- Joined
- Nov 27, 2018
- Location
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
I was very much surprised that General Lee had voiced as early as February 19, 1865, his determination of war's end-actions. This was on the eve of Charleston, South Carolina, evacuation. About this time the idea had come for abandoning all the cities, uniting the armies in the field, and destroying all works that could be used by the enemy.
[Reference Volume 47, Official Records, Part 1, page 1044].
"....It is necessary to bring out all our strength, and, I fear, to unite our armies, as separately they do not seem able to make head against the enemy. Everything should be destroyed that cannot be removed out of the reach of Generals Sherman and Schofield. provisions must be accumulated in Virginia, and every man in all States must be brought out. I fear it may be necessary to abandon all our cities, and preparation should be made for this contingency."
This comes as a complete surprise to me when I see Richmond's destruction 6 weeks later. I began wondering why the Army at Petersburg waited so long to evacuate. And then after rereading the report Lee sent, I wondered if he just meant North Carolina where J. E. Johnson, Hardee, and Beauregard were commanding. How much of these preparations for the contingency he speaks of were begun, or was this plan for future operations vetoed?
Lubliner.
[Reference Volume 47, Official Records, Part 1, page 1044].
"....It is necessary to bring out all our strength, and, I fear, to unite our armies, as separately they do not seem able to make head against the enemy. Everything should be destroyed that cannot be removed out of the reach of Generals Sherman and Schofield. provisions must be accumulated in Virginia, and every man in all States must be brought out. I fear it may be necessary to abandon all our cities, and preparation should be made for this contingency."
This comes as a complete surprise to me when I see Richmond's destruction 6 weeks later. I began wondering why the Army at Petersburg waited so long to evacuate. And then after rereading the report Lee sent, I wondered if he just meant North Carolina where J. E. Johnson, Hardee, and Beauregard were commanding. How much of these preparations for the contingency he speaks of were begun, or was this plan for future operations vetoed?
Lubliner.