The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-07

"Gen~ui O,yfers. No. ID
.s,rncrsi Robert y. lee Is assigned 10 duty
NJ tho seat OF government. and, undcf tht
direction Of toe President, Is charged wiz
the conduct OF military operations In the
armies OF the Confedoracy.
by command OF the secretary OF wal.
20. CoorSR,
"Adju,ant and Inspcctor-6enersl."
The act OF Congress creating the once OF
commanding general, was adopted nj TIE
special suggestion ~ the President. who I'm.
nediateIy assigned Lee Ia the discharge Of
its duties. 1he absolute conhoence repossu
by Mr.. Davis In General Lee may measure
the influence Of the latter upon the Confed-
crate Military administration.
DAvrs--JoHNsroS.
The incidents of the battle OF shiloh were
familiar. and the public grief Mt the denth OF
General Albert sidney Johnston. tinged az II
was. with remorsc for the uumerited censure
with which he had previously been assailfd.
exists to-day. Not until his death did lhe
south appreciate the true worth OF this great
soldier. There was nothing more exalted IN
fhe character OF jefferson DAVIS than his de-
VOtlon TO his friends. In sidney johnston
there was that touching union OF chlvaiflc
generosity and tender sympathy when pc
culiariy qualified him for fellowship with
jefferson Davis. They loved each other:
The President COMMUNICATED the death OF
the sOi Tier in n communication 10 congress
In terms Of the most touching ana sppro-
pria,e feeling IN the course OF which he
said:
:" My long AMI close friendship with this
departed chieftain and patriot forbid me 10
trust myself In giving vent TO the feelings
which this intelligence has evoked. With
out doing Injustice 10 the living. II may
safely be said, our loss Is irreparable. Among
the shining hosts Of the great and good who
now cluster around the banner OF our coun-
try. there exists no purer spirit. no more
L.. A. haf al - llIuafrlnue
whose death / join you in iamenting. In ms
death he illust, atcd the character for which
through life he was COMPROMISING OF SIN
gleness OF purpose ana devotion 10 uuty'
bent on the victory which he deemed essen
tial for his countfy's cause. he rode on 70 the
ccOmpllshment Of his object. forgetful OF
self, while his life blood was ebplnE away.
His last breath chccrcd his cofnrades on 20
victory. The last sound he heard vns their
shout Of victory His last thought was his
country, and long and deeply VIII his country
mourn his loss
ney Johnston, the Preside mt could only shnre
the universal dissatisfaction with the dts
nstrOus termination OF The battle OF Shiloh
General Bcauregard vas I'm no danger OF re-
sentiment from the President, who so ire
quently bravcd the anger OF the pubic
ngainst fts servants. Bcauregard retained
command of the Western army, and within
few weeks, by the success Of his retreat from
Corinih, lid much 70 repair the damage TO h's
reputation.
LEE IN THE FIELD.
Tho hattie of"Sevcn Pines" on the Rich
mond lines took place on the 3lst May,
1862. The Confederate troops, under ter
cral Joseph T.. Johnston. numbered about
5000 men. The Federal army. under NC
,Ieiian, 10000. There was no engagement
OF the war In which the valor 81 the COnfed-
srnte soldier was more splendidly illustrated
President Davis with General Lee was pre.-
of fl.a h.f IrAnnRnffX
sindcr fise and In consultation with his gem
erals In exposed positions, he was conspicu-
Gus by his efforts To animate the troops, ana
his presence was greeted with evidences OF
the enthusiasm and confidence l, lhspireu.
Tho battle itself, barron In results. by Inc
painful and disabling wound received by
General Johnston, led to an immediate
change of policy. which determined the III .
turc of the war Ia Virginia.
Lee from that day took command OF the
army In person, and the vigorous an ag-
gressive policy adopted 10y him, not only ac-
corded with the wishes OF the President. but
fulnllcd the long deferred popular expecia-
ton For, despite the disappointment at the
absence Of decisive achievements by the
Army. OF Northern Virginin. Johnston
commanded more OF the puoiic conn
dence at that day than ola Genefai
Lee. Lee formed the army within
sight OF Richmond. lie lifted II from
the mud Of the Chiclxahominy; defeated an
enemy intrenched and In superior lorce'
pursued the disabled and dis0fRanixed III
ritives To the shelter of their shipping; de-
feotcd second nrmy--.-then both together
j. within hearing of the Federal capital:
fought an indecisiNc battle on the enemies
soil. and re-estabiished the Confederate lines
upon the frontier.
