The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-20
GEN, COBB'S LETTERS
Charged Lee and Jefferson Da-
Wis With Favoritism.
CRITICIZED o. n. HILL
THERE IS MUCH BAD BLOOD
AMONG THESE HIGH OFF,
GERS, JEALOUsIEs AND
BACKBITING."
YEARNiNG FOR ASSASSINATION
Would Rejoice to See johnson Assassl'
mated and Said It Would Be Clio
rious If Ben Butler Were Assassi
mated by the Hand of Woman.
YEARNiNG FOR ASSASSINATION

rious If Ben Butler Were Assassi
mated by the Hand of Woman.
Charlotte ObserverD
Washington, April S.-The presence IN
this city Of Gen. James Longstreet, OF
the late Confederate army, together with
the disclosures of certain letters written
| by the late Gen. Thomas Il. Il. Cobp,
| have renewed interest in some features
Of Confederate history which have long
been the subject of controversy.
One source of the bitter antagonlsm
DISPLAYED toward Gen. Longstreet on the
part of what might be called unrecon-
structed Confederates, such as DR.. j.
William Jones, of the University OF Nir-
ginia. is that he dared to differ In opln-
lion with Jefferson Davis, and that in ofii-
cial documents and magazine publication
he has seen fit to criticise the military
ability Of Gen. Robert e. Lee. In this
criticism Of his late chief, Gen. Long
street spoke form a purely military point
of view, at the same time expressing the
highest opinion of the character and man
hood of Gen. Lee. On Jefferson Davis
he lost little love. The main point of
lLougstreet's opposition to Davis and Lee
was that, though there were eleven
States in the Confederacy. these two high
officers seemed to him to think there was
only one-Virginia. Gen. Longstreet,
while in camp with Gen. Lee, upon hear
ing that Jubal A. Early had been APP
pointed to succeed S,onewall Jackson,
exclaimed sententiously: TOO much Vlr-
ginia, too much Virginia. In this con-
troversy Gen. Longstreet has has to
stand alone, others who thought as he did
being more polite and counting public
opinion, which was on the other side.
| The disclosures made by the letters of
Gen. T. r. r. Cobb support the views
expressed by Gen. Longstreet, both in
Ipublic documents and in his book. Gen..
TT. r. II. Cobb was brother Of Howell
Cobb, who had been Secretary Of the
Treasury under President Buchanan.
The family was distinguished one in
Georgia. When the war broke out How
ell Cobb decided that his place was in
the Geld, and received the appointment OF
lBrigadier General Thomas r. r. Cobb
raised legion known as Cobb's Legion
composed Of sons of planters. all gentle
linen born, and as brave body of men as
lever came together. The family pride
WAS centred in the legion. Its COM
Imander was a man Of great ability, but
with very strong views on every subject.
lone OF his daughters is the wife Of ex-
iSecretary Hoke Smith. The family has
lin it's possession letters written home by
the General, in which he spoke freely Of
Icurrent events, and those letters have
lnow been made public probably not with
the best Of taste. They Indicated. how
lever, that the feeling OF the General
against Virginia and the favoritism in
Richmond. was quite as strong with him
as it could possibly have been with Gen.
1Longstreet.
| The first Of these letters, written ION
the Chicahominy, May 10, 1862" COM
tplains bitterly that the legion had been
divided, and In response to his petition
that they be kept together, 1.-THE President
and Gen. lee replied with the stale rea-
son OF military necessity" A few days
later, writing from "'Camp, one mile from
Richmond, May 3d." Gen Cobb said
IT am again face to face with the enemy
They opened fire with six guns on one
of our pieces this afternoon. Mr.. Davis
land Gen. Lee had ridden over and they
witnessed the duel without being in
range. Some Of the balls passed over
their heads, and the papers will no doubt
being under fire. A few days later
June 5, Cen. Cobb wrote: "Since John.
ston was wounded, Lee is in command
and he is as reticent as Johnston
lAgain, in a letter written "Near Rich
mond, June 13. &C., describing a visit
Il from Lee, Hill, Magruder, McLaws
Jones, Toombs and Semmes, he said
''There is much bad blood among these
thigh officers, jealousies and backbitings.'
The next bears the date Of June 18th
land said Of affairs in Richmond:
4 81 am sick Of the despicable favoritism
i here. MY cavalry are doing nearly all of
| the picketing. but when Stuart wants to
| make a brilliant and daring exploit he
takes some Of the Potomac pets and never
| lets us know his intentions until he re-
turns in triumph to Richmond" Again
ON July 5: "Old Marauder made no re-
putaton in this battle. He lost rather
than gained. He was depressed, and, l
fear, was drinking"
About this time a severe controversy
was raging within the Confederacy over
| the enforcement of the conscript law, the
test of loyalty to Jefferson DAVIS being
obedience to this law, and of disloyalty
/ disobedience to it. Gen. Joseph IL. Brown,
| of Georgia. headed the opposition Of the
| conscript law and refused to allow 1T to
| be enforced in his>State. Upon this sub
/ Ject ON july 10, lSO-, Gen CoUD WIcte'
Yesterday Col. Benning got into con-
| troyersy with Gen. Lee and Secretary
| Randolph about the conscript law, Ben
| mig saying it was unconstitutional and
| refused to obey orders based upon It. He
was about to be placed under arrest and
] his men about to mutiny. He came to
get my advice and counsel. Tn the point
at issue Benning was right | agreed to
go and see Randolph, which did, finding
| him, as usual, reasonable and courteous
| After presenting my views, l succeeded
! in convincing him, and am happy to be-
| Iieve that it will ward off a bitter war
between Georgia and the Confederacy, for
| Brown was backing Benning."
''Toombs has challenged ID. II. Hill,
| who refuses to fight, and a bitter cores
| Dondence is going on. Hill did most wan
| tonly charge Toombs of cowardce to his
| face He now makes many excuses for