The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-03-10
GENERAL LEES RESIGNATION.


A New Chapter I'm the Secret War History
The Letter Ice Wrote to Jefferson
Davis After Gettysburg.
re. C. Jones, Jr., in scribners for February.]
Although the campaign into Penn
svlyania was not unfruitful of results
beneficial to the Southern States; al
though by the recent shock of arms and
this aggressive movement the Fed
eral advance upon Richmond had been
materially delayed; although the State
of Virginia, for the time being, had
been delivered from the waste and bur-
den of hostile invasion; although Cen
eral Lee had, from perilous environ
ment, withdrawn his army, strong in
organization proud in spirit, and with
confidence mistaken, and was in full
possession of his legitimate line of de-
tense, he could but acknowledge that
all had not been accomplished which
the late advance was designed to COM
pass. ssThis has been sad day for
us, Colonel, sad day; but we can't
expect always to gain victories" was
his remark to Colonel Freemantle, as,
sublime in his indifference to personal
danger, and calm in the midst of the
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 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 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. It
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 I 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 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.
It was under such circumstances that
the following noble letter was penned:
CAMP ORANGE, August, 1868.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: Your letters Of % July
and Aug. have been reed, and I have
fear that will never come. l 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-flll-
fllment of our expectations. This is unbe-
coming in generous people, and l grieve
to see its expression. The general remedy
for the want of success in 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,
il 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 propriety
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 toe
generous to exhibit it. It is fair, however,
to suppose that it does exist, and success il
so necessary to us that nothing should be
risked to secure it. I, therefore, in all sim
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 &C.
complish what myself desire. How can
fulfil the expectations Of othersf In adtli.
~ Xix II n. a
my bodily strength. I have not yet recov.
cred from the attack experienced the pas
spring. Lam 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 dull that, in making use o.
the ewes Of others am frpuuenf1v misled