Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-11-27
Lincoln and Gen. Lee.
THE OFFER TO GENERAL LEE OF THE
COMMAND OF THE FEDERAL ARMY.

THE OFFEK IT. LEE VI AAA0
COMMAND OF THE FEDERAL ARMY.
Mr.. Allen B. Magruder, of Winches-
ter, Va, contributes to the Philadelphia
Weekly Times letter from General r.
E. Lee, dated Lexington, Va, February
25, 1868, and addressed to tho Hon. Rev
erdy johnson, then a United States
Senator from Maryland. The letter is
in response to charge made in the
United States Senate by Hon. Simon
Cameron, of Pennsylvania, that General
Lee had applied to President Lincoln
for the command of the Federal army
destined to invade and subdue the
Southern States, and that, being refused,
from pique and resentment he turned
and offered his sword in aid to the
Southern cause, and thus was raised to
the chief command of the Confederate
forces. Mr.. johnson denounced the
statement as untrue, saying that altho'
he had not the authority of the accused
to deny it, General Lees lofty character
and unstainsd honor alone sufficed to
repel the charge. This ELECTED form
General Lee the following letter:
a"LEXINGToN, VA, February 20
Hon. Beverly Johnson, United, States
Senate, Washington Dear Sir My
attention has been called to the official
report of the debate in the Senate of the
United States of the 10th instant, in
which you did me the kindness to doubt
the correctness of the statement made
blythe Hon. Simon Cameron in regard
TO- myself. 1 desire that you may feel
certain of my conduct on the occasion
referred to, SO far as my individual state
Inentcan make you SO. Assn.
.,ai!I never intimated to any one that |
desired the command of the United
States army, nor did I ever have con-
rersation with but one gentlemen Mr..
Francis Preston Blair) on the subject,
which was at his invitation and, as l
understood, at the instance Of President
Lincoln q After listening to his remarks,
Edeclined the offer he made me to take
command of the army that was to be
brought into the field, stating as can
didly and .eourteously as | could that
thoagh opposed to secession and depre-
eating, war, L could take no part in an
invasion of the Southern States.
sa.RW6uC ulTGcCiy lIoui IHe lHCoIVIoW
with Mr.. Blair to the office of General
Scott, and told him of the proposition
that had, been made to me and my de-
eision.s! Upon,reaection, after returning
to my home, concluded that ought
no longer to- retain the commission I
hold in the United States army, and on
thessecond morning thereafter I for
warded nay resignation to General Scott.
Atthe time. l. hoped.that peace would
llawes been preserved: that some way
would have been found to save the coun-
try from the calamities of war, and then
had no other intention than to pass the
remainder of my life asi "a private citi-
zen. Two days afferWard, upon the in
vitation Of the Governor of Virginia, I
repaired to Richmond, found the con-
vention then in session. had passed the
ordinance withdrawing the State from
the Union, and accepted the commission
Of command Ter of its forces, which was
rendered me. ef' = ~ T. y .,,TT, st it..
sSsThes4 are hesimpfe facts Of the case,
and they show that Mr. Cameron has
been nifsiAforined.'' YOUR Obedient ser
want, - = = .sT.'- r, E. LEE.u