DOCUMENT: R.E. LEE

"It is all my fault. It is I who have lost the fight": thiswas the apology that Gen. Robert E. Lee offered the Confederatetroops straggling back to their lines after the debacle of Pickett'sCharge, and in many ways Lee was responsible for the failureat Gettysburg. Following the South's success at Chancellorsville,the Confederate war cabinet was at odds over the best way tocapitalize on that victory. With both Vicksburg and J.E. Johnston'sforces in Tennessee under threat, Gen. James Longstreet, Secretaryof War James Seddon, and Pres. Jefferson Davis all advocatedredeploying troops to the western theatre. Lee, however, wasconvinced that the steamy Mississippi climate would save Vicksburgand that a massive invasion of Pennsylvania would relieve thepressure in the west. By force of his prestige and personalityLee won the argument. Similarly Lee was adamant about makinga fight at Gettysburg and taking the offensive, over the objectionsof Longstreet, who favoured staking out the sort of defensiveposition that had served the Army of Northern Virginia so wellat Chancellorsville. Lee's sense of personal responsibilityfor the defeat at Gettysburg and his appreciation of the momentousnessof the battle are apparent in the letter of resignation he sentto Davis, which is printed here. Davis, still confident in theabilities of his greatest general, refused to accept that resignation. Camp Orange, August 8, 1868 His Excellency Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States: Mr. President: Your letters of July 28 and August 2 have beenreceived, and I have waited for a leisure hour to reply, butI fear that will never come. I am extremely obliged to you forthe attention given to the wants of this army, and the effortsmade to supply them. Our absentees are returning, and I hopethe earnest and beautiful appeal made to the country in yourproclamation may stir up the virtue of the whole people, andthat they may see their duty and perform it. Nothing is wantedbut that their fortitude should equal their bravery to insurethe success of our cause. We must expect reverses, even defeats.They are sent to teach us wisdom and prudence, to call forthgreater energies, and to prevent our falling into greater disasters.Our people have only to be true and united, to bear manfullythe misfortunes incident to war, and all will come right inthe end. I know how prone we are to censure and how ready to blame othersfor the non-fulfillment of our expectations. This is unbecomingin a generous people, and I grieve to see its expression. Thegeneral remedy for the want of success in a military commanderis his removal. This is natural, and, in many instances, proper.For, no matter what may be the ability of the officer, if heloses the confidence of his troops disaster must sooner or laterensue. I have been prompted by these reflections more than once sincemy return from Pennsylvania to propose to Your Excellency thepropriety of selecting another commander for this army. I haveseen and heard of expression of discontent in the public journalsat the result of the expedition. I do not know how far thisfeeling extends in the army. My brother officers have been tookind to report it, and so far the troops have been too generousto exhibit it. It is fair, however, to suppose that it doesexist, and success is so necessary to us that nothing shouldbe risked to secure it. I therefore, in all sincerity, requestYour Excellency to take measures to supply my place. I do thiswith the more earnestness because no one is more aware thanmyself of my inability for the duties of my position. I cannoteven accomplish what I myself desire. How can I fulfill theexpectations of others? In addition I sensibly feel the growingfailure of my bodily strength. I have not yet recovered fromthe attack I experienced the past spring. I am becoming moreand more incapable of exertion, and am thus prevented from makingthe personal examinations and giving the personal supervisionto the operations in the field which I feel to be necessary.I am so dull that in making use of the eyes of others I am frequentlymisled. Everything, therefore, points to the advantages to bederived from a new commander, and I the more anxiously urgethe matter upon Your Excellency from my belief that a youngerand abler man than myself can readily be attained. I know thathe will have as gallant and brave an army as ever existed tosecond his efforts, and it would be the happiest day of my lifeto see at its head a worthy leader--one that would accomplishmore than I could perform and all that I have wished. I hopeYour Excellency will attribute my request to the true reason,the desire to serve my country, and to do all in my power toinsure the success of her righteous cause. I have no complaints to make of any one but myself. I havereceived nothing but kindness from those above me, and the mostconsiderate attention from my comrades and companions in arms.To Your Excellency I am specially indebted for uniform kindnessand consideration. You have done everything in your power toaid me in the work committed to my charge, without omittinganything to promote the general welfare. I pray that your effortsmay at length be crowned with success, and that you may longlive to enjoy the thanks of a grateful people. With sentiments of great esteem, I am, very respectfully and truly, yours, (R.E. Lee, General) Source: Robert N. Scott et al. (compilers and eds.),The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Recordsof the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, vol. 51,part 2 (1889).