The Sunday herald., 1886-12-05

salient points can he selected Tor mention. IL may
he as well to come at once to the chief stumbling
block to Northern appreciation OF Lee. Why did he
resign from the Army OF the United States and take
the leadership of that OF the Confedcracy, to which,
Gen. Scott said, he was wei! worth lfy thousand
men? The question is not urged about others
who did the same, but In the case of Lee we have
against himself, as 1t were, his remarkable words,
quoted In chapter OF this book
"There are few, believe. in this enlightened age
who will not acknowledge that slavery as an ins,-
tuition is moral and political evil 1t is idle 10 eX
pattate on is disadvantages. think 1t is greater
evil to the white than to the colorcd race
The above written IN 1856. In January, lsJl
he wrote to his son:
"But can anticipate no greater calamity for the
country than the dissolution Of the Union. II woud
be an accumulation of all the evils complain Of.
and am willing tn sacrifice everything hut honor for
its preservation Secession Is nothing but rev.
ouion. The trainers OF onr Constitution never ex-
hausted 30 much labor, wisdom, and fOrbecrance In
Its formation. and surrounded 1t with SO many
guards ad securities, f II was Intended to he broken
by every member of the cOnfederacy at WILL"
It is dinlcut to explain to the Northern mind how
man who held these sentiments not 'sinnipg
against light when he accepted the lead of gigan-
tic revolt against tho Union and to preserve slavery
1t seems at best like one Of the insouble problems
of casuistry. Why did Calvin burn servctus? Why
did Marcus Aurelius persecute the Christians?
Why did other men whom we want to think good
and great commit certain acts that 1t seems to us
they must have known were wrong?
In the case of Lee a partial answer may be sug-
gested or attempted. To n Northern man, his STATE
Is little than his native shire is to an English
man. He feels local pride In H. but this is swa-
lowed up IN a greater pride of nationality. To
virginian OF the Old school, Virginia was like
Scotland to Scotchman. fathcrland in itself, how
ever united to other lands by political ties. As law
yers translate into their dry formulc the feelings of
the heart, the Northern man held Federal allegiance
paramount to State allegiance, tho Nirglnian the
with their long history and their manorial estates,
had become rooted in the soil, and existence sepa
rated from Virginia, viewing 1t as alien territory, or
even warning upon IL, was to them unthinkahle.
Thus at the parting of the ways in 1851, Gen. Lee
first resigned from the Army which he saw must
march upon the South, then accepted the command
OF the Virginia militia "to defend the State from n-
vas!on," ana when Virginia made common cause
with the COnfederacy he was logically led to enter
that service also. This illustrates, by the way,
the fairness OF Mr.. Blaine, at page 3O2 of the FIRST
volume OF "Twcnty Years of Congress-" when he
says:
| "Gen. Lee resigned hls commission in the Army
| OF the Union ami assumed command Of Confederate
[sicl troops long before Virginia TSicl had voted
| upon the ordinance of secession lie gave the In
hueDce OF his eminent name TO the schemes of those
who by every agency, .tus ant netdS, were deter
mined to hurl Virginia into secession"
1t Twill he observed that in the first of these sen
tences State militia are converted into Confederate
| The ordinance had been passed by n convention,
| hut was to be submitted to II vote OF the people,
IL s considered unproltahe but 1t Is often fasci-
mating TO speculate how history would have read
had certain critical events turned otherwise. Thus
1t is often suggested that had Lee remained In the
Army lie would have succeeded Scott as its COM
mander; that with his influence. knowledge, and
military genius thrown against the South instead OF
| in Its favor, the war would have been much sooner
| finished; AMI his next step would have been to the
Presidency of the reunted:country 1t Is doubtful
| II this glowing picture could ever have been more
| than imaginary. Supposng the initial difficulties
| OF giving Lee the command snrmounied, he would
| have had to conduct n war of attack and conquest
instead OF defense on interior lines; his cautions,
| Fabian tactics and his humane disposition would
have caused discomfort, perhaps even suspicion OF
| his loyalty; he would have been exposed to the
