The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-03-28

Save In defense Of my native State.
never desire again to draw my sword.
Be pleased to accept my most earnest
wishes for the continuance of your hap
piness and prosperity. and believe me.
most truly yours.
"R. D. Lee.
"L,eut-Gen. Winfield Scott. command
ing United States Army"
There has been q decided suspicion
thrown upon the disingeniousness of
this letter by the Charleston Mercury's
assertion that at the time Lee knew
that he was to be General-in- Chief of
| the Virginia forces which were already
being arrayed in hostility to the Gov
eminent. and beginning the conflict with
| raids upon Harper's Ferry, Fortress
| Monroe and the Norfolk Navy Yard,
He also must have known of the agree
| ment between Gov. Letcher and Jeffer-
| son Davis, placing the forces of vir-
gina It the disposal Of the Southern
Confederacy.
The Decisien to Burn the Bridges.
Even Mayor Hicks and Gov. Brown
! were unable to Withstand the passionate
| cyclone so cunningly fomented by the
Secession leaders. These were so en-
phatic in their assertions that the ar
| rival of any more troops from the North
would bring an outburst far worse than
| that which had assailed the Massachu.
sets regiment that Mayor Brown final
~ agreed to their demand that the
bridges north Of the city be burned to
prevent any more troops being brought
IN. AS Mayor Browns authority did not
extend beyond the corporation of Bal
1more, It was necessary to have the
Governors order for the action. For
while Gov. Hicks held out stubbornly
against this. and afterward denied that
ne mad ever given sucn an order. Mayor
Brown says that he received informa-
tion that troops were coming into Bal.
tlmore over the Northern Central route
and possibly from Philadelphia. Gov
TICKS was stopping In his house at the
time, and was called from his bed to
meet the Mayor. Marshal Kane and
says: -
The point was pressed that il troops
were suddenly to come to Baltimore
with discrimination to pass thru, ter
rible collision and bloodshed would take
place, and the consequences to Baiti-
only WayNto avert the calamity was to
destroy the bridges. To this the Gov
ernor replied. 1t seems to be neces-
sary.' or words to that effect.
he was then asked by me whether
ne gave his consent to the destruction
OF the bridges, and he distinctly, altho
apparently with great reluctance, re-
pied in the affirmative. do not assert
that have given the precise Ianopags
used by Gov. Hicks. but I am very clear
that I have stated II with suhsfantia,|
correctness, and that hi. assent No.
unequivocal, and in answer to q oues-
ton by me which elected q distinct af-
frmative reply.
After this hut bafore tho ,ntsrv,.v
was over. two gentlemen came into the
room, both Of them stranger, To ma
but one was Introduced as the hrothsr
Of Gov. Hicks, and 1 am confident that
the assent Of the Governor To tha bnrn-
ing Of the bridges was repeated in fha
presence Of these gentIemenn
Parties were therefore, sant out h.-
i,, uayhsn. Marsnai Kane leading onet
MelvaIe. RELAY Honse and cncEas,ss,1.
on the road to Harrisburg and ovar the
Bush and Gunpowder Riyera ana uor
ris Creek on the Philadeinhia Vance,
which completely cut off Ali commnni'l
cation from the North and East
u = state OF Revolt.
Gov. Hicks was persuaded to cau ont
the militia for the preservation Of tho
peace, and it was seen that thew were
under the command of off,
n n
mote the policy of Secession. Anrii. 90
the Common Council Of Baltimore held
a meeting, at which. by an unanimousl
vote, $4,000 was placed at the dis
posal of the Mayor to provide for the
defense of the city. He began enrol,inel
of citizens. who were armed
with muskets and reyelyers fnrnishedI
from the CITY armorv. Tho sobar,a. -
the Secession leaders had made mar
velous progress, and those gentlemenl
had good reason to coneratulote tben,-
selves that Maryland had been mt In a
state of open rebellion. and that the
riot in the streets of Baltimore wonId
rank with the reduction of Fort Sum-
ter as cornerstone in the erection of
Southern independence.
VI inc fears a. 10 washington.
How real was the danger of a raid
upon Washington which would captnre
the city, dispense the new Administra-
ton and give the Southern Confederacv
the prestige of possession of the seat
Of Government, with all its archives 10
readily seen by reading the Southern
papers of that iay. April "a the Ricb- I
mond Examiner said. .s,-.r-:
1.-THE capture of washington c,,+v ,s
perfectly within the mower ~ vire;nia
and Maryland. IL Virginia will oniv
make the proper effort bv bar oons.i
.uted authorities: nor Is there . SINGLE
moment to lose; the entire popuIation
pant for the onset: there never was
half the unanimity among the people