The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-29
LONGSYREET and PITZ LED.
The LATTER CRITICIzES THB ANSWER,
The Court Referred to Was Court Of In
quiry aud Not Court -Mxrtial-Fitz Lee
VIII Have Something TO Say OF
Longstreet's Book Later.

| Camp, OF Petersburg, on the occasion
| OF the celebration Of Robert E. Lees
| birthday, by The Times correspondent,
| was reproduced in the Lynchburg News
| next day. including General Battles re-
| marks about General Longstree Colonel
| Otey sent a copy OF the News to Long
! street, and that paper yesterday published
| his reply to Colonel Otey, as follows;
Home. Jan. 2o. 1896.
Thanking you again for your care in
| sending the News OF the I'D. | have TO
| ask you TO see II the News will publish
| the enclosed and send me half dozen
| copies Of the number In which IL Is pub
lished.
| hope you may be able to decipher my
| poor chirography.
| Your friend and comrade.
JAMES LoNGSTREET.
Colonel Kirk Otey, Lynchburg. Va.
THE ENCLOSURE.
Gainesville, Ga, Jan. % isg6.
My Dear Colonel Otey:
| thank you for the News of the 22d
instant From II | send the following ex-
tract.
Petersburg, Va, Jan. 2i.-At the ban
quet OF A. Il. Hin Camp OF Confederate
Veterans Monday night, General G. A..
Battle Of North Carolina. after speaking
at some length of the battle OF Chancei-
lOrsvlle and the brilliant victory OF the
Confederates, referred 10 the battle OF
Gettysburg.
General Battle said that a court OF
inquiry appointed by General Lee. OF
which General Malone was president ars
General G. A. Battle was secretary, met
at Culpeper Courthouse for the purpose
OF inquiring into the conduct OF the Get
tysburg campaign.
General Stuart, said General Battle.
was examined "a 10 his absence from his
position and failure To keep General Lee
Informed as 10 the position OF the enemy.
aI.lf h. cot "a 40
that he thought he had an opportunity
to infiict a serious blow by capture OF
their wagon train and accordingly left
Generals Jones and Robins on 10 keen
General Lee posted.
THE court censured Stuart and Long
street. but General Lee suppressed the
report and took the blame upon himself.
This report. said General Battle, has
never before been given 10 the public
and would not now be but for the fact
that General Lee has been attacked By
I.ongstreet."
Those familiar with the laws and usages
OF military affairs need not be reminded
that this Is another OF the many fictions
that have been spread before the public
by those who hope To pick up fame from
the drippings that fall from the mantle OF
a great chief.
Being an interested party, General Lee
was debarred the right to order a court
of any kind I'm the premises. Courts of
inquiry have no authority to pass judg-
That right rests exclusively with
"courts-martial. to be con posed. when
practicable, OF thirteen mem oers OF rank
superior 10 that of the hcers to be
brought before n. and "A Judge advocate.
Even thus constituted. ,Ourt cannot
move against an officer or private
soldier without having the party or his
counsel. with full opportunity for defence.
1t is hardly necessary To say. TO the
most credulOus. that General Lee, and no
otner general officer, has ventured upon
the high crime Of suppressing official
documents FOR the purpose OF taking upon
himself the failure OF others after hav-
ing frequently said as much on other
occasions.
4 few weeks after the return from
Gettt aburg h. Joined the Richmond au-
thCrties IN ordering part OF my COM
mand 20 the Confederate army I'm Ten
nessee. with q view 10 have me assigned
10 command Of that army General Lees
letter me Of October. 1863, just publish
et In From Manassas 70 AppOmatfoN.'D
To claim an order for a court Of inquiry
selecting its members for the purpose of
casting censure upon an officer whom he
had Just recommended for command OF
an army not second 10 his own in i'm
pOrtance. that. officer in an active. distant
campaign. beyond The reach OF the court,
denied the privilege of evidence or de-
fence, is a stretcn of the hyperbole, a tax
upon the credulitv OF his hearers, aud q
scandal against General Lee
hnectionately your friend and comrade,
JAMES LONGSTREET.
Colonel Kirk Otey Lynchburg, Va.
FGTZ. LEE SPEAKS.
LYNCHBURG, VA, Jan. Especial
The Times correspondent interviewed
General Lee Yesterday. and he said. VA
talking about General Longstreet's letter,
published In to-day's News, that. a.
usual, the gentleman had got his points
mixed.
Nothing was said by General Battle
about "cOurts-maroial.' and therefore
" hat General LOngstreet says about them
has no reference TO the subject he Is sup |
posed 10 be discussing "COIrts OF in |
luiry," such as General Battle mentioned. |
can be called By commanding officers |
They ascertain facts. and upon their re- |
port "A court-martial' Is ordered or the |
matter is dropped. In this latter case the |
begin and end with the ofn- |
GERS ordering the court.
In the case General Battle refers TO |
court OF inquiry was ordered.
II have letter from general officer |
who was a witness before II. | have not /
had The time 10 look into the matter but |
expect when the facts are brought out, |
ts they will be. II viii be seen that Cen /
.ral Lee ordered the court al the request |
oi j. T.. Il. stuart, who had become /
sensitive I'm reference 10 newspaper crit
csm about his operation I'm the Gettys- |
burg campaign, apd asked that the mat
Ter be investigated. TO which General Lee |
consented.
Battle tells Us Stuart told the court. |
IN substance. that II they were LOOKING /
or the officer who lost Gettysburg. 10 /
urn their attention to another. n u
possible continued General Fitz. Lee.
that the court. though called for = s9e-
'lnfd purpose, may have had Instructions
'iastic enough 10 give an o0<ion on
,ther matters. At any rate, Gen. Battle
writes me that he wrote report mildly
ensuring Stuart. but asking FOR him the |
most generous treatment In considera-
ion OF good intentions and past great
ervices. that General Stuart protested
Igainst the cavalry having TO bear the |
,lame for which a lieutenant-general was
believed 10 be chiefly responsible: that |
iahOne, "A member OF the court. said he |
vas ready 10 hear anything that would |
i've W. light. that subsequently, num-
,er OF written statements We're laid be-
ore them. and upon one from Hood he
vas instructed 10 draw a report censur- |
ng LOngstreet. as well as Stuart. which
vas duly done and forwarded 10 army
HE WESTERN RECOMMENDATION
What about General Longstreet's claim
hat General Lee recommended him 10
ommand the Army OF the West2"
Il think General Longstreet has misap-
rehended General Lee or his memory is |
effective. General Lees letter OF October |
@, 1863. to which he refers. and upon
which alone. as IL would seem, he rests
his remarkable and incredible story.
oes not warrant the conclusion lie
raws. In the thirty years since the |
var 1 do not think there IL a single
erson. In either the Army OF Northern
'irginia or the Army OF the West, or |
lsewhere. who over heard IL before.
General Longstreet has written much !
N the war himself. and others have
sritten for him. but | have never seen
moving General Lee as well as did. I
eel sure he would not have attempted to |