The times., 1897-07-11
LEES RESIGNATION.
Davis After Battle of Gettysburg.
from the Globe DemocratI


Davis After Battle of Gettysburg.
tFron the Globe Democrat)
Washington. July "A volume # war rec
ores now in courseof preparation at the Wan
department will settle the controy arsy
whether Gen. Robert L Lee rendered his
resignation after the battle OF Gettysburg.
The reply OF Jefferson Davis declining 10
accept the resignation has been q matter
OF common information, but the character
of the letter in detail which called out this
reply has been matter OF inference only
untiI recently. The letter of resignation
Of Gen. Lee viii be first printed officially
in supplemental volume OF the War
Records" which is now being prepared. 1t
is given herewith in its entirety:
Camp Orange, Aug. 8, 1868.
His Excellency jefferson Davis, President
of the Confederate States.
MIR. President: Your letters of July %
and ugust have been received, and |
have waited for q leisure hour To reply,
but fear that viii never couie. l an. ex-
tremefy obliged to you for the attention
given to the wants OF this army and the
efforts made To upply them. Our absentees
are returning, and hope the earnest and
beautiful appeal made TO the country IN
yoar proclamation may stir up the whole
people ana that they may see their duty
and perform it. Nothing is wanted but
that their rortitude should equal their BRAY
cry TO insure the success OF our cause. We
must expect reyerses, even defeats. They
are sent to teach us wisdom and prudence,
TO call forth greater energies and To pre-
vent our falling into greater disaste rs.
Our people have only 10 be- true and united
To bear nlanfulIy the misfortuncs incident
TO war. and all will come right in the end.
Il know how prone we are to censure
and how ready to blame others for the non
fulfillmeut OF our expectations. This Is un
becoIning in a generous people, andI grieye
to see its expression. The general remedy
for the want of success In military com
nander is his removal. Thisis natural, End
ia many instances proper. Fer, no m;tter
what NAV be the ability Of the Office: If
he loses tie confidence Of his troops dis
aster must sooner or later ensue.
Il have been prompted by these reflec-
tons more than once since my return
from PENNSYLVANIA to propose to your
cellenCy the propriety of selecting another
commander for this army. / have seen
and heard of expressions of discomfort in
the public journals at the result of the
expedition. do not know how far this
feeling extends ia the army. My brother
Officers have been too kind to report it,
and so far the troops have been too gem
erous To exhibit 1t. It is fair, however, to
suppose that 1t does exist, and success
is so necessary to us that nothing should
be rfSke't 20 secure 1t. l. therefore, in all
sincerity, torequest your exeellenc ITO take
measures to supply my place. / do this
with the more earnestneSs because no
one is more aware than myself Of my
inability for the duties OF my position.
L cannot even accomplish what ny self
desire. Cow can / fulfill the expectations
of others In addition. l sensihly feel tile
growing failure of my bodily strength /
have not recovered from the attack |
experienced the past spring. / am be-
coming more and more incapable of exer-
tion, and am thus prevented from making
the personal examinations and giving -he
personal supervision to the operations in
the field which i feel to be necessary I
am so dbl that in making use Of rhe eyes
Of Gthers ! am frequently misled. Every
thing, therefore, POINTS to the advantages
to be derived from new commander and
the more anxiously urge the matter tfpon
your eXcellency from my belief that
younger and abler man than myself can
readily re obtained
Il know that he will have as gallant and
brave An army as ever existed to second
his effotts, and it would be the manifest
day OF Iny life to see at its head worthy
ieader~0ne that would accomplish more
than | could perform and all that I have
wished. hope your exceilency will at
tribute my request to the true reason the
desire 90 serve my country and to do all
In my power to insure the success of her
righteous cause.
u have no complaints to make Of an y
one but myself / have received nothing
but kin dness from those above me an d the
most considerable attention from my cum
ratles and companions in arms To your
exeellency am specially indebted for uni
form kindness and consideration You have
done everything in your power to aid me
In Che work committed 10 my charge, with
OFT omitting anything TO promote the gen
eTai weifare pray that your efforts may
at length be crowned with success. and
that sou may long live to enjoy the thanks
or a grateful people
With sentiments Of great esteem am,
very respectfully and truly, yours
''R E. LEE, General
Mr. Davis wrote. declining to accent the
Resignation and Gen. Lee rename din com
mand until Apponiattox st Louis Globe
Democrat