The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-06-12
THE TURN OF FATE,
How Gen. Leo Night Hnvo Commanded
tho Union Army.
From tbe l,as1;potou Post Of iiay 20,

How Gen. Leo Might Hnvo Commanded
tho Union Army.
From the Washington Post Of 7fau 20.
But for his devotion to the State which
to day honors him, Gen. Robert E. Lee
might have been the commander.in-
chief of the Union forces. All his biog.
raphers are agreed upon this point. and
quite mum Der of officers on the North
ern side have corroborated the fact,
which does not, however, appear to be
generally known. Lee, who was in Texas
when the war cloud first threatened, had
been summoned to Washington. Be-
tween him and General Scott, the com.
mander ir chief of the Army, there
existed the warmest personal friendship,
while the admiration of the elder officer
for the abilities of his younger colleague
was extreme. General Scott used every
argument to keep Lee from resigning his
commission in the Regular Army. To
retain him in the service he had been
appointed upon his arrival in Washing
ton to full colonel, and soon afterward
his name vas sent in, with others, by
Scott as proper person to fill the vacan.
cy caused by the death of Brigadier
General Jessup. To these practical evi.
dences of regard General Scott added his
personal and almost irresistible appeals.
When it is remembered that Lee was
at this time regarded as the ablest officer
in The Army that he had rendered val
liable and intelligent service in the Mex.
ican and Indian wars, aud that he vas of
famous lineage, wealthy, and Of ofunsullied
character, it is not q matter of surprise
that President Lincoln also desired to
retain his services. That overtures we're
made to take the command of the Army
seems established beyond doubt,
although still denied in some quarters.
Mrs. Lee, writing to friend, stated that
her husband had been told by General
Scott that when the latter resigned Ice
would get The position. Francis Preston
Blair, the father Of Montgomery Blair,
then in Lincoln's Cabinet, went to Lee
and said. ~ come to you on the part of
President Lincoln to ask whether any
inducement that he can offer will prevail
on you to take command of the Union
Army %
"If I cwned," replied Colonel Lee,
"the 900 900 slaves would cheerfully
sacrifice them to the preservation of the
Union, but to lift rly hand against my
own State md people is impossible"
This conversation was repeated by Mr.
Blair to well-known resident of this
city, WHO made memorandum of it,
The most valuable testimony, however, 10
that of General Lee himself as given in
letter addressed to the Hon. Beverly
johnson on February Is, 1868. In this
letter be used the following language:
"I never intimated to any one that I
desired the command of the United
States Army, nor did I ever have con-
versation but with one gentleman, Mr..
Francis Preston Blair, on the subject
which was at his invitation, and, as I
understood, at the instance of President
Lincoln. After listening to his remarks
declined the offer he made me to take
command of the army that was to be
brought into the field, stating, as can.
didly and courteously as could, that,
though opposed to secession and depre.
eating war, / could take no part in an
invasion of the Southern States.
"I went directly from the interview
with Mr.. Blair to General Scott--told
him OF the proposition that had been
made to ME aad my decision. Upon
reflection after returning home cen.
clrded that ought no longer to retain
any commission I held in the United
States Army, and on the second morning
thereafter forwarded my resignation to
General Scot.
"At the time hoped that peace would
have been preserVed-that some way
would found to save the country from
the calalnities of war; and I then had no
other intention than to pass the remand.
Ell of my life as private citizen.
'Two days afterward, on the invitation
of the Governor of Virginia, repaired
to Richmond found that the convention
then in session had passed the ordinance
Withdrawing the State from the Union
and accepted the commission of com.
mander Of its forces, which was rendered
me. These are the simplest facts of the
case"
The letter of resignation 10 which Gen.
eral Lee refers was dated at Arlington
on the Goth of April, 1861, and was as
follows:
"GENERAL: Since my interview with
you on the 18th instant, / have felt that
ought not longer to retain my commits
sion in the Army. I therefore tender
my resignation, which request you will
recommend for acceptance. 1t would
have been presented at once but for the
struggle it has cost me to separate N.Y.
eelf from service to which have
devoted all the best years of my life and
all the ability / possess.
"During the whole of that time-more
than q quarter of century, have
experienced nothing but kindness from
nv superiors and the most cordial friend
ship from my comrades. To no one,
General, have I been as much indebted
as to yourself for uniform kindness and
consideration, and it has always been my
ardent desire to merit your appreciation.
shall carry to the grave the most CRATE.
full recollections Of your kind considera.
tion, and your name and fame will
always be dear to me.
"Save in defense of my native State, l
never desire again to draw my sword.
Be pleased to accept my most earnest
wishes for the continuance Of your hap.
pincss and prosperity, and believe me,
most truly yours, i. Il. LEE.
Lieut.. Gen. WINFIELD SCOTT, Com.
manding us. Army,
The struggle 10 which General Lee
here referred was bitter but bief. "My
husband has wept tears of blood" wrote
Mrs. Lee to friend. But having turned
his face to the plow he did not LOOK
backwards. a few days later he stood
before the convention in Richmond, and
in few simple, impressive words
accepted the trust reposed i'll hin, BY the
people of his State.
The Love oil Whiskey.
KSoxynEE, Tenn, June 3.-Rcports
received here last night stale that Bud
Lindsay, Deputy United States Marshal,
shot and killed kits, O distiller in Camp.