The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-03
TODAY I'M HISTORY
Lee Takes Command Of Southern Army
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1910.


On April 20, 1861. three days after the
Virginia convention adopted an ordinance
OF secession. General Robert f.. Lee re-
army, in obedience TO his conscientious
convection that he was bound by the act
OF his state. His only authentic express
slon OF opinion and sentiment on the
subject Is found In the following passage
from lettor written at the time OF his
resignation TO his sister:
WIN All my devotion TO the union.
and the feeling OF loyalty and duty of
an American citizen, / have not been
able TO mako mp my mind 10 raise my
hand against my relatives. my children,
my commission In the army. and. save
IN defense o! my native statc-with the
sincere hope that my poor services may
never be needed hope ! may never be
called upon TO draw my sword
During tho carly part of tho Cen
cral Lee served lnconspicuously in the
western part OF Virginia. In the autumn
OF 1861 he was sent TO the coast OF South
Carolina where he planned. and In part
constructed. the defense lines that sue
cessfully resisted all efforts directed
against them until the very end OF the
war, For some reason the Confederate
authorities failed to promptly recognize
the remarkable abilities of Lee. and in
one instance. being repused In West Vlr-
gipia. he was recalled by President
Davis.
Up to June, 1862. It was not suspected
at the North that General Lee was to
prove tho most rcdoubtable opponent OF
the union. When. however. General
Johnston was defeated and severely
wounded at Fair Oaks. he obtained his
ed on June 2. 1862. to take Johnston's
place as commander Of the army Of
northern Virginia for the reason. as
President res Davis said at The time. to an
aide camp. Colonel w. p Johnston
that he unlike other Confederate gem
erals, had pcrsistently recommended a
vigorous aggressive policy.
His blographcr tells us Owing 90 his
undemonstrative dcmeanor. and tho alb
srnce OF any melodramatic element In
ms character. Lee did not at the time
nor docs he now, receive full credit for
audacious purposes The truth is. that
could Lee have had his way. he would
never have suffered the Federal armies
70 recover from their defeats nor the
tween the two invasions Of Maryland"
. The effect Of Lees promotion. on June
j. 10 The supreme control of the defense
OF OF Sic Richmond was immediately per-
mad been beaten at Fair Oaks MAY H.
june - struck McClellau's army at Me-
rhanicsyille. on Juno 26. and after a
series of desperate battles lasting seven
days. drove the union general to the
James river under tho protection of his
gunboats. How much the sword of ono
great general weighs when flung into the
scale OF war. NAV be computed from the
Tact that the Washington government.
which only thirty davs before deemed its
forces In the field adequate for all
eXigencies. then issued in fever of
anxiety, a call for 800 ,000 men
y large army was Immediately con-
'entrated for the defense OF Washington
md placed under General Pope Before |
.he 1uncture was entirely effected Lee |
whose oGicleness or disccrnment was
'qualed by his CELEBRITY OF movement, rell |
IN Pope and crushed him so utterly that
he remnants Of his army were glad to |
lee for refuge behind the Qualifications |
If Washington
Lee had now been general OF the army |
II northern Virginia for ninety days. and |
whereas at the outset Richmond seemed |
ipon the verge of capture. now, at tho |
md of that brief period. Richmond was !
afe. while Washington was i'm imminent |
,eril.
Lee had things pretty much his own
way until March. 1864. when Grant was |
made commander OF the Federal forces
When it was evident that the Confcdcra te
'eneral was to have "a foeman worthy
4 his steel" From this on IT was a
truggle TO the death for either Lee or
rant and the latter came out victor
through superior numbers and superior
esources. but with great admiration for
is opponent-an admiration which ex-