sprague had known kirby smith and buckner from the old army and expected them to bend to the logic of events. ope's smith read peo message. he refused to respond immediately, explaining he was scheduled to meet with western confederate governors in marshall, texas, 20 miles west of shreveport. heed sprague to wait while consulted with authorities. before he left, corby smith -- prague saw as'rague benevolent desire to avoid -- "the infliction of needless suffering." when he returned a week later, kirby smith told sprague he could not surrender. in a lengthy memorandum, kirby smith articulated his reasoning. he argued that "my army was menaced only from a distance and it is large and well supplied and extensive country full of resources. and exhaustedorn army at appomattox, his force faced no immediate threat. considering the different circumstances, the appomattox arms "were not such that soldier could honorably except. an officer can honorably surrender his command when he is resisted to the utmost of his power. given the condition of his army he reasoned that it cannot be said the d