Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-23
GEN. L0NGSTREET.
WHAT GENERAL DA6NEY n. MAURY
THINKS OF HIS RECORD.
A Brave and Efficient Soldier Under Lee
and Johnston, but Removed from Their
Guidance n Lamcntable Failure.
For the New ORLEANS Times.pemOerat.l

rFor the New Orleans Times-Democratl
General Lougstreet has been venting his
spite against his former comrades into the
creduloUs ears OF newspaper reporter.
He 1isparages General Lee and shows
how. if General Lee had been guided by
him. the result of the battle of Gettysburg
would have been different.
In the yords Of distinguished soldier
and brifant wit. that any question in.
volving mental process and intelligence
should be hidden from Lee and patent to
Longstreet is a startling proposition to any
who have a knowledge of the two men.
We have Biblical authority for the story
that the angel in tho path was visible 10
the ass. but invisible 10 the seer. his mas
ter. But had the humble stupid ass.
after having been always kindly treated
bv his master, turned around and kicked
him. how would the story have read
them"
This question now recurs with accumu-
lated interest and makes US revert 70 the
early DAYS of the great war between the
States when General Longstreet impaired
10 President DAVIS his mlsglvngs as 70
Lees fitness TO command the great Army
of Northern Virginia and suggested that
he OLongstreet) was the man Tor that hlgh
Office.
How greatly he was mistaken the record
shows.
Under Johnston and under Lee he was
brave and efficient commander Of his
CORPS. but whenever removed from their
strong and able guidance he was la
mentable failure.
He had, thanks TO their fostering care
and wise guidance. won noble name
among race Of noble men: but IN hls
mental and moral 8btusene-s he did not
know it's value and threw 1t all away.
Ike the base Judean.'
And 1t is now in order tor me 10 remind
| our people of what know OF LOngstreet !
| regeneration.
The first intimation Of it was when he
said to me IN ls6j-our President was then
In prison" Maury, Jcf. DAVIS and tue
! politicians made catspa~s OF YOU and me-
and other officers of the regular service.
replied, with indignant surprise: " No
! human influence could have controlled
my action after Virginia. seeded. Mr..
! Davis obeved our call, and now suffers IN
! chains for it."
Some time after that Longstreet pub
! llshed a letter in the Sunday newspapers
| OF New Orleans Obscurely indicating his
/ political views and purposes. II startled
our southern people, but SO highly was
| he held, because of his great war record,
! that all public comment was suspended.
/ The southern press Made no comment on
| 1t.
On the next day young Confederate
! General went around and summoned "a
! Confeierates 20 meeting in Long stIoeta !
| Office TO be held on Wednesday evening.
| Some. out os respect 10 the honorable
| record he had till then upheld, went tc
| that meeting. Out Of seventeen gene
rails of the COntederacy then III New Or
| leans only four were present. was not
| one Of them. during that meeting nothing
! was decided save 10 meet agan IN thai
/ same place upOn the following Wednesday
! Upon the intervening sunday LonSstreet
/ grown bOldeT published more eXplcil
/ article. Outspokeu IN favor OF our coalition
! with the Grant party OF the North. Then
/ tho walls Of wrath OF the whole southern
/ press and people were poured out upOL
/ hun, and he was generally tabooed.
| Soon after this Senator Wilson, OF Mas
sachusetts, came 10 Louisiana. LonGstrea 4
went up 10 Amite. met him, came Will
| him 10 the city, and sat upon the platform
/ with him as vIcc-president OF negro
meeting in Lafayette Square
After that he went over body and bone'
| to the Radical party, marched IN Droces
| sion With the negroes and baser whites
| dInPd with them. and. worst OF all his WI"
ness. no commanded the soldiers to shoe
! down his former comrades and friends II
: the streets of New Orleans!
/ And now IN the evening OF his days
when his, thoughts should be turned t'
! repentance, he rciterates bus senIle nsper
I SION OF Lee and Jackson. whose great tam'
| all mankind will ever adore.
Poor old Lougstreet. He ought 70 nave
more sense DABSEY II. MACEY.
R,ctuOnd Va, July IL, 1893