THE WAR AND IT>S HERO 23 all the duties of a minister of war to discharge, in ad lition to his more imme- diate duties of General-in-Chief. It is impossible, for the want of materials, to furnish an account of his administration between the time of entering upon his office and that of turning the army of Virginia over to the I loofcdoiMjjr. When the difficulties with which he was surrounded are token into consideration, we feel convinced that his .services will bear a comparison with those of Can an)- other war minister that ever existed. When President Davit made oil appointments of generals, he was the third on the list; General Cooper being first and General .Sydney Johnston second. The appointments were made with reference to the rank held by each officer in the old army. After the defeat and death of General Garnett, General Lee was appointed by President Davis to take command of our forces in Western Virginia. In the early part of August he repaired to his command, carrying with him reinforce* ments enough to swell his force to 16,000 men. On the thort campaign which ensued it is nol our purpose to dwell. It is well known to have (ailed, wh< thi I through any fault of the General it is impossible, among conflicting statements, to decide. The hopes of the people were very high when he took eommaad, and their confidence in his skill unbounded. When, therefore, the campaign rt mite 1 in a failure, there was no measure to the indignation of the country. President Davis, however, who is himself a military man, ami had the who].. (act* in hit D, formed a very different opinion of the ease from any that 10 formed by those who knew nothing but what had b. • the newspapers. Tie acquitted General Lee thoroughly, and that acquittal must I at the time, howeror, by the people. General Lee's militar tion f-'ll immeasurably, a the most popular generals in the senrii lly unpopular. II;.- of the lolly and injustaoe of ju'l_ man by the standard of popular s] i Had h< i li .1 him ol • a li.it he really was, he would down to p r, entirely unequal even i Lmm lial this nnsua ■ s»ful : Le c was appoint I I mmaad in tM mil ' 1 he vu it it in prat tios in fortifying .■ and harbor of Charleston 1! I I Having accomplished th hmond. It wa* loon after thii thai our Their effect upon the country was depressing in th-' sxtroai that tim. i, pawed a joint r- - ■bit' <n ■• mander-in-Chief Wh< ther th know, but ha -i-o.ms of hi« own accord t«> ha General Los in a po*itioo almost at ; in one wl. him, in fact, the larpr t the 1 and direction of t! • • adviee tl
