New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-10
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 1873.

Longstreet's corps did not assault at day
light. the battle OF Gettysburg was lost to
the Confederates: but as 1t is very prob
able that Longstreet never received posi-
tive order to make an attack at that spec-
ted time, there is no necessity OF discuss
ing that question at present.
Respectfully. your obedient servant.
LAFAYETTE MCLAWS.
CONCLUSIONS.
/. has appeared strange that in The long
years that have elapsed since the tight at
Gettysburg. the charge Of d:sobedience to
General Lees orders has rested IN the most
secret recesses Of General Pendieton's
own thoughts, and not one syllable of i
had ever been breatAed uArii the great
commander OF the Southern armies-he
alone who could utterly dispute The charge
has passed away. Had the loss OF Gettys-
burg been the fault or neglect OF one OF his
suborGinates. however, the fact would not
have remained secret up 70 TIE present
time That such was not the case ais own
testimony bears witness.
The first great blow which accelerated
the overthrow Of the Coniede.acy was the
hurting back of his assailins columns from
Cemetery Hill, with . less OF So,oco men
II is clear ,ha. "solre one had blum
dered'
While we would no. de:ract one iota from
the great fame of General Lee, nor pluck
the smallest leaf from his iaurels, we can
no. torbear quoting the language addressed
by him TO General Wilcox: "All this
has been my fault; it ia l vino have lost
this battle" When too late he saw his
own error. and, like the great. wise and
magnanimous man he was. he took upon
himself the blame; and it may be doubted
if any true friend OF the great Virginian
vii! ever thank General Psndleton for his
othciousuess.
In conclusion. it nav not be ont Of place
to quote from Professor Diapers able
! History of the American Civil War;" for
this is conceded to be the most bipartisan
of any history that has ever been written OF
these events:
Lee stated to an Ell giish officer soon after
| the battle, that had he been aware that
F.; whole army, he certainly SHOULD not have
attacked him: indeed. il had not been his
| interest or bis intention 20 bring on great
! battle at all. He was led away partly bv
the success of the first dav. believing that
! Meade had brought up only portion OF
his army. and seeing the enthusiasm OF his
| troops, he had thought that successful
! battle would cut the knot 50 easily and sat
| ;stactorily that he had determined to risk
. il. His want of knowledge Of the enemy's
/, movements he attributed - Stuarts being
TOO far away from him with the cavalry.
| On his part. Stuart lad been disap-
| pointed He had expected to rendezvous
! with the main army on the Sus1uehanna,
! not anticipating Lees delay at Chambers
burg tor so many days. II was against the
/: Judgment: of Longstreet that the assault
/; was made. Strong though the position was
! in front. Lee could haze TUNED 1t on It's
| LETT. and compelled its instant evacuation
!. without the loss of man. He might have
/, interposed his army between It and Wash
| ingtcn Nor is it true tha. re would neces-
! sariiy have had to scarrs. his forces IN
! doing this, he being on the outer circle. In
I vain Longstreet interceded with Lee ;1
F, take this wiser course.-Vcl. IL. 7. l5i.