The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-21
GENERAL IONG-TEEET.


Tho appearance Of General Longstreet
IN the OBLIGATORY services at Chicanauga,
brought before the American people the
most pictuscsqu character Tow living
II was especially fitting that General
Longstrcct should appear there upon that
occasion. for the part Of his corps which
he had upon that battlefield fought upon
II with a steadiness and a dash that was
never excrllee in the Conf lsrate Army
o. the Southwest, and II General Bragg
lad rad the capacity to FOLLOW up the
victory which Longstreet and MS men
contributed so powerfully towards win
ming for the Confederacy there, the sto-
~ of TIE war might even then have
been made a different one from what
IL IS.
Few men have ever won and enjoyed
the confidence and affection of the people
Of the South IN greater degree than
Gen. Longstreet and there was muoh
IN his career during the war that justly
entitled him to that confidence ard affec-
ton. We say with Great deliberation that
soldier who commaried his men. when
battle was once joined with more splen'
did equipoise with more intelligent ap-
probation OF the shifting incidents Of
battle. with move quickness of decision
and power in his blows. than Gen. Long
street When the enemy was in his pres
ence his irresoutitn departed, and his
procrastination became the embodiment
Of energy and furious attack. The crash
Ing of shot and the bursting OF shell
only stoadiel his nerves and stimulated
his mind to calm action Upon the field
Of battle General Longstreet was pa
iadin. and he did the South service then
that must forever connect MS ne in
seyarably with much OF her most slo-
rious history.
When General Longstrect appears be-
fore the people of the South upon such
an occasion as witnessed his presence
upon his own glorious field Of Chicka-
manga those people prefer TO draw the
veil over that part of his career since
the war, when he forgot the associa-
tions that made his name immortal, and
allied himself with those who sought TO
humiliate ard plumber his old comrades
The people of the South prefer to look
on him and remember him only as Stone
wall Jackson's associate. when the two.
dividing the Army of Northern Virginia
under Gen. Lees command. made IL
body OF men that could not be resisted
by any host on earth of equal size.
Longstreet at Chicamauga, recalls moth
ing but glorious memories. and an in
spiraticn to great deeds We shall think
OF him as tie Longstreet OF the war
only.
1t is not hitting that so much should he
said In Just praise Of Longstreet as a
soldier without recalling his soldiers de-
fects at the came time. When no enc
my was at hand he procras,inated and
delayed ard he stated about his course in
n way that is utterly lnconceiyable in a
MAN so absolutely the personihcaiion Of
eAergy and fire upon the battlefield
All Intelligent students Of the war adj
init that Gettysburg was tie turning
signal victory over Meade In that battle.
the war would have soon ended with
The recognition Of the Southern Confed-
eracy The records of the war which
have now teen published. make IL as
plain as the sun at noon. that Meades
army was within General Lees grasp
upon the morning Of the second Of July.
tina; Lee knew the advantage he possess
&C, and had given all the orcers necessary
fer avalipg himself OF Il to The fun.
and that he was bafiied in plvcking the
fruit by Longstrect obstinately and con
iumaciously refusing TO carry out his or
ders. Some have suspected his good faith
in his course. We have not a suspicion
Of H.. lie did not attack when Lee or
dered that the attack should be made
because some of hts troops were not
then UP. Instead OF oboying his orders lit
orally. he took the responsibility Of post
roning their execution. his delay yielded
ND all the advantage that Gen. Lee had,
and Gettysburg. which should have been
the most glorious OF all days Cor Southern
arms. was converted into n Golgotha
where young nations hopes Lerished In
an ocean Of tears.
But Iongstreets sincerity Is not TO
be questioned because OF the event After
he had wasted twelve precious hours in
criminal delay, he was finally driven by
Gen. Lee into making the attack. and
wnsu he did IT, he did all that could