The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-11-25

plosion at Fort Hill, rushing upon and
crushing the Union columns as they
pressed into that breach and holding
the city against every assault, save
that Of starvation"
Did Gen. Lee-after the failure Of
the Hampton Roads Conference and
before the evacuation Of Richmond
propose to President Davis thet an
attempt should be made to come to
terms with the Washington govern
ment? We have Gen. Gordon's au-
thority for the assertion that such
proposal was made during the first
week in March, 1865. Our author was
then corps commander in Lee s
army. 1t seems that, about 2 O 'cloc K
in the morning precise day is not
named-Gen. Lee sent messenger to
summon Gen. Gordon to headquarters.
In o conference, which lasted until
near sunrise, the Confederate COM
msnder-in chief discussed the three
courses which were open to the men
who held in their hands the fate of
the Confederacy. Our author names
them in what appeared to Gen. Lee
and to himself the order Of expedi-
ency. "First, make terms with the
enemy, the best we can get. Second
ly, if that is not practicable, the best
thing to do is to retreat-abandon
Richmond and Petersburg, unite by
rapid marches w;.n Gen. Johnston in
North Carolina, snd strike Sherman
before Grant can JON him; or, lastly,
We must fight, and aithout delay"
Gen. Gordon testiGes that although
there was no explicit statement to
that effect the drift of Gen. Lees
words led to the conclusion that ne
thought immediate steps should be
taken to secure peace. To the ques-
tion whether he had made his views
known to President Davis or to the
Confederate congress, he replied that
he had not; that ho was o soldier,
those business was TO obey the orders
OF his supericrs, and that he scarcely
felt authorized to suggest to the civil
authorities the sdvisability of coming
to terms with the government Of the
United States. Thereupon Gen. Cor
don suggested it would not only be
proper for him to see President Davis
on the subject, but that it might be
his duty to do so, inasmuch as the
southern people had placed their
hopes largely in their commanding
general. Lee answered with char
acteristic modesty that the people ex.
pscted Of him only the best services
he could give them at the head Of the
army. Gen. Gordon eeys that as
nearly as he can recall his own words
they we're: General, if the news
papers correctly represent the thought
aud sentiment of the people, there
can be no doubt that they are looking
to you for deliveranoe, more than
to President Davis, or the congress, or
both combined; and it seems TO me
that your responsibility is such as to
entitle yeu 70 the aid Of the civil
authorities in finding the shortest way,
consistent with honor, out Of our
troubles
Gen. Lee was still extremely reluc.
tant TO take any step not in accord
with the gt1:c.ast military e.hice; has,
-!st;mateiy, ne said: 81 will 90, and T
will send for you again on my return
from Richmond" he spent two days
in the Confederate capital, and on his
return summoned Gen. Gordon. Moth
ing he said could be done at Rioh-
mond. The Confederate congress
seemed not TO appreciate the situa.
alton. Org ss.hoF recalls that, "OR
President Davis he spoke in terms oe
strong enIogy; OF the strength Of HE
convictions, OF his devotedness, Of his
remarkable faith in the possibility OF
still winning our independence, ead
OF his unconquereble will power. The
nearest approach TO complaint or ortiz
oism were the words, which I can
never forget: You know that the
president is very psrtinaoioua 20 opin-
ion and purpose President Davis
did not believe We could secure suoh
terms as we could afford to accept and