Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-03-18
Letter from Gen. Fitzhush Lee.
HIGHLAND, STAFFORD Co.. Va.
M ,r,h II 1878

To the editor of the Alecandria Guzette:
My DEAR SIR: In reply tu yyur question
I would stale that | have duly received a copy
of the New Orleans Republican," containing
letter from Gen. Lougstrect to MIR. Tracy,
whom suppose 10 be its editor,) in response
to communication Of mine, winch Mr.. Tracy
tells Gen. L,ugstrect he iods going The
rounds OF the exchanges"
In view Of certain publications NJ lde by
soue one, and appearing from ii NE to lime 10
the public press, to toe effect that Gen. L ing
street bad plan to fight the battle Of Gcttys
burg different from the one actually ordered
ADD that testimony was at hand, from 10 less
person than the Commanding q neral bmself,
that Confederate SUCCESS Wo u:d have cru@ueG
the adoption OF this plan, | wrote short let
ter, you may recall, asking Tor all the facts in
the case. Two reasons Induced me to make
such request:
Eirst-Because such statements, taken 10
what Gen. Longstreet terms their ''corrobora-
tive and sympathetic relations to the letter
written by Gen. LIE resiguing the command OF
the army after the battle OF ttysburg, NIGH.
produce an impression 10 the minds OF sume,
lit may be by Indirect lmpilcatlon,) that the
very admirable aud self.dsnylug cnmmu llca
tion from Gen. Lee to Mr.. Davis was peuned
because of the discovery, upon his part, of
the superior military ability OF subordinate,
aud with his well Known self-depreclatloD, be
desired TO make the vacancy TOR hlm. The
President WAS therefore urged to accept his
resignation for "a younger and ADLER man'
could readily be obtalDed,' and because he
wanted to see at the head of the army Ut
Northern Virgins" lone that would accom-
pish more than | could perform, ADD all that
have wished.
And 10 the second place Because the short
sentence Gen. Longstreet caused 10 be pub
Iished from letter from G 81. Lee to him,
written in January, 1864 Was not deemed SUI
iclent proof 10 the nluus Of very many Df u.
who knew Gen. Lee best, as TO the point lie
seemed anxious to establish.
So after waiting for sometime, with the hope
that some one else would drlnaDd additional
iacis, finally determined tv do 50, aud simply
asked for more information, aud especial for
the tchole Of the letter said to have been writ
ten by Gen. Lee to Gen Longsireet, aud trou
which only one short senteuce had been care
fully distracted.
| am very sorry Geo. Loog street has so mis-
appreheoded the spirit of my letter as to
charge that my objec; was to "avuip myself
''of political pref ddices in torestallug public
opinion as to tac;s next to come" and | really
regret 10 see the ouly sentence 10 my letter
which referred 10 aoy way to the First Corps,
viz His splendid corps is eocampJd 10 the
hearts Of all tru. Southerncrs-ra spouded to
BY Gen. L0ngstreet's statement that the said
corps will stand like tower against the as
,auIt. of Gen. Fi'z,ugh Lee aud his army a.
SOLID as Gloralter, after the .urging SEA. OF
uaoy thousand years. Not beiug politician
| canOot see what politics has to do WITH The
matter at issu,. The metaphor OF rock and SEA
is pretty figure OF speech 10 spite oil the CARO-
with which 1t is clothed By Gen. l. ngstr.et's
ludcrous misapplicallon OF it, but fail to fad
ia il, or 10 the whole of his letter. occupying
three long columns in the New Orleans Re-
publican, the information originally asked for
and still desired. Very respectfully, your
Obedent servant, FITZHUGH LEE.
A case of smallpox is reported 10 Northern
family lately settled near Brentsyills.