Vicksburg weekly herald., 1877-11-23

President Lincoln aAd GeR. Lee.
TIE OFFER TO GEN. LEE OF THE COM
MASD OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
Hon. \. Il. Magruder ID the 'hia. Weekly
Times
In lS6S-several years 6iIc: lne war
"A Senator in Congress had the te.
merity to make tho charg hat General
Lee had applied TO President Lincoln
for the command of the Federal army
destined 10 invade and subdue the
Southern States, and that, being refused
from pique and resentmeu he turned
and cfiered his sword in aid of the
Southern cause, and thus WAS raised 10
the chiefcommand Of the Ecbel forces.
On the instant, Mr.. Revc dy Johnson,
of Maryland, himself Union man,
denounced the Statement. as untrue, say
ing that although he hal not the au-
thority OF the accused 10 deny II, Gen.
eral Lees lofty character snd unsiained
honor alone suflicGd torepel the charge.
This furnished the occasion for General
Lee tU give, through Mr.. Johnson, not
alone the conclusive proof OF the In.
correctness Of the charge but the clear
evidence that he had himself declined,
from a stern sense OF duty and honor,
the very prclermen; which be was
falsely accused Of cove!ing. None can
tell the extraordinary story in better
terms than General Lee himself as con.
tained 10 the following modest and
characteristic letter addressed by him
at the time 10 the Hon. Reverdy John
son, who, not long before his death,
avouchGd to the contributor its entire
authenticity:
LRxINGToS, VA, Feb. %, 1865.
Hon. Reyerdy johnson, United states sen.
ate, Washington:
Ny DEAR sIR-My attention has been
called to the official report OF the debate In
the Senate Of the United States OF the 10th
inst, In which you did me the kindness TO
doubt the correctness Of the statement
made By the Hon. simon Cameron in re-.
gard to myself. | desire that you may
feel certain Of my conduct on the occasion
referred 10, so far as my individual state.
ment can make you so.
never intimated 10 any one that l de.
sired the command OF the United States
Army, nor did l ever have conversation
but with one gentleman (Mr. Francis
Preston Blair on the subject, which was
at his invitation, and, as | understood, at
the instance OF President Lincoln. Alter
listening 10 his remarks, declined the Of.
fer he made me to take command OF the
army that was to be brought into the field,
stating as candidly and courteously as
could that though opposed to secession
and deprecating war could take no part
in an invasion OF the Southern States.
went directly from the interview with
Mr., Blair to tho Office Of General Scott, and
told him OF the proposition that had been
made to me and my decision. Upon re.
lection alter returning to my home, con-
cluded that ought no longer to retain the
commission hold in the United states
Army, and on the second morning thereaf.
ter forwarded my resign tion to General
Scott.
At the time hoped that peace would
have been preserved, that some way would
have been found to save the country from
the calamities Of war, and then had nc
other Intention than 10 pass the remainder
ofmy life as private citizen. Two days
| aiterward, upon the invitation Of the Gov
ernor Of Virginia, repaired TO Richmond
! found the convention then in session had
passed the ordinance Withdrawing the
state from the Union, and accepted the
commission Of commander Df It's forces
which was rendered me.
These are the simple !ar;, Of the case
and they show tha' MI ameron has beer
! misInformed,
Your obedieut servant, Il. L. LEE,