The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-30
PETERS nUnr lrArl ENixGs.
I.0ngstrect's nook and Attncrs Upon
Icc-GcncrRI Eiattlc,s S,ntctncut.


Petersburg, Va. Jan. 29.--(SpeciuD-
General G. a. Battle being asked by
The FirEinian cor,"S'>"ri,' ~, ,--- =
he would make 81 reply to the letter OF
General LonSstreet published in the
Lynchburg news oi yrs,.,,., g,
Il have just seen General l.omgs,rcst's
letter. Having been invited by a. T..
Hill Camp, OF Petersburg. Va 10 sneak
al their banquet on the evening of the
10Th instant in celebration of the blrrh
ni General Lee. l did so without malice
towards any and with justice to all
Before supper | was asked IL had
seen l.onEstrcet'S book. | replied In the
negative. ] was then told that IL was
vile attack upon General Lee AS
soon AZ the feast was over made the
little speech had prepared and was
aDou, TO take my seat when | caught
the eye of the gentleman who had spo-
ken to me about General I.Onrstrrrt's -
book and ut once commenced speak-
ing about Gettysburg. and made sub
Scquently the statement that has been
published. !, was no public occasion.
nobody wsls there but the A. f. Hill
Camp. and did not know that a SIN
gle word of mine was 10 be published
until after | had spoken. But shall
not attempt to avoid responsibility
Having raised &, tempest unintcntioually
though 1t be, | shall look the storm In
the eye and defy the thunderbolt. Gen
eral Lonsstreet thinks am after mill
taty fame. Not Il bit of it, What lau-
rels wear'coine from the simple fact
that entered the Confederate service
II private. and rose To brigadier-general
lighting under the eye Of Robert T.
Lee. General LongStrcet says Il court
of inquiry cant try anybody. That is
true. We didn't try anybody We sim
ply went to work ana found facts that
would justify General Lee in ordering
a courtmartinl. That he did not do so
Is evidence of his magnanimity, and
that Is the point was making Long
street may draw niqc distinctions he
tween courts of inquiry ana courtmar-
tial but lie VIII never escape from the
fact that he disobeycd General Lees
orders at Gettysburg. General Lee or
dcred him to nttack early in the morn
ing of the second day. and after wait
ing hour after hour for him 10 move
forward General Ice went to him at IL
o'clock and ordered him to attack i'm
medlatciy. General LongStreet delayed
his attack until late in the afternoon
when the enemy had been heavily rein
forced and his position greatly strength
ened. General Lee ordered General
Longstreet to attack on the third day
with his whole corps. and authorized
him to draw on General a. =. Hill for
all the aid he needed. General Long
street made the attack with a small
fraction of his corps and IL few of HilIs
men. while the great body of both
corps looked in amtZement on the awful
sacrifice of Pickctt's brave men. | Will
prove the existence Of the court of In
quiry, but ii must be by individuals
who know the fact, for there is no
rccord-jn the case. the papers having
been lost. II will take time to do this,
for commanded an Alabama brigade
and have been absent from the State
about fifteen years, and | don't know
the present address of the men who
know the facts. but | am confident they
will be found"
The ninth annual meeting of the
stockholders OF rhe Petersburg Per-
petual Building and Loan Association
was held last night. when the old board
ot directors We're reelected. The presi-
dents report was also submitted. The
directors at their next meeting will
elect the officers OF the association. The
present officers are: President, ~ r.
Patteson: Vice President. Walter S. Al
ley: Cashier. Robert Harrison
on the 18th Of next month. at : o'clock
y. M, AT the residence of the brides
parents, in this city, a wealthy tobacco
mist here VIII lead TO the hymcneai
altar one OF PetcrsburE's most charm
ing young ladies. 1t will be- very quiet
affair. After the marriage ceremony
the couple will leave for New York.
where they will spend n few days and
will then go abroad, TO be absent for
some time.