Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-02-09

4 TALK WITH I.oxGsrREEr- I"
Of the Chicago Tribune, has recently had q
talk with reconstructed Longstreet He
says:
met General Longstrcet q few cve-
nings ago. and had good opportunity to
determine what manner Of man he is. SO
far at least rs his conversation aud appear
ance went. Longstrcet is one Of the most
perfect types Of q professional soldier
lie was born in South Carolina. but is IT
Georgia extraction, and he says that his
family name is German. He is nephew
Of the celebrated Judge Longstreet, au-
thor Of the Georgia Scenes, which, in
their day. we're considered to be an unique
contribution to our periodical literature.
He wears plain dress. and his whole
presence has . namelcss self-possession
and self-rcspect which Is not unfrequent
amongst Southern men. He told me that
he never cast vote in his life until last
year. Longstreet discusses with calmncss
and good judgment the military ability Of
his old associates, and il is not palpable
that he has lost any Of the sest and heart
mess which used to distinguish him ~ Q
member Of the Lost Cause" He says
nothing which indicates his regret 1t the
part he took. but on the contrary, seemed
to have docilc sort Of fondness for his
military life and prominence during the
rebellion. He evidently considers Joe
Johnston to be the first military reputa-
ton Of the South. end he speaks Of all the
Federal Generals with respect. account
ing even for cClellan's failure in the Pen
insula. i asked him If il were true. as
had been related. that at Gettysburg he
advised the turning Of the Federal posi-
ton on Cemetery Ridge. He said yes
that on the third day be had proposed to
General Lee to extend his line so rs to
cover the roads leading back toward Ma
ryland. and this would compel an evacu-
alton Of the Federal position. NO." re-
piled Lee. 1.-The enemy is right there. and
we must 6sht him." LOngstreet SAYS that
he sat upon fence and watched with q
field glass Picket's Division making tina,
celebrated but fatal charge. and that he
felt satisfied that the Cemetery Ridge
could not be carried. asked him what
he would have done had Lee permitted
him TO turn Round Top to the right, and
he replied that he should have moved By
forced marches directly upon Washington
city. Longstrcct says that both sides in
the civil war committed mistakes when
they put engineer officers at the head Of
large armies. and that the properties
which make Field Marshal are not those
required in an active General He does
not believe that If Meade had pursued
Lees army after Gettysburg Lee would
have been beaten. but says he wanted 10
stand at Hagerssown and make q fight
|'He always speaks Of the Federals in dis
eussing these war matters ss the enemy.
He does not believe that McClellaa could
have got into Richmond If he had been
holder in his Pcninsular campaign. but
says that IT later period Of the war there
we're several occasions when the city might
have been easily captured. He thinks
Gettysburg was. on the whole. the bess
6ghs q che var; thinks Il fortunate that
Meade had replaced Hooker in eomsaand
Of the Federal army there. He spoke of
q number Of inetances where The Federal
troops had behaved n vsll - anybody could
expect soldiers 10 behave. and that his own
troops. which were collected from nsariy
al Of the States. were - good - he wan
ted. He has not I particle u bitterness
Coz anybody in the Sosth cr North seems
10 admire General Grant. and talks orrr
the whole subject Enthusiastically.