The daily gazette., 1876-01-22
SECOND EDITION,
GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE.
An important Letter Tending his Re-
stgnatfOn TO President Davis.

An important Letter Icndthg mis- tte-
signatiOD TO President Davis.
Scribner's Magazine for February
contains what purports to be "a piece
of secret history" written by South
ern man in which letter of General
X. +. Lee is given, never heretofore
published, tending his resignation as
commander of the Confederate armies
after the bastle OF Gettysburg. A note
by the editor Of Scribner accompanies
the letter, in which he says:
"Wepublish the foregoing piece of
secret history in the language of Sec
tioLal friendliness in which it reaches
us. 1t will show, at least, how truly
and earnestly one side regards as q
pure patriot him whom the other side
looks upon with condemnation, aud
will hardly fail to win sympathetic
consideration for feelings and motives
which opponents arc too apt to ig--
nore." III ..a
The following is General Lees let
ter:--.
CAMP ORANGE, August 8, 1868. -
Mr.. President: Your letters of 2Sth
July and Cd August have been receiv-
ed, and I have waited for leisure
hour to reply, but i feel that will never
come. / am extremely obliged to you
for the attention given to the wants Of
this army and the efforts made to sup
ply them. Our absenters are return
ing, and / hope the earnest and beaai
tiful appeal made to the country In
your proclamation may stir up the
whole people, and that they may sec
their duty and perform 1t. Nothing il
wanted but that their fortitude should
equal their bravery to insure the sue
cess of our cause. We must expect
reverses, even defeats. They are sent
to teach us wisdom and prudence, tC
call forth greater energies, and to pre-
vent our falling into greater disasters
Our people have only to be true ant
united, to bear manfully the misfor
tunes incident to war, and all will
come right in the end.
81 know how prone we are to cen
sure, and how ready to blame other
for the nonfulfillment of our expecta
tions. This is unbecoming in gener
Gus people, and ] grieve to see its eS
pression. The general remedy for tn
want of success in military commal
der is his removal. This is natural
and in many instances proper. For
no matter what my be the ability o
the officer, if he loses the contidenc
of his troops, disaster must sooner o
later ensue.
have been prompted by these r.
Elections more than once since my retIr
from Pennsylvania to propose to you
i Iarnallannu thu ~ NT unlont N
another commander for this army.
have seen and heard of expressions (
discomfort in the public journals at I'll
result of the expedition. do not kno
how far this feeling extends in the arm
My brother -officers have been too kind [
, report it, and 30 far the troops have bee
too generous to exhibit it. 1t is fai
: however, to suppose that it does exis
and success Ia so necessary to us thi
. nothing should be risked to secure it.
"I therefore, in all sincerity, reque
lyour excellency to take measures to su
ply my place. | do this with the mo
, earnestness because no one is more ava
= = than myself of my inability for the d
: ties Of my position. ] cannot even a
: complish what myself desire. How CT
i / fulfill the expectations of othersP
r addition, aensibly feel the growing ia
ure OF my bodily strength. | have n
yet recovered from the attack j expel
e enced the past spring. l am becomil
more and more incapable of eIertion, a.
h am thus prevented from making the pr
: sonal examinations and giving the pc
Q sonal supervision to the operations
the field which feel to be necessary.
: am 80 dull that in making use OF t
eyes of others | am frequently misled
- Everything therefore points to the q
G vantages to be derived from a new co
d mander, and l the more anxiously ur
j. the matter upon your eYcellency from |
belief that O. younger and ADLER man tn
myself can readily be obtained. | kn,
that he will have as gallant and bra
=; an army as ever existed to second his
- forts, and it would be the happiest d
= of my life to see at,its head a wort
,; leader; one that would accomplish III,
10 than could perform, and all that hf
r. wished. j hope your eIcellency will
n tribute my request to the true reas
II. the desire to serve my country, and TO
Id all in my power to insure the success
al her righteous cause.
81 have no complaints TO make Of q
40 one but myself. have received moth
Id but kindness from those above me, &
e. the most considerate attention from
nc comrades and companions in arms.
ie ,t, your excellency am specially indeb
~ for uniform kindness and considerati
Vs You have done everything in your pt
re-, er to aid me in the work committee
ng my charge, without emitting anyth
re to promote the general welfare. I p
oy that your efforts may at length be cro'
nd ed with success and that you may l.
il live to enjoy the thanks of a grat1
m people.
with sentimenJs OF great esteeI
en- am very respectfully and truly yours
r. j.. LEE, Genera