The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-11-02
(From the New York Tribune
G. E N r R A l. Il r E.
rrrKRnsrfrG nIssTSnilrioAliE R.mI.
NIsCKNCkS.
HIS LETTER Or RrsfaNAr1oN.


NIsCKNCkS.
HIS LETTER or REsfaNAr1oN.
On the goth Of April, 1861, Colonel
Leo; afteS a;sesaicsSof'tv .nty.a,s yesrs
resigned his position in the United
States army, ssnding'bi. slestet sof re.ig-
nation to General Scott, at Washington.
1t was in the folla*ing zterms,: ~, .ri
ARLINGTON, Va, April 20, 1861.
GENERAL: Sinse Hy interview With
yon;on the a8ah ipeGnt, / haves felt
that / ought not longer to retain my
commission in the army. therefore
tender my resig nation, which I Heauest
you will recommend for acceptance.
1t would have been presented; at once
but for tho struggle II has caused me to
separate myself from. service TO which
/ havo devoted all the best ears of nv
life and all theabiityI possessed.
During the whole Of that time-more
than quarter of a eentury-I have ex.
terienced nothing but Kindness from
superiors, and tho most cordial tricnd-
ship from my comrades. To no one,
General, have, been as much indebted
as to yourself for uniform kindness and
consideration, and it has always been
my arden: .aosire 10 meet your approba.
ton. IshalIseaffy to the, grave the
most greatfuf recollections Of your kind
consideration, and your name aud; fame
will always be dear'to me- % ~ T.
Save in defence Of my native State, 1
never desire again to draw my sword.
BE pleased to accept my most earnest
wishes for the continuance Of your hap
piness and prosperity, and believe me
most truly yours,
r. E. LEE.
-" A LETTER TO HIS SISTER.
To his sister, the wife of an officer
loyal to the. aag, he wrote;. s+.
"MY- DEAR. SISTER IL am grieved
at my inability to see you. X X y l
have been waiting for more convent
ept season. which has brought to many
before me the deep and lasting regret.
We arc now in state of war which will
yield to nothing. The whole SOUTH is
in state of revolution; into which Vir
ginia, after long struggle, has been
drawn; and though recognize no ne
cessity for this state of things, and
would have foreborne and pleaded to
the end for redress of grievances, real
or supposed, yet in my own person
had to meet the question whether l
should take part against my native
State. With all my devotion to the
Union, and the feeling Of loyalty and
duty of an American citizen, havo not
been able to make up my mind to raise
my hand against my relatives, my chill
dren, my home. / have, therefore, re-
signed my commission in the army and
save in defence OF my native State
with the sincere hope that my poor ser.
vices may never be needed hopo
may never be- called upon to draw my
sword"
This was the only "de6uition of his
position" ever given by him. His re.
signation was Instantly accepted, and he
at once took up his residence in Rich
mond, as commander of the forces Of
Virginia. y
(From the Philadelphia Press]
An extract from letter written by
his wife reveals the conflict in his mind
before deciding upon his course: "Ay
husband has wept tears of blood over
this terrible war; but he must, as q
man Of honor and Virainian, share the
destiny Of his State, which has solcmnly
pronounced for independence" Lee
had once in letter to his son at West
Point, counscling him his duty at all
times, given uttorance to the sentiment,
"Duty is the sublimest word in our Ian
guage."
From the Norfolk virginian.]
HIS RECEPTION IN VIRGINIA.
Having thrown up his commission he
repaired to Richmond, whore he offered
his sword to his native State, the reply
to which was his appointment as Major
General in command Of the Virginia
troops. We all remember the grand
reception awarded him by the coDvcn-
ton, aud few more solemn or august
spectacles have adorned our annals than
was presented on that memorable occa-
sion.
The venerable Mr.. Janncy received
him in speech marked by certain
antique pomp, which rose to genuine
eloquence at the end of his address, and
lent additional solemnity to the impres
siye scene.
General Lee replied with character
istic modesty and said: "Mr. President
and Gentlemen Of the Convention-Pro.
foundly impressed with tho solomnity
of the occasion, for which must say |
was, pot prepared, I accept the position
assigned me ~ your partiality. would
have much preferred had your choice
fallen upon an ablcr man. Trusting in
Almighty God, an approving conscience
and the aid of my citizens, de-
vote myselfto tho service of my ma
tive State, in whose behalf alone will l
ever again draw my sword"
In this brief response to the elabo
rate address delivered by the president
Of the convention, we soc that tho ami,
matinU nrinoinla whioh controlled Gem