The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-10
HOW LEE ENDED THE WAR
REFUSED TO KEEP Up A GUERRILLA
STRUGGLE AFTER APPOMATTOX.
Charles Francis Adams Reads an In
teresting Paper Before the Amer
lean Antiquarian Society.
Springfield olass.) Letter in New York

der. and compared the struggle or the
South with the present war in South Afrl-
ca. What he said was new. and included a
hitherto unpublished chapter Of American
history. He said in part:
"The present seems TO me a sufficiently
proper occasion, and this a good place, to
call attention 10 a matter not otherwise
than germane 10 the purpose Of the society.
Historical In its. character. 1t conveys a les
son OF grave import. One Of the most un-
happy. and, TO those concerned in II, dis
astrous wars of the century. is that now In
South Africa dragging itself out 10 a con-
clusion apparently still remote, and. in
every way, unsatisfactory. There is good
reason 10 hin that the conflict was I'M
necessary in it's inception; that, by judi
cious action, it might long since have been
brought 10 a close: and. finally, that it is
now continued simply because the parties
TO 1t cannot be brought together TO discuss
and arrive at a sensible basis Of adjust
ment-a basis upon which both are, in re-
atty. ready to agree. Nevertheless, as the
cable dispatches daily show, the contest
drags YEARLY along, 10 the probable de-
struction Of one OF the combatants. to the
great loss Of the other. and, sc far as can
be seen, in utter disregard of the best in
terests of both.
MY purpose, however, is to draw atten-
ton 10 the hair-breadth escape We our
selves had from a similar experience now
thirty-five years ago, ana 10 assign 10
whom ii belongs the credit or that escape.
In one word, in the strong light of passing
events L think it now opportune to set forth
the debt OF gratitude this reunited country
OF and Confederate, North and
-South-owes TO Robert l.. Lee.
''The decision rested in the hands Of one
mantle commander of the Army OF North
ern Virginia. Fairly reliable and very
graphic account OF what took place at
General Lees headquarters in the early
morning hours of that day have either APP
peared in print or been told In CONVERSE
ton, and to two OF these accounts L pro-
pose to call attention. Apparently the sec
ond of the interviews described followed
close on the first, not more than a couple
Of hours intervening between them. OF the
first. L find this account in a book recently
published by John Sargent Wise, entitled
'The End Of an Era. John Sargent Wise Is
the son of Henry A. Wise, once prominent
In our national politics. Governor of Nir-
ginia in the later hfties, he was subse-
quently a brigadier general in the Confed-
crate service. Though in 1865 but a youth OK
nineteen, John ;. Wise was d hot COnfed-
crate. and had already been wounded in
battle. At the time now in question he
CHANGED TO have been sent by JEFFERSON Da-
Wis, then on his way from Richmond 10
Danville, with dispatches to Lee; and,
while seeking Lees headquarters he came,
in the early morning Of April 9, across his
father, Governor and General Wise, in
bivouac with his brigade. The father was
then nearly sixty years Of age, but the son
found him lying on the ground, asleep
among his men, A typical Southern fire
eater OF the extreme type, Henry A. Wise
was an out-and-out secessionist and Con-
federate. Aroused by his son from his UNI
easy slumber, almost the first wish he eX-
pressed was TO see General Lee, and he in
quired impetuously Of his whereabouts.
The two started to go to General Lees
headquarters.
GENERAL LEES HEADQUARTERS.
1--WE found General Lee on a rear portico
OF the house he occupied" says Mr.. Wise.
He had washed his face in a tin basin.
and stood drying his beard with a coarse
towel as we approached. General Lee ex-
claimed my father, my poor, brave men
are lying on yonder hill more dead than
alive. For more than a week they have
been fighting day and night without food,
and. by God. sir. they shall not move an
other step until somebody gives them some
thing TO eat
Come in. general said General Lee.
soothingly. They deserve something to eat,
and shall have it; and meanwhile you shall
share my breakfast He disarmed every
thing like defiance by his frankness.
1T was but a few moments, however, be-
fore my father launched forth In a fresh
denunciation OF the conduct OF Gen. Bush
rod Johnson in the engagement OF the 9th.
] am satisfied that General Lee felt as he
did. but. assuming an air Of mock severity,
he said. General, are you aware that you
are liable TO cOurt-martial and execution
for INSTRUMENTATION and disrespect toward
your commanding officer?
My father looked at him with lifted eye
brow and flashing eyes. and exclaimed:
Shot! You can't afford TO shoot the men
who fight for cursing those who ran away.
Shot wish you would shoot me. If you
don't, some Yankee probably will within
the next twenty-four hours
Growing more serious, General Lee in
CURED what he thought OF the situation.
'Situat.onY said the bold old man.
There Is no situation. Nothing remains,
General Lee. but TO put your poor men on
your poor mules and send them home in
time for spring blowing. This army is hope
lessly whipped, and is fast becoming de-
moraliZed. These men have already endured
more than 1 believed flesh and blood could
stand, and / say TO you, sir, emphatically.
that to prolong the struggle is murder. and
the blood or every man who Is killed from
this time forth Is on your head, General
Lee
This last expression seemed to cause
General Lee great pain. With a gesture of
remOnStrance, and even of impatience, he
protested: oh, general. do not talk so wild
ly. My burdens are heavy enough. What
would the country think of me if l did
what you suggest?
Country be d was the quick reply.
There Is no country. There has been no
country. general. for a year or more. You
are the country OF these men. They have
fought for you. They nave shivered through
a long winter for you. Without pay. or
clothes, or care or any sort. their devotion
90 you and faith in you have been the only
things which have held this army to-
gether.'
General Lee stood for some time at an
open window, looking out at the thIOng
now surging upon the roads and in \the
fields. and made no response"
LEES REFUSAL.
Mr.. Adams then went on 10 say that Gen.
r. p. Alexander cOrrObOrates Mr.. Wise's
story. Alexander at about the same time
laid before General Lee a plan for main
tanning a guerrilla warfare indefinitely.
Lee replied:
NO General Alexander, that will not do.
You must remember we are q Christian
people We have fought the fight as long as
and as well as we knew how. We have been
defeated. For US, as a Christian people,
there Is now but one course 10 pursue. We
must accept the situation. these men must
go nome and plant a crop, and we must
proceed 10 build up our country on a new
basis. We cannot have recourse TO the
methods you suggest / remember being
deeply impressed with Alexander's COM
ment. as he repeated these words OF Lee.
They had evidently burned themselves
into MS memOry. He said: i had nothing
more 10 say. ] felt that the man had scared
way up above me-he dominated me COM
pletely. / rose from beside him; silently
mounted my horse. rode hack 10 my com
mar0. and waited for the order 10 sur
render
4.en and there Lee decided its course
FOR the COnfederacy. And / take IL there is
not one solitary man in the United states
to-day. North or South, who does not feel