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and transmitted certain important papers.
The following is the answer of
General Lee (from an unpublished letter.) I read:
August 9th, 1862.
My dear General.
I have received your note of the 4th; have read the enclosures with interest.
I return them at your request.
But forget them General; do not let us recollect unpleasant things; life is very short.
We have so much to do. We can do so much good, too, if we are not turned aside.
Everything will come right in the end. * * There is not much science or strategy required in our present contest.
Do not let that disturb you. * * * I am glad to hear you are doing well. * * *
G. W. Smith has returned to duty, and I learn
General Johnston is progressing favorably.
So you will believe me when I say all things will come right.
Wishing you all happiness,
I am, very truly yours,
Events at this period will be better understood by the perusal of the following letter to the speaker, from
General Gustavus W. Smith (now of New York city), [since dead—died June 24, 1896—Ed.] who was second in command to
General Johnston at
Seven Pines, and subsequently in command of the army until relieved by
General R. E. Lee:
My Dear Sir,—In compliance with your request of the 10th instant, I send you ‘my views of the military services of the late
Major-General W. H. C. Whiting, C. S. A.’
In doing so, it seems best that I should refer, at least in a general way, to the opportunities I had for forming opinions on that subject.
General Whiting and myself were associated for one year as cadets in the Military Academy at
West Point.
When he entered, in July, 1841, I had just passed into the first class.
During the year that we had been together before my graduation, I came to know him well.
At that time he was a lad of very prepossessing appearance and of great promise.
At the end of the year he was at the head of his class, in which were many who, later, became highly distinguished generals.
Among these were
W. F. Smith and
Fitz John Porter.
In 1844, when I returned to the Academy, and was assigned to
