Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-22


Lee, who had commanded the military
and naval forces of Virginia since April
q. turned them oficiaily over to Jeffer-
son Davis, president of the Confederate
government.
Actually this transfer was merely
formality, so much so that contempt
rary writer's on the war failed even to
make mention of it. 1t was merely the
final ceremony that marked the union of
Virginia and the Confederacy.
Virginia was now as much a part of
the Confederacy as was South Carolina,
and Richmond was it's capital Her
troops were now to be in names as they
had already been in fact, part of the
Confederate army.
Over these troops General Lee had held
chief command for a month and
half, and since early May he lad like
wise commanded the Confederate troops
which were in Virginia and been act
ing commander in chief under President
Davis.
Now, for the moment, with their trans
fer his authority was gone, and himself
without office. IT do not know what
my position win be- he wrote to his
wife He said he would prefer to retire
to private life, but he was ready to
give whatever service might be requir-
ed.
The intermission, however, was to be
but of the briefest, and a general
crate army, the president military ad-
wiser and most trusted officer, he was
presently to have even greater opportu-
nitiSs than before.
WHAT GENERAL LEE HAD DONE.
In a report TO the governor of Vir-
ginia General Lee told what had been ac-
complished in the short period, less than
two months. since April H. when the
state convention had voted to secede 1t
was a report that he might well be
proud OF, in view of virginia's pow
erty OF military equipment when the war
began
Preparations had been made for re-
ceiving volunteer companies into the
state service and for organizing. arming
and equipping them. teaching them the
first lesson of soldering and supplying
all the many things that were needed to
change a body OF civilians iAto an eff
Client lighting force
The number of men who had so vol
unteered, General Lee estimated, was
10000. and this in spite of the fact that
in the western counties the recruiting
had been very unproductive of results.
There we're in Virginia also many reg
iments from other states, making a
total of~nearly $1,000.
OF the Virginia volunteers only about
5.O00had come armed and equipped. and
for the rest and for some thousands OF
the outside, troops a total of 56,65S mus
kets, rifles and carbines had been is
sued.
To do this new weapons had been
made and old ones made over. Besides
arms the men had been provided with
ammunition, food, clothing, equipment,
shelter and transportation. There had
been little or none of this before: it all
had to be made, found, created in some
way and almost at once.
For the accomplishment of all this
General Lee was responsible, since his
was the chief command. The subordi-
nate officers who had done the work
were of his selection. He had deter
mined the points of concentration of the
Virginia, Harpers Fer
ry, Manassas, Acquia Creek. Norfolk.
Yorktown-and had even picked the
ground for the first great battle of
the war, Bull Run.
In short. as commander of the forces
of Virginia, he had done his work fully
and done IL well.
vIRGINIA'S DEFENCES.
The extensiveness of the preparations
he had made for the defence of the
state-there was as yet no question of
offensive movements-is shown by the
batteries erected about the points most
liable to attack.
The rivers by which federal troops
might penetrate far into the interior
of the state, had been tne first objects
of his care. Thus for the defence of
the James river, on which Richmond
was situated. there were two batteries
and two steamers with a total of 40
guns. varying from S2-pounders to and
9-inch columbiads.
On the York river. likewise, there
were three batteries with 80 guns; on
the Rappahannock a single four-gun
battery. and on the Nansemond river,
guarding the railroad from Norfolk to
Richmond, three batteries with 10 guns.
The Potomac was held by the federal
forces. and the only confederate bat
terry. of IL guns, was at Acquia creeE7-
Norfolk, with its navy yard. was espe-
cially to be guarded, and on the Eliza
beth river, therefore, were six batteries,
mounting a total of 50 guns. Even
more important was Richmond, and ar
rangements were being made for mount