The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-17
FRIDAY. MARCH II, 1893
SIX PAGES.
WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GET
TYSBURG?

TYSBURG?
General Thomas Jordan, General Beau
regards chief OF staff during the war
has. within the past week or two. pub
Ushed a letter in one Of the New York
dailies 1--WE forget which,. in which ne
says that General Beauregard always dis
approved of the Gettysburg campaign as
a blunder. He adds that he knows Cen
eral Lee dsapproved of it also, and under
took II only because II was forced on him
by the higher authorities Of the Con-
federacy. General Jordan gives us no
intimation OF the sources whence he de-
rlves this very interesting information,
although there will be great curiosity TO
know what they are. For ourselves, we
believe that General Jordan is mistaken
We believe that the Gettysburg campaign
was General Lees own conception, deter
mined on by him with very little, II any,
previous conference with the authorities
Of the Confederate Government, and
executed without even communicating
10 those authorities the general lines Of
action that he had determined TO follow.
The publication of the archives of the
Confederate Government in what is popu-
larry known as 'The Rebellion Record"
makes this very clear TO our mind. In
volume p. series 1. pages $50 and sos. part
III, we find letters from General Lee
which throw a food OF light on the point.
On June 8, 1863. he writes General A. r.
Hin telling him to occupy the position
at Fredericksburg and use such means
as he could to deceive the enemy (on the
opposite bank of the Rappahannockl. and
keep him in ignorance of the movements
which he. Lee, was about to make with
the Confederate army. IL the enemy
attempted to cross the river he is directed
TO oppose him in the movement TO the
last extremity, and. IL forced TO retire.
TO fall back towards Richmond and de
fend that city to the last. II the enemy
withdrew towards Washington he was to
follow him and inflict on him all the loss
in his power. In the same letter he tells
Hin his own headquarters would be, for
the present, at Culpeper Courthouse.
on the same day he wrote General
Imboden. commanding a brigade of
cavalry in the valley. TO operate vigor-
ously down the valley as far as the
Potomac. and Oh the same day he wrote
General Jenkins commanding another
brigade of cavalry in the valley. to do the
same things that he had ordered Imboden
TO do. All these letters were written on
June 9Th. and they show Enthusiastically
that General Lee had the campaign, as
he ultimately carried It out. definitely
planned In his mind.
On the 9Th OF June. three days after
wards. he wrote tho Secretary OF War
as follows:
There is always hazard in military
movements. but we must decide between
the positive less OF iractivity and the
risk OF action As far as [ can
Judge. there is nothing to be gained by
this army remaining quietly on the de-
fcnsive. which II must do unless II can
be reinforced. | am aware that there 10
difficulty and hazard ia taking the az.
sresSive with so large an army in it's
front. intrenched behind liver. where
II cannot be adVantageously attacked.
Unless II can be drawn out in a position
70 be asailed. II Will take it's own time to
prepare and strengthen itself TO renew
this army back within the intrenchments
of that city. This may be the result in
any event, still | think il is worth a
trial 10 prevent such a catastrophe Still.
II the department thinks IL better 10 re-
main on the defensive. and guard as far
as possible, all the avenues OF approach.
ana await the time OF the enemy. l am
ready TO adopt this course You have
therefore, only 10 inform me-" Id, SOS.
This letter makes two things very evil
@nt. First that General Lee wanted 70
proceed with the move that the letters IN
Hill. imboden and Jenkins show he had
clearly In his mind three days before.
and. second. that there was certainly no
concert between himself and the War
department respecting the move. IL the
war Department knew the move that he
was contemplating at all. which seems
doubtful to say the least. from the terms
OF his letter TO the secretary. II is I'M
possible therefore. with these letters be.
fore us 10 say that General Lee was not
responsible for the Gettysburg campaign.
He devised II and executed II as the best
thing 10 be done at that time
And who shall say that. with the lights
before him. he made any blunder In I'M
dertak!ng IL? Who can answer the pow
erfm presentation Of the case which his
letter to the secretary mAkes7 Who can
say that Il would have been better for