The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-02-06
REPLY OF PRESIDENT DAVIS TO GEN.
LEE.

Last Sunday we published the noble
letter of General Lee, written after the
battle of Gettysburg, suggesting that the
command of the army of Northern Vir-
ginia be placed in ADLER hands than his.
To- day we give President Davis answer,
Published for the frat time in the Mobile
Cycle of last Sunday. 1t is as follows:
"RIcHMoND VA AUGUST IL. 1858.
"Geu. r. f. Lee Commanding Army of Northern
Virginia:
"Yours of the 9th inst. has just been
received. I am glad that you concur 80 en-
tirely with me- to the wants of our
country in khis trying hour, and am HAPPY
to add that, after the fret depression conse-
quent upon onr disasters in the west, indi-
cations have appeared that our people will
exhibit that Tnrtitude which We agree in
in believing is'slone needfull to secure ulti-
mate success
at well became Sidney Johnston, when
ovorwhelmed by a eenseless clamnr, to
admit the rule that success is the test of
merit, and yet there hos been nothing
which l have foand to require greater
effort of patience than to bear the criticisms
of the ignorant. who pronounce everything
a failure which does not equal their Sxpec-
tatlons or desires, and eau 500 no good re-
suit which Is not in the line of their own
ilaaginings. l admit the the propriety of
your conclusions, that officer who loses
| the confidence of his troops should have his
position changed. whatever may be his
ability, but when read the sentence, was
not at all prepared for the application you
were about to make. Expressions of dis
content III the public Journals furnish but
| evidence of the sentiment of an army.
wish it we're otherwise, even though all the
abuse of myself should be accepted as the
results of honest observation.
Were you capable of STOPPING to it, you
could easily surround yourself with those
who would fefll the press with your
laudations, and seek to exalt you for what
you had done, rather than detrAc from the
achievements which will make you and
your army the subject of history and the OBJ
ject of the worlds admiration for genera
lions to come.
az am truly sorry to know that you still
feel the effects of the illness you suffered
last spring, and can readily understand the
| embarraesments you experience in using
the eyes of others, having been so much
| accustomed to make your own reconnois-
sances, Pratice will, however, do much to
! relieve that embarrassment, and the mlu-
ute knowledge of the country which you
| had acquired, will render you less Deepen
| dent for Typographical Information.
bat suppose, my dear TREND, that
| were to admit, with all their implications,
the points which you present, where am
sess the greater ability which you believe
to he requiredR l do not doubt the readi.
ness with which you would give way to one
who could accomplish all that you have
wished, and You will do me the justice to
believe that, if Providence should kindly
| offer such n person for our use, would not
hesitate to avail myself of his services.
my sight is not sufficiently penetrating
to discover such hidden merit, If it exists,
and Ihave but used TO you the language of
sober earnestness, when have impressed
upon you the prOpriety of avoiding all I'M
necessary exposure to danger, because l
felt our country could not boar to lose you.
/ To AJAX me to substitute you by some one
ip my judgment more fit to command, or
who would possess more of the confidence
of the army, or of rejecting men in the
country is to demand an impossibility.
at only remains for me to hope that you
will take ali possible care of Yourself that
your health and strength may be entirely
restored, and that the Lord will preserve
you for the important duties devolved upon
you in the struggle of our suffering country
for the independence which we have Gu
gagged iii war to maintain"
AS ever, very respectfully and truly,
| (Signed) JEFF'N DAVIS.