Richland beacon., 1873-08-02
N. JEFt. THOMPSON.


t-dera,c General, or rather advice to them
and the country generally. lie tries to de-
frnd Gen. Lcnysircct ard himself for the
course they have taken in the political issues
of the day, and attempts to give advice,whic
for cgo,is,n aud presumption is hule ahead
Of anything we have noticed for some time.
How is i, that the generals must all have
some very fat Position given them by their
friends or if necessary, Il great many will
abandon their friends, as JEFF. Thompson has
,!one, and 20 for the almighty dollar, though
Iy 80 doing it should degrade him in the es-
timation of those who were taught 10 honor
md rever his name We have ever believed
that ono Of the creates, blunders of the heads
Of the Confederate leaders was that Of
placing insufficient and drunken officials in
power. We presume old Jeif Thomdson is a
better Judge of good whiskey than anything
else. He i. down on scribbiers. Why be-
cause they are as the representatives, of the
people, ready to brand all such rencgadcs as
old jeff Thompson.
Read what he says:
Bosrox, Mass, September 2, 1867.
To the Officers and Soldiers who wers under
my command during the late war:
CrNTLEMAX-I have received various let
tiers from among you, a,king villa; mean hy
my letter to Mr. Prentice, of the Louisville
Journal, indor>ing General Lonsstreet, and
what advice have to offer you as to your po-
htical course ! have delayed answering
these letters in hopes that | would soon re-
turn 20 New Orleans but, finding that can
not rctnrn for several weeks. and other leticts
having come tina, will brock no delay, have
determined 10 address you circular, that
may no longer be misrcptesented and mlsun'
tierstood among those who were my true
friends in our darkest hours, an ! with whom
have shared so many hardships and dan
gers, successes and defeats
One Of the letters received contains the glst
Of all. and will answer it. Ii says: Long
street is forever damned throughout the coun-
try which became the theatre OF his immor-
taliy and your old friends are not reserved IN
their anathemas agans, you. GIVE me some
argument with which 10 defend you, for | am
TOO well acquainted with the spirit which an
irnatcd YOU in our disastrous struggle, with
yonr cheerful endurance of suffering and your
persistent feal,y to the last, to believe that
Won have abandoned your devoted followers,
or have relinquished the principles or memo
yies ofthe past "
For Gods sake what has Longstreet done
20 damn him for what am ! anathemaiized!
from what do need defenset The war pro
,iuced no purer or braver man than General
Jane. Longsireet, and surely from the ir;t to
the last have proved myself 10 be faithful
and true, and defy any man to point TO one
word or sentence in my letter 10 Mr.. Prentice
that breaches a want Of love for our people,
or to a fact stated that can not be substantial
ted am aware that some scribbers have
,ssailed the, but "they belong to the Tray,
BIapch and Sweetheart order, who SIMPLY
obey the instincts of their own nature by bark
ing at what they do not understand. but am
loa,h TO believe that any tried soldier will
doubt another's honesty because he may differ
with him in the plans 10 accomplish the gen
cral good, and have an abiding faith that
they will let any comrade have the privilege
tn exercise his own Judgment. as to the best
manner to build up the country, without being
mathematical and !, who was leader IL
the beginning and follower to the end, and
who, during the whole struggle, was with you
NJ the front, a prisoner of wa, will positively
assert, and maniully maintain my right to ex-
press my opinions freely upon all subjects af-
fec,ing the welfare of the South, to and among
Son,hrons without fear or favor from chimerl-
cal theorists or bomb proof politicians.
Ii the war was to defend the South in the
exercise of its belief Of the right to secede, then
do no, regret the fight, though may greve
over the death Of this theory. 1.-THE war was
TO preserve African slavery, then do not re-
sret the struggle, though do grieve over the
loss of 81, ,OOO,0 ,0OoO0O worth OF property, and
the sad fate that may await the poor negro,
but if fc fought four years simply for the per
sonal triumph of some political partisans,
Few of whom would still make us believe tha,
the country is ruined only because they are cx
cluded from off;ce rhen sincerely regret the
conflict and will greve anew over the graves
Of the brave men no fell around Inc.
I nust again repea, that Il did not fight the
United States because | hated the United
States. did not fght the North because |
hated the North, bat fought for what con-
ceved to be the honor, the safety and the ma
terial interests Of the Southern people, and
am struggling now, in another way, to ac.
compIish the sane object, and will make as
many sacrifices and labor earnestly and
persistenily as any man in the South to con
troll the political elements, to devise plans and
projects, aud put in successful operation en-
terprises that will build mp our poor, dcsolaied
and impoverished country. This is what the
South really needs; this is all the truly patri.
otto men of the North ask and will advo-
cate the bes, plans, in my judgment, tn accom-
plish the object, regardless of who originates
or supports them, Wings, Democrats, FEEDER
ais, Republicans, Radicals, Conservatives or
Eclcctics.
This is all thsSslefense need. Tell the
people am stDiSr the honor, safety and ma
terial prosperity " the Souih, and while will
not cast shadow on the graves of our dead,
or cxinguish one ray of The glory Of our man.
ly struggle, yet must bid the living look to
the future, and help build up our common
country Goni the Atlantic TO the Pacific, from
,he lakes to the gulf
Should you differ with others as 10 the best
plans to accomplish these objects, sill be
friends and colaborers in one common cause,
which now should be, as il once was, the
greatness and glory ofthe whole United States
This is what told you at our surrender at
Jacksonport, in June, ls65-this is the sub
stance OF my letter to Mr.. Prentice, and |
urge il upon you new, aud if for this | am
10 be mathematical, let the dogs bark unit,
time shall prove that have beenev and
always your friend,