The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-05
LONCSTREET TO HIS CRITICS.
vigorously Defends His History Of toe
Late War PelWeGn the States.
BE IS SATISFIED WITH HIS RECORD
And Pave His Respects to Col. M"spS' III
j. william Jones, and Gen. f'h-
hugh Lee-Iepiy 90 tho
Latter's Statement

,.,s n long interview with 1ehe'"'
-. ,oros,reet. in which he severely
.a,.,s HE critics and defends his book
"a nor record in this interview the
General says:
.r never had thought Of writing book
,,,u ,,oso accusations were made against
me-arst. in 1872 by General Peudieton-
although General Lee had suggested on
IN, or TWO occasions that should write
one. Ny idea when left AppomastoA was
10 leave the war and everythinS conhecr
ed with H. being satisfied TO lei my name
GO down with the records. But was lea
by these accusations against me 70 write,
0rst for some OF the newspapers. ana
finally into the resolution 10 write DOCK.
IL Is a book Of the future My thought
always was that he South should t;y TO
build up and recover somewhat OF that
she lost.
Il will say that these many accusations
against me were based upon statements
made since the war: none have any refer-
ence 10 the official records. and they are
trying to supersede the records by these
later statements. After the battle OF
Gettysburg / held the position next TO
Lee in the army TO the close OF the war
q period of one year and nine months
from July. 1863, TO April. 1865 A few
weeks after the battle at Gettysburg tho
authorities at Richmond ordered me on to
dho army IA Tennessee, under General
Hragg. and General Lee recommended me
the supreme command. l was sent TO
ysgg's army to relieve him. and General
7 e. stated in later letter that IL was
- tn that view he had ordered me there
a.. er the battle OF Chckamauga Presi-
a. Davis offered me the command OF
-, army, bat thought II then too late
,ect During all the time OF the war
" ~ Gettysburg | was trusted with high
go nd. TO say that General Lee and
J ,,'', II Davis would have so Continued
been guilty OF what is now
~ S against me would be 10 impugn
- -, their loyalty but their .ntelli-
os u; eight years after the surrender
- -, the lifetime OF General Lee
60. 80 sthing said against the record
30 80, -, OF my command. so that
-, ~ nnected with IL I'm the way
-, a.i,,c,sr, 'as started long after the |
"a -. years after General Lees |
death.
-, 49,. ents were not mada as i |
- lg General Lees life time, |
ST. persons who were not |
anu W. -, 70 wanted a little motto |
lid not receive de ring |
riety. which they ~, ne found onvyv here
the war Anei. 0 special mention of |
III '"o - active warfare. One |
their services es from duty by en-
OF them was renewed a. ,e.o.,o,,s ;r. ia
eral Lee because OF -. 80 al ;, ar
riency and failure. Inc ~ o~cl,,si,,o :, Nv
tisans. and writing for -, - IN
Jose OF making Genera ,.oo,nass % onr
fallible whereas the true ta -. 60. n !
peerless leader does not r, IN 49,
extravaganza professions. ~ go ~, 4
themselves are enaugh for 9 'a0 ~
furnish the only proper critic t mn III IT,
WHY HE WROTE THE ' -
sk,other the main itHo'H' iVi
writing my book was that ha oeen pe ~,
United by providence to outlive healiy ar
the leading actors in the great suusse;
Davis and Lincoln. Lee and Ga an, au
the great host OF those holdin iisiu
knowledge on both sides had all 'asseu
away. Many Of them had left men loirs ~
enlighten official documents. IT Dc my
LOT TO have read all of these, and Ieit
1t 10 be my duty in the full lighbof ives
tigation 10 add my share TO the run
of history. so that the coming chroni cieI
might have all the facts upon which 10
base the true estimate of the great 81
of American wars. l will say, howeVt J.
that ] have not trusted TO memory TO /.
anything / have written. Where the re- .
cords mentioned points OF fact / have \ :
used my memory TO connect them and =
illustrate. ] have had many applications =
for replies upon points of memory. but .
have refused all of them for the reason
points at issue. I,
'In writing this book of the war / was sl'
dealing with a congenial subject and one tr'
which should be matter of pride to every IN
American heart. While 1t portrays the 10
struggle of two contending armies, both IN
OF American birth and lineage. it holds ia
them up as the highest ideals To be found an
In military history. and no matter TO what pr
side the reader may belong, he cannot ON
but feel pride that these high-minded lel
and brave men were his countrymen- ca
whose record will fiji the pages of Ameri- VIZ
can history with lessons to enthuse and W.
maintain the patriotism and emulation OF ~
the American of the future. c'
THE BOOK BEFORE THE PUBLIC. pa
THE book has been very favorably re- 'o
ceived. II went into the second edition in
side OF thirty days after the first issue.
Some unfaVorable remarks by the old crit a.,
les have greeted its appearance. especially
some rambling remarks from Colonel Mos W.
by. of the guerilla style: General t'itzhugh !"
Lee of the cavalry style. and another by 10
Rev. j. William Jones. but he is accustom- uo
ed to CONSIDER that his sayings are gospel co
Nhs. think, and that his mere mention =,
makes overwhelming proof. / might say oi'
that some of the newspapers made severe 10
about the book before it appeared io
and before they saw It, II IS sufficient ".
TO dismiss charges by such men as Mosby al
counsels guerilla chiefs and chap az
lains are never called In for consultation. ~
and reference 10 the records will show -,
that they are as ignorant of the facts as s
persons in their situation usually are. a.
There is but one point In all these o.
criticisms which i deem II worthy my at o..
tention TO notice. and that is concerning ..
the crucial battle OF Gettysburg. In a re- ~, W
cent interview of General Fitzhugh Lee. + ,
which was printed I'm the Philadelphia st
Press. he claims that General Lee was in IT,
error at Gettysburg thus: First the dis de
crction allowed which separated him from n,
his cavalry. second. the omission OF
positive orders TO Ewell to advance on or
the evening OF the 1st and the failure 10 ul
replace an officer who opposed his plans 60
with one who would have entered into m
them heartily and readily co-operated tn
with him TO whip the enemy in detail co
OF may be news TO some OF those VINO tn
attack what they call my criticism OF Cen pr
eral Lee to know that General Fiizhush NJ
I ,ee himself thus confcsses that his great II
uncle could make an error. not In one IN
single battle only. but three. and all OF OF
Ne rious character. Nothing that SAID in
could have been more severe than this In
statement of General f'itzhugh Lee and VI
a As one which l would have hesitated 10 lei
make even had the facts justified H. Now, OF