The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-01-24
4 Llt,I Q chapter Of war stories

lAtlanta C0nStltull0D.l
General James Longstreet stood talking
with several gentlemen at the corner of the
Kimball yesterday, when several platoons
of policemen marched by with measured
tread.
General, you have seen such men in col
umn before" remarked an old "vet." as the
officers passed to take up their beats.
"Yes, replied the old warrior. whose hair
is now frosted with years. Eyes, 1 have
when tina zip, zip. dipping. ping of mimic
balls made the air vocal with the music of
battle"
Just then Colonel il Waddell stepped
up and said: General. do you remember
when you took three regiments of General
Benning's old Rock Brigade and, as Skin
mishers. fought them against thousands of
Yankees on our retreat from Petersburg?"
"Oh, yes" said General Longstreet. 81 had
message post haste from General Lee, and
at once moved my men across the river.
Riding rapidly ahead, found General Lee
in bed at o'clock in the morning, where
had consultation with him in his bunk.
Looking out saw the federals had broken
Lees line and were surging through. At
once distributed my staff and they rode
hither and thither, which led the enemy to
believe we bad a large force confronting
them. After while collected together
800 men of Benning's brigade, and we fought
Gibbons entire corps from hilltop to hilltop
and covered General Lees retreat.
II remember" continued General Long
street, while eating dinner at the Fifth
Avenue hotel Horace Greeley. said to me,
General Sheridan once remarked that the
best way to make soldiers fight was to curse
them; what do you think about 1t?
Referring to this incident near General
Lees tent, L told Mr.. Greeley l rode up on
exposed point, and with nay field glass sur
veyed Gibbons corps of 5000 men, and saw
other detachmentS come up, making for
midsble array that would appal the stoutest
heart; and looking around saw. Benning's
800 men in splendid alignment right behind
me. Cursing such men would have done
harm, but appeal to their manhood and self
respect and they would have followed you
to the lannon's mouth"
As the general concluded, another old SOL
dier said: 1.-The best moral example of that
kind ever saw was at First Manassas, July
IS. 1861. when General Longstreet rode up at
blackburn's ford while Mcdowell was try
ing to turn Beauregard's right
General Longstre-t was smoking cigar
very coolly, and issued orders as calmly to
the Washington artillery as is in dress
parade, though cannon balls were blowing
up the ground right and left Longstreet's
nerve and self-pOssession impaired conf
dence to his men, and we stuck there and
drove the Yankees back, though once or
twice we wavered and were on the point of
giving way, and would have done SO but for
General Longstreet's superb courage that
braced us up. If, in critical moment,
commander by mere expression of his
conntenance, shows uneasiness or nervous
ness, it will spread to the soldiers and cause
panic Immediately; but II they see he is
calm, it treasures them"
AS the speaker ceased General Longstreet
raised his hat, and moved off, whereat some
body said ''God bless the old war horse" and
the group dispersed.