The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-14

"a D~.ss lsyAo-hiffk was DAL a AAANN-Astt'f
reluctant follower or Gen. Lee IL there
anything IN the earnest. ana undoubtedly
honest sentiments mere expressed 10 con
AIiu The CONCLUSION Cl the LOu4Ju leie-
graph that 70 is impossible 10 read Gen.
i-ph5-Itet able book without pcgcelN-
lNs mat ne, who knew Gen. Lee better
thah auy other man, who lOu-ut under
hlih or against HIM. Was distinctly OF
op'Hion mat cen. Johnston as "a soldier.
was his s+perlOry ae AL remembered
too, that this letter from zen. Long
street 70 Gen. Lee was written after the
1ettYaoulg cdmpa.-n. ana The glow
ing words or 0aui4 at4uu and affection
employed In giviu. expression 10 me
% his command was directly due 20 the
ability Of bis commander, ara utterly lr-
reconciiat,e with many statements al
legged 10 have been made by Gen. Long
street touching the invasion OF Penn
sylyania by Gen. Lee in 1868. Gen. Long
street could not cain 20 have enter
tanned the views and sentiment now at
triouted 20 MIN when he uehued the
setser " september II, 1sO3. without
pfhudlng himself as disingtnuOIs L4t-
tcrer aud timo-scrter. When he discuss
ed with Gen. Ice. tho line ot action most
advisable % be pursued In the fall OF
1863 although rather more disposed 20
FAVOR the reinforcement OF our army I'm
the west for aggressive movements.
while tho Army OF Northern Virginia
should take the defensive. nevertheless.
be went so far as 90 suggest another lu-
vasiQn by Gen. Lee OF The enemy's couu-
try. In a letter TO Cen. Lee under date
September 2 1862. De wrote. II do not
know that We can reasonably hope 10 ac-
complish much here hy offensive opera
lions unless you are strong enough 20
cross tho Potomac With such decided
views az he IS said 90 entertain now
concerning the Gettysburg campaign DO
is Impossible 10 understand the s.rccs-
ton. made so soon thereafter as 90 a
repetition Of the invasion Of the country
beyond the Potomac.
In stocking OF Crn. Long7treets opera
lions about Knoxville in November. 1853,
the London Telegraph refers 20 the uis-
take then made hy him. when, "ir0m
misCOuccTf i0u. be stopped tho assauifins
column, which DC now knows would I'M
faliihiy have carried Knoxville by storm"
Clearly the reviewer here charges Gen.
L0nestreet. hy implication an least with
the lack of that agere I've and. perhaps.
audacious quality which he subsequently
condemns in Gen. Lee. The recognition
or this lack OF aggres siVouess or holiness
ln Cen. LOugslrect d.. perhaps the key
to tho statement of the Telegraph that
Gen. Johnston, who eNccllel in detel-
sive tactics. was Ina the estimation of
Gen. LOngstreet superior as soldier
90 Gen. Lee, and prepares AS for that
on the part or Gen. Long
street OF the aggressive tactics so often
pursued by Gen. Lee. which Che Icle-
graph discovers ia bis book. and To-
which IL gives expression as follows.
yet we think all readers of this book
Will admit that, considering The incquaii-
~ OK streng tn brought into the Held py
the two belligereuts. aud of the vast
superiority Of tie North Gen. Lee was
far too fond OF fighting. Many exc
tracts might DO made from it to show
that such Is the undoubted opinion OF
.ts author
Perhaps so Unquestionahly this opln-
lon was shared by Generals Mcclellan,
Pope. Burnside Hooker. Meade, and
Grant. OF the Federal army OF the Poto-
Now there IS the gist of the London
Teiegraph's version of Gen. LOnestreets
OF Cen. Lee. our old chief was
too fond Of fighting Well, who else u.s.
there Of Che Army OF Northern Var
yinia. who cannot pardon him for that
weakness IN consideration of the very
brilliant results that almost invariably
attended his exhibitions of pugnacity' I'm
war. II Is said that nothing succeeds Ilko a..
uccess. Tn Gen. Lee career. hts suc-
,css would seem 10 attest the good quail
les OF his generalship. including his fen-
lencv 20 assail his opponents. IT was in
ittestafiOn OF his admiration for Gen.
Ie0's fOntness for successful fighting.
md IN recognition % the brilliant achieve
nents won bv hts corps in fFi ing under
zen Leo's command. that Gen. Long
street wrote "All that we have 10 Doe
lr0ud of has been accomplished under
'Our eve and under your ORDERS The
ruth Is that Gen. Lee was pot wild
md reckless fighter. hut a discreet and
udicious one. When the time rived 20
frika me dd motto hesitate. hut gave
he blow with force and confidence
The Telegraph dcN0ffs much space TO
he consideration or cen. l.ous-iIec.
ccOunt OF the battle of Gettysburg As |
g well known. most Of the controversy |
hat has occurred since the war be- I
weon the admirers of GEN. Lee AMI Gen. |
.ongstreet and his followers, has been /
regard to the Incidents OF that CAM !
align. I'm the discussion ~ those events, /
intense feeling and. at times. even hit- |
arness has been manifested by both |
Ides. and some of the charges and coun- |
ar charges made. are alike irrecOuci.- !
le with the general trend of affairs. !
md the uugucsflOuaDlo ability and ad- |
litted excellence of each of these great |
0ldiors. Had Gen. lee lived, Dee would ]
Lhe.it1fiDglY have accepted his fair |
hare or re possibility for the lack OF |
ual success at Gctfys burg. but IBIS read /
ness to assume AN blame for failure |
ven though his Nouteuants had failed |
b do what he had right zoo expect OF
hem in the way of cooperation. is in
frikng contrast % the statement or
eu LOngstrcet as seq forth hy the Tcle-
raph. that president Davis. Mr. Scd-
0u. and nearly every officer or rank
CRYING under Lee were opposed 90 70
aiding the cnomy'a country. especially |
for The failure Of tho Sharpsburg cam-
afgn 90 Not not a voice was
ilse1 against this fatal march except
g. Cen. LOngstreet when D.. reloined
en- Lee after the battle of Chanccl-
lrsvilla Tho two were alone. together
ld what passed between them o. now
.ade known for the frst time This u.s.
decd revelation 10 those N ms who
ere near Gen. Lee. end such bald as
'rtons viii not De- pied 10y those
h0 impartailv study tne subject with
efuon-a DESIRE 20 reach the truth Iu-