Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-03-14
A lsit Of. History.
HOW GENERALS LEE AND JOHNSTON LEFT
THE U. s. ARMY-THE DOUBLE TREAcuERY
OF THE REBEL, MILITARY LEADER


now GENERALS LEE AND JOHNSTON LEFT
THE U. s. ARMY-THE DOUBLE TREAcuERY
OF THE REBEL MILITARY LEADER
Senator Simon Cameron, of PENNSYLVANIA,
made an interesting statement in the Sen.
ate, recently, in relation to the circumstan.
ces under which Generals Lee and Johnston
entered the Confederate service. 1t will I've
remembered that Mr.. Cameron was Secreta.
ry of War atthe breaking out of the rebel.
lion. In the course Ot debate he was asked
Why he did not arrest these two officers and
prevent their desertion, and in his answer
he makes the statement alluded to. Of Gen.
Johnston. who at the time of his desertioE
was Quarternaster General, he says:
General JphnstOn was, as the Senator
from Maryland says, a most valuable officer.
O'hcers of the army were resigning or run
hing away daily, almost hourly. The lar
gest portion of the men, who were consid.
cred the most valuable, had left the service.
ihe Secretary of War at that day was told
that th's gentleman was going to leave the
service because he believed that he was sus.
pected by the Administration of not being
laitiiui. He was sent for by the Secretary
OF War, who said tn him that he had entire
confidence in his ability and integrity, and
neeSed that he would not leave the service
win any wrong impression. He immeHi
a'eiy sain to me that he regretted that he
han decided to leave; that this rebellion
was wrong; that everybody engaged in il
was acting improperly and uufaithfully to
tue government, and that he never intended
10 take part against the Government, But
ne sald that he was controlled by influences
which he could not counteract that he was
compelled to resign. | believed at the time
that the Influences referred to were those of
his wite's family; but have been told since
that that was not so. At all events should
have arrested him, if had not sent for him
20 come to my room, and in some measure
get nm to commit himself to me. I have
always regretted that did send for him.
and that | did not wait until he had com.
mltted the overt act, and then arrested
him.
These facts are very interesting. But the
most important revelation was that con.
cernirg General Lee, who, as our readers
know, was General Scott's Chief. of Staff at
the time referred to:
General Lee called on gentleman who
mad my entire confidence, and intimated
that he would like to have command of the
army. He assured that gentleman, who WINS
man in the confidence nf the Admipistra
ton, of his entire loyalty and his devotion
to the interests Of the Administration and
ct the country. ] consulted with General
Scott, and General Scott approved of pla.
clng him at the head of the army. The
place was offered to him. unoffically, with
my appreciation, and with the appreciation
OF General Scott. 1t was accepted by him
verbally, with the promise that he would 90
into Virginia and settle his business, and
then come back to take command. lie
never gave MS an opportunity to arrest him
he deserted under false prctences. should
have arrested him In moment If had had
a chance at him, and have always regret.
ted that never did get that chance"
This statement shows more compietely
than was ever demonstrated before the per.
hdy OF General Lee in deserving the Union
army. 1t seems that he was under verbal
agreement To accept the active command of
the Union army, which had been verbally
rendered to him. Under these circumstan.
ces his abandonment of the Federal army
was, if possible, q double treachery. To
be sure, Mr.. Cameron had no direct inter.
view with General Lee himself, but that the
matter was one of importance, and received
much consideration from both parties, is
shown by the circumstances