The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-08-28
BEN BUFFERS BOOK.
He is to Throw Light on Ccnfed-
crate War History.

ST. LOUIS, Mo, Special The Globe
Democrat prints the following One OF the
most interesting chapters of Ben ianin +.
Buffers forthcoming book will tell tie
story Of Gen Robert f Lees attempt to
resign. The resignation was rendered to
Jefferson Davis on the sth of August,
1868. 1t was prompted by the defeat at
Gettysburg in the July preceding Gen.
Lee waited only to get his army back
into Virginia and to recover somewhat
from the decentralization. He then fol-
warded his resignation. The original
copy Of Gen. Lees letter has not been
found in the Confederate archives. But
the letter of Jefferson Davis wntten to
Gen. Lee immediately upon the receipt Of
his rendered resignation is. 10 thes}XRr,
Records Office. What purportas 10 - ~
copy Of Gen. Lees letter is in existence,
but its authe nticity j. somewhat clouded.
That Gen Lee did send in his res gna-
tiou has been known to some Of the high
officers Of the Confcderacy. The letter
OF Mr. Davis )ntirms the story and shows
pretty clearly the draft of Gen. Lees let
ter to which it is n reply:
"RICuMoND, VA, August ii, 1903 =.
Gen. Il. Il. Lee, Commanding Army of
Northern Virginia Yours of Sth inst
has been received. | am glad tl,t YOU
concur SO entirely with m as to the want
Of our country in this trying hour. and
am happy to add that after the first de-
preston consequent upon our disaster in
the West indications have appeared that
our people Will exhibit that fortitude
which We agree in believing is alone
nccdful to secure ultimate success
1t we'll became Sydney Johnston,
when overwhelmed by II scnseless clamor.
to admit the rule that su cess is the best
OF merit; ana yet there has been nothing
wf1icsI lI;tvc 1uuno-- w o-Te-Iufrv- v-rr- ->,ve,~r
effort Of patience than to bear the crti-
cisms Of the ignorant, who pronounce
everything failure which does not equal
their expectations or desires, and can see
no good result which is not in the line of
their own imaginings. / admit the pro-
pricty Of your conclusions, that an officer
who loses the confidence of his troops
should have his position changed, what
ever may be his ability. but when read
the sentence l was not at all prepared for
the application you were about to make
| Expressions of discomfort in the public
Journals furnish but little evidence of the
! sentiment of an army. | wish it we're
OF hcrwisc, even though all the abuse of
myself should be accepted as the results
| of honest observation. | say / wish'I
could feel thct the public journals were
not generally partisan or vtnal
Were you capable of stopping to it,
you could easily surround yourself with
tAl.lase " ha will i'll the prcss vi il Your
you had not done, rather than detfact
from the achievements which will make
you and your army the subject of history
RI oh Nf fl,A III ~, H.. r.
| generations to come.
II am truly sorry to know that you
still feel the effects of the illness YOU
suffered last spring, and can readily un-
| dcrstant the cmbarrassments you expert
cncc in using the eyes of others, having
| been accustomed to make your own re-
| cOnnoisanccs Practice we'll, however,
| do much II relieve that embarrassment,
and minute knowledge of the country
| which you have acquired will render YOU
less dependent for Typographical inform
alton.
'But suppose, my dear friend, that I
were to admit, with all these implications,
the points which you present, where am
/ to find that new commander who is to
possess the greater ability which you be-
lieyc to be required? do not doubt the
readiness with which you would give
way to one who could accomplish all that
you have wished, and you will do me the
justice to believe that if Providence
should kindly offer such person for ouI
us', | would not hesitate to avail of his
services.
My sight is not sufficiently penetrat-
ing to discover such hidden merit if il
exists. and have but used to you the
language of sober carnestnc's when
have impressed upon you the propri ty
OF avoiding all necessary exposure to
danger, because felt our country could
not bear to lose you. To ask me to sub
stitute you by some one in my Judge
mcnt more fit to command, or who would
possess more of the confidence of the
army or of the rejecting men of the
country, is to demand an impossib lity.
1T only remains for me to hope that
you will take all possible care of your,
sc'f, that your health AID strength may
be entirely restored, and that the Lore
will preserve you for the important du
ties dcvolvcd upon you in the strug gl
of our suffering country, for the indie
pendcnce which we have engaged in wa,
to maintain. As ever, very respcctivel,
and truly yours. JEFFERSON DAVIS.