The Washington herald., 1914-11-22
LEE GOES TO RICHMOND TO
CONFER WITH DAVIS.
November Twenty-seeond.

| November TWenty-seeond.
Fifty years ago today Gen Lee went
by train from Petersburg TO Richmond.
Tor conference with President JEFF
ferson Davis regarding the progress and
conduct Of military affairs in the South
The burden of military leadership was
now resting heavily on the shoulders of
the President. Though a West Pointer
and former Secretary OF War Of the Fed
eral government the double load Of civil
and military directorship-virtua die
tatorship-was wearing down his ener-
gles- Affairs in the Confederacy were
fast approaching crisis, and for per-
haps the first time since the beginning
OF the war Davis did not feel confident
OF handling them unaIded.
So In his hour Of need. when great
Federal armies were besetting his forces
at almost every point of the compass
Grant in front Of Petersburg, Sherman
marching upon Savannah. Foster cling
ing tenaciously to the Atlantic seaboard,
and Thomas rapidly organizing in Ten
nessee-Davis turned 10 Lee for counsel.
On November q ne telegraphed Lee 10
come to Richmond as soon as possible.
when this message reached the Con-
federate commander at Petersburg the
last train for that day had gone up to
Richmond. Gen. Leo wired the Presi-
dent that he would go to See him the
following day unless some Unforeseen
happening should prevent.
Fifty years ago today Gen. Lee went
up to Richmond on an early train, and
soon after arriving was cIoseted with
President Davis. discussing with him the
best means Of coping with the serious
problems that confronted the Confeder-
acy.
Critical situation In Georgia.
No record Of that conference has been
preserved Contemporary historians and
diarists fail to mention II, and few noted
that Lee was in Richmond. Only the Of
ficial records indicate the subject of the
long and serious talk between the two
most prominent figures Of the Southern
government.
Their thoughts were turned to Georgia,
across whose fruitful fields an army un-
der Sherman was marching. The Fed
erals had burned Atlanta behind them
and now were cutting out a pathway to-
ward the ocean, leaving in their wake
thousand blackened, smoking ruins,
a stretch OF barren fields and utter des-
olation.
When Davis first telegraphed Lee to
come TO Richmond. Sherman's advance
guard was entering the streets OF Mill
edEeville. the Georgia capital. The leg
islature had fled, the executive mansion
was deserted. and the people looked out
from half-closed shutters upon the
strange sight Of marching blueCoats.
In all Georgia there wss no army to
meet the marching FcderaIs. Only
small body Of miIitiamen and a band
Of Confederate cavalry. under Gen. 10
seph Wheeler. together scarcely l0"N'
men. were trying TO check the advance
OF Shermans 62,OOO. There were a lew
thousand regular troops stationed herN
and there along the Atlantic coast, hut
Gen. William H. Hardee. whose command
had been extended to embrace nearly all
Georgia. feared TO order them inland
lest the Federals should attack Savannah
from the sea in their absence.
Lee could not spare troops from his
army and the only other formidable Con
federate force, that under John ]. Hoo@.
was even then moving from North Ala
bama toward Tennessee 10 fight Cen
Thomas at Nashville. In this emergency
Davis turned TO Lee for advice.
Mr.. Davis dispatches Of November -
bear traces OF Gen. Lees hand. Gen.
BraXtOn Bragg. military adviser to th'
President. was ordered to proceed from
Wilmington, s c, with every available.
OF Augusta Every commander in GeOr-
gia was ordered to harry Sherman's
march by destroying bridges, blocking
roads and sweeping the country in front
OF him OF all provisions. Directions wer"
issued for the removal OF military sup
plies and available machinery at Au-
gusta
On November % the regulation limiting
the State reserves to service within their
u sN,v,
Davis for sixty days, thus allowing Gen.
Bragg to carry South Carolina troops
into Georgia. All that could be done was
done; every available man was at once
sent into the field.
Lee remained in Richmond several
days. He returned to Petersburg with
heavy heart, for he saw that Savan-
nah must soon fall, and that the end
was in sight. Yet he seemed cheerful.
and greeted his officers with his usual
pleasant word and friendly smile.
In his absence his headquarters had
been moved from the city to a farm
house about two miles to the west near
the Boydton plank road. The new To-
cation was a pleasant one, and Lee eX-
pressed his satisfaction at the change.
W. H. Taylor, his adjutant general,
noted in his diary under date Of Nov. 2:
while Gen. Lee was in Richmond. 1 con-
Cluueu 10 move utdAll ltEH 1S u par ~
that proposed to occupy the house as
soon as We should vacate. had given a
gentle hint by sending to inquire when
Gen. Lee would leave the house
THE only other house available was
one two miles from the city. kindly Of
fered by the owner, Mr.. Turnbull. So
here we are at Edge Hill I am finely
fixed in the parlor with piano. sofas,
rocking chairs and pictures; capital sur
rounding for winter campaign.
After locating the general and my as
socIates OF the STAFF. I concluded that
would have to occupy one OF the miser-
able little back rooms, but the gentlemen
of the house suggested that I should
take the parlor.
II think that the general was pleased
with his room. and on entering mine re-
marked: All You are well fixed
Couldn't you find any other room?' No.
/ replied. but this viii do. can make
myself tolerably comfortable here He