Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1883-01-12
1N STUTSMAN COUNTY, D. I. FRIDAY, JANUARY H. 1883.
War History.

War History.
WASHINGTON, Ian. 9.-General Long
street, hy request Of the National Repub-
lican, sends that paper the following let
ters;
"AtloDta, Ca, Dec. 80, 1882. General
U. s. Grant, New York. My Dear Sir
It occurs to me that an account Of parallel
circumstances 10 letter of orders are ex-
pected and required to exercise due direc
ton when not in his immediate presence.
No doubt cases have occurred in your ex-
perience where officers were as deserving
of reproof for failing to exercise such dis
cretion as for failing TO, obey orders.
Early on the Goth of August, 1862, at the
head of my column arrived in striking
distance OF the battle in progress between
a part of the army of the Potomac and
General JACK sons wing of the army of
Northern Virginia. Upon seeing the ap-
proach of our column the federal troops
were withdrawn to defensive position.
Little retired before noon as testified by
myself and others before Schofield's g
board. My command was deployed and
formed on .Jackson's right at right angles
to Warrenton pike extending to and be-
yond Manassas Gap Il. r. Soon as de-
ployed General Lee indicated his purpose
to have me attach. Intending to execute
his plan asked time to reconnoltre nc "
position and ground intervening after
reconnoizance. l reported position was
strong and that sacrifice was likely to be
such as to cause apprehension of failure.
He did not seem satisfied and was consld-
ering the propriety of making bis orders
more definite when information was re-
ceived from General Stuart of approval.
The federal troops upon my right drew
attention to that part of the field for the
time but when it appeared this force was
hardly strong enongh for attack the
question of attack by the first corps was
resumed as the day was far spent. l sug-
gested force of reconnoizance at night
fall and preparations for actions of day
following. This was accepted. The re-
connoisance however satisfied Generals
Lee and Butler that it should not he
made at this point, so withdrew about
midnight to the ground we had occupied
before. On the advance next day the
advance the next day the fedcrals next
renewed the battle against jackson.
AS we were not engaged nor threaten
ed very seriously rode out in advance of
my line IN search Of opportunity to take
my share Of battle and found number
of my officers collected at a point from
which they had view Of the masses
yelling up against Jackson. From this
point it was evident that few batteries a
having Enfield fire could dspersc the at
tack.
Some of our batteries were ordered for
ward for posltlon. Meanwhile message
came from General jackson asking for a
reinforcement and almost Immediately af-
ter came an ord9r from Gen. Lee to send
some of my bridgades to jackson. 1t did
not seen probable that troops could reach
jackson in time if sent and at the same
time there was no doubt of our disposing
attack by fire of our artillery. Uuder the
circumstances 1 felt inspired to disregard
orders, and operate on my own judg-
ment. The fire of our batteries produce
ed the required results, when the attack
ing forces were dispersed my command
was sprung to charge and swept the field.
Had thus engaged the day before it is
more than probable that Porter would
have been in good season to take me on
the wing aud would in all probability
that jackson could have held till my
troops could have reached him.
AS you state 1t was not impossible for
Porter to attack under the 4:5O order
failure which was alleged to be his high
crime. If we may suppose that he re-
ceived the order at 4:50 and had attacked
he would have given US the opportunity
that we were SO earnestly seeking all that
day, and in the disjolnted condition of
their army on that day the result might
have been more serious than that of the
next day, 3Oth. Now if we suppose my
attack on the afternoon of the 3Oth failed,
we shall sec that evidence against me
would not have been stronger than that
against Porter, yet with earnest desire to
meet the orders of my chief felt it
would be more culpable to execute than
disobey, but then as we were successful
there was no room 10 question us. The
only safe r lie to guide judgment in such
case. If in exercising discretion one be-
comes the direct cause of failure he should
only be adjudged as failing in general
ship. If the intention is to bring dlscom-
fiture upon arms it IS criminal. Soon
after this campaign was promoted and
assigned as senior lieutenant general OF
the confederate army. With highest
respect your most obedient servant.
JAMES LoNGsrREET.
Presidential Succession.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Bill to provide
for performance of the duties of the Office
of president in case of removal by death,
resignation of or inability both of presl-