brightest, bravest, great and
oocd men L have ever known. After the
Cloth was removed, he, of course, was
called upon, and others, to make q speech
His voice and manner were not suited Il
the multitude. not rrandially at least, afte
"wine and wassail.' His tone was colo
ouial He could "trichIe honey" of sens
and sweetness on a high court or Senate
bat could not, like the cataract, outroar
tempest, even of applause. With CLEAN
ing eye, and locks like Olympic curls
trembling to his Jove-like nod, lifting hi
weight from his lame leg, and catching on
wrist, as was his wont, in the opposit