The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-03-04
TIE REBEL ARMY.
A Careful Study of Its Strength and
It's Sources Of Strength.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The student
OF history is hopelessly puzzled when he tries
to make rebel figures aud the statements OF
their historians and writers agree with each
other.
Gen. A. L. Long, who served on Gen. Lees
personal staff during the most important
period of his military career, is the author Of n
work entitled. memoirs of Robert f. Lee"
which is in all probability the most reliable
biography of Gen. Lee in existence.
Gen. Long states in the preface to his book
that he was greatly encouraged in the pubiica-
tion Of his work by the cordial concurrence Of
the surviving members of Gen. Leo's family.
and the publishers have added n note after
stating that Gen. Lee was overtaken by death
before he could complete his design of writing
and publishing his personal narrative. in which
they say that in the selection of Gen. Long
as the writer, these Memoirs become as nearly
an autobiography as it be possible to obtain from
another hand than that of Gen. Lee himself"
quote from Gen. Longs book. pages 425 e.
Alter speaking of Gen. Lees superior general
ship while battling with Gen. Grant. wherein
Leo had destroyed of the army opposed to
him a number considerably exceeding his
whole force, while not until the process of at
triton lad reduced his army to mere hand
full of half-starved and utterly-wornout men,
did he yield TO the overwhelming force which
closed from him every avenue OF RETREAT"
This fact was impressed upon the writer by n
conversation that took place between Gen. Lee
and Gen. Meade on the afternoon of the day
of the surrender. Meade had made a friendly
visit to Lee at his Headquarters, and in the
course of the con versation, remarked:
Now that the war may be considered over,
l hope you will not deem it improper for me
to ask. for my personal information, the
strength of your army during tile operations
about Richmond and Petersburg
Gen. Lee replied:
AT no time did my force exceed 81, 900 men
often it Was less
With look of surprise, Meade answered:
General you amaze me! We always estl-
mated your force at about 10000 men,
This conversation was repeated TO the writer
by Gen. Lee Immediately after his visitor had
withdrawn"
1t is no wonder that Gen. Meade was amazed
at Gen. Lees answer, for the official returns of
tho strength of the rebel army defending the
cities of Richmond and Petersburg at different
dates, and the official reports Of the Appomat-
tox campaign made by tho rebel commanders,
all 90 10 prove that Gen. Meade's estimate Of
the strength Of Lees army was correct In
fact, tho figures show that his estimate was
somewhat below the actual number.
The operations about Richmond and Peters
burg, as far AS Gen. Lee was directly concerned,
begun on the 18th of June, 1864, and ended on
the 81 OF April, 1862 and during that time the
rebel losses from SIEGE battle, and other casual
ties of war were from scores to hnnd reds-and
in several instances over thousand-men
daily. According to an abstract Of return
of the Army of Northern Virginia, Gen. L E.
Lee commanding, for July 10, 1864, the
aggregate present of Lees army was 68.S44
men. (See Longs Memoirs Of Robert E. Lee,
p. 654) The operations abont Richmond aud
Petersburg had been in progress 90 days when
the above return was made, and at that time
Gen. Meade was nearly correct in his estimate
as to the strength of Lees army.
On page 6S2 of Longs +" Memoirs Of Robert
E. Lee" We have another report of the strength
of Lees army, headed as follows:
Last report of strength Of the army ever
made by Gen. Lee, Petersburg and Appomattox
campaign-Abstract from return of the Army
Of Northern Virginia, Gen. X. Il. Lee COM
handing. for Feb. 90, 1865; station, Peters
burg, Va" According to this return. Gen. Lee
had an aggregate present OF 7l,739 men, dis
rihu ted fnlowa.