The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-31

= v stio tSoilOE VI no
Sir,-PIease publish the inclosed cor
rection in regard to Jefferson Davis.
served in the Confederate Army four
years. and 1 am native OF the Shen-
andoah Valley. T. G. HAAS
Jefferson Davis Wrongly Charged
With Preventing Army From Mnrch-
Ing on Washington From Manassas.
Messrs. Editors:
In to-dly's Sun. May 81, the follow
ing paragraph appears in the inter
esting sketch of Jefferson Davis:
On the 2lst OF July, 1861. the battle
OF Manassas was fought and won Mt.
Davis reached the scene of action Just
as the conflict was over. 1t was said
that he intended taking command in
person. and that he never forgave
Bcauregard and Johnston for not ap-
prisins him sooner. The story was
told that General jackson had said,
GIVE me 10000 men and 1 Will cap
ture Washington this night" but that
Mr.. Davis would not allow any for
ward movement,
From that time the popularity of
Mr.. Davis with the South waned and
declined All through the South the
impression grew and strengthened
that he interfered With and hampered
the generals In the field, and every
disaster TO the Southern arms was
imputed to his mismana cement.
A similar statement was made in
the Baltimorean about 1875 Gan Illus
trated weekly paper published by
Crutchfield &. Haas, and MFR. Davis
wrote to the Baltmorean, asserting
that he never gave orders mot to adj
vance on Washington CITY," following
the victory at the first battle of Ma
nassas. July 81, 1861; that 1t was a
pure fabrication and did him Injustice.
He added that he did not deem it
necessary to answer falsehoods circu-
lated about himself. but that he or
dercd the Confederate forces not to
advance on Washington city July 21,
1861, or interfered with the generals
In command at any time was false
General Leo had implicit confidence
in Jefferson Davis. After the battle
of Gettysburg General Leo informed
the Confederate Congress, In aeoret
session, that unless his army was duly
recruited with necessary force and re-
sources he would have to eventually
surrender TO General Attrition. Gen
eraL Lee fully realized what Napoleon
Bonaparte said when the combined
forces of Europe were pitted against
him. zone cannot win Victories with
out sufficient forces and resources to
compete with the enemy in like con-
dition." To create supplies for the
Confederate Army and Navy belonged
to the function of the Confederate
Congress. No man possessed keener
sense of the functions OF officials in
government than Jefferson Davis. He
was State rights statesman, and
recognized the sovereign rights OF
states, expressed in Congress-. And
he fully eSemplined that he was the
executive power, not interfering with
the sovereign rights of States.
Jcffcrson Davis had thrust upon him
by the Southern people the most seri-
Gus and greatest responsibility ever
borne by man, and he faithfully dis
charged has duty. Under the circum
stances 1t is doubtful whether any
other man could have done better than
Jefferson Davis. a new government
wns organized without material for
THE construction of army and navy
supplies. Tho North had Its govern
ment well established with n popula-
tion more than three times larger than
that of tho South. Tho combined
States of New York. Pennsylvania aud
Ohio contained more population than
that OF tho whole South Tho records
of the United States War Department
show why tho South could not estab-
lish tho Southern Confectionery, and
these figures ooncusivciy prove that
General Attrition overwhelmed the