The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-07-20
LEES RESIGN ALTON.
The Con fed crate Commanders Letter
to Jefferson Davis After tho Battle
ofGcuysDurg.

Inc COnIcu uCratc Commanders Lett CT
to Jefferson Davis After the Battle
fGcuysburg.
The Washington correspondent of
the ST. Louis Globe,Dcmocrat says that
a volume Of war records now in course
OF preparation IL. the war department
will settle the controversy whether
Cen Robert e. Lee rendered his re-
signation after the battle Of Gettys-
burg. The reply OF Jefferson Davis de-
clining to accept the resignation has
been matter OF common information,
but the character Of the letter in detail
which called out this reply has b. en- a
matter CT inference only until recently.
The letter OF resignation Of Gen. Lee
will be first printed officially in sup
elemental volume Of the war records
which Is now being prepared. 1t is
given herewith in its entirety
CAMP ORANGE, Aug. 8. 1863
Ills EXcellency Jefferson Davis, Pres
ident of the Confederate States.
MIR. President. Your letters OF July
% and August 2 have been received,
and | have waited for leisure hour to
reply, but fear that will never como.
am extremely obliged to you for the
attention given to the wants of this
army and tho efforts made to supply
them. Our abscntecs are returning
and hope the earnest and beautiful
appeal made to the country in your
proclamation may stir up the whole
people, and that they may see their
duty and peform it. Nothing il wanted
hut that their fortitude should equal
their bravery to insure the success OF
our cause. We must expect reverscs,
even defeats. They are sent to teach
us 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 manfully tue misfOrtunes Incl
dent to war, and Ill will come right in
the end
II know now prone we are to censurc
and how ready to blame others for the
| n-fultillment OF orr expectations.
This Is unbecoming in generous pco-
pie, and [ grieve to see its expression.
The general remedy for the want OF
success in 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 dis
aster must sooner or later ensuc.
| Il nave been prompted by these re.
liections more than once since nv re.
! turn from Pennsy ylvania to propose tc
you excellcncy the prOpriety of selec.
ting another commander for this army
l have seen and heard of expressions
OF discomfort in the public journals al
the result OF the expedition. | do not
know how far this feeling extends IL
the army. My brother officers have
been too kind TO report it, and so fa'
the troops have been too generous tt
exhibit 1t. 1t is fair however to suppose
that 1t does exist, and success Is so nee
essary to us that nothing should bt
risked to secure it. therefore, in al
sincerity, request your excellency tt
take measures to supply my place.
do this with the more earnestness be
cause no one Is more aware than mysel
OF my inability for the duties of m,
position. | cannot even accomplish
what | myself desire. How can [ fill
the expectations OF others? In addi
tlon, sensibly feel the growing failur,
OF my bodily strength. / have not We
recovered from the attack / expert
enced the past spring. am becomin,
more and more incapable Of exertion
and am thus prevented from makinI
the personal examinations and givin
the personal supervision to the opera
tions In the field which feel to be nee
essary. ] am 80 dull that in maxim
use OF the eyes OF others am frequent
ly misled. Everything therefore, point