The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-02-09
mstreet Says Lee Made Tactical Bunder He Should Not
Have Attacked Cemetery Ridge Wiser Plan Would Have
Been to Turn Federal Flank Had the Confederates Turned
Eastward at Gettysburg, They Would Have Defeated
Meade'S Army

record and all the circumstances, ms we'll
as my own positive assertions, made in
various forms many times In the last
II did originally favor a different. and
as ! thought more effective plan Of ag-
gression for the purpose OF loosenlng
Grants hold on Vicksburg. | proposed to
the secretary Of war, and subsequently also
to General Lee, sudden concentration
against Rosecrans in Middle Tennessee. II
this had been done In May, instead OF sep
TENDER 100000 men could have heon pre-
clpitated upon the Army Of the Cumber-
land. Success was certain and sweeping.
Then march upon Cincinnati and Louis
Vile would have called General Grant of
from Ylcksburg.
General Lee at first thought well of this
idea His face was eventually set against
IT, however, because It necessitated di.
vldlng the army, which he preferred To hold
as n unit and operate upon or from the
Virginia theater. The upshot was that he
proposed In its stead campaign across
the Potomac river.
Both Seldom and Lee having thus de
termined against my plan as al the time
impracticable, ] cheerfully acquesced IN
General Lees as the next best thing In
sight to checkmate the gathering Federal
storm But ! urged that that strategtCal
offensive should be tactically defensive,
and to my earnest representations on TINS
point he Willingly assented. n,.,,,, .,,,
Having passed through Richmond only
a few days previously, and conferred with
Mr.. Seldom, ] was very doubtful II General
Lee could win their consent down there
TO a movement Into PENNSYLVANIA, knowing
how fearful they were just then for the
safety of the capital. But nevertheless he
did and the Gettysburg campaign fol-
lowed.
In view Of our necessities. and still think
So l seconded the movement win en-
thusiasm. and was confident we could WIN
Nv hope aside from the lighting qualities
of our troops. was chiefly based on Gen
eral Lees great ability as defensive com
mander. II was knowledge or this that
constrained me TO urge strict tactical De
fensive. with a defensive battle ! am con
fdent there would have been no Gettyspurg
defeat and subsequent ruin OF the Southern
JEFFERSON DAVIS ATTITUDE ,
General Longstreets attention was called
| 10 Colonel McClure's statement about JEFF
ferson Davis "evaslve" explanation. why
sbouId Mr.. Davis be vague In regard 10 a
! matter upon which he was fully informed
/ and indeed was the highest authorg'
| general. Is II not possible there may oe
! Something In Colonel McClufe's assump'
president Davis so-called evasions, to
those who knew him personally, 90 nor
/ indicate what Colonel Mcclure hastily as
sumes Mr. Davis was n cultivated gen.
/ tieunu. one very sensitive upon small
/ points OF honor and courtesy be was
/ courageous too. He was conNersinE apou'
/ the greatest disaster to Southern arms. ne
had sent Lee upon that unfortunate cam
/ paign. And TO a stranger. and one from
the North, he aid not wish 70 throw Jnt
4 blame upon bis defeated commander. Hf
/ probably did not wish 10 be quoted either
4 way. That was al his evasions meant
.ID his book written long afterwards
! the same delicacy toward General Lee i'
( observed He does not say that Lee Wa'
! responslble he assumes his share OF la'
/ FAINT n fault there was. by merely saying
| M was decided by bold movement =
attempt 10 transfer hostlities 10 the nortl
1 side of the Potomac.
There was no irritation In General Long
streets manner in discussing Colpne! Nc
! Clare's criticism ~ his suggestion 70 zen
] eral Lee TO funk the Union army out o. w
! manageable position on Cemetery kidge
! ne talked at length upon that phase q
| Gettyshurg with perfect clearness ans
| cooIness Among other things he SAID u
| answer to various questions;
LEE VS.. LONGSTREET.
II shall not, Of course. gaiDsay colons
MecluSs's decision that General Less 50