Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-08-20
Gen. Lees RESIGNATION

One Of the most interesting chapters 10
Benjamin F. Buffers forthcoming book will
tell the story of General Robert E. Lees at
tempt to resign. The resignation was ten
dered to Jefferson Davis on the S b Of Au
gust. 1868. 1t was prompted by the defeat
at Gettysburg In the July preceding. Gene.
raj Lac waited only to get his army back In
10 Virginia and recover somewhat from the
decentralization. He then forwarded his
resignation. The original copy OF Gen. Lees
letter has not yet been found In the confed-
srete archives. But the letter OF Jefferson
Davis written to General Lee Immediately
| upon the receipt of his rendered resignation
Ia Ia the war records office. What purports
to be q copy OF General Lee's letter Is 10 ex-
islence, but its authority Ia somewhat cloud
ed. That Gen. Lee did send In bis resigna-
ton has been known to some Of the high Of.
fcers of the oonfsderacy. The letter of
Mr.. Davis confirms the story and shows
pretty clearly The draft of Gen. Lees leit,r,
to which ills reply. Mr.. Davls's letter Is
as folloWs:
RICHMOND. Va, August II. 1868
Gen r. E. Lee, Commanding Army Northern Nr-
ginia;
Yours of the 9Th Inst. has been received. am
glad that you concur 30 entirely with me as to
the want Of our country in this trying hour and
am happy to add that after the first depression
consequent upon our diiaster In the west, indica-
tions havo appeared that our people will exhibit
tn fortitude which weagree In believing is alone
needful to secure ultimate success.
ut we'll became Sidney Johnston, when oveI-
whelmed by senseless clamor, to admit tho ru' 9
that success Is the best Of merit; and yet there
has been nothing which have found to require
better effort of patience than to bear tho criti-
SAl-
failure which does not equal their expectations
or desires, and see good result which ia not
in the line of their own imsginings. l admit the
propriety of your conclusions, that an officer who
loses tho confidence of his troops should have his
position changed, whatever may be his ability,
but when l read the sentence was not at all pre-
pared for the application you were about to mako.
EX prcssions of discomfort in the public journals
furnish but little evidence Of tho sentiment OF
army. ! wish it were otherwise, even though sll
the abuec OF ysef should be accepted as the re-
suits OF honest observation. ] say wish could
fool that the public urnsls We're not generally
partisan or venal.
"Were you capable of STOPPING to it, you could
easily surround Yourself with those who would ill
tho press with your Iaudation1 and seek to e1alt
you for what you had not done rsth6 than detract
| from the achievement, S which wi mako you and
your army the subject OF history and the object Of
| the worlds admiration for generations to come
81 am truly sorry to know that you still feel
tho effects Of tho illness you Uttered last spring,
and can readily understand tho ombarrassments
| you experience in using tho eyes Of Others hav-
| ing been so much accustomed to make your own
Reconnaissance. Practice will, however, do much
| to relieve that embarrassment, and minute know
| lodge Of the country which You have acquired
will render you less dependent for Topographic al
| information.
But suppose my de,r friend, that wero to
admit, with all these implications. the points
which you pre-ent where ! to frd that nav
commander who is to possess the greater ability
which you believe to be required do not doubt
the readiness with which you would give way to
ono who could accomplish all that you have wish
Cd and you ill do me the justice to believe that
X providence should kindly offer such person
for our use, would not hesitate to avail OF his
| services.
my sight ia not sufficiently penetrating to die
| cover such hidden merit If it exists and / have
but used to you tho language OF sober esrnestness
| when h.ve impre sed upon you the p:oprlety oil
| avoiding all unnecessary exposure to danger, be-
cause l felt our country could not bear to lose
| you. To ask mo to substitute you by some ono in
| my judgment moro fit to command or who would
! possess more of the confidence Of the army or Ct
the IeH citing men Of the country, is to demand
an impossibiity.
| ut only remains for me to hope that you will
take all possible OF yourself, that your health
| and strength msy be entirely restored, and that
the Lord will preserve you for the important du-
ties devoved upon you in the struggle Of our SUI
| fering country for the Independence which we
| have engaged in war to maintain.
| "As ever, very respectfully and truly yours.
] JEFFERSON DAVIS