Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-28

| Lee read over the lotter and sad that was So
| then said to the general that believed and
hoped this was the last battle of the war, and
saw the wisdom OF these men getting home
and to work as soon as possible, and that !
would give orders to allow any soldier or Off
| Ger claiming a horse and mule to take it.
| General Lee showed some emotion at this-a
| feeling which | also shared-and said IT
would have a most happy effect. The inter
view ended, and | gave orders for rationing
his troops. The next day | met Lee on horse
back, and we had long talk. In that con-
versation | urged upon Lee the wisdom of
ending the war by the surrender of the other
| armies. | asked him to use his influence
with the people of the south-an influence
that was supreme-to bring the war to the
| end. General Lee said that ms campaign
in Virginia was the last organized re-
sistance which the south was capable of
| making; that | might have to march a good
deal aud encounter isolated commands here
| and there; but there was no longer any army
| which could make stand. | told Lee thai
this fact only made his responsibility greater,
| and any further war would be a crime. | asked
him to go among the southern people and
use his influence to have all men under arms
| surrender OF. the same terms given to the
army of northern Virginia. He replied that
he could not do so without consultation with
President Davis. | was sorry. l saw that
the Confederacy had gone beyond the reach
OF President Davis. and that there was moth
ing that could be done except what Lee could
do to benefit the southern people. l was
anxious to get them home and have our
armies go to their homes and fields. But
Lee would not move without Davis, and, as
| a matter of fact, at that time or soon after,
| Davis was a fugitive IN the woods.
JEFFERSON DAVIS AND THE SOUTH.
An allusion was made to the feeling IN the
| south that Davis was an injury to the Con-
| federacy, and did not do his best. 81 never
| thought so" said the general. Davis did
| his best, did all that any man could do to
save the Confederacy. This argument is like
| some of the arguments current In history,
| that the war was war against wlndmllls,
| and that if one man or another had been in
| authority the result would have been differ
| emit; that some more placable man than Da-
! Wis could have made a better fight. This is
| not true. The war was tremendous war,
| and no one knows better than those who were
| in it. Davis did all he could and all any
| man could for the south. The south was
| beaten from the beginning. There was no
| victory possible for any government resting
| upon the platform of the Southern Confeder-
acy. Just as soon as the war united and
aroused tine young men of the north, and
called out the national feeling, there was no
| end but the end that came. Davis did all he
could for his side, and how much he did no
| one knows better than those who were IN the
| field"
sTONEwALL JACKSON.
81 had letter from Mosby," said the gen.
| tack l had made on Stonewall Jackson. |
| wrote him there must be some mistake, as |
| had never attacked Jackson.
Your correspondent asked the general how
| he ranked Jackson among soldiers. 81 knew
| Stonewall Jackson" said the general lat
West Point and in Mexico. At West Point
| he came into the school at an older age than
| the average, and began with a low grade.
| But he had so m ich courage and energy,
worked so had, and governed bis life by
discipline so stern, that he steadily worked
his way along, and rose far above others who
had more advantages. Stonewall Jackson,
at West Point, was IN state OF constant I'M
provement. He was religious man then,
| and some of US regarded him as fanatic.
Sometimes his religion took strange forms
hypochondria-fancied that an evil spirit
had taken possession of him. But he never
relaxed his studies or his christian duties. |
knew him in Mexico. Hewas always brave
and trustworthy officer, none more so IN the
army. | never knew him or encountered him
IN the rebellion. Iq1estion whether his cam
palgns in Virginia justify his reputation as a
great commander. He was killed too soon,
and before his rank allowed him great COM
mand. 1t would have been a test Of general
ship if Jackson had met Sheridan in the val
ley instead of some of the men he did meet.
From all l know of Jackson, and all l see OF
his campaigns, l have little doubt of
the result. If Jackson had attempted
on Sheridan the tactics he attempt
ed so successfully upon, others, he
would not only have been beaten, but de-
stroyed. Sudden, daring raids, under fine
general like Jackson, might do against raw
troops and inexperienced commanders, such
as we had in the beginning Of the war, but
not against drilled troops and commander
like Sheridan. The tactics for which Jackson
able results belonged entirely to the begin
ming of the war and to the peculiar condi-
lions under which the earlier battles were
fought. They would have insured destruc-
ton to any commander who tried them upon
Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Meade, or, in
fact, any of our great generals. Conse-
quently Jacksons fame as a great general
depends upon achievements gained before
his generalshlp was tested, before he had
chance of matching himself with really
great commander. ono doubt so able and
patient a man as Jackson, who worked so
hard for anything he attempted, would have
adapted himself to new conditions and risen
with them. He died before his opportunity.
| alu avs respected Jackson personally, and
esteemed his sincere and manly character.
He impressed me always as a man OF the
Cromwell stamp, a Puritan-much more of
the New Highlander than the Virginian. If
any man believed IN the rebellion he did.
And his nature was such that whatever he
believed in became deep religious duty,
duty he would discharge at any cost. 1t is
mistake to suppose that | ever had any feel
ing for StonewaIl Jackson but respect. Per-
character had 1are points Of merit, and al
though he made the mistake of fighting
against his country, if ever man did so con-
scientiously he was the man.
LEE AS A CoMMANDER.
This led to a remark as to the great and
universal fame Of Lee-especially IN Europe
"a reputation which seemed to grow every
day. Il never ranked Lee nigh as some
others of the army said the general; ''that
is to say | never had as much anxiety when
he was in my front as when Joe Johnston was
in front. Lee was good man, fair COM
mander, who had everything in his favor.
He was man who needed sunshine. He |
was supported by the unanimous voice of the
south; he was supported by large party in |
the north; he had the support and sympathy |
of the outside world. All this is of an inn
mense advantage to a general. Lee had this |
in a remarkable degree. Everything he did |
was right. He was treated like a demi-god |
Our generals had hostile press, lukewarm |
friends, and a public opinion outside. The |
cry was in the air that the north only won by
brute force; that the generalship and valor |
were with the south. This has gone into |
history, with so many other illusions that are
historical. Lee was of a slow, conservative, |
cautious nature, without Imagination or hu- |
NOR, always the same, with grave dignity !
l never could see in his achievements what |
justifes his reputation. The illusion that
nothing but heavy odds heat him will not |
stand the ultimate light of history |
[ know it is not true. The south and NORTH |
were more nearly matched than you would |
suppose. The whole population were in the |
war. The four million of negroes were the |
same as soldiers, because they did the work |
in the fields which white men would have to |
do. | believe the south had as many men |
under arms as the north. What defeated |
the southern arms was northern courage and |
skill, and this, too, with detraction all
around. You cannot imagine how disheart-
ening it was at the time, not only to officers,
but men,
THE BATTLE Oh SHILOH.
Take the battle of Shiloh, for instance"
continued the general, 1.-THE correspondents |
and papers at the time all said that Shiloh
was a surprise-that our men were killed
over their coffee, and SO on. There was no
surprise about it. except" said the general,
with a smile, perhaps to the newspaper cor
Va bol boo,, obi E.