Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-16
The Starting Of the Lonsstresl-Gettys-
burg Controversy.
WHISPERS IN ARHY CIRCLES
4 Letter from Rev. Dr.. J. William
Jones.
rHr WHOLE MATTER REVIEWED.

To the Editor OF the Dlspatcn'
You are unquestionably right In the
gary courteous little difference with the
Times as to who begun the LonSstree'
Gettysburg controversy, but you DO no.
nv. its origin quite far enough back anu
omit some very important points IN inc
history of the controversy.
As / have been in position 10 hho"
all of the facts have read ana pre-
seryed everything OF Interest that mas
been published concerning these matters
although l have not until quite recently
pr,n,ed anything MYSELF. and as tnere
seems 10 be a constantly recurring qnes-
ton as to "who fred the first gun. ana
who is continuing the firing, l ask space
for summary statement OF the whole
question.
There was In army circles after the
battle Of Gettysburg a good deal OF talk
MS 10 the causes of our failure, and 1t
seemed 70 be very generally understood
thai the fault was not Lees. but that ms
orders had been disobeyed. in that the
heights were not carried on the evening
OF the first day, the attack was not mace
until the afternoon of the second day. ana
the troops making the assault ON the
third day were not properly supported.
But. "a Lee, moving among his shat
tered battallons at Gettysburg. had shown
the same superb magnanimity rs when
at charlottesville ne had given the
glory of the victory TO Stonewall jackson,
and had declared. This is ali my fault,
have lost this battle, ana you must
help me oft Of II the best you can 10
one WIS disposed to publish any CRITICISMS
NJ his subordinates. And so after the war
there seemed TO be general disposiuon
On the part OF leading Conlederates 10
let the Federal generals DO the quarrei-
ling and to preserve among themselves
the harmony and goodwill counselled by
their great commander. and OF which he
gave 80 conspicuous an example.
The first publication made in reference
IN the cause of our defeat at Gettysburg
by any Confederate who participated In
the battle so far as l have been able
10 ascertain, was mS0 by General Long
street Ia Swintons Army OF the. Poto-
mac" which was published In the spring
Of 1866.
and gives Longstreet as his authority
for the abatement: Indeed, In entering
upon this campaign, General Lee ex-
pressly promised his corps-commanders
that he would not assume tactical or
fensiye, but force his antagonist 70
attack him. Having. however, gotten
q taste Of blood In the considerable sue
cess OF the first day. the Confederate
commander seems to have lost that edui-
poise In which his faculties commonly
moved; and he determined TO give bat
tie"
swinton then proceeds to criticise Lee
very severely for not "manoeuvring
Meade out of the Gettysburg position.
and saws: This operation General Eong-
street. who foreboded the worst from
an attack on the army In position. and
was anxious to hold General Lee TO
bis promise. begged in vain to be al
lowed to execute" ibid; p. S4p, he
quotes General Longstreet as his au-
thority for this as also for the further
criticisms OF General Lee which he
makes. and the very language OF which
bears a most remarkable resemblance to
what General Longstreet has since print
% over his own signature.
NOT REPLIED TO.
These criticisms OF Longstreet on Lee
were not replied to by the latter. though
e IL within my personal knowledge
that he had swintons book and read
q least portion OF It. and none Of Lees
subordinates thought proper to make an
swer.
A short time after General Lees death
General Longstreet gave out for publ
eaton the private letter which he wrote
his uncle from Cuipeper Courthouse. on
July "a 1863, and In which he distinctly
claimed that we lost Gettysburg because
Lea refused to take his advice. and
fought the battle against his Judgment;
that. II hts Qsongstreets) plans had been
adopted. great results would have been
obtained'': and. $50 far as Is given to
man the ability to judge. We may say
with confidence that we should have de-
strcycd the Federal army marched into
Warrington. and dictated our terms; or.
q least. held Washington. and marched
ever as much Of Pennsylvania a. we
mred to-
Il WIN be thus clearly seen that Gene
~ Longstreet nrst began this contro-
eersy by his criticisms Of General Lee.
and hts claim that we lost (;ettys-
burg because the Nspolecnic genius Of
osneral James Lonsstreet could not over
eome the obstinate stupidity Of Robert |
inward Lee.
Al Z matter Of course. theme criticisms
u Lcngstreet against the idoiixed COM
napder OF the Army Of Northern yir-
e7pt~ ret vvtsh -s-,v
January y, is7s. General J. A. Early
delivered the addtfss at Ma
kon ard Lee University on the occasion |
q the anniversary celebration Of General |
xee's birth. He discussed Lee. the Sol |
oles," With that ability. accurate know |
todge Of the subject. and real loyalty 10 |
~ name and fame Of his old commanders /
ohfch 80 pre~sminept;y characterized that |
GlHfdy Old patriot. Jubsl A. Early, and /
~ the course Of his address gave an out
~ of the Gettysburg campaign and bat
III md defended General Lee from the |
M ~ yalo&akea /
I'M cRfrfcTgM on xoN0sTkkEr.
~ 50 MA d c8iticiem al General
1toof ~ cQn6<lae1 n fhe follow