Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 18.djvu/73

 The Truth of History. 73

suggestion of General Lane, and had response from him October 23, 1890. He wrote: " Soon after the death of my father all ol his mili- tary papers were sent to Colonel Charles Marshall, who had been acting as his military secretary, and who had been requested by the faculty of this institution [Washington and Lee University] to prepare a biographical sketch of its late president. Colonel Marshall did write the sketch, but was not satisfied with it, and consequently it has never been published."

American history is materially indebted to Colonel Marshall for valuable contributions, which have commanded profound attention. The latest, most familiar to the public, being his oration delivered at the laying of the corner-stone of the Lee Monument at Rich- mond, October 27, 1887. (Published in the Southern Historical Society Papers t Vo\. XVII, pp. 215-245 "Lee Monument Memorial Volume.") Doubtless Colonel Marshall will favor the public, in book form, with the valuable papers in his possession left by General Lee.]

AUBURN, ALABAMA, September 77, 1800. MY DEAR SIR :

I herewith send you copies of the editorial in the Petersburg Index, and my reply in the Richmond Dispatch. Should you wish further evidence of the gross injustice of the editorial, which I have always thought was prompted by General Mahone you are respectfully re- ferred to the following:

Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. II, pp. 300, 301 ; Vol. Ill, pp. 19, 28 ; Vol. IX, pp. 103, 107 ; 124, 129 ; 145, 156.

A Correspondence between Generals Earl}' and Mahone, pp. 13 and 14, has the following about the I2th of May:

"Lane's attack on the enemy's flank and rear did contribute materially to the repulse of the assaulting column, as it was thereby thrown into much confusion. Had you gone to your brigade and seen that it properly supported Lane, you would have rendered far greater service than by riding about, out of danger, denouncing his brigade, as you were understood to have done. This attack oi Burnside's was unexpected, and thwarted the proposed movement for the relief of Ewell, as Lane's brigade was not in a condition to prose- cute it, and your brigade had not moved to his support. The pur- pose was, when the two brigades struck the column of the enemy