Introduction
Earn For Yourselves The Lasting Love
of Your Country
On the eve of yet another in the string of horrendous battles in 1864,
Lee drafted an inspirational message to his troops on the back of a
telegram from John D. Imboden (GLC04429). Feeling that his troops needed
a morale boost, Lee aims to remind them of their past victories, rally
them around their country's cause and imbue them with a sense of mission.
He makes sure the men know that they are not fighting for merely abstract
principles, but instead for the survival of a nation and a people. Carrying
it further, he states that any temptation to desert the Confederate
cause is also a temptation to desert one’s family, friends, and
compatriots. His speech is reminiscent of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg
Address. In November 1863, President Lincoln had transformed the Union
war effort with that historic oration. His speech provided solace for
those who had endured three years of death and suffering, and presented
the survivors with reason enough to continue the fight. Lee would have
been familiar with the text and the sentiment as it was widely published
in the nation’s newspapers. Whether the South’s honored
general intentionally borrowed Lincoln’s theme stands for debate
as the final paragraph in Lee's message closely mirrors the conclusion
of the Gettysburg Address. Gilder Lehrman’s draft of Lee’s
speech shows the many edits Lee made. These revisions are a testament
to Lee's struggle to find exactly the right words to comfort his soldiers
and the Confederate nation.
Krista Rupe, Special Projects Manager
Gilder Lehrman Collection
Transcript
The Commandg Gen [struck: is gratified] takes pleasure in
announcing to the Army the series of successes which by the blessing
of God, have recently been achieved by our arms. A part of the enemy’s
force [struck: that was] threatening the [Valley] of Virginia
[struck: has been intercepted and] [inserted: has
been] [illegible] by Gen Imboden’s [struck: command,
with the loss of its] and driven [struck: into Maryland]
[inserted: back by the Potomac], with the loss of their wagon
train and a number of prisoners.
Another body of the enemy under Gen Averill penetrated to the Va and
Tennessee RailRoad at Dublin’s Depot, A portion of this force
has been [struck: dispersed] [inserted: defeated] by Genl
[inserted: Morgan &] WE Jones, [struck: who
when and] [inserted: who are in pursuit of] the remainder
[struck: is slowly retreating before Him.]
The [struck: T illegible] Army of Gen Banks which invaded
western La, [struck: has] sustained a severe defeat at the
hands of Gen Kirby Smith, and retreated to Alexandria with the loss
of several thousand prisoners, [2] thirty five pieces of artillery
and a large number of wagons. [struck: Several] & some
of the most formidable gunboats that accompanied the expedition [struck:
have] and many transports have been destroyed by the enemy to [struck:
present] [inserted: save] them from [struck: further]
capture, and [struck: our forces are reported in] Northern
papers. I [struck: have] report that our troops have interrupted
the navigation of Red River below Alexandria, [struck: thereby
undergoing the saf safety of the remainder of the Army of Gen Banks].
The expedition of Gen Steele into Western Arkansas has been driven
back by Gen Price [inserted: with the loss of his] who captured
all [struck: the enemy’s] [inserted: his]
wagons and artillery. [struck: A remnant But], Only a small
part of Gen Steele’s army has succeeded in reaching Little Rock.
The cavalry force sent by Gen Grant to attack Richmond has been repulsed
and retreated towards [struck: York R] the Peninsula and
every demonstration of the enemy south of James River [inserted:
so far] successfully repelled.
[3] The [inserted: heroic] valor [struck: and] of this Army,
under the blessing of Almighty God has thus far [struck:
off] checked the progress of the principal Army of the enemy towards
Richmond, and inflicted [inserted: upon it] heavy loss [struck:
upon it]. [struck: The eyes of] Your country [struck: illegible
are turns] looks to you in your [struck: noble] gallant struggle
with confidence and hope. Encouraged by the successes that have been
vouchsafed to us, stimulated by the great interests that depend upon
the issue, and sustained by prayers of [struck: the dear
ones] [inserted: those] in whose defence you fight, let every
man resolve to put forth his utmost efforts, to endure all and brave
all, until by the assistance of a just and merciful God [struck:
A as success shall crown] the enemy shall be driven back and [struck:
a speedy] peace [struck: be] secured to our country.
[struck: Some of our bravist [sic] officers & men Many
of your brave comrades] have fallen, [struck: but they have
left [inserted: a durable] the example of their glorious
sacrifice to]
[4] Some of our bravest officers and men have fallen, [struck:
Let their ex] but their [inserted: surviving] comrades not
less brave will emulate their glorious examples, and Continue to emulate
the valor of your brave comrades who have fallen [illegible phrase]
that it [struck: rests with the] [inserted: depends on] you
to see that they [struck: shall not] [inserted:
shall not] have died in vain. With the blessing of God, it is in your
power to defeat the last great effort of the enemy, secure [struck:
safety and] independence to your native land, and earn for yourselves
the [inserted: lasting] love and gratitude of your country
men and the admiration of [struck: the world] [inserted:
mankind.] [struck: Let your effects be worthy of]
[envelope]
Sharpsburg
letter 18 Sept.
& other valuable
papers,
[struck: M illegible],
[Bristerd Station]
Telegrams of
Bragg Beauregard
atPetersburg
Letter of Hampton
May 18/63
Notes: Written on verso of an unrelated telegram on stationery of
the Southern Telegraph Companies.
Item Description and Credits
GLC 04429, Draft message to the Army of
Northern Virginia during the Battle of Spotsylvania, 15-18 May 1864.
For more information or to obtain copies, contact Ana Ramirez-Luhrs
at reference@gilderlehrman.com
or call (212) 787-6616 ext. 209.
Suggested Reading
Crocker, H. W. III, Robert E. Lee: Executive Lessons in Character,
Courage, and Vision. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2000.
Denney, Robert E., The Civil War Years; A Day-by-Day Chronicle
of the Life of a Nation. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., 1992.
Freeman, Douglas Southall, Lee. New York: Scribner, 1997.
McPherson, James, Battle Cry of Freedom; the Civil War Era.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.
Reid, Brian, Robert E. Lee, Icon for a Nation. London: Weidenfeld
and Nicolson, 2005.
Robertson, James I. Jr., Robert E. Lee: Virginian Soldier, American
Citizen. New York: Atheneum, 2005.
Thomas, Emory M., Robert E. Lee: A Biography. New York: W.W.
Norton, 1995.
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