LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA, 3d
October, 1865.
GEN. G. T. BEAUREGARD, New Orleans, La.
MY DEAR GENERAL: I have received your letter of the 1st
ult., and am very sorry to learn that the papers of yourself and Johnston are
lost, or at least beyond your reach; but I hope they may be recovered. Mine
never can be, though some may be replaced. Please supply all you can. It may be
safer to send them by private hand, if practicable, to Mr. Caskie at Richmond,
or to me at this place. I hope both you and Johnston will write the history of
your campaigns. Every one should do all in his power to collect and disseminate
the truth, in the hope that it may find a place in history, and descend to
posterity. I am glad to see no indication in your letter of an intention to
leave the country. I think the South requires the aid of her sons now more than
at any period of her history. As you ask for my purpose, I will state that I
have no thought of abandoning her unless compelled to do so.
After the surrender of the Southern armies in April, the
revolution in the opinions and feelings of the people seemed so complete, and
the return of the Southern States into the union of all the States so
inevitable, that it became in my opinion the duty of every citizen, the contest
being virtually ended, to cease opposition, and place himself in a position to
serve the country. I, therefore, upon the promulgation of the proclamation of
President Johnson of 29th of May, which indicated his policy in the restoration
of peace, determined to comply with its requirements, and applied
on the 13th of June to be embraced within its provisions. I have not heard
the result of my application. Since then I have been elected to the Presidency
of Washington College, and have entered upon the duties of the office in the
hope of being of some service to the noble youth of our country. I need not
tell you that true patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly
contrary, at one period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which
impels them — the desire to do right — is precisely the same. The circumstances
which govern their actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new
order of things. History is full of illustrations of this. Washington himself
is an example. At one time he fought against the French under Braddock, in the
service of the King of Great Britain; at another, he fought with the French at
Yorktown, under the orders of the Continental Congress of America, against him.
He has not been branded by the world with reproach for this; but his course has
been applauded. With sentiments of great esteem,
I am, most truly
yours,
R. E. LEE.
SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of
Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 390
