Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/194

 178 Southern Historical Society Papers.

wished to correct two errors of history. One was that General Lee, shortly before his surrender, advised the Confederate authorities that further resistance would be useless, and the other was that at the so- called peace conference in Hampton Roads, the Confederate com- missioners, if they had displayed real statesmanship, could have se- cured terms by which the war could have been ended on terms satisfactory and creditable to the Southern people. Mr. Goode was requested to write out his recollections as to these matters for publi- cation. He shows conclusively that General Lee, not very long be- fore the surrender, manifested and expressed his intention to carry on the war. Mr. Goode also makes it very plain that Mr. Lincoln did not offer any terms to the South which our people could have even thought of accepting.

MR. GOODE'S PAPER.

The very interesting paper prepared by Mr. Goode is as follows:

In compliance with the request of R. E. Lee Camp of Confederate Veterans, I give my personal recollection as to two matters, which have recently engaged to some extent the public attention:

First. It has been asserted that General Lee, a short time before the collapse of the Confederacy, advised the Confederate authorities that further resistance was useless, and that he recommended a ces- sation of hostilities upon the best terms that could be obtained. I am satisfied from my own personal knowledge that this is a mistake.

A few days before the final adjournment of the Confederate Con- gress, on the 1 8th of March, 1865, I received a message from Presi- dent Dcivis, through Colonel Lubbock, a member of his staff, that he desired to see me on important business at his office. I responded at once, and upon my arrival I found Mr. Davis and General Lee in consultation. After an exchange of salutations, Mr. Davis said he had sent for me to request my opinion as to the willingness of the people of Virginia to submit to further demands upon them for sup- plies of food and clothing which were absolutely necessary to main- tain the army in the field.

After some general conversation, in which General Lee said but little, I replied to the inquiry of the President by saying that while I believed the people of Virginia were prepared to make still further sacrifices in support of the cause they held so dear, I preferred that the' other representatives from Virginia should be consulted, and suggested that they should be invited to the conference. This sug-