Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-08-01
Gen. Longstreet Replies TO Gen.
Maury.

Gen. Lonsstreet Replies to Gen.
Maury.
Gen. James Longstreet, of Atlanta,
has written a reply to the recent letter
published by Gen. Dabncy II. Maury'
of New Orleans. Gen. Maury made
these charges against Gen. Longstreel
First. That Gen. Longstreet tried TO
sell out the South to the Grant party
of the North" as he termed it.
Second. That he erode in negro pro-
cession and presided in Lafayette
Square in New Orleans over a negro
meeting at which Senator wilson
spoke"
Third. That he sought to undermine
Lee and get Lees place.
Fourth. That he tried to get sixteen
Confederate generals in New Orleans TO
go into scheme to betray the south
General Longstrept, in reply, says
Referring to the gaul of bitterness
from Gen. Dabney H. Maury, of recent
publication, have to say that it is a Sc
ries of falsehoods. The first and only
interview between the Confederate
President and myselfwas on Missionary
Ridge in October, 1868, when l was
summoned by him to talk over
affairs concerning our amy IN
Tennessee. During his visit he
called a number of us together to
talk of the same matter. At other
times when called to his presence l was
taken by General Johnston or General
Lee to talk of their affairs. Had the
gallant General cared to know or write
of facts my official record would have
told of his errors.
"Discussing politics i'll the early part
of 1867, asked number of Confeder-
ates if they thought it possible to elect
a southern man President in 1868. All
concurred that it would not be. Then
| asked of all the northern men who
they would prefer for the next Presi-
dent. They decided in favor of Gen
eral Grant. Then proposed that we
organize Grant club, which was de-
clined-this year and more before the
nomination and when General Grant
was thought to be a democrat.
81 did not 90 TO Arnite City to meet
Senator Wilson, of massachusetts,, nor
did l know of his visit to New Orleans
until his presence was announced by
the city papers.
81 rode in a carriage in procession
to mark the adoption of the fifteenth
amendment to the constitution. Gen
eral Maury has received the benefit OF
an office from a party that has Endorsed
the fifteenth amendment and pledged
faith to it-Horace Greeley's campaign
of 1872. He probably thinks the back
door more honorable than the front.
His allegory Of the ass on Biblical
authority recalls an aneedote of the re-
doubtabie general soon after his sur
render.
"As the story goes, General Maury
had orders for his command that no
one should be permitted to pass out
side his outposts without written au-
thority from his headquarters. On one
occasion he thought to ride beyond the
limits, but failed to provide the written
authority and was halted by his vi,
dettes. When told that it was the
commanding general the vidette insist
ed that he did not know him and that
anyone he did not know might claim
the same privilege. After some talk
staff officer inquired if the authority
was there put in writing would the
parties be allowed to pass. The SOL
der thought they would if the paper
was such as he was accustomed to see.
The permit was written and accepted,
when the soldier asked to say, 'Gener-
al, if had been put here to shoot a
general would not have thought to
cock my gun at YOU 1t was not
stated whether the gallant chief was
mounted on his favorite beast, and
strange to say it did not occur to me
to inquire.
"He uses falsehood to attack me,
and condemns me for using the records
in self defense"