Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-10-28
THE LATE GENERAL LEE.
His Desire for a True History OF the War
What He Thought OF Mr. Davis,
From the Kew York World.

MESQUITE 10 ABSTAIN IN these 1IiuStfa--
tions from any reference to the living,
| some that are very precious have been laid
aside with the chance that he who pens
these notes may be among the departed
before the writer's whose words he cherish
es should be called away. But as this lit
tie essay has been in progress, knell from
| distance tells me that in one case the
| reason for reserve has ceased. The great
soldier of Amortization such history,
when our miserable chickering's are forgot
| ten, will pronounce him the Christian
gentleman, the knightly leader of chivalry
not less glorious because unfortunate; the
man whom in his grave all mourn and
honor except custom-house officials and
treasury lackeys and their master-Robert
E. Lee of Virginia is dead, and, as these
lines are written, is going to his grave by
the side of Jackson at Lexington. His
autographs lie before me-their penman-
ship graceful and delicate, almost like a
woman's, and his words those of modesty
and simple truth
AS early as the 10th of Noven Der, 1865,
he writes to friend:
concur with you entirely rs to the i'm
portance of true history of the war; and
| it is my purpose, unless prevented, to write
that Of the campaigns in Virginia. With
this view L have been engaged since the
cessation of hostilities in endeavorirg to
procure the necessary official information.
All my records, reports, returns, &C., with
the headquarters of the army were need
lessly destroyed by the clerks having them
in charge on the RETREAT from Petersburg,
and such as had been forwarded to the
War Department in Richmond were either
destroyed in its conhagration or captured
at the South in the attempt to save them,
1 desire to obtain some vouchers in sup
port Of my recollection, or [ should have
made some progress in the narrative. l
have not even my letter or order books to
which to refer, I have thought it posi-.
BILE that some of my official correspond
ence, which would be of value to me,
might be found among the captured records
in Washington, and that General Grant,
who possesses m2gLanimity as we'll as a5il-
ty, might cause me to be furnished with
copies. I have, however, hesitated to ap-
proach him on the subject, as it Is one in
which he would naturally feel no interest.
On the Goth December, 1866, he writes
and this is given in justice to the living:
Ii you see Mr.. Davis, [ beg that yoG
will present to him my warmest regards
and, if you can find fit words to express it,
my deep interest in his welfare. You say
rightly that nothing can be done by his
friends for his relief, and that adds to tho
bitterness OF my distress, for feel that any
attempt only serves to arouse afresh the
slumbering ire of his opponents. We
must, therefore, be hopeful, but patient.
AS late as the 1ltlI OF June, 1869, he
says:
feel more strongly than can describe
the Importance of a true history of the
events of the war between the Northern
and Southern States, and had resolved to
prepare a narrative Of the military occur
renee in Virginia. 1 have not changed my
purpose. but at first til ,ught The time was
unpropitious. The passions of neither
section had sufficiently cooled to hear the
truth, the only thing [ cared tn relate. l
do not think that time has arrived yet, but
it is approaching. [ have been collecting
facts, but am at a loss Ia consequence OF
my records, pap rs, sc, having been de
stroyed, and have been 50 situated 70
be incapable of supplying them. Still
am doing something. and hope to succeed
These were almost his last words, and
they speak as a legacy to the South to
complete an unfulflled duty, which re-
conciled people will have a right to de-
mand. AS for him, though it may be that
His triumphs viii be sung
BY some unmOulded tongue,
Far in Summers that we shall not aee.'
the duty of surviving cotemp oraries is to
prepare the record for the failure. And
who can better do this Work. illuminate
this holy scroll, than the accomplished
scholar and brave soldier who, l see,
helped to bear the pail of Lee, and in
whose veins flows the blood Of the great
General who fell at Shiloh ?