The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-03-10
GEN. LEEAUNION MAN.
Could Not Raise His Hand AGAINST
His Relatives. His Children, and
Home


Senator Daniel, Of Virginia, deliver &
an address in Baltimore a few nights az.
on Gen. Robert L. Lee. in the course rf
which he spoke OF Gen ee a. a Union
man. "Col. Lee" he said WAS di-
tiDctly a Union manaud Virginia a Union
State. He loved the people of his kiu-
dred blood. His life had been spentuntii
then in the service II his country. and
two OF bis sons held command in the
army. Many professional years Of his
lille had been spent in Northern com
munity, and he well unders TODD the re-
sources OF that great section When
men spoke to him of coming war he
would reply We are all Aneri
cans ~ This is propably "A correct state.
ment OF Gen Lee's sentiments up TO the
time OF the beginning of the waf Ii was
State pride and kinship that led him t.
go with his State. Had Virginia rot
seeded he would never have Joined the
Confederate army, and would probably
have fought on the Union side Tie had
been three years in command at West
Point aud had many friends in the North
tut his relatives Were all in Virginia lie
resigned his commission in the United
states army three days after the Virginia
convention adopted an ordinance Of
sect ssiOp, and IN IA letter To his sister he
said:
We are now in state of war which
will yield to nothing. The whole South
Il in state of revolution into which
Virginia. after "A long struggle. has been
drawB; and though recognize no nt ces-
sity for this state OF things, and wCuld
have forborne and pleaded To the eud Tor
redress oi grievances, real Or supposed.
yet iu my own person had t. meet the
question whether | should take part
againstmy native State With all my
devotion to the MON. and the feeling of
loyelty and duty oi the American citizen.
have not been able to make up my
mindtO raise my haud AGAINST my rela
tives. my childpn my home. | have
therefore resigned my commission in the
army, and save in the defense al my na
tive State--wi,h the sine re hone that
my poor services may never be needed
hope may never be called upon to
draw my sword
Read between the lines. this letter
shows thai Gen. Lee thought the war
might and should have heen avoided:
that he regretted that Virginia had been
drawn into the revolution" that was
sweeping over the South. and that h,
bitterly deplored the situation. which
from his point of view. compelled him to
go with his state His point of view
was strong, but large allowance must
be made for ed ucatiou and ndenvironments
After all is said, it must be remembered
that Gen. Lte fought many more years
Tor the | nited States than ne did for the
Coniederacy, and that his record until
his State took him out of the Union was
one OF splendi loyalty and brilliant ser
vice. After his surrender his whole in
huence was used in the direction of Gen.
Grants famous Let us have peace"
Gen. Grant in his official report of mill
tary operations during lS54-1S65, in
cludIng the surrender. said;
Gen. Lees great influence throughout
the whole south caused his example to
be followed, and today the result is that
the armies lately under his leadership are
at their homes, desiring peace and quiet.
aud their arms are in the hands of the
ordnance officers"
This was written July -, 1863, and
from that time till his death in ST0 Gen.
Lee was a good Union man. The senti.
ment had only been interrupted by the
false idea that his State had first claim
upon his loyalty ty.-From the Indianapolis
Journal.