The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-23
EX.PRESIDENT JEFF DAVIS
ON THE SURRENDER OF GEN
JOE JOHNST0N'S ARMY.
A Very Severe Criticism Upon the
Event That Sealed the Doom
OF the South.

New Orleans dispatch to the st.
Louis Globe Democrat: In little while
a tall, slender, erect, white-bearded
and silVer-haired man came in. de
was dressed in black, and wore
broad brim OFT black hat. He walked
with a cane, but did not lean on it.
There was no appearance OF decay Or
senility. After the visitor had eX.
planned his business, and the host and
guest were seated comfortably by the
fire, which the damp sea air rendered
agreeable, Mr.. Davis said:
"The1e remains 1t lie to be said
about the war, except in the way OF
verifying facts and narrating details.
Az TO the letters published in the
Globe. Democrat, they were private mat
ter and of no public interest" They
/ ad been piliered from his wiie's bag
'gsge. lie did L OF undertake TO read
the papers attributed TO members OF
his Cabinet, as they were too vo.umi-
nous, but he would do so at his leisure.
"The only thing" he said, "that
was CT particular importance in coz
sideriDg the last days of the Conied-
eracy was the surrender of Gen. j. h.
Johnston's army. Gen. Lee had sur
rendered when it was impossible Tor
him to do anything else. His amy,
reduced to a handful by constant
fighting sgsinst superior force, YVES
destitute of supplies, aud found itself
not only surrounded, but with a for
midable force interpreted between it
and it's own line of retreat-the Vir-
ginia mountains. In the face Of over
whelming numbers, with o means
of maintaining his position and with
retreat cut eff, Gen. Les had sue
cumbed to the inevitable. Some per-
sons, with probably desire to pay a
weak tribute to Lees kind heart or t.
rob Grant of his claims of magnanim-
ity in the matter OF the surrender,
have said that Gen. Lee had only
surrendered to stop the effnsion OF
blood.
sToN's,
This is not true. Gen. Lee was toe
thoroughly q man CT profound con-
yictions aad devotion to principle to
allow any sentiment to interfere with
! him in the performance OF his duties
! He had no weaknesses where his plain
duty was concerned. He surrendered
to overwhelming force and insur
mountabl5 difficulties. In Grants
treatment Of his prisoners, let him
have al the credit that can tlcA tt
him. The surrender Of Johnston wai
a different affair. Johuston's Line Of
retreat, AZ chosen by himself through
South Carolina, was open and had sup
plies placed upon it at various points
He had large force, of which over SO,
600 were paroled st Greensboro, N. @
We had ether forces in the field, anC
we certainly were in a position Il
make serious resistance. This was al
the more important, as such abiGt.
would have been CT service in securing
better terms in bringing the war to al
end.
at might have been possible t
have made some arrangements tina
would have secured the politics
rights Of the States and their immur
ity from the terrible calamities ths
sfterward fell upon them. Ger
Johnston had these matters full
placed before him, and the details 4
a plan for his proposed movemer
placed before him, with orders to e1
eeute it. He disobeyed the orde
and surrendered his army, and pit
everything at the mercy Of the col
aueIors, without making movemer
to secure terms that might hav
awaited to protect the political right
: OF the people and preserve their prof.
erty from pillage when it was in h
, power"
Mr.. Davis said that Gen. Johnston
f,ilure to make an attempt to accon
plish what might have turned out
be his most valuable service to I'll
, people of the South should have ten
pered the violence Of his assault
. upon some others who were exertir
: themselves in behalf of the South.