Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-07-29
Some RecoIIections Of the C.
S. Congress.

SOnbO
S. Congress.
The Nashville Banner recently con-
tanned some references to Col. John b.
Baldwin by Col. A. s. Colyar, who was
member of the Confederate Congress
with Col. Baldwin. We reproduce
what he in part says not only because
it refers to Col. Baldwin, but because
of the interest many people have In
the incidents crowding about the close
of the war:
"The Hampton Roads affair has been
the subject of criticism for many years.
Whether the commission originated
with Congress or with the President,
and what the exact instructions were,
have caused some acrimonious criti-
cism and occasionally fiat contradic-
tions of some who ought to know the
facts. These contradictions have come
from men who know nothing person
ally, and would not take the pains to
collect from reliable sources the facts
as they are.
The close OF the year 1854 and the
beginning of the year 1885 brought to
the members of Congress much more
of dread than they were willing to
confess to each other. The odds against
us and the wasting away of our small
armies had caused to settle upon the
face of every true man cloud which
told more than his words. After
secret night session some time early in
the year 1865, Mr.. John B. Baldwin
asked me to take walk with him, and
while walking he disclosed to me that
he had that day had a talk with Gen.
Lee-he had been colonel under Lee
during the first year of the warm
which Gen. Lee had said to him in the
most positive manner that the war
had to end, that he would not be able
to keep his army together and hold
Richmond, and that when he left Rich
mond he would have to disband his
army for want of supplies.
Mr.. Baldwin expressed the feeling
that he hardly knew what to do, be
cause he said Mr.. Dayis would consent
| to no terms.
But it was agreed that In secret ses-
sion the next night Mr.. Baldwin was
to offer resolution for creating COM
mittee to inquire into our ability to
carry on the war. This he did. The
resolution was passed. it was, perhaps,
a joint committee. am not certain.
Mr.. Baldwin was made chairman. The
purpose of this committee was to get
in tangible shape and from the high
est source the exact facts before
Mr.. Davis-not 30 much the facts as
the opinion OF the officers in the army
as to our ability to carry on the war
Twas put on the committee. This
committee went promptly to work, and
the first day examined Gen. Lee al
lgreat length.
| Mr.. Baldwin was an experienced
lawyer, and in the examination devel
oped all the facts necessary to backing
| up the opinian which he knew Gen
Lee would express, and then put the
lquestions directly as to his ability te
carry on the war. His answers were
positively that it could not be done.
Mr.. Baldwin asked him if he could de
wise or suggest no plan for carrying OF
the war, and he answered that he
could not Mr.. Baldwin then asked
him about putting the negroes inte
the army, when he said it was too late
to consider the question.
The dispositions of other officers were
taken all to the same effect.
This evidence was submitted to Mr.
Davis, bnt he earnestly insisted tha'
he could carry on the war, and gav'
his reasons.
The writer about this time had
long conversation with Gen. j. D. G
Atkins in reference to the critica
condition, which resulted in the prep
aration of some resolutions looking t.
the appointment of Stevens, Campbell
and Hunter, and which I introduced
In the House in secret session. Thes
resolutions were stoutly opposed, o.
the ground of interference with tn
Executive, but in the course of a fe,
days it was clearly seen the resolution
could be passed. OF course, they onl
contemplated asking the President t.
Appoint. Before the resolutions wer
i. introduced, however, Gen. Atkins an
myself had seen Mr.. Stevens, who
with some changes, agreed to the rest
> llutions, but insisted that he should b
left off. This we did not do, and th
House was firm in making the thre
men named the commissioners.
After weeks debate we were not
fed that if we would stop the debat
Mr.. Davis would appoint the three me
" named. OF course the resolutions wei
IT, withdrawn, but with the conditio
'e that these three men and no othel
y should be appointed, and they WEI
IL Immediately appointed, and left tn
y next day.
y The instruction given by Mr.. Dav
le has been a matter of acrimonious di
pute, and some years ago when sal
that Mr.. Steysns said to me on return
ing that they, had been restricted to
settlement on the basis of indepel
dence, l was fiercely assailed by
gentleman who had never looked I'M
the facts.
This is settled by Mr.. Davis himse
in his book. Whatever ill-advise
friends of Mr.. Davis may do there
one thing about Mr.. Davis, he does n
ID equivocate. In his boek he gives bo1
orders issued by him to the commi
sioners, the first evidently looking to
A peace negotiations generally, but tt
L i l.. H. l. L..