Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
HISTORIC PAPER
LISTED MISSING
Congress Library Statement
Relating to Gen. Lees Fare
well to His Troops.

Despite reports of its recent purchase,
information made available at the
manuscript division of the Library of
Congress is authority for the state
fnent that the original General Order
No 9 of Gen. Robert E. Lee, in which
the Confederate commander babe fare
we'll to his troops of the Army of North
ern Virginia after the surrender at APP
pomattox, has disappeared and all eX-
isting orders bearing the signature OF
Gen. Lee are but copies or purported
copies CT mat historic order
Library Makes Statement.
A recent announcement in England
told of the purchase of the supposed
original order for 81 900 and conse-
uuently stirred interest in it.
The Library of Congress consequently
made public the following facts in Its
possession:
The existence of a number of copies
Of General Order No. 9. each of which
Is signed by Gen, Lee has given rise
to the question as to which is the
original copy of the draft from which
1t was made, and later itself copied and
signed by the commander.
It is 2 well known fact that Gen.
Lee had submitted to him an moeter-
inmate number of copies of the order
dS Us lhlIlE sDiGdNs anu AtN oA-AAId btANAiA
both for his officers and men and for
other persons. He signed some of these
orders while he was president of Wash
ington and Lee University.
Some scholars believe he also may
have initiated Lincoln, who frequently
wrote out copies of his more popular
utterances and signed them for sale at
charity bazaars
Considerable interest has been mani
tested in two copies of the order the
Bouldin copy, which until recently was
deposited in the Library of Congress,
and the Marshall copy. The Library
has had its attention called to six others
in the United States, each of which
bears the signature of Gen. Lee.
Sir Frederick Maurice, who edited and
published the papers of Col. Charles
Marshall in 1927 under the title, An
Aide-de-Camp of Lee" included fac
sir1ile of Lees last order from a copy
in the handwriting of Col Marshall,
believed by the editor to have been
the original copy signed by Lee.
Copy of General Orders No. g."
The copy is as follows:
Hdqrs Army Northern Virginia
10th April 1865
General Orders
No. 9
After four years of ard,lous services
marked by unsurpassed courage and
fortitude the Army Of Northern Virginia
mas been compelled to yield to over
Whelming numbers and resources.
1 need not tell the brave survivors
of SO many haro-fought battles who
have remained steadfast to the last,
that 1 have consented to this result
from no distrust of them. But feeling
that valor and devotctE Nuld accom-
plisn nothing that would compensate
L. Atnv,r Il
the continuance of the contest, l de-
ternined TO avoid the useless sacrifice
of those whose past services have en-
deared them 10 their country.
By the terms of the agreement officers
and men can return to their homes and
remain until exchanged You will take
with you the satisfaction that proceeds
from the consciousness of duty faith
fully performed and 1 earnestly pray
that merciful God will extend to
you his blessing and protection.
With an unceasing ednlirati ton of your
conStancy and devotion to your country
and grateful remembrance of your
kind and generous consideration for
myself, I bid you all an affectionate
farewell. r. Z. LEE, GEM.
Memorandum Quoted.
On the right hand side of the copy
opposite Lees signature and arranged
perpendicular on the order appears:
"Hdqrs Army of N. Va.
April 10, 1865
Genl. Orders
No. 9
Farewell to the troops"
In Col Marshall's papers, as edited
BY Sir Frederick Maurice, the aide-de-
camp narrate5 that he was directed by
Gen. Lee on the night of April 9 to
prepare an order to the troops This
occurred in front Of a fire before the
tent of the general Interruptions pre-
vented him from preparing the order.
The next day about 10 o'clock, Col
Marshall states, he made a draft
in pencil. and took it TO Gen. Lee, who
struck out paragraph which ne said
might keep alive i'll feelings between the
North and South, and made one or two
othsr changes. Col Marshall says that
he IN turn recOpied this order and gave
-