The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20

He stated that tile clrcufns!hhnGtrs. in I'M
evacuation OF Fctei sblig vas put tt5l"e"-
tiun OF Tine 4. 4,
10 iiv Inquiry whittier y would no ,,l,, 20
drawing nt once, he said thnt his lrtillgry
+ and u'auyht horses wore TOO weak iui
tie roads In Their then c9naitpqii, , NV
'file prugfuminc WNs To retire 10 I1n.
vile. at Which place supplies sll9ia Ne Ho
troops under der Gen. j. D. Johnson.
Though Of unusually calm and well P pa,
ancen Judgment. Gen. Loo was , insai ,mS
AilrcIl stR Gen. breckenridge wrote
Cen, Ice:
Ay Ietections on our recent nt, co on Wll
Eive nc lly YOU, views On t tn, in nt by
legislative department Of the government. u.
thoroughiys informed Of the poslire Of af-
IA rs In order thnt It's wisdom may r1;
operate In devlsng what means amai,
from i,spicsent datger, aud tn4s appears
70 Le the moro urgent since !, is Mm'ie ~,
s,TGd consrss* pr.pescy a 70 "a apo y, 81
siilenehhts and opinions vii he received e,
With the respect due TO- your exalted
character und great services. =, ~
1oIIowins d ID at (eiigilie,sco page i.S,,,
serial No.aUG. IN this rytly there is NO
Recommendation of d specific nature, nor
riaint T he c ,Es SION only Is auo,ed
While the military situation is not NY
orabe, It Is not worse than the SUPERIOR
numbers and resources Of tIc enemy ~,
Legitimate mil tnry consequences OF l.lilt
superiority have been postponed lorsur
than We had reason to nnticiE ute. EVERY,
shl,n,g IN ny onioni nay n not ons and and
feelings of the people. Their represents
tves can best decide how they WI! bear
the difficulties and suffering or their con
dition, and how they VIII respond to tho
demands which the pubic safety req Tres.
Can any reader Of. these pnss sGs.
which could be amplilled II reg .ls 81, ~, 90
raoy to bel rs a f lis ' s
ton and It's necessities TO Mr.. Davis and
those surrounding him: or that his SUI ges-
TINS of plans and movements were NOT
hnmpered or INSTRUCTED him by any vain
and fntuous cling ng to Richmond? Cen
eral Leo states tho whole story Of tllo
failure Of tlle Confedcracy. was NE
simple Legitimate military, consequence
of tho superior numbers and resources OF
the enemy which was postponed IN
deed longer than we had reason TO sup
As to another one OF these propositions
that about making terms with the enemy
the record shows General Lee was giVen,
a free hand. February 25th GENERAL
l.OHSSlTGct. met ISUclul (IIu l'litCI '1oo
of truce, about exchanging certain prts-
oncrs. a discussion ensue1 as 10 ces-
saton or the war, through Ice and Gralt
This was followed by q conference at tho
President mansion. and another interview
between Longstreot aud Ord February
2Sth, the former reporting the result 10
the President who wrote General Lee
p. 1864. serial No. 90, on the same day:
You will learn by letter Of General
Longstrcct OF his second Interview ~ tn
General Ord. The point as to whether
yourself or General Grant should invite
the othcr.,to a conference Is not worth
discussing. If you think the statemonts
Of General Ord render It probably useful
that the conference be had, you vii pro-,
coed as you mdy prefer, and are clothed
with all the supplemental authority you
may heed In tie consideration Or any
prorosit on for a military convention 70
enter into such an arrangement as VIII
cause at least a temporary suspension
Of hostlities,
Wlereupon General Lee wrote Grant
March Cd, proposing Il meeting with Il
view to 4 convention Of the bel !lgerents
lie stated in this letter page S2i serial
No, 9G) "in such event l am au horned to
do whatever the result of the proposed
interview may render necessary or ndVs-
able The interview was meyer he d
Grant saying Ord had been misunderstood
and lie had no authority to acccde to tho
proposition for q conference
- .