Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-03-08
INTERESTING FACTS IN GEN,
LEES HISTORY.

LEES HISTORY.
The Atlanta (Ga.) Indcr brings us @
report ofan address delivered recently
in Georgia by General Pendleton, who
was Chief of Artillery under General
Lee, and since the conclusion of the
war bis pastor and intimate friend
We give some extracts:
why HE DID NOT EARLIER wITHDRAw "
FROM PETERSBURG,
has been asked. To my knowledge
he was perfectly aware long before
April, 1865, of the necessity for such
withdrawal, and had fully resolved up.
on it. Several months before, he pri.
vately expressed this to myself, as
believe he did TO Others in responsible
positions. At any rate / received from
him secret information 10 send TO a
designated point far in the rear all
surplus ammunition, and TO make ar
rangements with the artillery, as the
arm most difficult of sudden move.
ment, for marching at one hours no.
tice, his plan being rapidly TO move
back, and form, if possible, a junction
with the southern Confederate army,
that by quick and decisive combina.
tion one or the other Of the Federal
armies might be struck with eifectual
force. With this plan, however, there
was interference, which General Lee
seemed it less evil TO yield than to
disregard. It's nature may be infer.
red from significant remark made
by him to myself alone, the night of
the lst of April, 1865. Contemplating
the then thinness of his own line,
its vast extent, and the fcebleness of
his entire force, he said General, II
our cause Ialis, It's epftapn may be
written, Died of Congress and the
Newspapers The next morning
that thin line was broken by the nu.
merous masses that at length adven-
tured attack, and we had TO withdraw.
THE MAsTERLY RETREAT
then began. 1t has been asked why
even then so great n captain could not
succeed in eluding his much less
skilled adversary 7 The reply is
found in the utterly reduced state OF
his army, and all of the southern mil.
itary supplies, with the superadded
difficulties of inolement weather and
deep roads.
Amelia Court House, on the Rich
mopd and Danville railroad was duly
reached, but supplies that had been
called for, and expected there, were
not forthcoming, while large mum
Der of persons from Richmond, only Q
few of whom, however were reliable
soldiers, were added to the crowd We
had to provide for and protect.
For want of animals and forage, q
large amount OF wagons, ammunition
&C., had to be destroyed, and the besl
dispositions possible were made fol
continuing with the remainder oul
retreat. Detachments of the enemy
were by this time getting close. They
had to be kept off by portion of oul
force, while the main body and train'
moved on. Thus by day, Fighting haC
to be maintained all along, and march
ing chiefly by night.
1t will be readily understood under
what immense disadvantage this was
at every step, when the vast resources
of the Federal commander are consid
cred, the multitude of his troops, anC
the prodigious host Of cavalry, com
paratively fresh, at his disposal. Thai
General Lee succeeded as he did in sc
far foilng him, and in a considerable
degree rendering such disaster as thai
to his rear divisions at Sailors creek
between Amelia Springs and Farm
vile, is one of the most signal eviden
ccs of his matcbloss power as com
mander.
WHETHER GEN. LEES HEART WAS Is
THE SOUTHERN CAUSE
has bsen called in question by som,
interested in maligning that Cause
Let me mention an incident which
makes the truth as clear as day:
Having reached Farmvillc, Prime,
Edward county, on the morning o
Friday, April 7th, our little army
crossed the Appomattox again, gain
ing the northern bank, and destroying
the bridges. Battle order was theI
formed and the enemy approachin,
greeted with cannon in position. On
bridge below, however, had not beef
destroyed, and n corps Of the Fedora
army pressed upon us from that di
rection. Giving my personal atten
tion TO the defence there, ! met you
own gallant fellow.citizen, Gen. Johl
| B. Gordon, conducting the fight, n
he was wont, with dash and vigor. !
few words were exchanged. lie in
formed me Of a conference held som
hours before between himself. Genera
Richard Anderson, and others, j
which il was determined that myself
as one intimately associated with th
Commander.in.Chief, should be re
quested TO see him, If in nccordanc
with my views, and express to hir
our sense of the desperalcnoss Of th
; situation, and OF the moral impropr
ETY. of continuing n struggle no'
clearly hopeless--every man kille
under such circumstances being, q
wo thought, rather murdered tha
martyred. My impression being !
the main of the same general cast,
agreed to see General Longstrect firs