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Zzzlees faith in Early.
General Early had the satisfaction of retaining the confidence and good opinion of his great commander,
R. E. Lee.
After all reverses in the
Valley,
Lee, on the 20th of February, 1865, extended his command to embrace the Department of West
Virginia and
East Tennessee, previously commanded by
General John C. Breckinridge, who had now become the
Secretary of War.
This brave and excellent officer's service under
Early had familiarized him with his merits; he had testified to
General Lee in high terms of his capacity and energy, and of his excellent disposition of his troops, and to
Early's critics
Lee had responded in language which I have already quoted.
(See War Records, S. 91, p. 897.) But
Early had now to accept the fate of war, for public opinion, unadvised of his difficulties and extremities, clamored for a new leader.
Lee, himself, had seen and felt its frequent injustice, and has stated that public opinion is more likely to be erroneous on military affairs than any other, because of their secrecy preventing complete knowledge.
It clamored against him when he did not win victory in
West Virginia; against
Jackson before the
Valley Campaign; against
Albert Sidney Johnston before he fell at
Shiloh; it demanded
Joe Johnston's removal when he retreated before
Sherman, and as loudly demanded his restoration when
Hood advanced and failed.
On the other hand, when
Thomas was defeating
Hood at
Nashville, the message was on its way to supersede him for not fighting, and was drowned out in the shouts of his victory.
While he yielded to the current of opinion respecting
Early's operations,
General Lee, in addressing him the letter relieving him from duty, on March 30, 1865, declared therein his own ‘confidence in his ability and zeal and devotion to be unimpaired,’ and concluding with an expression of thanks ‘for the fidelity and courage with which you have always supported my efforts, and for the courage and devotion you have always manifested in the service of the country.’
One week before that, on March 24, 1865,
Lee had made a last effort to break
Grant's lines in vain, and the Second Corps, under
Gordon, had stormed and taken Fort Steadman.
There happened then what would have happened had
Early taken
Washington, and what did happen at
Cedar creek.
Our troops were brave enough to take; they were not strong enough to hold.
The enemy concentrated numbers and drove them back.
On the very day of
Early's removal
Grant moved on the
Petersburg lines; March 31st, Five
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318]
Forks was lost;
Petersburg was carried April 2d, and a week later, April 9th, the matchless
Lee and the remnant of his matchless army, surrendered.
When
Early heard the news he was sick in an ambulance, going home from
Wytheville.
He said, ‘without the slightest irreverence, I will say that the sound of the last trump would not have been more unwelcome to my ears.’
Comparisons have been made between
Jackson's and
Early's campaigns, sometimes to the detriment of the latter.
The differences in their situations should be remembered.
