Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1883-09-21
Eelerf Reahing.
GEMS. SCOTT AND LEE.
Lee Regarded by Scott as the Greatest
Soldier of His Time.

The current bi-monthly number of
the Southern Historical Society Pa.
per contains a contribution from its
editor, the Rev. DR.. j. William Jones,
on the friendship of Gen. Winfield
Scott and Gen. Robert Z. Lee. This
article presents some documents OF
historical value, which relate not only
to its immediate subject, but to collat.
eral questions of still more general i'm.
portance. 1t throws light for an ex.
ample, on the question whether Lee
at the beginning of Mr.. Liucoln's ad-
ministratlon, was really approached
with an offer of the field command of
the Uni,ed States armies, and it con
tains additional testimony to this sol.
dier's hesitation to draw his sword
against the Union.
The intimate acquaintance of Scott
and Lee tegan during the Mexican
war, when the latter served as an en-
gineer officer upon the staff of tie
eommander-in-ch An unpnblish-
ed and confidential letter from Capt.
Lee to his brother, Sidney Smith Lee,
of the navy, dated at the city Of Mexi-
co, March 4, 1S4S, from which DR..
Jones has been allowed TO quote, shows
the staff officers appreciation of bis
chief:
"The great cause Of our success was
in our leader. 1t was his stout heart
that cast us on the shore OF Vera Cruz
his bold self.relianee that forced us
through the pass of Cerro Gordo; his
indomitable courage that, amid all the
doubts and difficulties that surround
ed us ut Puebla, pressed us forward TO
this capital, and finally brought US
within its gates, while others, who
croaked all the way from Brazos, ad-
vised delay at PueLla, finding them
selves ut last, contrary to their expec-
tations. comfortably quartered within
the city, find fault with the way they
came there"
During the early days Of 1861 We
find Col. Lee stationed with bis regi.
ment, the Second Cavalry, in Texas,
whenee ne wrote, on the I'd Of Janu-
ary, to member Of his family as fol-
lows:
II can anticipate no greater cslam-
it,. fer the country than q dissolution
of the onion. II would be an accum-
ulation Of all the evils ~e complain of,
and am willing to sacrifice everything
but honor for its preservation. >
lf the Union is dissolved and the gov
ernment disrupted. ] shall return TO
my native State and share the mise
ries Of NY people, and, save in defense,
will draw my sword on none"
Three We. Ks later he received orders
TO report at Washington. where he ar
rived three DAYS before the ipaugura
ton of President Lincoln. BY tine
middle of April Lee was forced 10 de-
eide whether he wonld continue in the
service Of the gov'rnment or resign
his commission. General Scott, Gays
DIR. Jones, used all his powers Of per-
ussion 10 induce Lee TO adhere TO
the Union, and, at last, "Francis Pres
ton Blair (at Gen. Scott's suggestion
was sent By Mr.. Lincoln to offer him
the supreme command OF the United
States armies in the field" This as
sertion has been questioned, and dur
ing famous debate in the United
States Senate on the 10 Of February,
1868, il was charged that the fact Was
exactly the reverse, and that Lee had
himself sought in vain to obtain the
chief command of the army, ard, be-
ing disappointed, had then "gone to
Richmond and joined the Confede-
rates" DIR. Jones, however bases his
version of the case not only on "the
positive testimony of Montgomery
Blair. who got it from his father, ard
of Reverdy johnson and other gentle
men, ho received it from Gen. Scott, y
but on letter which he himself found
in Lees private letter-book soon
after the laiter's death, and which he
was permitted to copy. 1t was ad-
dressed to Senator johnson, and con-
tanned the following passages:
81 never intimated to any one that
| desired the command Of the United
States army, nor did | ever have a
conversation with but one gentleman,
Mr.. Francis Preston Blair, on the sub.
ject. which was ut his invitation, and,
as / understood, at the instance of
President Lincoln.
"After listening to his remarks
declined the offer he made to ME to
take command of the army that was TO
be brought into the field, stating as
candidly and as courteously as could
that, though opposed to secession and
deprecating war, could take no par,
in an invasion of the Southern States.
Il went directly from the interview
with Mr.. Blair to the , flee of Gen.
Scott, told him of the proposition tha,
had been made 10 me, and my decis.
ion.
Upon reflection, after returning
to my home | concluded that | ought
no longer to retain any commission
| held in the United States Army, and
on the second morning thereafter
forwarded my resignation to Gen
Scott.
"At the time l hoped that peace
would have been preserved, that some
way would have been found to save
the country from the calamitios oi
war, and then had no other inten.
tion than to pass the remainder Of my
days as a private citizen.
DR.. Jones describes the interview
here referred to between Scott and
Lee as q Every affecting one," the old
er officer begging the younger "not tc
throw away such brilliant prospects, .
and thus "make the great mistake ol
his life" Lees letter of resignation
has long been a familiar historical
| document and need NOT anain ha aif