The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1876-02-03
A WAR SECRET.

II " 1AAA 6LNAlGA -
General Robert r. Lees Proposed RcsIg-
naGiOR-IEIs Letter to JeH Davis
After Gettysburg.
Charles c. Jones in Soribner for February
Although the campaign into Penn
sylvania was not unfruitful of results
beneficial to the southern states; al
though by the recent shock of arms and
this aggressive movement the federal
advance upon Richmond had been
materially delayed; although the state
of Virginia, for the time being, had been
delivered from the waste and burden of
hostile invasions although General Lee
had, from peTilous environment, with
drawn his army strong in organization,
proud in spirit, and with confidence un-
shaken, and was in full possession of his
legimate line of defense, he could not
but acknowledge that all had not been
accomplished which the late advance
was designed to compass. This has
been a sad day for us, colonel, sad
day; but we can't expect always to gain
victories" was his remark to Colonel
Frecmantle, as, sublime in his indif-
ference to personal danger, and calm in
the midst of the hurry and confusion of
the scene, the confederate leader encOur-
aged his men when, torn and worn by
the battle, they fell back before the tri
umphant roar of the federal artillery
which swept the whole valley and slope
of Seminary Ridge with shot and shell.
As a soldier, and as the chief captain of
the confederate hosts, he admitted that
he had been foiled of his aim; and
although, in his own language, if a spirit
Of disappointment and discomfort existed
In his army, his brother officers had been
too kind to report it, and his troops too
generous to exhibit it, the tone of the
public press and the sentiment of the
country indicated dissatisfaction with
the result of a campaign from which
grauder achievements had been blindly
expected than the troops and resources
employed in its conduct ought, in Tea-
son. to have justified. 1t was not in
human nature, and its most heroic de-
velopment and conscious of its nOblest
effort, to remain under the circumstances
entirely Indifferent to or unaffected by
such expressions As at the time of
Pickett's Tepulse he said to General
Wilcox, who in sorrow reported the
almost total destruction of his brigade:
% Never mind, general, all this has been
nv fault it is | who have lost the fight,
and you must help me out of it the best
way you can so now, at Camp On
ange, with a dignity, manhood, and
generosity the most remarkable, denying
no responsibility, suggesting no excuses,
indulging in no Censure, he shielded
others by taking upon himself alone the
soul depressing burden of the general
misfortune.
1t was under such circumstances that
the following noble letter was Penned
CAMP ORANGE, s August, 1863.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: Your letters of Is
July and 2 Aug. have been received, and
/ have waited for a leisure hour to re-
plv, but | fear that will never come. /
am extremely obliged to you for the at
tentiOP given to the wants of this army,
and the efforts made TO supply them.
Our absentees are returning, and / hope
the earnest and beautiful appeal made to
the country in your proclamation may
stir up the whole people, and that they
may see their duty and perform 1t.
Nothing is wanted but that their fOrti-
tude should equal their bravery, to in
sure the success of our cause. We must
expect reverses, even defeats. They are
sent to teach us wisdom and prudence,
to call forth greater energies, and to pre-
vent our falling into greater disasters.
Our people have only to be true and
united, to bear manfully the misfOrtunes
incidental to war, and all will come right
in the end.
/ know how prone we are to censUre,
and how ready to blame others for the
non-fulfiIlment of our expectations
This is unbecoming in a generous peO-
pie, and / grieve to see its expression.
The general remedy for the want of sue
cess in a military commander is his re-
moval This is natural, and in many
instances proper. For, no matter what
may be the activity Of the officer, if he
loses the confidence of his troops, disas-
ter must sooner or later ensue.
have been prompted by these Teflec-
tions more than once since my return
from Pennsylvania to propose to your
exceIlency the propriety of selecting an
other commander fer this army. ] have
seen and heard expressions of discomfort
in the expedition. / do not know how
far this feeling extends in the army. Ny
brother officers have been too kind to re-
port it, and 50 far the troops have been
too generous to exhibit it. 1t is fair,
however, to suppose that it does exist,
and success Is 50 necessary to as that
nothing should be risked to secure it. I,
buElNiDtCg III eiAA HtAAJEAAIF 4Ctf tAEHb gOul
excellenCy to take measures to supply
my place. / do this with the more earn
estness because no one Is more aware
than myself Of my inability for the
duties of my position. / cannot ever
accomplish what l myself desire. How
can ] fulfill the expectiOns of others
In addition, sensibly feel the growing
failure Of my bodily strength. / hay,
| not yet recovered from the attack ] ex
peTienced the past spring. / am becom
ing more and more incapable of exertiOn
and am thus prevented from making th'
| personal examinations and swing tn
| personal supervision to the operations II
/ the field which / feel to be necessary
am 50 dull that IN making use of tn
I eyes of others / am frequently misled
/ Everything, therefore, points to the al
| vantages to be derived from a new com
/ mander, and the more anxiOusly uTg
/ the matter upon your excellenCy from
/ my belief that a younger and ADLER maj
than myself can readily be obtained.
4 know that ne viii have as gallant ant
/ brave an army as ever existed 10 secOn'
his efforts, and IL would be the happies
/ day Of my life TO see at its head worth.
| leader; one that would accomplish NOR