Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-01-02
A Scran of History.

The Virginia Division of the Asso.
citation Of the Army of Northern Vir.
ginia had its annual banquet here to.
day, Gen. J. A. Early presiiliug, on
which occasion Gen. Fitzhugh Lee,
nephew Of Gen. r. E. Lee, delivered
the annual address, his subject being
"Chancellorsxille." The address was
very lengthy. What makes it imppr.
tant is the fact that the speaker gave
the first and until now oily published
account of the last interview between
Lee and Jackson before the latter was
killed. After reviewing the battle,
and claiming that Hooker had l33, 76s
available men, while the Confederates
had only So ,303, he gave an account OF
the last meeting between Lee and
Jackson. Tie only person now living
who beard this conversation between
the two Confederate leaders is C3l.
Marshall, Of Baltimore, and he told it
to Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. who combats
entirely the position taken by North
ern and Southern military writers
upon this subject. o. g u.
Gen. Lee said: "Ah, what an
earnest talk Lee and jackson had on
the night of May l. At sunset they
took their seats on log on the north
side of the plank road, and little. dis,
tance in the woods. Col. Marshall, the
we'll known aide.de-camp Of Gen. Lee,
was the only other person present, hav-
ing been ordered to come to the spot
for the purpose Of writing a letter to
Mr.. Davis, to be dictated by Gen! Lee.
Marshall sat on the end of fallen tree,
within three feet of the two Generals,
and heard every word that passed be-
tween them, aud this lis what he otehs
me Lee and Jackson talked about On
that eventful night. jackson spoke to
Gen. Lee about what lie had seen and
heard during, the 7 advance; commenced
enemy had appeared to abandon his
movement toward fredericksburg,
when opposed / and tiss, lease with which
he had been driven back to Chancel-
lorsville, and concluded by expressing
the'Hopinion very decidedly, and re-
peating it more than once. that the
enemy would recross the Rappahan-
mock before morning. 9h4 ~ ''''.' ..
"He said in substance, by Ito. NOR
row morning there will not be any of
them this side of the river Gen. Lee
expressed the hope that Gen. Jackson g
expectations might be realized, bat said
he did not look for such result; that
he did rot believe the enemy wonld
abandon his attempt so easily, and'ex
pressed his conviction that the main
body of Gen. Hookers army was in
his front, and that the real move was to
be made from this direction, and not
from fredericksburg, On this point
there was O. great difference of opinion
among our higher officers, and Gen.
Lee was the only one who seemed to
have the absolute conviction that the
real movement of the Federal army
was the one he was then meeting. In
this belief he never wavered from the
first. After telling Gen. Jackson that
he hoped his opinion might be proven
to be correct, (ien. Lee added, But,
General, we must get ready to attack
the enemy if we should fnd him here
tomorrow, and you must make all ar
rangements to move around his right
flank Gen. Lee then took up the map
and pointed out to Jackson the general
direction of his route by the Furnace
aud Brook roads. ls .4lt
"Some conversation took place as to
the importance of endeavoriug to con-
ceal the movement from the enemy,
and as to the existence Of roads further
to the enemy's right, by which Jackson
might pass so as not to be exposed to
observation or attack. The general
line of Jackson's route was pointed
out, and the necessity of celebrity and
secresy was enjoined upon him. The
conversation was. a lengthy one, and at
the conclusion of it Gen. Lee said to
Jackson that before he moved in the
morning, ii he should have any doubt
as to whether the enemy was still in
position he could send a couple of guns
to spot close by and open fire on the
enemy's position, which would speedily
settle the question. From the spot re-.
ferred to two of our guns had to be
withdrawn that afternoon, as the in
fantry were suffering from the fire they
were drawing from the enemy. Gen.
Jackson then withdrew, and Gen. Lee
| dictated to Col. Marshall long letter
to President Davis, giving him fully
| Cue situutIOus Iu IL no ACShCtSOu AO
would not have the assistance of
Pickett's and Hoods divisions, but ex-
pressed his confidence in the good
! Judgment that had withdrawn and
kept them from him, and closed with
the hope that, notwithstanding all our
dangers and disadvantages, Providence
would bless the efforts which he was
sure his brave army wonld make to de-
serve success All this is given in de.
tail, to show the errors writer's upon
Charlottesville have fallen into in re-
spect to the origin Of Jackson's famous
flank movement. In a little pine
thicket, close by this conference, Gen.
Lee and staff bivouacked that night
During the evening reports reached
him from Early thatah was quiet along
the Rappahannock. Wilcox was or
dered back to Banks Ford in conse-
qxetce Of other rumors. Lees orders
had been issued; his plans digested;
his trusty lieutenants we're to carry
them out; the Chieftain slept. Hooker
at Charlottesville, one and half
miles away, was, however, awake, for at
1855 on the morning of the "a OF May
| bo d;cpatcho1 tn Rnfker fiat.f To order