The National tribune., 1907-06-06
GEN. ROBERT f. LEE. c. s. A.
Was His Success Due to Astonishing
Luck Rather Than TO Genius:

Editor National Tribune: Who ever
read or heard other than words of
praise for Gen. Lee? He was the best
general in the Southern army. One of
the most successful of all the COM
manders recorded in history. But was
not his pre-eminence due to good
luck?
lie was appointed to command the
Army of Northern Virginia when Gen.
Johnston was wounded before Rich
mond in the battle of Seven Pines. KIe
fought the battles of Beaver Dam:
Gainess Mill, Savage Station. Glendale
Farm, and Malvern Hill. with the re-
suit of driving Mcclellan back from
his position in front of the Confeder-
ate capital and causing our Govern
ment to withdraw the army threaten
ing that city. Could he have accom-
plished all this. gaining the prestige
and renown which he did from 1t, if
he had been opposed by a competent
commander? Was it not good luck TO
be opposed by a General so greatly
i his inferior?
| He ordered Jackson down from the
Shenandoah Valley, his army to be REIN
forced by other troops along his route.
thus assembling new force of $4,000
men on McClellan's flank at Hanover
Court House. He then crossed to the
north side of the Chicka hominy. Ieav-
| ing only 1900 men, under Magruder.
confronting $1,000 of the Army of the
Potomac, and attacked Fitzjohn Por-
ter at Beaver Dam. but was repulsed
with heavy loss. The advance of
Jackson compelled Porter to retire To
Gainess Mill, where he repulsed many
attacks of Lee. and was only defeated
when JacksOn's advance again men,
aced his flank and rear. Would We
not have won that battle by reinforce
ing Porter with the $4,000 men who
were doing no good on the other side
of the river. or what was there to pre-
vent the $1,000 men from going into
Richmond? Only Magruder's small
force. Was it not great luck to win
battles that he would have lost if prop
erly opposed?
Gen. Lee made a great mistake in
jassaulting Porter at Malvern Hill, and
was defeated. We can only guess what
a competent General would have done
to him at that time; but Mcclellan or
dered a retreat. Lucky for Lee.
Meantime the Government at Wash
ington was still living, and after allow
ing Mcdowell to pass Jackson down
to the Richmond front, an army was
organized under Gen. Pope and al
vanced to the Rappahannock Lee
sent Jackson, and followed with Long
street. after Mcclellan was ordered
" NdS Hot Lee III great
luck to have Pope for an opponent
Could his splendid manuver have
been executed against a competent
commander? Would he have dared
attempt to march Jackson right thru
the center of Pope's army to
the base of supplies (Which he cap
tured and destroyed) if that army had
been commanded by Sherman No.
1t was good luck to be pitted against
n hn 10 hn icfo In,
of fighting the great battle of the sec
ond Bull Run, and giving Lee the
glory of winning it.
Again, could Lee have accomplished
what he did at Antietam with $4,000
men against 100000, but for the in
competency of the opposing COM
mander? He sent Jackson to take
1900 men "a job that would last
three days. after Mcclellan was with
in two days march with superior
forces. Yes, it was seneralship; but
it was luck also. to have an opponent
who would not or could not take adj
vantage of such situation.
See Lees luck at Fredericksburg,
other great victory Won by the poor
generalship of his opponent, not by his
genius. -=tf 4
Again. his astounding success at
Charlottesville where he defeated
100, 900 men with $4,000. Was he not
in luck to have an opponent to per-
nit that? Hooker was stunned by a
cannon ball, it is said; but as Gen.
Couch refused to take command after
seeing him. it was probably not cam
non ball that stunned him. Jackson
marched in full view along the front
of our army and around its flank
Could he have done that with Sheri-
dan commanding our forces? Not in
a thousand years.
But that was the last of Lees great
victories. Gettysburg was such mis-
take on his part, and such a defeat.
that he sent in his resignation and
asked the Government to appoint a.
better man to command the army.
Grant commanded our army when
the next great battle was fought. ana
Lee met his superior, to whom he
surrendered in less than a year.
Gen Lee may also be criticized be-
cause he failed to prevent the inhu-
man treatment of our men in Libby,
Belle Isle. Andersonville and other
Southern prisons, and took no notice
of it SO far as there is any record. His
influence with the Confederate Gov
eminent was unlimited, and he could
have brought about policy of hui
name treatment of prisoners that
would have saved the lives of many
thousands of our brave soldiers
Carey ID. Lindsay, Toledo, o.