The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-07
cantain Ward Speaks.

Captain Ward spoke to the resolutions
He said in part:
In speaking at the last meeting on the
life OF General Gordon, brought forward
prominently the idea that it required a
war to develop his great dormant powers
and high character. General Longstreet
was to a large extent developed by the
war; Had there been no war he would
never have risen about the rank of cap
tain, major or at the highest, colonel.
General Longstreet is dead now, and
there are many matters which might be
buried with him fought under him and
also under General Hood, who was his
superior in rank, and consider General
Longstreet the greatest and abiest of the
two commanders. He was promoted slow
ly. There was none of the dash to his
achievements that there was to some of
the others, and he was noted more for his
staying qualities than for his DASH
Never Defeated.
"Whateyer may be said Of Longstreet.
he was never defeated in battle, and he
probably had more independent commands
than any Of the other of General Lees
lieutenanfs. Time after time General Lee
CHOSE him for command of divisions OF
the army which were to be detached on
dangerous missions and no matter what
may have been his supposed defects he
was never relieved from command or in
any way reduced from his rank.
after the battle of Gettysburg. which
I,ongstreet is accused of loosing. General
Lee, that peerless of all soldiers and gen.
tlemen, never blamed any one witt defeat.
but took all the blame on his own shcui-
ders. He never criticized Longstreet, but
on the other hand the friendliest of feel
ings and the greatest confidence seemed to
exist between the two men,"
captain Ward then read extracts from
letters written to General Longstreet by
General Lee and also letters from Cen
eral Lee to Longstreet, in which both
expressed confidence In the other, al
though 1T was only few months after
Gettysburg In writing to General Lee,
I.ongstreet used the expression, 1T was
all accomplished under your eye, refer
ring to the victories won and the trials
successfully gone through. In another
letter from General Lee to Longstreet,
while the latter was in Tennessee, the
former Is quoted as saying. finish your
great work and return to me. 1 need you
badly"
Captain Ward continued:
General Longstreet could not afford
to be untrue to General Lee and General
Lee could not afford not to trust Long
street. He had done substantial work
for the south, and there had been no
grand stand play. Nothing stacy ap-
peared in his fighting and career
After the War.
After the war many would have done
as he did had 1t not been for the ter
ribIe reconstruction days. and still more
would have thought General Longstreet's
policy was right. Many did start to take
the step he took but they backed down
and he alone had the backbone to brook
the storm He was not untrue to tho
south. and believe he held to his dying
hour a great love for the south and it's
people. otherwise he would have left
the section when the storm broke on him.
General Longstreet was true TO us
during the war and the heart of many
true. therefore, let us not heap reproach
on him, but let time heal the wounded
feelings, and may we ever hold him dear
in our memories for the great deeds he
did"
Chairman 8. w. Vance's report on the
library and pictures was full and eneour-
aging. The library includes books of his
tbric value and the pictures are also val
liable.
vote of thanks was extended to
DR.. ]. c. Alternately for his generous
gifts. and also to DIR. George H. Stubs
for his kindness in treating an old vet
eran free Of charge. DR.. Stubbs wrote
a letter to the camp stating that he
wouI,. always be glad to treat any old
veteran free Of charge II they were una
BILE to pay for the treatment.
Judge W. r. Houghton was requested
to have speach prepared for the, next
meeting on amy subject which he might
feel like discussing