The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-07-02

OF the very brilliant results that almost
invariably attended his exhibitions Of
pugnacity? In war, it is said that
nothing succeeds like success. In
Gen. Lees career, his success would
seem to attest the good qualities of his
generalship, including his tendency to
assail his opponents. 1t was in attes-
tation of his admiration for Gen. Lees
fondness for successful fighting, and in
recognition of the brilliant achieve
ments won by his corps in Gen. Lees
command, that Gen. Longstreet wrote:
"All that we have to be proud of has
been accomplished under your eye and
under-your orders" The truth is that
Gen. Lee was not wild and reckless
fighter, but discreet and judicious
one. When the time arrived to strike
he did not hesitate but gave the blow
with force and confidence.
The Telegraph devotes much space
to this consideration of Gen. Long
streets account of the battle of Gettys-
burg. As is we'll known, most of the
controversy that had occurred since
the war between the admirers of Gen.
Lee and Gen. Longstreet and his fol-
lowers, has been in regard to the Incl
dents OF that campai gn. In the dis
cussion OF those events, intense feeling,
and, at times, even bitterness has been
manifested by both sides, and some of
the charges and counter charges made
are alike irreconcilable with the gen
eral trend of affairs, and the unques-
tlonable ability and admitted excel
lence Of each of these great soldiers.
Had Gen. Lee lived, he would unhesi-
tatlngly have accepted his fair share
of responsibility for the lack of final
success at Gettysburg; but his readi-
ness to assume all blame for failure
even though his lieutenants failed to
do what he had a right to expect of
them in the way of cooperation, is in
striking contrast TO the statement of
Gen. Longstreet, as set forth by the
Telegraph, that "President,Davis, Mr..
Seldom and nearly every officer of
rank serving under Lee were opposed
to invading the enemy's country, es-
pecially after the Sharpsburg campaign
.(?) x Yet not voice was
raised against this fatal march except
by Longstreet when he rejoined Lee
after the battle OF Charlottesville.
The two were alone together and what
passed between them is now made
known for the first time" This is, in
deed, revelation to those of US who
were near Gen. Lee and such bald as
sertions will not be accepted by those
who impartially study the subject, with
sincere desire to reach the truth. In
deed, in The light of such assertions,
made SO long after the occurrences
and without contemporaneous corrob-
orative testimony, | have been forcibly
led to the conclusion that it is not alone
Longstreet who speaks Read what
he says when discussing the events of
the second day at Gettysburg, page
$50 "Col. Taylor says, That Gen.
Lee urged that the march of my
troops should be fastened and was
chafed at their non temperance. Not
QUE word did he utter to me of their
march until he gave me his orders at
II o'clock for the move to his right.
Orders for the troops to hasten their
march Of the first were sent without
even a suggestion from him, but upon
his announcement that he intended to
fight the next day if the enemy was
there. That he was excited and off
his balance was evident on the after
noon of the Ist, and he labored under
that oppression until enough blood
was shed to appease him. How ter
rlbly sanguinary this makes Gen Lee
appear. Is it really the utterance of
Gen. Longstreet? Then he has great
ly changed in his sentiment towards
Gen. Lee since knew him during the
war. What groundless, monstrous
change this is! Think of it, all We
gallant survivors of the Army of North
ern Virginia, your old commander
depicted to the world as an insatiate,
blood thirsty monster! Such charge
as that can do him no permanen,
harm and will but recoil with crush.
ing force on him who made or ap.
proved it,
Now, as to the movements of Long
street on the 1st and end of July at
Gettysburg, to which he refers in the
quotation last made from his book
may we not ask what more urgent re.
quest he could have expected from
Lee that he should hasten to Join him
than is embraced in his own statemen,
that "orders for the troops to hasten
their march of the Ist were sent with.
out even suggestion from him (Gen
Lee, but upon his announcement tina,
he intended to fight the next day il
the enemy was tnere?" The greater
portions of the two corps of Generals
A. P. Hill and Ewell had been holly
engaged during the 1st July, withou,
about an equal force Of the enemy; the
result was great victory for General
Lees troops, and the enemy had the
town of Gettysburg to the heights be-
yond. 1t was of the first importance
to follow up nls success promptly.
cen. Longstreet, with two of his divis-
ions camped at point but four miles
distant, aware of what had occurred !;
he had received orders to hasten the
march of his troops, with "the an
nouncement that Gen. Lee intended
to fight the next day, if the enemy was
there" When should he and his two
divisions have reported to cen. Lee for
orders? At what hour on the morning
of the I'd could Gen. Lee have reason.
ably expected him? At what hour
would cen. Jackson have saluted cen.
! | and Y,OirtoI /