New-York tribune., 1890-05-30
LIyCuLY's OFFER TO LEE REJECTED
ION Tnc Wnshinctnn Po. I

From Tie Washington Post
Eat for his devotion 10 the state which 20 day
honor, hin, General Robert T. Lee might hlve been
TIE Commander iuChlcf Of the I mon forces. Al
biogTaphcla agreed upon this point, and gulc
roborated the fact. winch does not, however, aPlr"
when tle warcloud first threatened, had been suhi
mOncd To Washington. between him and GENERAL
scott then Commander in chief Of the Army, there
existed the warmc,t personal friendship, while The
admiration oi the elder oloer for the abilities of m.
Younger cclcagIe Wa, extreme. General scott used
every argument to keep Lee from rssignlng hi, CON
mission In the Regular Army TO retain him In tho
5 me hsd % Ofe m eSeio' eSSone and S 1S5n ; ' n NJ
9sn wss 70 nt III the n .s saas1 S' cu BY -SS' % the d
# 5epsrs esP scott "a sade If'S ] a
When it is remen6sreG that Lee was az t1c ,s., tine ne
had rendered valuable and Intelligent service IN the
Mexican and Indian wars. and that be- was oi famous
matter Of surprise that President Lincoln also DC
sired 70 retain n, .er'ce, % Iat M Gvctigl- %cre
established beyond doubt. although SUI denicl ~
some quarter MrS: Lee. writing u friend stated
that her husband had been told by Gns ,so't ti.'
Francis Preston Blair, the father Of Montgomery
said: e come 70 you on the part OF President In
coin, 20 ask whether any iuduc that he can
offer will prevail on you 10 take command o' tho
III owned replied Colonel Lee, "the oooooo
slaves would cheerfnly .acr.ioc them T. the pregr
vatOp Of the Union, but to hft ny hand against my
This conversation wa repeated by Mt Ilili 10
well known resident Of TINS city. who mad" memo
randum Of il. The most valuable testimony, how
ever, Is that Of General Lee himself. given III .
letter addressed 10 The Hon E'ycrfy Johnson on
February -. 1767. In this letter he used tie fnl
lowing language:
Il never intimated 10 any that desired h"
command Of the United state, Army, did ever
have a conversation but with one gentleman. Mr.
Francis Preston Blair. the subJcct which Wis 81
his Invitation. and a. understood, at the instance
Of President Lincoln. Alter Ii tcnine his remark
declined the offer he made ne 10 take command ~
the army that was 90 be brought into the ilcld.
stating a. canGdly and courtcOlsly a. | could. that,
though opposed 70 secession and dcprccatnP war, J
could take no part In an invasion Of the southern
States. .
II went directly from the interview with Mr
Blair 10 General ScOtt-tod him Of the proposition
that had been made 10 me and my decision. Upon
reflection. after returning home, concluded t14t J.
ought no longer 10 retain any comni on he'd li
the United states Army, and on the -cOnd mnrnihI
thereafter ! forwarded my resignation 10 General
scott.
AT the time hoped That peace would have been
preservcd-that some would be- found "a save
The country from the calamitics Of war, and th"ll
had 10 other intention than u pass the remainder ol
nv life a private citizen.
Two day aftrwafd. on the invitation Of the
Governor Of Virginia, ! repaired 10 Richmond, found
that the convention then IN session had passed the
ordinance Withdrawing tho state from the Mon, ana
accented the commission Of commander Of II forces,
which wa rendered Thee the simple facts
q