The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-07-28
LEES RESIGNATION.
His Letter to Jefferson Davis After the Battle
of Getty sburg.

rendered MS resignation alter lHe
battle of Gettysburg. The reply of
Jefferson Davis declining to accept
the resignation has been matter
of common information but the
char acter of the letter in detail
which'called out this reply has been
u matter of inference only until re-
Gently. The letter of resignation
of General Lee will be first printed
officially i'll supplemental vol
ume of war records, which is now
being prepared. 1t is given here
with i'll its entirety:
CAMP ORANGE, AUGUST 8, 1868.
''His Excellency, Jefferson Da-
Wis, President of the Confederate
States.-Mr. President: Your
letters of July % and August 2
have been received, and l have
waited for leisure hour to reply
but | fear that will never come.
am extremely obliged to you for
the attention given to the wants
of this army andthe efforts made
to supply them. Our absentees
are returning, and | hope the ear
nest and beautiful appeal made to
the country in your proclamation
may stir up the whole people and
that they may see their duty and
perform it. Nothing is wanted but
that their fortitude should equal
their bravery to insure the success
of our cause. We must expect re-
verses, even defeats. They are sent
to teach lis wisdom and prudence,
to call forth greater energies and to
prevent our falling into greater
disasters. Our people have only
to be true and united, to bear man
fully the misfortunes incident to
war, and all will come right in
the end.
81 know how prone we are to
censure and how ready to blame
others for the nonfulfilment of
our approximations This is unbe-
coming i'll generous people, and
| greive to see its expression. The
general remedy for the want Of
success in a military commander
is his removal. This is natural
and in many instances proper.
For no matter what may be the
ability of the officer, if he loses
the confidence of his troops dlsas-
ter must sooner or later ensue.
Il have been prompted by these
reflections more than once since
my return from Pennsylvania to
propose to your Excellency the
proprlety of selecting another
commander for the army. Ihave
seen and heard of expressions of
discontentmenti in the public jour
nails at the result of the expedi-
ton. | do not know how far this
feeling extends in the army. My
brother officers have been too
kind to report it, and 50 far the
troops have been too generous to
exhibit it. 1t is fair, however,
to suppose that it does exist, and
success is so necessary to us that
nothing should be risked to secure
it. l, therefore, in all sincerity
request your Excellency to take
measures to supply my place. I
do this with the more earnestness
because no one is more aware than
myself of my ability for the du-
ties of my position. / cannot ev-
ell accomplish what l myself de-
sire. How can fulfil the expec-
tations of others? In addition
| sensibly feel the growing failure
of my bodily strength. / have not
yet recovered from the attack I ex
perienced last spring. 1 am be-
coming more and more incapable
of exertion, and thus prevented
from making the personal exami
nations and giving the personal
supervision to the operations in
the field which | feel to be neces-
sary. / am so dull that in max
ing use of the eyes of others l am
frequently misled. Everything,
therefore points to the advantages
to be derived from new com
mander, and / the more anxiously
urge the matter upon your Excel
lency from my belief that a young
er and ADLER man than myself can
readily be obtained. / know that
he will have as gallant and brave
an army as ever existed to second
his efforts, and it would be the
happiest day of my life to see at
its head worthy leader-one that
would accomplish more than ]
could perform and all that | have
wished. / hope your Excellency
will attribute my request to the
true reason, the desire to serve nv
country, and to do all in my DOW.
er to insure the success of he,
righteous cause.
Il have no complaints to make