The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-06-11
Scales on Davis
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK. !

The attack was not made and the en-
tire army, so far as ] am advised, al the
time endorsed General Lees action.
: After the enemy had retired from our
font and sheltered themselves at the
river an attack on our part would have
renewed the fight Of the 18th with the
positions OF the two armies reversed,
and the chances greatly in favor of the
Federals. General Jackson. as shown
by the above mentioned order. deter
mined on the evening of the 18th to
make a forward movement, and TO make
il at late hour, so that if it failed he
should be able under cover OF the night
TO withdraw his troops. This move
ment was attempted on a part Of his
line, and was placed in charge Of Gen
eral Early; but as Jackson says himself
III his report, the first gun had hardly
moved forward from the woods hun
dred yards, when the enemy's artillery
reopened and SO completely swept our
front as to satisfy me that the proposed
movement should be abandoned
| This should settle, and forever, the
question as to Jackson's opinion and
action in regard to attacking and push
ing the enemy into the river. =
States at Fredericks burg were as fol-
lows:
North Carolina had 30 regiments;
! lost killed and wounded. l,521
Georgia had % regiments, l batt-
cry. legion, killed and wounded ! 900
| Virginia had % reg, ! battery,
! legion, lost killed and wounded. 365
Mississippi had reg, | battery,
legion, lost killed and wounded, 65
Alabama had batteries. legion,
| lost killed and wounded 20
South Carolina had ii reg, | bat
terry, rifles, killed and wounded 53I
Tennessee had reg, battery. |
rifles, lost killed and wounded 154
Louisiana had 10 reg, battery,
rifles, lost killed and wounded, -
Texas had reg, battery, l
rifles, lost killed and wounded, 6
Florida had 2 reg, | battery
rifles, lost killed and wounded, As
REHABILITATION
North Carolina lost 1,52l out of 80
regiments.
Georgia lost ,O69 out of 2S regiments,
l bat; legion.
All others lost 1913 out of co regi-
! lncnlS. L TlllcS.
With such victories as Fredercks-
burg, with those that preceded and
those that followed, and so many of
them, it would seem that our success
should have been assured we failed.
The President of the late Confederacy
has been much censured and an effort
made to throw portion of the respon-
sibilty of the failure on him. | seek
not to intame the bitterness. of the past :;
/ | enter into no personal contests |
know no man, and seek only to vindi-
cate the truth Of history as understand
it. That Mr. Davis had his faults none
will deny; that he made mistakes all
will cOncede. Who is so perfect as to
be exempt from human fallibility !?
But that he was justly responsible in
any part for our failure, or that his ad-
ministration by any act of commission
or omission on his part hastened the
catastrophe, will not, in my judgment,
be sustained by the facts. He brought
to the cause Of the Confederacy very
high order Of ability, an indomitable
will, a sincere purpose, and an intense
patriotism. The success of the cause
was the great end of his administration,
and to this he sacredly gave his talents,
his strength and power. Could per-
sonal sacrifices have promoted it, he
would have spurned the costs. Could
death itself have accomplished it, he
would at any time have gladly welcom-
ed it. He may safely leave his vindica
ton to the impartial historian. Had
his cause been successful he would have
ranked with the first patriots and the
best statesmen of the world. / watch
ed him during the war; when the adj
versities and misfortunes of our cause
were rested upon his head; l saw his
! patience and heroism though reviled
and prosecuted he answered not again,
preferring unjust censure to a vindica-
ton at the expense OF the harmony of
\ the country. | saw him as he stood BY
4 the cause. until all else had forsaken il :;
| heard the ISLANDERS uttered by his enc
mics in his capture; l saw him in case
mate No. 2 at Fortress Monroe, when
arrested for treason. and it was declared
in all the passion and fanaticism of the
hour, that treason must be made odous;
| saw him torn lnhumanly from wife
and child and denied even the privilege
of correspondence / saw him, when TO
heap indigulty upon cruelty. they out
ragged the civilization of the times by
putting him i'll chains, though SO en-
fsebled by age and disease as to make
his escape impossible; heard his cry
of pain and indignation when, iu the
name of national humanity and nation
al honor, he protested against the wick
ed outrage; felt the sympathy of his
surgeon as he witnessed the CRYING
shame and disgrace, and heard him say
ing: that it was a trial more severe
than had been inflicted in modern times
upon one who had enjoyed such emil
nence.' He was but the vicarious suf-
ferer for the people he loved and had so
faithfully served.
l have seen him since. an unpardoned
rebel. without the privileges of the
humblest citizen, in a land he had IL
lustriously served as a statesman and
heroically defended as a soldier with his
blood. In all this there was no mani
festation of weakness, no retraction OF
principle, no surrender of manhood.
Eighteen years of disability aud lsola-
ton have passed. He is now an old
man, and stands upon the verge of the
grave, and will die as he has lived, a pa
triot and hero. Grand old man. Gran.
der still in the disabilities and isolation,
which environ you in the land YOU love
twenty millions of hearts to-day invoke
upon you and yours heavens richest
blessings, and generations yet unborn
will lie taught to cherish thy memory
No, we were overwhelmed by num-
!, bers. The contest degenerated into a
war of friction and waste. They could
lose two to one and yet be greatly su
perior to US in numbers. The immi
grants from the Old World. in countless
numbers, were rushed to the front to
supply the places made vacant by
Wounds. deSertiOn and death.