The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-07-22
The Passing Of Gen. Longstreet.

OeueIsl Jsmes L0ugstreet Is not
likely to be with US many days longer.
His age would forbid it, il his infirmi-
ties were not present, and when he
dies one Of the South's greatest mill
tsry captains will have passed into
the hereafter. He was General Lee 8
stand by in the final crisis, for Gen.
Lee had made up his mind not to ao
oept terms of surrender which would
be in anywise dishonorable to the
leadership of the Confederate army,
and on the night before the surrender
ct Appomattox he decided Gn such
even0 to cut is way through enoir-
cling foes to the mountains of Virgin
ia or die In the effort. General Chas.
Field, who was then in command of
the Virginia regiment with which Gen
Lee entered the Southern army, .o!d
me the following, in words as near his
own as I can reoellect:
Having stated this resolve to few
OF his closest oounselors, namely, that
ne could not accept dishonorable terms
OF surrender, General Lee asked Gen.
Longstreet if he would lead the for
lorn hope and go with him.
With characteristic brevity and
prompt decision, General Longstreet
said, II will" and he would have
done it, I am sure. Such scene is
worthy of the pen of the finest poet on
the continent or the easel Of the most
noted artist. Words are insufficient
TO tell what that question and that an
swer stood for in the minds Of those
two military captains, and I am not
going to do more than state another
fact, namely, that General Long
streets reply and General Lees con-
fiding trust in General Longstreet are
quite enough to entitle the latter to
the need Of praise and Of genuine pa
triotism which history is going to
award him when present prejudioes
and sectional passions have disappear
ed in the course Of time, consumed BY
their own heat and ranoor; in other
@cEds, burn themselves out.
FoFene, want to place on record
my profound gratitude as Southern
Son,an for General Longstreet's cour-
ege, ability and heroism in time
thAt tried mems and women's sonls.
II there should not be another who
would step out, while believe there
are many, and tender hi n their CRATE
Iul thanks, / am to be that one. at
least, and if I could would have the
brave old warrior feel that Southern
men and women were grateful as he
goes, down into the valley OF the shsd-
ow Of death and earth recedes from
his failing vision; and I would esteem
it privilege to tell him the same in
person before he goes, hence aud
"sleeps with his fathers
And 1 would return him tanks not
solely for such comfort as 1t mis- bit
give him as he passes on, but because
he deserves it and has worthily won
it.
As long as the struggle of tx .
Southern Confederacy lives in song
and story. uthat long will General
Longstreet's heroism and fine knowl.
edge Of military tactics live also. AS
long as General Lees prowess is the
toast of great soldiers here and across
the water, SO long will General Long
streets capacity as brave oomrade
and valuable assistant be understood
and appreciated. General Lee would
do him justice if he could speak from
the silent grave. and there should be
visible expression Of General Lee .
confidence in the heroic old veteran,
who had Guffered E'arroWs and stings''
Of misfortune and censure with almost
unparalleled fortitude.
7 That General Longsssess is NOT
faultless goes without saying. We
are all liable to make mistakes with
the best intentions sometimes, for hr.
man natureis liable to err, prone 70
error, but mistakes can be hc.aest, and
honest judgment can be warped by
circumstances and environment.
Nevertheless, General Longstreet
laid down his sword at Appomattcr
yzithoy,k q atnso ~ hIa,,s,e So. ls.
tegrity. and che Southern people
should never forget it. he has never
been the man 70 attain eminenoe by
climbing on other people 3 shoulders.
and / have wondered sometimes lie he
did not err by remaining stoically 81.
.eht. while interested people Tanned
sectional fury into consuming fame
sor political gain. But the grave 3 win
soon close overthis brave cid veteran