Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-01-15
Gen. Early's Book.

the avidity with which lG Will pc read, In
duces us to publish the following extract:
PREFACE.
Under solemn sense of duty to my un-
happy country, aud to the brave soldiers who
fought under NO, as well A. to n.;2aaitf n.;2aait, iie fol-
lowing pages have been written.
When the question of practical secession
from the United States arose, as citizen of
the State of Virginia, and member of the
Convention called by the authority of. the
Legislature of that State, opposed secession
with all the ability possessed, with the hope
that the horrors of civil war might be avert-
ed, and that returning sense Of duty and
justice on the part of the masses Of the
Northern States would induce them to re-
spcct the rights of the people of the South.
While some Northern politicians and editors,
who subsequently, took rank among the most
unscrupulous and vindictive of our enemies,
and now hold me to be traitor and rebel,
were openly and scdulously justifying and en-
couragng secession, [ was laboring honestly
and earnestly to preserve the Union.
AS member of the Virginia Convention,
voted against the ordinance of secession on
its passage by that body, with the hope that,
even then, the collision of arms might b9
avoided, and some satisfactory adjustment ar
rived at. The adoption of that ordinance
wrung from me bitter tears of grief; but l at
once recognized my duty to abide the decis-
ion of my native State, and to. defend her
soil against invasion. Any scruplcs which l
may have entertained as to the right of Sc
cession, were soon dispelled by the mad,
wicked, unconstitutional measures of the au-
thorities at Washington, and the trenZied olG-
NOR of the people of the North for war upon
their former brethren of the South. 1 then,
a IL cd hralN | IN
coin, his counsellors and supporters, as the
real traitors who had o7eEthrown the consti-
tuition and government of the United States,
and established in lieu thereof an odious des-
potism; and this opinion | entered on the
journal of the Convention when signed the
ordinance of secession. recognized the
right Of resistance and revolution as exercised
by our fathers in l776, and, without cavil as
to the name by which it was called, [ entered
the military service Of my State, willingly,
cheerfplly, and zealously.
When the State of Virginia became one
of the Confederate States, and her troops
were turned over to the Confederate Govern
ment | embraced the cause of the whole Con-
federacy with equal ardor, and continued in
the service, with the determination to devote
all the energy and talent possessed to the
common defence. 1 fought through the en-
tire war, without once regretting the course
l had pursued, with an abiding faith in the
justice of our cause; and never saw the mo-
ment when 1 would have been willing 10 con-
sent to any compromise or settlement short of
the absolute independence of my country.
1t was my fortune to participate in most of
the great military operations in which the
army in Virginia was engaged, both before
and aftcL General Lee assumed the command.
In ho lDEt of. 10
L commanded, at different times, a division
and two corps of General Lees army in the
campaign from the Rupidan to James river,
aud subsequently, separate force which
marched into Maryland, threatened Washing
ton city, and then went through an cventful
campaign in the Valley of Virginia. No de-
tailed reports of the operations of these diff
fereut commands were made before the close
of the war, and the campaign in Maryland and
the Valley Of Virginia has been the subject
Of much comment and misapprehension.
have now written narrative of the operations
of all my commands during the closing year
of the war, and lay it before the world as
contribution to the history of our great strug-
gle for independence. In giving that nara
tive have mado such statements of the DO.
sitions and strength of the opposing forces in
Virginia, and such reference to their general
reader to understand it; but do not pretend
10 detail the operations of other commanders
I have not found it necessary to be guilty
OF the injustice of attempting to pull down
the reputation of any of my fellow icers, in
order to build up my own. NV operations
and my campaign stand on their own merits
whatever they may be. Nor, in anything |
may have found it necessary to say in regard
to the conduct Of my troops, do wish to be
understood as, in any way, decrying the SOL
dicrs who constituted the rank and file of nv
commands. l believe that the world has
never produced body OF men superior in
courage, patriotism aud endurance, to the
private soldiers of the Confederate armies
have repeatedly seen those soldiers submit,
with chCerfulness. to privations and hardships
which would appear to be almost incredible
and tho wild cheers of our brave men, (Which
were SO different from the studied hurrahs of
the Yankees when their thin lines sent back
opposing hosts of Federal troops. staggering,
ree!ing, and flying, have often thrilled every
fibre in my heart. have seen, with my own
eyes, ragged, barefooted and hungry Confed>
crate soldiers perform deeds. which, if per-
formed IN days of yore by mailed warriors in
gFittering armor, would have inspired the
harp of the minstrel and the pen of the poet
do not aspire to the character of his
torian, but, having been witness of and par
ticiPator in great events, have given state
ment of what saw and did, for the use Of
the future historian. Without breaking the
thread of my narrative as it proceeds, have
given, in notes, comments on some of the err
rors and inconsistencies committed by the
Commander of the Federal army, General
Grant, and the Federal Secretary of War,
Mr.. Stanton, in their reports made since the
close OF the war; also some instances of cruel
ty and barbarfty committed by the Federal
commanders which were brought to INV inn
mediate attention, as well as some other mat
tiers of interest.