The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-02-03
A WAR SECRET.
General Robert ~. Lees Proposed R"sir
nation Ists Letter To JcG Davis
Artcr Gettysburg.

SylNdHlu was NV uHllultIul w 'VSult
| beneficial to the southern states; al
though by the recent shock Of arms anC
this aggressive movement the fedora
advance upon Richmond had beer
materially delayed although the stat,
of Virginia, for the time being, bad beer
| delivered from the waste and burden o
hostile invasions although General lie,
| had from pcrilous environment, with
drawn his army strong in organization
proud in spirit, and with confidence un
shaken and was in full possession of hi
lcgimatc line of defense, he could moi
but acknowledge that all had not beer
accomplished which the late advance
was designed TO compass, This ha'
been Il sad day for us, colonel, a SAT
day; but we cant expect always TO gair
victories" was his remark to Colonc
Freemantle, 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 soldier, and as the chief captain of
the confederate hosts, he admitted that
he had been f0iled of his aim; and
although, in his own language, if 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 campaign from which
grandcr achievements had been hlindly
expected than the troops and resources
employed in its conduct ought, in rca-
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
Picketts repuIse he said to General
Wilcox, who in sorrow reported the
almost total destruction of his brigade
h" Never mind, general, all this has been
my 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 Or
ange, with dignity, a manhood, and Il
the most remarkable, denying
no responsibility, suggesting no excuses,
indulging in no ccnsure, 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, $ August, 1868.
MIR. PRESIDENTS: Your letters of -
July and Aug. have been received, and
| have waited for a leisure hour to re-
ply, but | fear that will never come.
am extremely obliged to you for the at
tention 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 it.
is wanted but that their forti.
,ude should equal their bravery, to in
,urc the success of our cause. We must
Expect rcvcrses, even defeats. They are
,ent to teach us wisdom and prudence,
% call forth greater energies, and TO pre-.
vent our falling into greater disasters.
DUR people have only to bc true and
United, to bear mantully the misfortune.
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-fulfillment Of our expectations
This is unbecoming in Il generous peo.
pie, and ! grievc to soc 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 refcc-
tions more than once since my return |
rom Pennsylvania to propose to your
'xceIlency the propriety Of selecting an
,ther commander for this army. ! have
zen and heard expressions of discomfort
n the expedition. do not know how
ar this feeling extends in the army. My
,rother officers have been too kind to re-
'ort it, and 50 far the troops have been
90 generous to exhibit it. 1t is fair,
however, to suppose that it does exist,
md success is 30 necessary to us that
nothing should bc riskcd to secure it. |,
therefore, in all sincerity, request your
,xcellency to take measures to supply
my place. ] do this with the more earn
,stnes. because no one is more aware |
han myself Of my inability for the
luties of my position. | cannot even
accomplish what | myself desire. How
an fulfill the cxpections of others?
In addition, sensibly feel the growing
allure Of my bodily strength. have
not yet recovered from the attack cx-
the past spring. ] am becom
ng more and more incapable of exertion,
md am thus prevented from making the
personal examinations and giving the
PERSONAL supervision to the operations in
he field which | feel to be necessary
i'm 50 dull that in making use of the
ives of Others | am frequently misled.
Everything therefore, points to the adj
'antagcs to be derived from new com
nander, and the more anxiously urge
he matter upon your excellency from
ny belief that younger and ADLER man
han myself can readily be obtained. /
inow that he will have as gallant and
rave an army as ever EXISTED to second
lis efforts, and it would he the happiest
lay of my life to see at its head worthy
eader; one that would accomplish more |
han | could perform, and all that have
Wished. ! hope your excrllency will |
Ittributc my request to the true reason,
he desire to serve my country, and to
10 all in my power to insure the success
# her righteous cause.
have no complaints to make of any
me but myself. | have received moth
ng but kindness from those above me,