Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-01-04
GEN. LoNsTREEr DEAD.

Oeu. "onCo hohkSlcC1, a. shO e6O VI
SO, the last but three Of the rank
ing lieutenant generals of the Confeder-
acy, hero ofthe Mexican war, and United
States Commissioner of Railways, died
at the home of his daughter, Mrs.
j. Esten Whelchel, in Gaines
vile, Ca, on Saturday evening,
of pneumonia, which was greatly
aggravated by the old wound received
by him at the hands of his own men
through mistake at the battle of the
Wilderness.
Gen. Longstreet was born in Edge.
field District, S. c., January 8, 1921.
He removed with his mother to Ala
bama in 1881, and was appointed from
that State to the United States Military
Academy, where he graduated in 1912.
He served in the military occupation OF
Texas in lS45-46, and in the war with
Mexico, being engaged in the Battles OF
Palo Alto, Resaca dc la Palma, Mon
terey, the siegs of Vera Cruz, Cerro
Gordo, San Antonio, Churubusco, and
Molino del Rey. For gallant and meri-
torious conduct in the two last-named
battles he was breyetted captain and
major.
Espousing the Southern cause, he was
commissioned brigadier general in the
Confederate service, and at the first bat
tie Of Bull Run commanded brigade on
the right of the Confederate lile, where
he held large force of the Federal army
from operating in support of McDowelPs
flank attack. On Gen. Joseph E. john
ston's retreat before Mcclellan at York
town, Longstreet commanded the rear
guard, having been made major general.
On May 5, 1862, he made stand at
Williamsburg, and was at once attacked
by Heintzelman, Hooker aud Kearney.
He held his ground until his opponents
were REINFORCED by Hancock, when be
retired, covering the rear of Johnston's
army. He took part in the seven
days battles around Richmond, and
at the second battle of Bull Run,
when in command of the First Corps
of the Army of Northern Virginia,
came to the relief of Jackson,
when he was hard pressed by
Pope's army, and by a determined
charge in flank decided the fortunes Of
the day. At the battle of Fredericks-
burg he held the Confederate left,
In 1863 he was detached with two Of
his divisions for service south of the
James river. On Hooker's movement,
which led TO the battle of Chancellors-
vile, Longstreet was ordered to rejoin
the army of Lee, but did not arrive in
time to participate in the battle. He
commanded the right wing of the Army
of Northern Virginia at the battle of Get.
tysburg, and tried to dissuade Lee from
ordering the charge on the third day.
He was late in getting into the battle on
that day and many believe that his de-
lay on that occasion was tho oapso of the
loss to the Confederate Of this battle.
When Lee retrested to Virginia, Long.
street, with five brigades, was transferred
to the Army of Tennessee, under Bragg,
and at the battle of Chickamauga held
the left wing of the Confederate army.
He was then detached to capture
Knoxville, but found it too strongly
fortified to be taken by assault. Early
in 1864 he rejoined Lee, and was wound.
ed by the fire of his own troops in the
battle ofthe Wilderness. He commanded
the First Corps of the army of Northern
Virginia in all the operations in 1864,
and was included in the surrender al
Appomattox, April 9, 1865.
After the war General Longstreet es-
tablshed his residence in New Orleans,
where he engaged in commercial business.
He became a republican and was APP
pointed surveyor of customs of the port
of New Orleans by President Grant, su-
pervisor of internal revenue in Louisiana,
postmaster at New Orleans and Minister
of the United States to Turkey by Presi-
dent Hayes, and United States Marshal
for the District of Georgia by President
Garfield. He was appointed United
States commissioner of railroads in 1897
by President Mckinley.
General Longstreet was not, as has
been stated, the only surviving lieuten-
ant-general of the Confederacy, except
Gen. j. B. Gordon. The statement wa:
correct so far as the army of Northern
Virginia was concerned, but there are
two other surviving acknowledgement
of the Confederacy-Gen. Alexander P.
| Stewart and Gen Stephen ID. Lee.