The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-30
The Truth of History.
FREEsTONE. VA, April %, Is


Eirors Valley Firginim:
Sr,.-I notice IN two of the journals Of
ID, sSd instant, for the first time. extracts
from the Historical Magazine for June,
$50. memoir Of General William Malone,
bg General j. Waits De Peyster-to wit {:
"I,ferson DAVIS was so much impress scd
with Mahone'> discipline that this, in con-
necion With his previously acknowledged
reputation a. a civil engineer, induced him
n s,sign Malone 10 The supreme command
q Fort Darling
lam aware of the fact, and have publish
"a conversations OF General Lee with me,
slowing that Mr.. Jefferson Davis did not
.lye up the command OF the armies OF the
Confederate States TO General Lee 10 do a.
h Lee pleased until after be Davis was
l0.ifed that the Federals bad come over
General Lees lines at Petersburg in 1865.
B., question the correctness Of the above
tx,rscl. ! do know that General Lee was
10 courteous towards those below him in
NIX 10 allow the one above him to be so void
q courtesy to him (Leel as to detail COM
lllders for the many little earth forts
slong bis line OF battle, as Fort Darling"
,gch forts, 20 called, were generally COM
handed by officers OF the rank OF lieutenant
colonel or major, mostly Of the latter rank
commanding battery.
nave repeatedly spoken, in private and
public, complimentary Of General Malone
= brigade commander, aud that when his
brigade was under the command OF General
LOns.irCet there was not better disciplined
% better managed brigade in the command.
In admitting that. it was all could say in
hls favor a. commanding officer OF bri-
gade in the Confederate army.
Another eXtract-tO wit: When the
game was NJ Lee called in council Long
street, 30 greatly trusted, and Malone, no
is, worthy Of trust, if not more so-cer-
uny wiser il not better tigbter-to ask
What could be done. Malone advised sur
render"
Ibis eXtTac. is as perfectly absurd as il is
erroneous. AN very sure General Malone
Us not in the presence of General K. L.
Let from The time | reported 10 Lee, by Or
~ Of General Longsireet, that General
Gordon could not hold his position against
General Sheridan, until after Generals Lee
Al Grant had agreed upon terms aud the
coalition, were signed.
Twas not General Lees custom to con-
'u'i with any who did not report directly TO
There Wa no question in my mind then,
loi has there been since. At the dawn OF
,le day Of the surrender, when General
LEE took the sword that the ladies'
Richmond presented to him out OF The
.a'e i0I The frst time, and which buttoned
zoe strap. on. and which he buckled around
lin over a yellow sash | had presented 10
DID, hi. mind was settled upon surrender
.a2 10 General Grant that day without the
- 81 another life OF limb, II he could 90
upon conditions suitable TO his mind for
.Le general welfare OF the conservative
stment Of his army; Otherwise 10
ee with them in an effort TO cut
.lI0ugh and continue 10 fight until
" should get for them what he consld-
yea bis braves were entitled TO. And
.lereioTe contend that General Grant act
"a 81, wisely when he granted TO General Lee
az ne asked. To have denied bin would
na'e cVst ihe blood Of his (Gran's) braves,
"Dsu lhtIe was no sense in II. 1t cannot
&c forgotten thai Lees men were preparing
lol action during the temporary armisllce.
tne tben chef Of staff General Forsyth
"eDeral sheridan knows, and which | |
Hopped. upon my own responsibility, by |
shng the order 10 General Field by order !
"a oeheIsi Lopgstreet, whom ! had report |
@lo IS BIS ,LoDgstieet') adjurant and in
.ifelOr-genersl.
proclaim here publicly. as though my |
~! were lashed 10 the stake TO speak the |
es1 iof history, that my knowledge OF
S'lefai X. L. Lee was such as to justify |
n, ~ u certifying that so far from bis DISPOSE
@ sa 10 be biased by any ones opinion be |
~ "ol consult when not in trouble, he was |
49, 49, disposed when In trouble, as at Apo |
."Vx, to snub those he had heretofore |
s s.neo 10 and act upon his own judgment, |
~ 4S &c was diclaied by bis sense Of duty to |
- Vod and 10 his fellow-men.
john w. FAIRFAX.