The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-01-30

expressions Of discomfort in the public jour
malls at the result Of the expedition. do
army. My brother officers have been too kind
TO report it. aud so far the troops have
been too generous to exhibit it, 1t is fair,
however, to suppose that it does exist, and
success is so necessory to us that nothing
should be risked to secure 1T. L therefore, in
all sincerity, reQnest your excellency to supply
my place. do this with the more earnestness
because one il moro aware than myself OF
my inability for the duties of my position /
can not even accomplish what myself desire.
How can I fulfill the expectations of others 7
In addition, sensibly feel the growing failure
of my bodily strength. have not yet rec ov-
cred from the attack / experienced the pact
spring. am becoming moro and moro inca
| capable of exertion, and am thus prevented
| from making the personal examinations and
| giving the personal supervsions to the opera
lions in the field, which I feel to be necessary.
am SO dull that in making use Of the eyes OF
therefore, points TO the advantages to be de-
rived from new commander, and the more
apxiously urge the matter upon your excel
man than myself can readily be obtained. I
know that he will have as gallant and brave
an army ever existed to second his Efforts,
| and it would be the hsPpiest day Of my life to
would accomplish more than could perform
aud all that have wished. / hope that youF
excellency win attribute my request TO the
true reason, the desire to serve my country
and to do all in my power TO ins ure the sue
cess of her righteous cause.
E" have no complaints to make of any one
but myself. / have received nothing bat
kindness from those above me, and the mos.
| confederate attention from my comrades and
| companions in arms. To your exceilenoy,
am specially indebted for uniform kindness
| thing in your power to aid me in the work
committed to my charge, without omit
! ting anything to promote the genera! vel
| fare. I pray that your efforts may &C length
| be crowned with success. and that you may
long live to enjoy the thanks OF grateful
people.
| very respectfully and truly yours,
| R E. LEE General.
"Hs Exeslleucy Jefferson Davis, Pres dent Of th'
| Confederate States
We question whether, at the time, the fact
| that Gen. Lee had placed hia commission al
| commander in-ohief of the Army OF Northern
| Virginia in the hands of the President of ths
Confederate States, with the request that ht
Gated by Mr.. Davis to any ono save his con
fdential advisers Certain it is the knowl
edge of such an important event was current
neither in the army nor among she sOutnsrr
fore us, but we may rest assured that his
cheering words and expressions Of confidence
uttered in the name and on behalf of the ma
ton, convinced his favorite lieutenant that he
conld most ably fill the measure of public ex
pectation, and control the destines of the grand
army upon which the Confederacy leaned fol
Gl0 pEOL6CblOu OL uoE C6ptbd1s EcoiRubLlOL
was not pressed and the Confederate hero
continued to occupy the position for which
above all his companions, he was best suited
encircling with it the balo of bis pure life AND
great deeds, and rendering it illustrious fol
all time by the tried valor, the self-sacrifcs
and the devotion of his followers
This letter may well be regarded as q
truthful expression of the generosity, the
modesty, the exalted manhood, and the disin-
terested patriotism of General Lee. 1t is en-
tirely CHARACTERISTIC of him to whom the
sorrowing words of Sir Ec or for the great
Sir Lancelot have been with reverence ap.
piled:
"Thou vert head of all Christian knights
thou vert never matched for earthly
| knights hand and thou vert the courtliest
| knight that ever bare shield; and
| thou vert the kindest man that ever strake
with swords; and thou vert the goodliest per.
| son that ever came among press of knights
| and thou vert the meekesG man and gentlest
| that ever ate in hall among ladies; and thou
! vert the sternest knight to thy mortal foe
that ever put spear in rest"