Richmond, Virginia
December 1863
Jefferson Davis expected Robert E. Lee to look ill. His wife had said he was suffering from an undisclosed heart ailment. In fact, Lee looked years younger than the last time Davis had seen him, when Lee took his leave of the Army of Northern Virginia. He had put on weight, his face had color, and his hair and beard were neatly trimmed. Perhaps there’s something to be said for retirement, thought Davis.
“Mr. President, it is an honor. By rights I should be calling on you.”
“Not at all, General. I have need of your counsel so am delighted that you were able to see me today.”
Lee nodded, the nod of the aristocrat. As if to say, Of course you do.
They were seated in the small parlor of Lee’s home in Richmond. Arlington, the estate that had come to Lee through Mary, and to her through her relation to Martha Washington’s grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, had been in Federal hands until Longstreet had re-occupied northern Virginia. Davis wondered why the Lees hadn’t moved back. Perhaps he didn’t trust Pete to hold Washington City. And that’s why I’m here.
“General, you have heard the news that Lincoln will bring General Grant east with part of his army. They will no doubt try to liberate Washington City, then march on Richmond.”
“Indeed. I wonder, Mr. President, if you will defend two capitals at once? I might think that Washington City is not worth the effort.”
Davis smiled. “You’ve read my mind, General, as you read Meade’s and McClellan’s and Hooker’s and Burnside’s.”
“Are we forgetting Mr. Pope, Mr. President?”
Davis wondered if he had ever heard Robert E. Lee attempt a joke. Retirement surely does agree with him.
“Not for a moment. Perhaps General Pope most of all. I too believe Washington City not worth defending. We gain nothing through conquest, everything by defending what is ours. I am leaning toward abandoning Washington City when Grant advances and falling back to defend Richmond. Do you have any thoughts on how General Grant might proceed?”
Lee was silent, far away. “I barely knew him in Mexico. One of the rougher sort. He was a quartermaster, not the usual path to glory. But he found a way to get into the war and behaved credibly. Then the accusations out west. Some men are born soldiers, excelling at every aspect of the military life. Others are warriors. Killers, I would venture to say. Grant is a poor soldier but a superior warrior. He will be relentless.”
That word again.
“We are counting on the British being of some help. I believe McClellan will have no choice but to attack Burgoyne, and this time I expect the British to deliver a blow. If not, if McClellan is able to return south and threaten Richmond from the north, and Grant from the west, we will be in a difficult situation altogether.”
Lee’s eyes grew brighter, and he sat straighter in his chair. “If I were General Burgoyne, I would not wait for General McClellan to complete his endless preparations. I would take the fight to him. General McClellan excels at preparation but does not enjoy the fight. He is the opposite of General Grant in that respect. An exemplary soldier but a middling warrior.”
“General, how do you recommend we prepare to defend Richmond from General Grant?”
Lee did not hesitate. “Grant will have more men, more guns, and all the equipment he needs. He will hit like a hammer. But we will be defending our homes, and we will have the advantage of interior lines. We will be able to move faster over shorter distances.”
“Will that be enough?”
“No. Mr. President, you will need audacity. You cannot let it end in a siege. We just saw at Vicksburg how that will end. You will need audacity and you will need to take risks. You will need Jackson and Stuart.”
“And General Longstreet, General?”
Lee thought a moment. “Of course. General Longstreet is the best defensive fighter in the army. Only think of Fredericksburg. But to defeat Grant, it will not be enough to defend, because he will never stop coming. You will need to outmaneuver and outsmart him. And for that you will need Jackson and Stuart.”
An opening, perhaps. Delicately. “General, have you given thought to returning to the field? I believe General Longstreet would welcome your return, as I would.”
Lee rose from his chair. “Mr. President, I have always found it difficult to refuse service to my country. If the time comes when you shall see a need for me, do not hesitate to call.”
They shook hands and Lee walked Davis to the door. “Unseasonably warm. Just a couple of weeks ago I was worried about an early winter. It’s so hard on the soldiers. But this? This is fine weather for warfare. Good day, Mr. President.”
Davis started to walk the short distance to his office. “If the time comes?” I thought I made myself clear that the time has indeed come. Well, we shall see.