The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-04-07


possible that he wishes 10 show that on
the night, 81. even on the day OF the tirst.
Qeh. Lee did not know of the enemy's
approach to Gettysburg Hill knew OF
| IL on the 30th of June, and moved early
on the 1st Of July to see what force had
arrived. sending word to Ewell and re-
questing him also to move toward Get
tysburg The marching, which is men
toned as conducted with n view to the
comfort Of tho troops. was on tho 2Dth
and 10Th of June, and we all know how
n few hours OF sun ut that season soon
dissipates the dampuess resulting from
summer showers. Tho citation from
Col. Ovens diary Is equally unfortu-
nate, MS the latter is made to SOY. after
stating the receipt Mt Greenwood OF tho
news of Ewell's and HIPS conflict with
tho enemy. "Received orders
to move toward Gettsburg just before
dark" Yet Gen. Longstroct. in his re-
port. says "On the next day, the 1st.
the troops set out for Gettysburg. OK
cept Pickett's division and
Laws brigade" Did they not
move before dusk on the first. the day
! Of
MILLS AND EwErL's FIGHT?
But all this excuse about tho damp
ness OF the weather and the night Is n
mere after thought. as the road from
Chambcrsbtrg to Gettysburg was u
firm. smooth mneatamized road.
1t is charged that ! have roarned
through Swinton and now discredit my
own witness. because ] have said that
Swinton Is mistaken in saying that the
Federal force was all up when General
Lee wanted to attack, as shown by the
proofs | had adduced. Now, ! did
"roam" somewhat through Swinton, and
in my rumbles / discovered
GENERAL roNosrnEEr's TRACKS.
which he had not been able to conceal.
Mr.. Swiuton h not my witness, but
General Longstreet's couIiunnt with
whom / have confronted him. in order
to show that tho criticisms on General
Lee contained in the Campaigns Of the
Army Of the Potomac" were inspired by
tho revelations made by him to Swinton
in that remarkable Full and FREQ con
veraation" after the close Of the
war and IL Is to be noted that he does
not now deny the truth Of Swinton q
statements. but resorts to II subtcrfugc.
They must therefore stand as confessed
and IA no intimatcs that I'm applying a
Latin phrase from Horace. | was giving
expression to my characteristic classic
sentiment whatever that means
will now give expression TO n "chnrac-
teristic" poetic sentiment by referring
to those lines Of tho Wizard of the
North. beginning
20. what n tangled wcb wo WEAVE" etc
It appears that General Longetroot
not content with claiming credit fol
, what General Lee did not let him do
now claims tho credit for having slug
gcsted tho movement by which Rich
mond was relieved Of the threatening
presence of McClcllau's army in June
and July, 1869, for he says.
I tGepernl Ipc nbou n4gItiuipp com
, mand Of the Army Of Northern Virginia
asked General Bongstrect and other
, superior officers OF that army thoil
counsel us to the best plans to be pur
{ sued In our protection. and did Genera
, Longstrcet the honor to adopt his plat
! that he suggested, to cross the river auc
turn General Mcclellan right"
| All Is THERE NOTHING THEN THAT dEN
LEE HiMsEIF DEVISED BUT VIVA
q FAILED?
How il it that so many of US have beer
impressed, and will live and die with the
= conviction that he was the greatest mill
} tary strategiBt OF the age2 Really, this
r last claim by General Longstrcet il
r. "pilng on the agony u little too heavy
% or. in more classic phrase, it Is "OSsi
: on Pelion piled" with vengeance.
T Passing over the comparison between
{ my good friend, Gen. ID. II. Hill ant
o myself, which ! confess Is n complet,
= puzzle to me. both us TO It's meaning anc
= It's purpose, ] must shy. In reference Il
the allusion to the numerous pamphlets
addresses, etc, attributed TO me, tina
| have never published anything for tn
v purpose Of glorfying myself, especial,
. ut the expense Of others. As to the in
a situation about my campaign agains
: Sheridan, will only say, that am no
t to be diverted from the subject in hant
/ to undertake defense Of that cam
4 paign ut this time. IT, however, an,
= one shall feel disposed to undertake tn
D task, he Is entirely welcome to institute
o n comparison between my Valley cam
o paign and Gen. Longstreet's Suffoll
1 and Knoxville campaigns, when he wa
q not tramelled by the pressure of Gen
( Lee, to say nothing Of that Of
1 THE EVER MEMORABLE 18th OF SEPTEMBER
o 1874.
AS he refers to the officers and soldier
: Of my command in connection with m
: own military reputation, can but sa
4 that i am willing to submit the latter t.
| the verdict OF those who fought unde
Y and with me.
, He intimates that | am one OF thos
: who have combined to attack the char
acters and regulations of Gems Ewell
A. =. Hill, j. Il. i. Stuart and himself
| challenge him to produce solitar
I expression or mine that gives color &
' the charge Of an assault on the reputa
! ton CT either Of the first three named
!, So far from this being the case as t.
Gen. Ewell, though on the first day @
r the battle Of Gettysburg, / was in favo
= OF an advance upon Cemetery Hill, afte
a the rout OF the First and Eleventh Fede
raj Corps, and warmly urged it, as i
q known to number OF living witnesses
q l have uniformly defended Gen. Ewel
y against tho criticisms on him for no
making the advance, and have done $
y In note to my own official report-no
:, have 1 said aught but in commendatio
7 OF Gems. Hill and Stuart. AS to Ger
: Longstreet, himself, the communica
q tons already published will show how
y have been drawn into this controvers,
! His attempt TO make common caus
= with Gems. Ewell, Hill and Stuart,
:. simply ridiculous.
. The facts in regard to
THE FAILURE TO ADVANCE ON CEMETER
" HILL
g on the evening of the first day Of th
!, battle OF Gettysburg, are not general
t understood, and some persons thinl
0 Gen. Lee was opposed to the advance
0 in fact Swinton has said, and perhap
r from information derived from Gen
| Longstreet in that full and free con