The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-02-03
GENERAL LEES RESIGNATION.
A New hapter I'm the Secret War History
The Letter Lee Wrote to Jefferson
Davis After Gettysburg.

, A New Chapter I'm the Secret War HistOr
i The Letter Lee Wrote to jefferson
Davis After Gettysburg.
[C. c. Jones, Jr., in scribner's for February.
Although the campaign into Penn
sylvania was not unfruitful of result
beneficial to the Southern States; al
though by the recent shock of arms an
this aggressive movement the Fed
eral advance upon Richmond had beel
materially delayed; although the Stat
of Virginia, for the time being, hat
been delivered from the waste and bur
den of hostile invasion; although Gen
eral Lee had, from perilous environ
ment, withdrawn his army, strong il
organization proud in spirit, and will
confidence mistaken, and was in full
possession of his legitimate line of de
fenSe, he could but acknowledge tina
all had not been accomplished whicl
the late advance was designed to com
pass. "This has been a sad day fOl
us, Colonel, sad day; but we cam
expect always to gain victeries," was
! his remark to Colonel Freemantle, as,
sublime in his indifference to persona
]
! hurry and confusion of the scene, the
Confederate leader encouraged his men
when, torn and worn by the battle, they
fell back before the triumphant roar OF
the Federal artillery, which swept the
whole valley and slope of Seminary
Ridge with shot and shell. As a sol
der, and as the chief captain of the
Confederate hosts, he admitted that he
had been foiled of his aim; and al
though, in his own language, if a spirit
of disappointment and discomfort eX-
listed 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 results of campaign from
which grander achievements had been
blindly expected than the troops and
the resources employed in its conduct
ought, in reason, to have justified. 1t
was not in human nature, in its most
heroic development and conscious of its
nOblest effort, to remain, under the cir
cumstances, entirely Indifferent to or
unaffected by such expression. As at
the time of Pickett's repulse he said to
Gen. Wilcox, who in sorrow reported
the almost total destruction of his bri-
gade, "Never mind, General, all this
has been my fault; it is l who have lost
this fight, and you must help me out of
it the best way You can''-so now, at
Camp Orange, with a dignity, man
hood, and a generosity the most re-
markable, denying no responsibility,
suggesting no excuses, indulging in no
cenSures, 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 penncd:
CAMP ORANGE, s August, 1868.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: Your letters Of 2S July
and s Aug. have been reed, and | have
waited for leisure hour to reply, but |
fear that will never come. am extremely
obliged to you for the attention 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. Nothing
Is wanted but that their fOrtitude should
equal their bravery, to insure 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 prevent our falling into greater disas-
tiers. Our people have only to be true and
united, to bear manfully the misfortunes in
cident 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-ful-
hllmt n of our expectations. This is unbe
coming in generous people. and | grieve
to see its expression. The general remedy
for the want of success in Il military COM
mander is his removal. This is natural,
and in many instances proper. For, no
matter what may be the ability of the officer.
if he loses the confidence Of his troops, dis
aSter must sooner or later ensue.
have been prompted by these reflections
more than once since my return from Penna.
to propose to your EXcellency the prOpricty
of selecting another commander for this
army. | have seen and heard of express
SiOns of discomfort in the public Journals at
the result of the expedition. / do not know
how far this feeling extends in the army.
My brother officers have been too kind to re-
port it, and so far the troops have been too
generous to exhibit it. It is fair, however,
to suppose that il does exist. and success j.
so necessary to us that nothing should be
riSked to secure it. l, therefore, in all sin
cerity. request your EXcellency to take meas
ures to supply my place. | do this with the
more earneStneSS because no one is more
aware than myself of my inability for the
duties Of my position. | cannot even ac-
cOmpiSb what | myself desire. How can
fulfill the expectations of others? In addi-
tion, ] Sensibly feel the growing failure of
my bodily strength. | have not vet recOv-
sred from the attack | experienced the past
spring. | am becoming more and more in
capable of eXertiOn, and am thus prevented
from making the personal examinations and
giving the personal supervision to the Oper-
ations in the field which | feel to be neces
Sary. am so duh that, in making use of
the eyes of others, am frequently misled.
Every thing, therefore, points TO the ad
yantages to be derived from a new COM
mander, and l the more anXiOUSly
urge the matter upon your EXcellency
from my belief that younger and ADLER man
than myself can readily be obtained. |
know that he will have as gallant and brave
an army as ever existed to second his ef
forts, and it would be the happiest day of
my life to see at its head n worthy leader
could perform, and all that | have wished.
! hope your EXcellency will attribute my re-
quest to the true reasOn-the desire to serve
my country, and to do all in my power to in
sure the success of her righteous cause.
/ have no complaints TO make of any one
nut mNSeI. L nave received nOIlDg nut
kindness from those above me, and the most
attention from my comrades and
in arms. To your EXcellency
am specially indebted for uniform kind
ness and consideration. You have done
every thing in Your power to aid me in the
work committed TO my charge, without
any thing TO promote the general
welfare. l pray that your efforts may at
length be crowned with success, and that
you may long live to enjoy the thanks of
grateful people.
With sentiments Of great esteem, l am
very respectfully and truly yours,
X. Z. LEE, General.
His EXcelency Jefferson Davis, President
Confederate States.
Clapping Washington on the Back.