The Dawson journal., 1884-01-24
Lee aud Grant.

between the motives that actuatec
these two men when they came tc
decide which side they would espouse
in the late war.
We have no disposition to print
disparaging things of General Grant.
He was the leader of the Union ar
mics, and was subsequently Presi-
dent Of the United States for two
terms, and as is well known, desired
to be elected for the third term. His
place in history has been fixed, aud
nothing we could say would change
it. But having followed General
Lee through his masterful campaigns,
we feel that we have sufficient knowl
edge of his character and history to
justify us in entering a protest
against the course adopted by Re
publican journals towar d the great
Southern chieftain. ...
1t seems that ex-Adjutant Gener-
al L. D. Townsend, now on the retir
ed list, las recently published book
on the war In this book he under
takes to relate an interview between
General Scott and General Lee, in
April, 1861, in the course of which
ne states that the only reason given
by Lee for taking the side of the
South, was his desire to protect the
property of his children in Virginia.
1t is hardly necessary to contra
diet this statement, since it bears up
on its face all the marks of falsehood.
Arlington. the property referred to,
is just across the Potomac from
" aShington, where the alleged inter
view took place, aud no one knew
better than Lee that the only way to
save this fine estate, was to turn his
back on Virginia and the South, and
cast his fortunes with the North. The
property, as any one must have fore
seen, was Immediately seized by Fed
es2d 8oops. and from that day to this
1t has remained in the hands of the
United States government.
No fact connected with the war is
better established than this, that Gen
eral Scott, whose affection and parti-
ality for Lee were we'll known, urged
him most earnestly to withhold his
resis nation, and to remain with the
Union and take command of its or.
mics This is history, and neither
Republican journals nor Republican
authors can change it.
General Lee was opposed to seces.
sion, as were all the great military
leaders Of the Confederacy; but
when Virginia with drew, he frankly
told Gen. Scott that, however much
he deplored her decision, he could
Fever draw his sword against his
native State. The unsheathing OF
his sword against the Union. which
he had served SO faithfully and loved
so dearly, was the mos. painful act
of his life, next to the surrender OF
thst sword at Appomattox. Genera
Scott, then an old man, who had
seen much gallant service himself
considered Lee the ablest and mosi
accomplished officer in the army
He spoke of him everywhere and al
all times in terms of unstinted praise
and parted With him with pain and
grief, if not with tears.
Our st, Louis contemporary
seems to be angered at the high esti
mate placed upon General Lee in
Europe by both military aad civil
ians. This ofitself might suggest tc
him the propriety Of staying his bit.
ter pen. Foreign writer's and Off
GERS could have no interest in over
rating Lee or disparaging Grant
They occupy the position, not of par
tisans but of impartial judges, and
their cCOl and unbiased conclusions
will be accepted by posterity, rather
than the hasty decision of heated
contemporaneons critics. The NOR
tai remains cfthe great captain sleep
peacefully in the beautiful valley of
the Shenandoah, but his fame is Sc
cure both now and hereafter. The
Blue Ridge and Allegheny noun
tains which lift their purple crests Oh
either hand, do not rest more firmly
upon their rocky foundations
The war over, Lee went quietly to
bis modest work, and took the posi-
ton of teacher. Grant retired from
the comma MI OF victorious armies
only to enter upon the greater office
of President. This office he held
eight years. And yet, with this high