I held in the United States Army, and on the second morning thereafter
I forwarded my resignation to General Scott. At the time, I hoped
that peace would have been preserved; that some way would have been
found to save the country from the calamities of war; and I then had
no other intention than to pass the remainder of my life as a private
citizen. Two days afterward, upon the invitation of the Governor of
Virginia, I repaired to Richmond; found that the Convention then in
session had passed the ordinance withdrawing the State from the Union;
and accepted the commission of commander of its forces, which was
tendered me.

"These are the ample facts of the case, and they show that Mr. Cameron
has been misinformed.

"I am with great respect,

"Your obedient servant,

"R. E. Lee."

My father reached Richmond April 22, 1861. The next day he was
introduced to the Virginia Convention, and offered by them the command
of the military forces of his State. In his reply to Mr. John Janney,
the President, who spoke for the Convention, he said:

"Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention: Deeply impressed
with the solemnity of the occasion on which I appear before you, and
profoundly grateful for the honour conferred upon me, I accept the
position your partiality has assigned me, though I would greatly have
preferred your choice should have fallen on one more capable.