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

He il to Throw Light on Confsd.
crate War History.
Sr. LouIs, No., Especial The Globe }
Democrat prints the following; One OF the
most interesting chapters of Benjanin r.
Buffers forthcoming book will tell tie
story of Gen. Robert E Lees attempt to
resign, The resignation was rendered to
jefferson Davis on the 9Th Of August,
1868. II was prompted by the defeat at
Gettysburg in the July preceding,S Gen.
Lee waited only to get his army back
into Virginia and to recover somewhat
from the decentralization. He then for-
warded his resignation. The original
copy Of Gen. Lees letter has not bccn
found in the Confederate sarchivea, HIT
the letter Of Jefferson Dayts wlsttan 70
sSis Siai s<sssssd s;ss s1ese se essss'x |se' r
Rccortis Office What Ma 81 s. T.
copy Of Gen. Lees letter is In existence,
but its nuthe nticity l. issomcwhat clouded.
That Gen Lee did send In his res gnA-
tion has been known to some Of the high
officers Of the Confcdcracy, Tho letter
of Mr. Davis ontirms the story aud shows
pretty clearly the draft OF Gen. Lees let.
ter to which it is reply:
"RICuMoND, Va, August II, 1903. :.
Gen. II. +. Lee, Commanding Army of
n Northcrn Virginia: Yours Of 9Th inst.
has been received. am glad thst you
concur SO entirely with IN" as to tho want
of our country IN this trying hour. and
am happy to add that after the first de.
preston consequent upon our disaster in
tho 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 scnselcss clamor,
to admit the rule TINT su cess is tho bost
sl Msslt aas xst there has been nothing
effort of patience than To bear tho criti-
cisms of the ignorant, who pronounce
everything II failure which docs not equal
their expectations or desires, and can see
no good result which is not In tho line of
their own imaginings. admit the pro-
pricty of your conclusions, that mn otficor
who loses the confidence of his troops
should have his position changed, What
ever may be his ability, but when l read
the sentence was not at all prepared for
the application you were about to mako.
Expressions of discomfort i'm the public
journals furnish but little evidence of tho
sentiment of an army. | wish u were
OF therwisc, even though all the abuse Of
myself should be accepted rs the results
of honest observation. | say wishl
could feel thet the pubic Journals were
not generally partisan or vtnal
"Werc you capable Of STOPPING to II,
you could easily surround yourself with
,-Ah&sassshas 81 shl Yo12r,
you had not done, rather than deffact
from the achievements which will mako
you aud your army the subject of history
aud object of the wo,ld's admiration for
generations to come.
IL AN truly sorry to know that you
still feel the effects of the illness you
suffered last spring, and can readily un-
dcrstan9 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 t. 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
l to find that new commander who is to
possess the greater ability which you be-
licve to be requircd2 do not doubt the
readiness with which you would give
way to one who could accomplish all that
you have wished, and you viii do me the
justice to believe that II Providence
should kindly offer such person for onr
us., wouid not hesitate to avail Of his
| services.
"My sight is not sufficiently penetrat-
| ing to discover such hidden merit il it
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
stitutc 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.
''It only remains for me to hope ihat
you will take all possible care of your
scf, that your health ald strength may
be entirely restored, and that the Lord
will preserve you for the important du.
ties devolvcd upon you In the struggle
of our suffering country, for the inde-
! pendcnce which we have engaged in war
20 maintain. AS ever, very respectively
! onI frnl,y ,-nprs JGuEEucnn h.pra