The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
GORDON, DAVIS, LEE.
Criticism Of the Book Of the
First Named General.

FIN. u = !
First-Named General.
The vicksburg Herald critciscs "The
Rccollcctions OF the Civil War" ny Gen.
John q. Gordon. 1t particularly failed to
appreciate the situation Of affairs before
Petersburg in March, 1865. After referring
to what Gordon says about Lees WISH 20
Richmond and Interview with tho. Prcsi-
dent. the Herald says:
In substance wc are asked by General
Gordon to accept tho statement that IN
period when the entire lproblem OF II
Southern Confederacy had been reduced
to the sustennnce and direction of Lees
army, the President and Congress failed
to appreciate It's desperate strait INIT
through ''pertinacty In opinion and pur-
rosn'' Mr.. Davis declined 10 defer 10
General Lees advice and plan. at tlis
time, as stated the whole care and burden
of government was centered upon the
troops III the trenches around Richmond
and Petersburg. There was not dAy
without direct intercourse between the
President and the army. lie, q trained
and highly rcputed soldler-ns was his
Secretary OF Wur--llad 1t under mind ana
eye. 1t was ms plain to him from Ken
mnnd, In all Its parts and movements, as
the palm Of his hand Yet he kne" II
not-hc was so purbllnd In his own con-
ccit that General Lee could not MAKE
him see thata crisis was impending. Ann
while MIR. Davis paltered with fate, de-
s,ruction came. And General Gordon can
write OF the exhibition Of criminal OBJ
Justly and obstinncy ''without a tinge OF
resentment or reproach." What sublime
mnsnanlmity!
Unwittlngly General Gordon's rcvcla-
lions bear as hard upon Lee ns on DAVIS.
at the supreme and direful moment or
destiny, he was restrained by pune
tilious proprIe,y from laying bare inc
vitals Of the military situation 70 inc
hcnds OF the Confederate government Inc
commandments chief Of all tho armies, his
conception of n vast responsibility ana
labor was narrowed down to the business
OF obeying orders of superlors; he did not
feel authorized to Impose his opinions lol
the military situation) on the ciVll hu
thorities' Only after being coacheH IN
assertion, of his right, In doing his duty,
BY General Gordon, was he persuaded 20
overcome his modesty--to "obtrude MS
views upon Mr.. Davis or Congress" un-
der such tutelagc General Leo finally
consented, however. to visit Mr.. Davis,
which he did" This ts new picture
of the great Confederate chcftain, In
aeed-one "l'''c''o ~
biogra phies.
In REPUTATION of General Gordon's I'M
peachment of the competency OF MT.
Davis, and the strength of character OF
General Lee, the following passages are
cited from tho record. They prove tnat
General Gordon has been sclf-deluded--
that the massage of forty years over his
had has nIayed strange tricks with his
n. a.s 10 nr e." that long ago.
nj ,orre.nondence between General Lee
-, 49, ~, fadar,t, President and Secre-
ana fie IN J.. az NV ~ ra-
tar| or warm sGl'a, ~. ~ , M 80 a.,
beliion recoru--snom 'i'"' ~ ,,.,.an ,.,ant.
uatlon, the necessities anu eily,tot.Ho ~,
of the army delehulhs i.'t'iio.''
question OF Its WlthdrhWHl, was 'he sup1-
ject of intimate and frequent discussion ~.
So far from not having "ohtruaeu MS
onnions on AIr. Davis or Congress" Cen
oral lee was urged to do so; and so did
nr,or 70 ..thc first week III March. 1865"
when General Gordon took matters In
wne, $500 ,.ah.,,ar, % ,se5 r. 2oo OF the
nanu, 80 u"', ,osorred 70 secretary OF
Voiu'lie aooNe - ranarol Too.
war. breche'','us. 1T, - :, .onss,ty ne
In reference 20 me poSs'p.s In or,t.
abandoning our cues, 49, r,rd - t,,o
filed to nave your views ~ I,sa - ~ 80
point upon which we snoulu .eI...
move stores, etc" IN the eve .l, ~ -"
ample. OF the evacuation OF n.ei, nl',t, .
10 this General Lee reliieu tn' io''o"'t''
day as follows:
In the event or the necessity ol G ,,n
donins our position on ti,e 'n.nes 81 w..
/ shall endeaYor 70 unite the coips VI ~
army about burkev',, ' 50 az o ~ .omth
COMMUNICATION W,th wy ~, ~, ~ 60
as iohs us l"ss', ~ 10 earne date from
:, IN L.. IT, -, % concerninp The con-
oreckei ,, ~ Too, 70 meet sherman.
ceh'intio.' u
We 't "a ~ osr,,,o 70 assemble in
VIZ fnr,os "a meet him.
eqnaI or supa' ~ ,,o,nht info cnthusInsm,
hnu .,,ne iu'. ,ro.enco great results
Wy Soui pu,so 80 or,,,.f,n, ~ tbys
might pc "cl'ieyei' a.u go ~ ,to sttuo
sort mus. w qoi'u a. datar,,in n mcet
lio' Is lost' - ~ ~, ier 81, tho
these dispes.i,ohs; y, uno ,vIi, no hcnt
ehersles W t,''7 rnrhn, tI,nso s,,rpertions
70 sustalh YOU. "lu .t,,,,i,taI - Mo,,r hnt !,
"hch are lne'e'y sup'"i'.o0
yer Juuslhenl. ~ .o,,,,r,, do,, Gov
IN MS fepiy ~ ny Ut "s &c roI,ows.
va , no min abandon James River
.,i, ,oo, chorman> cnn hc sent
noli'ihs w ui'o' 49,. 49, '.,,Ini, i, nnw
from TINS army. draNt' ! LINN, 20 ~
preparing to draw out BY MS lett, WIN
the intention of cnveloping me- he may