The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-10

on May 10 1865. at Washington, Ga
You ask that after reading / shall make
any suggestion or corrections which 4
might deem necessary in the interest of
truth.
Was Member of the Ninth.
Allow me to say that, like yoursef, /
was q member of the Ninth Regiment,
Kentucky Cavalry. Williams Brigade,
Dibrell's Division, which belonged TO the
escort, and 1 was with the troops every
day on their march from Greensboro to
Washington, Ga, where We surrendered,
and / am personally cognizant of the
events which occurred at that time, and
with the circumstances connected with
their surrender.
Allow me to say that have read your
communication very carefully and with
great interest, and can truthfully say
that you have told "the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but tho truth" in
regard to the matter under discussion.
Endorses All Written.
1 endorse and concur with you fully
in all you have written In defense Of
these gallant soldiers who by the for
tunes of war We're the last to surrender
east OF the Mississippi river. Really 1T
would seem unnecessary to say anything
more than has already been said by YOU,
yet am prompted to add just this:
1t was my fortune good or bad, to be
with these troops from Greensboro, N c.,
to Washington, Ga. / commingled with
the men of my regiment and brigade
every day, In the camp and on the
march: i was familiar with their spirit
and temper and courage, and / can con-
scientiously say that know they would
have cheerfully and courageousy fol-
lowed our honored and beloved chicftain,
President Jefferson Davis to the ends
OF the earth had he intinated that such
was his desire: and what say of my
own brigade / know to be true of all the
others.
Wishes of War Secretary.
But when 1t was made known to them
through General John G.. Breckenridge,
then Secretary of War ana commander
OF all troops and their own brigade, COM
manders, after final council of war held
at Abbeville, S. c., that their services
MS an escort were no longer needed or
desired, and it was further stated that
their presence would rather embarrass
than further the purposes of President
Davis, and that they advised and de
sired that these troops proceed no fur
Their, but halt at Washington. Ga, and
there be surrendered and paroled or dis
banded, what further was left for them
to do? e5
Blame Not on the Troops.
Surely if blame is to be attached to
any one for not attempting to continue
the war with these five brigades of Con-
federate cavalry, numbering abSut two
thousand men all told, against the com
bined armies of General Grant and Cen
eral Sherman, numbering two hundred
and fifty thousand men, then let the
blame rest where 1t belongs on their
superiors, those in authority. and not on
the men whose sole duty, was to obey.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die
Stigma Is Undeserved.
Surely it seems hard indeed m rciless,
that these soldiers, after having followed
the fortunes of the Lost Cause through
four years of danger and privation, at
testing their loyalty and their yalor upon
many battlefields, forty years after they
had laid down their arms, and after
nearly all of those who were the chief
actors in the scenes had passed over the
river to rest under the shade with their
honored cheftain, that thsa there should
be brought against them charge which.
II established fixes upon all connected
with these events. whether living or dead,
an everlasting stigma of disgrace.
II after reading your statement Of the
facts In defense of these gallant soldiers,
who surrendered on the 10th day of May,
lSt5. at Washington, Ga, any fair
minded person shall still give credence
10 the groundless charge published forty
wears ago, IN all probability written by
some newspaper reporter from hear
say, then such an one would not be
convinced though one arose from the
dead Very respectfully,
JOHN A. LEWIS,
(Formerly) Adjutant Ninth Reg, Ky.
Cavalry, c. S. A.