Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-06-28

ernment," by Jefferson Davis, will rec
ollect that the author by suggestion and
strong intimation, holds Lee responsible
for the delay in abandoning the Confed-
crate capital and also in vague terms,
hints that that movement should have
been carried into effect at much earlier
date than it was if the life of the Con-
federacy was to be prolonged. These in
situations Of Mr.. Davis have occasioned
good deal of feeling among the friends
of General Lee.
MAHoNE's VERSION.
AS n matter of historic interest, how
ever, and for the guidance of future
writers upon the late war, HERALD
correspondent called to-day upon Gen.
Malone, who is known to be an authori-
ty on the subject, for his version of the
facts in the case. He was found
at home busily engaged in overlooking
and answering letters which had accu-
mulated during an illness of week or
more and by which he was confined to
his bed.
81 hope you are not here to interview
me-" General Malone said, "for in truth
have nothing to say"
"That is the object of my visit" said
the Herald correspondent.
"Well, declare I'm very sorry, but
what can you wish to know now? /
thought told you all l knew at the con-
venton."
General, have you have seen jeff Da-
vis's book?"
81 have not. / have curiosity to
look it over, but really have been indis-
posed and now have not the time"
'What do you think will be the elect
of it?"
"Oh, none, except to get n lot of old
fossils to knocking their heads together.
1t is doubtless the history Of the war
from Mr.. Davis's peculiar standpoint, if
you may call that history"
"General, Mr.. Davis inferentiallY
states that Gen. Lee was responsible for
holding the army in front of Richmond
SO long at the close of the war and just
prior to the evacuation of Richmond and
Petersburg and the retreat to Appomat-
toX."
81 think that is true"
"Will you please give me your rea-
sons for thinking so, General?"
"Well, it is well known that 1t had
| long been the intention of Mr.. Davis not
only to abandon Richmond and Peters
burg, but to abandon Virginia alt0geth-
er. Gen. lee opposed such a PROPOSE
| ton on very substantial grounds, not the
least of which was the one that to leave
| Virginia would be to lose the mainstay
of the COnfederacy and perhaps half of
| the army. When this notion of Mr.. Da-
Wis became known it caused considerable
feeling among Virginians in the army,
and so major general wrote to Cen.
| Lee and cmphatically stated that If such
Il movement was resolved upon he for
one would not carry man in his divis-
| ion out of the State. And the army por-
ton of Va. was not all that opposed this
plan Of Mr.. Davis. 1t became known to
Gov. Letcher, who entered an indignant
protest against it, and dclared that to
abandon Virginia and the capital of the
Confcdcracy would be to sacrifice the
cause, and lose all the moral force by
which they were held together, as woll
| as to destroy the little esprit da corps
which remained in the troops. The Vir-
ginia Legislature also opposed the move
mcnt and 1t was never br0ached again"
"rhcn 1t is your idea that General Lee
| did keep the troops in front of Richmond
| until finally compelled to retreat?"
"Yes. that is my opinion. Neither
General Lee nor any prominent Confed-
crate army officer had any sympathy
| with Mr.. Davis's idea of abandoning the
seat of government by retreat to the
mountains, and the prolongation Of the
war by a sort of running fight. Every
one felt that the fall of Richmond would
end the war. Had the Confcderates cap
turcd Washington they might have been
recognized by foreign Powers and their
independence finally established"
"ln his book, Mr.. Davis says:
Tee had never contemplated surren-
der. lie had long before, in language
similar to that employed by Washington
during the revolution, expressed to me
the belief that in the mountains of Vir-
gina he could carry Oh the war for 20
years, and in directing his march toward
Lynchburg It may be well believed that,
rs an alternative, he hoped to reach these
mountains, and, with the advantage
which the topography would give, yet
to battle the hosts which were following
him.
"What is your opinion of that state
ment?"
"The statement that Gen. Lee never
contemplated surrender Is not true. |
had conference with Gen. Lee In his
own quarters at AppomattoX Immediate
ly after the surrender, when, In discuss
ing the latter days of the C0ntcderacy,
he said TO me that some time before, dur
ing the winter, he had urged upon Mr..
Davis the desimbiity of making terms
with Gen. Cant. lie detailed to me
some of the conversations with Mr. Da-
Wis, which do not now recall. Davis,
he said, would not listen TO the PROPOSE
tlon, and insisted thrt he must fight to
the last. Gen. Lee told me that he ex-
planned to Mr.. Davis the situation Of the
two armies, the condition of his trans
portatlon and the infeiorty of his COM
mand In point of numbers TO that of
Grant, aud that when Grant attacked
him Il would be next TO impossible TO
get away, and therefore that terms had
better be made without further loss of
life or property. Grants cavalry,
his artillery horses and his trans
portatlon were In excellent con-
ditlon, aud only nine miles from his base
of supplies Lees were quite the re-
verse, and he mad no supplies to be spok-
en- of In case of n retreat. The talk be-
tween Gen. Lee and myself upon this
subject marked Itself most indolibly up
on my memory, for he cyinced so much
feeling IN reference TO Mr.. Davis rcfll-
sal to make terms that | said -
|
~ wish you had calico conference of
your officers after Davis refusal"
| "What would they have done" said
Lee.
"rhey would have taken the matter
into their own hands, said !, "and au-
thorl1ed you to deal with the matter nc
cordlng 10 your own Judgement"
General Lee thought q moment and
then said lit II too late TO remedy mis-
takes now His officers would have done
| "a