The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-06

that General Longstreet would to-day be
one OF the south's popular idols were 1t
not for his assaults on Lee lie I'M
doubtcdly would be with many. but there
is large body OF the surviving con-
federate soldiers who have studied the
records, and have learned that If Long
street had attacked Moades left Al Get
tysburg at sunrise OF July "a, as General
Lee instructed him to do. nothing could
have saved Meadc's army from desuuc-
ton. Iongstreot can never be an idoi
with these men. They hold him iespon-
sible for our loss Of that battle ana
for the consequent loss of our lhoepehu-
cnco. General Longstrcct himself IN MS
recently published book says the
Tr4dcraIs were prepared for his attack
at sunrise. and the Philadelphia inquirer
and the Baltimore American, In review
ing Mr. w. J.. Royals recent address
in Baltimore. have said the same thing
But critical inspection of the reports Of
the Federal officers. which have now
Heaven be praised,-bcon published. makes
fl as plain as the sun at noon that Meade
had no preparation al all on his LEFT al
sunrise OF July ID. and that if Longstreet
had attacked at that hour be would
have met with practically no resistance,
and would have scattered that part Of
the Third Corps that was up. and have
marched down I'm rear Of the First,
Eleventh. and Twelfth Corps. all OF
which would have been caught between
himself attacking them in the rear. ana
Ewelrs and Hnls Corps attacking them
in front. with nothing at hand TO aid
them. Meadcs army was lost n only
Longstreet had obeyed General Lees
orders. and this is now demonstrable
from the records. The case IS not one
of disobodcnce Of orders. II is one Of
obstinacy in his own opinion. and want
Of alacrity in carrying out the orders Of
his superior. u demonstrates the wide
difference between the characters Of
Stonewall jackson and Longstreet. II
General Lee had told Jackson on the
morning Of the 1st what he then told
Longstrcet, he need never have said
another word to him. Jackson's diyis-
ions would have been in line at sunrise,
the attack would have been made then,
and the Confederacy's independence
would have been achieved.
These war records that thc Government
has published are the most Implying
and rcmorsclcss judge that ever sat I'm
judgment upon trumpod-up tales. They
are dispensing froih, puncturing wind
bags. annihnauns newspaper regulations
as a trip-hammer brushes glass ball, but
they are every day adding splendor 10
the blazing record of Robert f. Lee. that
silent man. who went down 10 the grave
without utterins one word to show who
was to blame for our disasters. or 10
indicate the gigantic part he played i'm
STAYING them off. And they are build
ing monument TO the private soldiers
Of the Confederacy that Will be higher
than any that man may erect. and more
enduring than the most lasting bronze.
The Northern people. with pardOnable
pride. are building monuments 20 their
commanders and their soldiers al over
the land. But they pulled them all
down when they published these records.
Heaven reward them for these pubiica-
lions, for they have secured Justice at
last for the poor fellows who suffered
without a murmur, and did their duty
in every stress. without complaint, with
only fear Of God. and not Of death.