The President. the army and tho people
recognized tho significance OF those results
and applauded the Substitution OF the new
system status Tor the old. The SOutl re-
unrds Lee rs beyond criticism. JEFFERSON
M Oh Tn
mas rarely produced man 10 be compared
with Lee" Yet, in mere intellectually, IL Is
ut least questionable whether johnston hau
his superior among southern LEADERS, Mba'-
ever may be alleged TO the contrary, Presi-
dent Davis at all times, andto the full extent
OF his power, aided General johnston In tue
contamination Of his designs. TO assert mat
upon any occasions he either interposed ob-
stacles 10 JohnstOn's success or denied MIN
any means to confer. 10 TO question the per-
sonal fidelity of the peerless iamented Jef-
fersOn Davis. The noble harmony between
Davis and. Leo alike ereditabie 10 eacn, was
never interrupted by one single moment oil
discord
HIS LOVE FOR HIS STATE.
About the middle OF December 1862. Pres
idcnt Davis visited the Western army, where
his presence was highly beneficial In ailay-
ing popular diStrust. When he returned 10
Richmond there were signs OF animation IN
the southwest which justified more conn-
,Ient hone of the cause. All incident OF this
visit was the address before the Legislature
of Mississippi. lie was always proud OF inc
confidence reposcd In him by his native
Stnte and the state can never nbAte her AZ
lection for one who 40 illustrated her name
IN the council chamber and on the held OF
battle.
la the address he alluded with much ten
derness to this reciprocal attachment, De-
claring that though, ''as President oil the
Confederate states. he had determlned u
make no distinction between the various
parts Of the cOuntry-to know no separate
State-yet his heart always beat more
warmly for Mississippi, and he hao
looked on Mssi sippi soldiers with
u pride and emotion such rs nc
others inspired" keviewin. Its progres'
and recounting the Immense disadvantagf
with which the south contcndcd no main
tained that the south should congratulate
itself on lis achievements, and not complain
that more had not been accomplished. Ihs
conscription law was explained ana defenuet
as TO many of it's features not understood Dy
the people. lie said: since TINS &c
has excited some discontentment. II
has been said that II exempts rich mef
from military service, ana forces the poor u
fght the battles ot the country. Inc poo
do indeed fight the battles of the country
IL IL the poor who save nations ana mak'
revolutions. but Is tt true That III this wa
the men Of property have shrunk RON th'
ordeal OF the battleheldsf LOOK throuen th'
armN: cast your eyes upon the mSinaeS
heroes whom you meet in your streets ant
In the hospitals. remember the martyrs
the conflict. and | am sure you VIII nn'
among them more than fair proportlei
draw from tho ranks of men OF properly
Tue object of that provision OF the act Wnlci
exempts those having charge OF twenty Oh
more negroes was not 20 draw any distnc
tion of the classes. but simply 10 provide
police force sufficient To keep The negroes II
control. This was the sole oh]ect OF th'
clause. Had it been Othe wise, IL neve
would have received my signature
The President strongly urged provision o.
the Legislature for tho families OF The aDsen
soldiers of Mississippi. Let. said ne, I'M
PROV sion be made for the objects OF his al
lection and soiicltudo. and the soldier on
gagged i'm fighting the battles Of his countr
will no longer he disturbed by fears OF o.
unprotected family AZ home. Let him kno'
that his mother Mississippi has spread he
protecting mantle over those he loves. an
he will bc ready to light your battles. 10 pre-
tect your honor. and In your cause 10 die.
The address concluded with hn earnest az
peal for unrela xed exertiOn. and the DECLARE
lion that "in all respects. moral>ss well q
physical. the COnfederacy was better pre-
pared than IL was "a year previous'--a dt
clsratson vesired not less by the favorabl
situation than by the evident appreheDsio
OF the North and the expectations OF Europe
EXCITING sERvILE ISsURREcrroS.
Lincoln issued his emancipation In Ser
tember, 1862. 10 so into effect January La
1868. NO farther necessity for concealmen
was now deemed necessary. and To the de
kisn OF sublugatiou WAS added the proc laime
vsrpo<e 10 lestroy tho Oraauto ex isfeuce {