| malignant jealousy Of Stanton and of the Radical
politicians; and at the most his career would prob
| ably have been that of Gen. Thomas, tolerated,
| overslaughed, and barely saved from ignomlny 1t
must be remembered that at first Gen. Lee lost his
| prestige even among his own people by his cam
pagn In western Virginia, where he was la illed by
| Rosecrans and was banished to "nspect coast de-
lenses" In Georgia and elsewhere, until the emergen-
cies OF the recalled him to the front. While he
sacrificed almost everything else, It would seem that
he gained In fame by embracing the "Iost Cause "
In fact, though II seems at first paradox, 1t might
even be argued that his accepting the command OF
the Confederate forces was of benefit to the Union
Those who read these pages will see to what high
plane he elevated the conduct the In the Held
and would doubt have elevated all other branches
OF the Confederate movement had his power been
supreme. who can tell how many rash and despe
rate guerilla schemes he dscOuntenanced, or how
far he prevented the struggle becoming one OF mu
tua determination, like the early Carlist wars In
Spain? lie secured recognition of the most ciy
lized code OF war, and forbade reprsas In the
i
| How many spurious military regulations he pune
tured on the Northern side, that might have afflicted
the country even now! When the war was over
the South had to admit that II nad been fairly fought
| out, and Gen. Lee gave an example OF returning un
rcservedy to his first allegiance, which Gen. Grant
promptly recognized as being OF the utmost value to
| the whole country.
The contributions 10 the professional or strategic
history OF the war would require separate review.
Among the best are Gen. Lees own letters, which
the compiler naively remarks shave the singular
feature OF understatng as rule, the extent OF the
Confederate successes"
1t is wholly pleasure to turn from battles and
bl0odshed to the personal character OF Gen. Lee, at
revealed In letters and Incidents. While less sub
lime than that OF Washington, (with whom he would
have been the last 10 wish 10 be cOnparcd) this
makes II the more human and therefore entirely
! charming. since the impertinent cancellations o
Sparks have been restored, II Is known that there
was well.spring of hum0r underlying the ouel
granite OF WasliiDgon's nature. In Lee this WAS q
bubbng fountain, that often sparkled Into light, sC
that In his domestic circle he was known as
"teasc" Conversely, he had his Hts of ill-humol
like ordinary men, instead OF Washingtons few
outbursts OF volcanic wrath, hut he always atone,
for them when they We're unjust.
There is such an abundance OF illustration OF thes,
traits that IT Is embarrassing TO have to select. Tn,
injustice OF anlSing an antique Army Joke abou
"headquarters upon Lee, aud calling II his only one
Is amply shown. Tue following extract from let
ter TO his wife illustrates his humor and the kindi
ness that 10 apt to go with that tempe erament
"'This morning the whole country IL covered viii
mantle OF snow fully a foot deep.
Our enemies have their troubles too. They are yer!
strong Immediately IN front, but have withdraw
their troops above and below back toward Ac
qula Creek. l owe Mr.. ". =. Fighting Joe {?
Hooker no thanks for Keeping me mere. lie ought
to have made up his mndlo long ago what 10 do.
: The cars have arrived, and brought me u youni
French Oicer full OF viyaoiiy, aud ardent for ser
| vice with me. | think the appearance OF thing
wllcool lm II they do not, the night Will, FOR III
| brought no blankeiH.'"
son one OCCASION demijohn was observed to h
carried Into his tent, which excited In the inds q
those who behed II visions Of good wine or brandy
About II O'Clock he walked out OF lis tent, and wit
twinkle In his eye remarked, "fernaps YOU gen
tlelnen would IKE gldaA OF somethinR2" All as
seniing he directed Byran, the steward OF the mess
to carry the denliOhn TO the ine.s-tcnt and arrang
! cups for the gentlemen. lho General ordered til
pontment OF the expcctants aud lee'a entOymcu
may he better maglned than described when the con
tents proved to he bntiermils."
This spirit survived In the goomiest days of isO'
Gen. Long wIltes
"The event In question, OF which Gen. Wise wa
the hero, took place on the morning preceding IN
| surrender. The General had made his morning al
lutlons In mud-hoe In the road Towels We're