The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-04
REMINIS-
k0ME CONFEDERATE ri

II is impossible to read the letters oil
General Lee TO Mr.. Davis and the Secre-
tary Of War in the late spring and
early summer OF 1863. as now published
fra what is called the Rebellion Record
I'VE don't object to the word rebellion
though our war was no rebelion-ah the
great things done for man have been by
rebellionO. without seeing that he was a
despondent man at that time. Indeed, in
one Of them he states plainly that he
will be forced to succumb unless he can
transfer the seat Of war 10 the enemys
territory
This being mentioned recently In
company of Confederate soldiers one Of
them. an officer of high position in the
Confederate army, stated that he knew
General Lee wanted peace made at the
time of the Hampton Roads conference
for the reason that he saw he could not
hold out much longer. This caused a
discussion Of the question whether peace
should have been made then or not, and 1t
was well nigh the unanimous opinion of
those present that no lasting peace could
have been made and that no termination
of the war was possible. except just the
one that took place. We believe this to
be true, and il is certainly wonderful
testimonial TO the tenacity and resolution
of the southern people. We can well
recoliect that even in the spring of 1865, 1t
WAS the rarest thing TO find southern
man who did not believe that the Con-
federacy would win That Incompatible
army of patriots which General Lee COM
manded had so uniformly defeated the
enemy without regard TO odds and num-
bers. that our peor:e had really come
to believe it invincible, and in truth 1t was
well nigh So Colonel Marshall said a
truthful and a touching thing in his
recent address in Baltimore, when. dis
cussing the outposts through which he
and General Lee rode when going to the
interview with General Grant. at Apo
mattox. he said the men were tranquil
and calm. waiting for the enemy's APP
proach with serene confidence. and that
all Of the Yankees who might have
had the temerity 10 approach them would
have become entitled TO a pension under
any Of the acts.
What we have said Of rebellion" above
must not be misunderstood We will
never concede that our war was a ere
belllon." We had right to secede from
the Unioa, and we simply exercised a
plain right when we went out. All we
mean is that there is not necessarily any
reproach IN the word rebellion" George
Washington was a rebel until he made
his rebellion success. and the movement
of the English people which cut off
Charles is head. Is known to the English
law and to English history as the Great
Rebellion"
In the same interview that we have
spoken Of comment was made upon the
fact that those same letters of General
Lee press constantly upon the Confed-
crate Government the Importance Of
sending all the forces that could be spared
from any quarter under General Beau
regard down the eastern slope OF the
Blue Ridge towards Washington TO
operate as diversion whilst he was max
ms his move into Pennsylvania.
The Importance OF this is perfectly
obvious TO men Of less discernment than
General Lee. The movement that he had
90 much at heart was never made, and
the records furnish no explanation Of