The National tribune., 1907-08-01
LEES LOYALTY.
The Last Interview Petween Him and
Gen. Scott.

Editor National Tribune: Recent ar
ticles in many papers on THE Loyalty
of Robert f. Lee and the letters in
spired by ii, are rather confusing to
some of US old soldiers who served thru
what we used to call the war of the
rebellion" but has now been softened
into the civil war; or, perhaps, 1.-The
late unpIeasantness"
If much that is written of late on
the subject is just, then we were mis-
taken in going to fight for what we con-
sidered the vital question of the exist
ence of our National Government,
threatened with destruction by the very
men. like Gen. Lee. whom it had edu-
Gated and whom it had right, as Rev.
Edward f. Hale says. in his famous
Man Without a Country" to consider
its confidential men of honor"
What Gen. Lee said OF his own mo-
tives can be found on page 81 of Gen.
Townsend'c Anecdotes of the Civil War
His words are quoted in an interview
with Gen. Scott as follows:
Gen. Scott: You are at present on
leave of absence. Col. Lee?'
Col. Lee: Yes. General. I am stay
ing with my family at Arlington"
Gen. Scott: These are times when
every officer in the United States SER
vice should fully determine what course
he will pursue. and frankly declare it.
No one should continue in Government
employ without being actively engaged.
tNO response from Lee)
Gen. Scott tafter a pause): Some Of
the Southern officers are resigning, pos
sibly with the intention of taking part
with their States. They make a fatal
mistake. The contest may be long and
severe. but eventually the issue must be
in favor of the Union"
(Another pause and no reply from
Lec.)
Gen Scott (seeing evidently that Lee
showed no disposition to declare himself
loyal, or even in doubp: Il suppose you
will go with the rest If you purpose
to resign, il is proper you should do so
at once; your present attitude is an
equvocal one"
Col. Lee: General. the property be-
longing to my children. all they possess,
lies in Virginia. They will be ruined il
they do not go with their State. 1 can
not raise my hand against my children" +"
The General then signified that he
had nothing further to say, and Col
Lee withdrew. The next day, April 20,
1861. he rendered his resignation, and
It was accepted the 25th.
On the same page an interview of
Lee with Cen Shiras is given, as fol-
lows:
1t was probably near the same day
as the interview with Gen. Scott that
the following incident, related to me by
the late Gen. Shiras, occurred. Shiras
was in the Office of -Adj't-Gen. L.
Thomas when Col. Lee came in
there. Standing on the side of the ta-
bic opposite where Thomas was sitting
Lee said. Gen. Thomas. / am told
you have said / was traitor!' Thomas
arose, and, looking him in the eye, re-
piled: i have said so; do you wish 10
know on what authority?'
Yes said Lee.
We'll. on the authority of Gen.
Scott
Lee muttered, There must be some
mistake. turned and left the room"
When Gen. Scott retired in Novem-
ber, 1861. the general order of Gen.
Mcclellan assuming command of the
army alludes to him as one who in
his declining years has given to the
world the most shining instance of 10y
atty in disregarding all ties of birth and
clinging still to the cause of truth and
honor"
Evidently Gen. Scott's views of 10y
atty and patriotism were quite different
from those of Gen. Lee. Until the men
who were honestly serving the Union
have all passed away, / hope it will be
impossible to explain quite away dis
loyalty or to whitewash treason.-Old
Soldier, Norwich, Conn.