Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-12
Longstreet Last of the Confederate
Lieutenant Generals.
his MEMOIRS IN TYPE AND REVISED
Hale and Hearty, He is Still a Good
Shot With the Rifle.
EETING WITH D AVIS

west, where he remained in strict seclus!on
for q week, until discovered accidentally
by one of his friends and public recep-
ton forced upon him. No man has the So
cial side of his nature more fully developed,
and none loves reunions. receptions and the
meeting Of friends any better, but upon
this occasion Gen. Longstreet was not at
home to newspaper men, committees or In
dividual friends. He came to Washington,
in fact.- to escape from the attentions
showered upon him in Philadelphia. AS
every one knows, he has for the past eight
years been engaged in writing his memoirs.
and as is not generally known, the work is
finished, and the publishing house sent for
him to revise the proofs. Next to his fam
lily and the famous old vhite horse, that
book is nearer and dearer to the warriors
heart than anything he ever possessed dur
ing life, and in his joy at Its finally being
ali In type, he wrote to friend in Phila-
delphia that he was going there. When he
arrived a committee met him at the depot,
escorted him to the hotel, and for the next
two weeks he was not allowed a moments
time in which to read the proofs. Gen.
Longstreet don't know how to refuse or
ignore the attentions of his friends, and the
only remedy was in flight, SO he came to
the house Of his sons in Washington, not
letting any ono know his destination.
Welcome in Warrington.
There he succeeded In remaining secret
Cd long enough to revise the proofs and re-
turn them to the publishers. This i'm
pcrtant task completed. he went home TO
bis cottage on his little farm, two miles
from Gainesville. although his sons and
friends would very gladly have welcomed
his stay in this city during the winter.
But the generals love for his cottage Is in
tense, even though 1t must now be very
lorely, his daughter, whose devotion to her
father has been most marked, and who has
been his constant companion at nome and
abroad. now beirg married and boarding in
the town Of Gainesville. while his four
sons have all found homes in distant cities.
leaving the old man all alone. his wife
having died some time since
Gen. LOngStreet was greatly diSappoiEl ed
that Mrs. Grant had left the city, as he
has not seen her for some time, and his
own life history and that of Gen. Grant
were closely interviewer. Gen. Longstreet
ard Gen. Grant were classmates at West
Point and graduated the year previous to
the Mexican war. and were sent together
to Jefferson barracks. st. Louis where
Gen. Garland was In command. Gen. Long
street was very popular socially, and Gen.
Grant was the reverse, the daughter Of
Gen. Garland. subsequently the wife of
Gen. Lorgstreet, characterizing him as the
NEST silent man In the army, as well as
the most bashful.
Two Warm Friends.
But Gen. Longstreet and Gen. Grant were
warm friends, and the former finally pre-
vailed upon the latter to visit the Misses
Dent, who were cousins of Gen. Longstreet
Subsequently, as a result of this effort to
get his friend into society. Gen. Longstreet
had the happiness of greeting his compan-
len as his cousin. When the Mexican war
broke out both men went. Gen. Longstreet
was promoted four times, each time for
bravery upon the field. and arose from the
rank of second lieutenant to that of major.
He became widely known for his heroic act
at Chapultepec. where the color bearer be-
ing killed and he himself wounded. he
seized the colorS and planted them upon
the rampant. Here was where the warm
friendship that existed between Gen. Long
Gen. Longstreet as Gen. Grants superior
officer. recommended him for the only pro-
motion he received.
Subsequently to the Mexican war Gen.
although they kept up their friendship, and
the civil war found the two men fighting
upon different sides, both achieving great
distinction. Gen. Longstreet was very
bullet striking him in the throat and COM
Ing out of his back after ranging over his
lung. paralyzing his right arm, so that it is
still practically useless, aost of his writing
having to be done with his left hand.
LOngstreet In Reconstruction Days.
After the surrender Gen. Longstreet
wrote a letter for publication urging the
at once and also proclaiming himself to
be q republican and asking the best men
of the south to join him in espousing that
party, arguing that 1t was necessary for
them to do this in order that the difficult
task Of readjusting state affairs should be
directed by the best citizens and not be
placed in the hands of the carpet baggers.
Gen. Grant being elected President, APP
pointed Gen. Longstreet collector of the
q Ia
accepted. There was at once a perfect
storm Of indignation. and Longstreets life
was in danger constantly. He was openly
accused of selling out to the republicans,
but he remained true to his convictions.
During the war Gen. LongstIeet and
President Davis differed upon a number of
important matters and the detection of
the former. as it was termed, created
feeling of intense bitterness upon the part
Of the leader of the lost cause. There was
no term too strong 20 use In .lenouncipg
the course of Longstrest.
His Simple Life.
The general removed to Gainesville Ca,
where he lived on a small; farm in a beau
tiful mansion. commanding view of the
entire surrounding country. This house
was burned while the family were absent.
tine fire being usually attributed to political
enemies of Gen. Lonsstreet, although he
has always declined to accept this view,
and contents himself with having no the
cries as to the cause of the fire. Although
not destitute the general was by no means
wealthy, and small brown cottage took
the place of the mansion. 1t is but one
story high and consists Of but six rooms
Across the road is his vineyard, where
when his strength will permit, he exercises
by hceing out the weeds; the tall, COM
MAI ding figure of the soldier being fire.
quently seen he yields the garden i'm
plements.
After his removal to Gainesville, Jefferson
Davis made trip through the south, and
was TO be rendered a reception at Atlanta.
Gen Longctreet was invited, although the
enmity existing upon the part of Davis was
well known. and the policy of extending the
invitation was very seriously discussed
Finally 1t was agreed that Gen. Longstreet
would refuse to come. and his friends of
whom he had lesions, would resent his not
being invited, and he was requested to be
present.
Memorable Reconciliation.
His old white horse that he rode during
the war was still alive, and the railroad
company agreed to carry the animal to At
lanta free of charge. The general donned
lis confederate uniform and went to the
city The streets were packed when he ar
rived. and II was almost Impossible to get
within two blocks of the carriage contain
Ing Davis II passed to the platform
aota I'D fnv- h ~ 4