The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-03
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER;
SOLDIER AND DIPLOMAT

James Longstreet was born in the Edge
field district of South Carolina on Jan. s.
1921, and was graduated from West Point
in 1912. He served in the Mexican, Indian
and civil wars, and won his majority at
the battle of Molino del Rey, 1S47. He left
the Federal army at the outbreak of the
civil war and entered the Confederate serv-
ice. He served all through the war. rising
from brigadier general to lieutenant gen.
eral. He commanded many battles,
defeated by the Federals at
Knoxville, and was wounded by
the fire of mis- own troops in the bat
tie of the Wilderness in May of 1864. After
the war he became a Republican,; was ap-
pointed surveyor of the port of New Or
leans by President Grant, later was su-
pervisor of the internal revenue postmaster
at Gainesville, Ga, United States minister
to Turkey, federaI marshal for the Geor-
gia district and on Nov. 2 1897 was ap-
pointed by President Mckinley United
States commissioner for the Pacific rail-
roads, to succeed General Wade Hampton,
of South Carolina. In September of that
year he married Miss Helen Dortch, State
librarian of Georgia.
In 1868, after the election of General
Grant to the Presidency, there was con-
ference of nearly all the big leaders of the
Confederacy in one of the parlors of the
st. Charles Hotel in New Orleans When
it adjourned, it had been resolved that so
far as they could they would throw no OBJ
stacles in the way of the national govern
ernment; that they would advise their
Southern friends TO desert the Democratic
party and join hands with the Republicans,
and I'm this way the Federal offices would
go to the ex-Confederates instead Of the
ghouls and carpet-baggers that then in
tested that country. 1t was agreed at the
conference, almost without opposition, that
these SouthernerS should cooperate with
General Grant and bring about a speedy
settlement of all differences then existing
RECEIVED THE APPOINTMENT.
The gentlemen participating in this confer
ence went to their homes. General Long
street went to Washington. He had no diff
ficulty in seeing the President soon after
his arrival. A few days later he was ap-
pointed United States marshal for the
southern district of Georgia. His nomina-
ton was confirmed and the general accepted
the position. A howl was raised all over
the country south of Mason and Dixon's
line because of Longstreet's desertion.
In 1893 he attended a reunion Of Confed-
crates at New Orleans. Courtesy on the
part of the eX-Confederates demanded that
he be invited, and he was. They did not
expect his acceptance. LII was the second
morning of the meeting when a carriage
drove up to the hall entrance and the griz-
zled veteran alighted. He had no escort
Alone he climbed the steps and alone
walked down the aisle 10 where there was a
vacant seat He had not proceeded far be-
fore a gallant eX-leader was recognized
There was the faintest sort of a cheer at
first. Then the applause grew into a dem
onstratiOn. rebel yell was sounded from
five thousand throats. Hats flew into the
air. Disabled Confederates forgot their in
firmities and tried to reach him An old
flag that he had fought under at Chatta-
nooga, where hundreds of his men fell nv
the little pond near the mountain side was
brought forward. The band struck up
Dixie" Tears were in his eyes. Former
friends seized his hands. Thus from one
moment of painful anxiety he was tran
sported into another on the wings of mex
pressible JOY.
Grant and Longstreet had been school
mates at West Point, were graduated the
same year, and received their commissions
at the same time. They had fought among
the cactus bushes OF Mexico, and had
drunk mescal from the same jug a thou
sand times 1t at Jefferson barracks
near St Louis, that LOngstreet introduced
his cousin, Miss Julia Dent, TO Grant and
il was Longstreet himself who told the
young lady OF the worth OF his friend They
were married. and the Georgian was at the
wedding. When they next saw each other
il was at AppomattOX. After the formal
tiles of the surrender were over General
Grant took General LOngstreet TO one side
and said:
Julia wants to see you. Go home and
see your family, and then come TO see me.
won't you2"
I.ongstreet promised and he kept his word
When General Grant became President he
asked for his advice, and begged that his
former adversary now be one of mis- adj
yisers General Grant never had a truer
friend during his administration They
knew each other. When the tragedy took
place at Mount McGregOr Longstreet s1f-
Tered as II 1t were the loss Of brother.