The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-14
AFTER CHICKAMAUGA.
From the Globe-DemOcrat:

From the Globe-Democrat:
General Longstreet SAYS he told Presi-
dent Davis after the battle of Chicka-
manga that the confederacy was doomed:
and from that time to the end OF the
war, he adds, his own heart was not In
the cause. This is an important admls-
sion, as going to show that one OF the
best officers of the Confederate army
foresaw the inevitable failure of the Sc
cession experiment, and frankly declared
his convictions to the man who should
have been influenced by it, but was not.
1t will be remembered that Chickamauga
was claimed by the Confederates as a
victory, but as matter of fact, it was a
defeat, and fatal one. The object
sought was not accomplished. Bragg
expected to crush Rosecrans absolutely,
to capture Chattanooga, and thus make
himself master of the situation in the
west. How nearly he succeeded history
tells in one of the bloodiest of Its pages;
but he failed Just as success was with
in his grasp, nevertheless, and his army
never recovered from the blow. He
whipped Rosecrans and sent him fly
ing from the field; but he did not whip
Thomas. who chose to stay and snatch a
substantial triumph from conditions of
the greatest danger and Encouragement.
The splendid courage and skill OF sub
ordinate officer practically saved the day
for the Federals, and in so doing de-
stroyed the last chance of IKE enemy to
gain a conquering advantage.
This is all well known now; and it is to
Gen. LOngstreet's credit as soldier that
he saw it at the time There is reason TO
believe that other Confederate officers of
high degree, including Gen. Lee, took
the same view of the matter, and would
have abandoned the struggle then and
there if they could have had their own
way about it. But jefferson Davis was
determined not to yield so long as the
people who blindly trusted him could be
induced to go on fighting. He must have
realized that there was no hope of sue
cess left when Bragg's scheme miscar-
ried; and had he been truly and honor
ably devoted t. the interests of the south,
he would at once have sued for peace
with a view to preventing further havoc
and sorrow. The opportunity to perform
an act of highest service to his followers
and TO his reputation as leader and a
patriot was fairly presented, and he re-
jected it with characteristic scorn and
obstinacy. Upon his name, therefore,
must forever rest the blame for all the
expenditure of life and treasure that en-
sued after the Goth of September, 1868.
He could have stopped the war at that
date on the same terms which ultimately
had to be accepted, and the people of
both sections would have been spared
great deal of misery; but he was not
equal to such duty and such a privi-
lege. He took the responsibility of pro-
longing the contest when that meant
only a useless effusion of blood and an
unnecessary sacrifice of property. The
succeeding desperate battles around
Chattanooga, in front of Atlanta, and on
the way to Richmond were all directly
due to his folly and madness. And
when the end came, where was he? Not
with the brave and faithful soldiers who
had fought to the last ditch against fore
gone defeat, but far from them, careless
of their condition, and solicitous only to
find a safe refuge for himself. This is
what Gen. Longstreets significant state
ment recalls; and it is worth think ng
about, north and south, as one of the
most impressive chapters in the histo. =
of the rebellion.