The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-02-08
VOL. VII
Int erestins Facts in General Lees His
tory

IGc Atlanta (Ga. lndcX brinEa us
report Of an address delivered recent
ly i, Georgia by General rendlcton,
who was Chief of Artillery under
General Lcc, and since the conclusion
Of the war his pastor and intimate
friend. We give some extracts
WHY HE DID NOT EARLIER WITHDRAW
FROM rETERsDuRG
has been asked 7 TO. my knowledge
ho was perfectly aware, long before
April, 1865, Of the necessity for such
Withdrawal, and had fully re,olvcj
upon It. Several months before he
privately expressed this to myselt, as
] believe he did to other, in respon.
sible Positions. At any rate, | rccciv-
cd from him scc.ct Instructions to
tenl 10 designated point far in the
rear all aurp(u, ammunition, and 10
na.,c a,ra, gnmcnts yi: h the urtiliory
..s tue arn, mast dfff,ult Of sndden
moyrm ut, fur m ,rch,ng at one hours
n,.ioc. lIi4 rl.n being rapidly to
more hacH N form; it fDsaib'e, a
j,i,nti,n ~, Ii the Southern Cunfcde-
I,s. army, ,h>t hy qnitk AMI decisive
c':n'ina;,o,', one pr the othsr Of the
N,d,s armies nght be ri fpck with
IN ctnal toe. Wi,t: tli. plan, how
cvc,, there Taa tcrlrienc'; " hicl
Gem ! i.s d .ciiIcl i, less evil to
,i>lN - cham t. di,reg-r1. lis n,tu
>nHr lie inferred f.rn Significant re.
mark made by l,:,n to myself sI me.
the night cf The lst of April, 1865
Eontcmrla ing the then thinncss of
his own line, its vast extent and the
feehlcnes, Of his entire fires, he
sid, "Hc ,cral, if our c.u$a fails, it,
epitnph maJ hc writtca, Died of
Cong css and the Newspapers" The
next morning that thin line was
broken hy the umm.rrns mas es that
ut luuyth a'ivsni uvSa stt>cH, and we
had to wi,hd ,Mw.
THE MAsTERi9 HEfnEAt
tlcn began. 1t ha, Leen asked why
evon then 81 great captain could not
>mnctea il "!"Hiug HI muoii less skill.
ful adversary The reply il fund
in the utterly reduced state OF his
Army, and Of all S,uthc.n military
supplies, Hith tie suEc'sddcd diff
oulties Of inclcmoul woa,her aud deep
roads.
Amelia COURT House, on the Rich
mond aud Danv,lIc Railroad, wAs
duly reached but supplies ths, had
been called for, and were cE, rctcd
there, were not Forthcoming, while
farge number Of f.rsnns fr6m .l'ch.
m"nd, only u few Of whom howeece,
were reliable soldiers, were added to
the crowd we had to provide for aud
protect.
For want of amir alb and forage a
large amount Of wagons, ammuniti N,
So, had to be destroyed, and the best
dispositions possible were made for
continuing with tbs rcm 4indcr our re.
treat. Detachments of the encmy
were by this time getting close.
They had to be kept off With a portion
of our force, while the main body
and trains moved on. Thus by day,
fighting had to be maintained all
along, and marching, chiefly by
hight.
1t will be readily understood under
what immense disadvantages this wac,
at every step, accomplished, when the
Vast resources Of the Federal com.
mandcr are considerered, the multi
tdde Of Ills troop>, and the prodi,gious
hcst of cavalry, comparatively freah,
at his disposal. That Gen. lee SUD.
cceded as he did Ia so far fvi1 ing hint,
and in a considerable degree render
7ng such disaster as that to his rear
divisions at Sailors Creek, between
Amelia Springs and Farmvillo, is one
Of the most signal evidences Of his
matchless poser as Commander.
WHETHER GEN. LEK's HEART WAS IN
THE sGUTHERN CAUSE.
Has been called 10 question by some
intercsted in maliguing that cause
Let mo meGtion MI incident which
thnko, III, truth ctearsas day.
Having reached Farmville, in
Prince T. lw.'d county, on the morning
Of Friday. April . h, our lit,learmy,
crossed tho App,m'tox again, gaining
EhesS.northcrn bsnk, and" destroy ing
the bridges. Battle order was then
formed aud the enemy appr, aching
greeted with cannon in position. Ono
bridge below, however, had not been
destroyed, apd corps Of the Federal
army pressed upon us from that direc-
tion. Giving my personal attention
to the defence thore, I met your own
gallant fellow.oitizens,, General John
B. Gordon, conducting the fight, as
was his want, with dash and vigor.
A few words were exchanged. He in.
formed mo ola conference held some
houys between himself, General Rioh-
ard Anderson and others, in which It
was determined that myself, as one in-
timately associated with, the oomman-
der-in-ohief, should be requested ia
SEQ him, if in accordance with my
views, and express to him our sense
ofthe dssperatansas Of. this situet;on