Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-09-15
Gen. Robert E. Lee

Greeley, has opened its artillery upon General
Lee, but the Enquirer and Examiner has eff
fectually spiked its guns. The latter journal
well says that 'if there be one man on all this
teeming earth who can well afford to smile at
the viifcation of Horace Greeley or any of his
friends, that man is Robert E. Lee. He has
committed his name and deeds to the serene
judgment of history, and he anticipates in the
love of millions and the respect of ALL whose |
respect is compliment, the assured verdict of
the future. But the Tribune ventures upon
specific arraignment of Gen. Lee, which it is as
well to answer just here. 1t says:
'Ifwe believed in constructive treason, or adj
mitted the popular doctrine that rebellion should
be punished by hangings we should take Gen
eral Lee as conspicuous example. Ut all the
rebels, civil and military, he was perhaps the
most gifted, the most dangerous, and the most
wanton. As a soldier he carried the confidence
of his chief to the camp of rebellion, and aided
in swaying Virginia into the war, without cause
or provocation. Men rebelled from fanaticism,
ignorance, devotion toyslavery. General Lee
was rebel from ambition
The charges and insinuations of this para
graph are numerous The chief are:
l. That General Lee deceived Geenral Scott
q That he swayed Virginia into the war
3. That he was moved to his course by am
bition.
In every single repect these charges are
fagrantly false, and the editor of the Tribune
| must have known them to be false. We say he
| must have known them to be false, because the
testimony to their falsehood is on record in Mr.
| Greeley's library, and has been so recently
spread before the public that no grown man,
living the life of newspaper editor, could pos
sibly be ignorant of it. Mr.. Greeley knoacs that
General Lee, so far from swaying Virginia out
of the Union, was resolutely opposed to seces-
sion. Mr.. Greeley knows that he never spoke
word or wrote line to man or woman advis-
ing this mode of redressing the existing and
menaced wrongs of his State. Mr. Greeley
further knows that, even when the ordinance of
secession was passed in Virginia on the 18th of
April, 1861, the position which Colonel Lee
would take was matter of quite as grave doubt
as that which Scott would assume.
This charge, as well as that of deceiving Gen
eral Scott, cannot be no more concusively an
swered, however, than in General Lees own
words. We append his letter to General Scott
conveying his resignation, as well as an extract
from letter to his sister, written at the same
time: ga ~.
ARLINGTON, Va, April 20, 1861.
General-Since my interview with you on the
| 18th instant, | have felt that ought not long
| er to retain my commission in the army. [,
therefore, tender my resignation, which [ re
quest you will recommend for acceptance. 1t
would have been presented at once, but for the
struggle it has cost me to separate myself from
service to which [ have devoted all the best
years Of my life and the ability I possessed
Save in defence of my native State, I never
desire to draw my sword Be pleased to accept,
&c, &c. '1'f r. d. LEE
The words italicised above are explained by
the circumstance that Colonel Lee learned of
the ordinance Of secession on the 18th, the day
of his interview with Scott. The following ex
tract from letter to his sister not only refutes
the calumnies of the Tribune, but sets forth in
beautiful language the difficulties of the position
which, as a conscientious soldier, Lee was called
on to meet, and also exhibits the clear-eyed view
| of duty which constrained his course
ARLINGTON Va, April 20, 1861.
Mv dear sister The whole South
is in a state Of revolution, into which Virginia.
AFTER long struggle, mas been drawn, and
though [ recognize no necessity for this state of
things, and would have forborne and pleaded
to the end for redress Of grievances real or
supposed, yet in my own person | had to meet
the question whether [ should take part against
my native State. With all my devotion to the
Union and the feeling and duty of an American
citizen, | have not been able to make up my
mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my
children my home. [ have, therefore resigned,
my commission in the army, and save in de-
fence of my native State, with the sincere hope
that my poor services may never be needed, [
| hope [ may never be called on to draw my
sword. r.s..
know you will blame me. but you must
| think as kindly Of me as you can, and believe
| that [ have endeavored to do what [ thought
right. To show you the feeling and struggle it
has cost me, [ send copy of my letter to Cen
eral Scott, which accompanied my resignation.
YOur devoted brother