The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-12
LosGsrRhkTHOTLT DEFENDED.
Detractors of the Generals Fame DO MOI
Nindica tho Truth Of History.

Editor OF The Times:
Sir,-Dr. Parker, in his recent letter 10
your valuable and fair journal concern
ing the adverse criticisms OF Gen. Long
street that have appeared periodically
for the last twenty years in the news
papers Of the South, voices the senti-
ments Of that large class of Confederate
soldiers who fought At the 'front.' with
Gen. Lee, and in some way got the inn
preston upon their minds during those
four years that General Lee regarded
Longstreet as somewhat Of soldlar.
! have the pleasure OF knowing the
editor of The Times, and / believe that
gentleman would cut off his right hand
before he would consciously detract from
the fair fame of any man from whom he
might differ politically.
We can all understand how the pot
house politicians mind becomes like the
dyer's hand, subdued to what IL works in
Distraction. vilihcatiOn, supprcssio vtri,
suggeitiO falsi, become mental habitudes,
and finally second nature with people
who. having no merit Of their own 20 ex-
alt them to the high plane OF bravery
and high achievement possessed by OOH
ers. Vainly and enviOusly think TO draw
persons Of exalted character down 90
their own low level. So true is IL that
"a falcon towering in his pride of place
can and will be hawhcd at 10y miserable
housing owls.
If these detractors Of Longstrcet think
they are yindicaung the truth oil history
by rakng up all these silly things about
Gettysburg and that is the only occd-
sion that in their dire extremity they can
hnd-why do they not, like LonsstFect
write a book. and show us what they did
at Gettysburg 10 win victory for The
Confederacy. If they want real ana
true Incident OF genuine cowardlce ana
desertion TO the enemy, they can delight
their tainted souls with the case OF thdt
brigadier who was 80 Jecred and hoOicd
at by his men that he resigned, joined an
other branch Of the service, and walked
over 10 the Yankees.
The grayamen Of all the charges
against Longstreet at Gettysburg Is that
he was "tardy," and willful disobedionce
OF Gen. Leo's alleged verbal order TO at
tack at sunrise on the sd of july Ihls
charge. taken in connection with .he TACT
that Gen. Lee retained Longalreet IN
command of his corps and in me CAM
paign Of 1864 entrusted 10 the "tardy ana
disobedient" Longstreet. the bette nCir
OF Gettysburg, the most important ana
responsible movement Of the opening
campaign of 1864, part That ltqWfed
the utmost and most implicit confluence
qualities, but In the celebrity Of move
ment on Longstrects part. is one OF the
most astounding propositions ever plo-
pounded for human belief, II scmind5
rs that the memories OF military critics
like those OF liars should always bc good
II will be recalled that I'm May. 1884,
Gen. Lees army laid along the south
bank OF the Rapidan from LiDe'-v Mis-
I'VE miles from GOrdonsville' 10 tefmahla
Elys, an United States ford towards
Fredericksburg 1t was not certain until
the second days lighting in The wider
ness. that Grant would not throw "a iarae
force across the Rapidan 60 Liberty
Mills, and march on GordonsNie'
twenty miles IN Gen. Lees rear. false
move here would have meant irseuritNa-
bic disaster 10 Lees army in the very
opening hours OF the campaign. TO
meet this danger at Gordonsvllle, Long
street, with his corps, was leIt near tnat
place. while General Lee moved down 'ne
Rapidan. with the other two corps 10
graphic with Grants 10000 men. On the
second day IN the Wilderness II was as
certained that Grant was not threaten
Ing Gordonsville, but that he had a heavy
thanking column marching around Gen
Lees right Longstreet had LETT Cor
louisville and lying In his byounc ten
miles from the Wilderness, ne reused us
corps long before day. and at sunrise hls
command had struck the head or Grant
thanking column, completely routed ii,
and drove II across the Brock Road, aud
but for being shot through the neck,
would have undoubtedly blocked Grants
march 10 Spotsylvania Courthouse. II
some of these smart Alexis who are now
kicking at the old lion had been there
that morning ana had raised hoof.
hundred bayonets would have been their
answer. Let them criticise Lonsstreets
politics as much as they please. but
let his war record alone, FOR that IS a
part OF ourselves.
To suppose that General Lee would
have entrusted a movement Of such i'm
portance In 1854. when his army was deoi-
mated. 20 q man who had failed hin the
year before when his army was 1ull in
numbers and elan Is TO s,ate an absurdi-
~ and an insult 10 the memory md 10y
atty to General Lee himself
In conclusion | will state that l served
ut Gen. II. Il. Lees Headquarters TIE