Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-03
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MONDAY EVENING, deer. 8.
Wilcox ". LOngstreet.


Gen. Wilcox, 10 oriticising Gan. Lougstreet'J
account Of the causes that led to the defeat Of
the Confederates, at Gettysburg, says -
am quite certain readers do not caro- to
know of the Indifferent opinions General Long
street and myself entertain for each other; but
as he has made public his estimate OF me may
10 turn say that never regarded him either
as an efficient or able officer, though greatly
distinguished in our late war, and having TIN
good fortune to command superb body OF
men. My first battle Of the war was thatat Viii.
liamsburg, May S, 1862, and my brigade was
one of six that composed his division. vi his
six brigade commanders four were, like himself,
soldiers by profession. This was also the first
battle the division had ever fought; in fact, it
was Longstreet's first fight, unless the affair at
Blaokburn's ford, July Is. 1861, be regarded
as battle. So much of Longstreet's di'isioo
as fought at Williamsburg behaved with great
gallantry, and for which 20 doubt he has been
often complimented; but of the battle. OF hls
own personal knowledge, he koows but little
more than the man in the moon." He was
on the Richmond side of tho town near William
and Mary College up to II am. of the 5th-how
long after that hour do not know; the battle
was fought two miles on the tar or yorktown
side of Williamsburg; he dined, as have been
doubts, nearly mile in rear Of the field, alter
the battle was all over. None Of his brigade
commanders engaged saw him during the fight,
and bis absence was discussed several times by
three of them; they felt that be had wronged
himself greatly by showing 30 little interest 10
bis command, not being seen by them during
the engagement nor 10 any way exposed to Its
dangers.
At the battle of Seven Pines ho proved in'
efficient, lie ordered three OF his brl2ades
down the Charles City road when the musketry
was heard off to the left on the Williamsburg
road. They we're ordered to move down 1t,
.ud to keep abreast of the firing then raging on
the other road and several miles 10 front. AT.
ter marching mile and half dowo this they
were ordered to halt, face about and return 20
the junction, or fork. Of the two roads. and
move down the Williamsburg road toward the
6ring. They had reached the fork. when they
we're halted, faced about. and ordered back down
the Charles City road, conducted 6y courier
this time, and to GROSS over to the Williamsburg
road. The intervening country was low ano
fat, and in many places covered with ruts from
the unusually heavy rain OF tho night before.
The troops struck the road about one and a
half miles 10 the rear of the fight then still rag
iuq. A part of the leading regiment became
engaged few minutes before the 6riug ceased.
near dark. Had these briRsdes moved little
further down the Charles City road. they could
have moved over sountry road that lnterseot,
ed that from williamsburg little 10 rear OF
Seven Pines; these three brigades and the two
of Huger's could have been brought on the rear
and flank OF the enemy, shortened the contest,
essened eur losses, and would probably have
captured considerable number OF the enemy,
or if they had been spared tho couutermarchlog
on the Charles City road they would have bsen
available an hour earlier. At tho battle OF
Frazers Farm, June 80. 1862. four if not i've
Of his brigade commanders spoke Of. the mao
ner in which they we're ordered forward. each
one separately, with considerable interval OF
time Intervening, 30 that each bore the brunt
of the battle alone. After tho battle Of Fred:
erioksburg. General Loogstreet, with two of
bis divisions, vas ordered below Richmond, 90
the James river, fronting Suffolk. OF his SER
| vice 10 this section Of the State he says ~
spent several months in this department, and
foraged With little trouble and great success,
keeping the enemy close within his tortihca'
I Etions." If the enemy we're confined closely to
their lines, how did it occur that one OF his
batteries was captured
! Agaio. during the last weeks operations
| around Richmond and Petersburg, it is known
l LQat 0en. OCaut WltuuEoH mVot VI h.o 'ooPo
from the north side of the James river and
used them on the south side, and that they
we're Withdrawn March q. This, Gen. Long
street, who was in command on the north side
of the river, did not become aware of until the
morning of April 2. Had he known it earlier.
a. he should. he also could have sent troops to
the south side of the James, and. thus re-
enforced, Five Forks might have been claim
ed as one of our victories Instead of crushing
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