Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-01-21
WAR "REMINISCENCES.

To the Editor Of the Alexandria Gazette.
have read within the last few
DAYS in the Vicksburg Herald mas
terlv defense OF Longstreet at the
battle of Gettysburg, signed Mrs James
Longstreet, Washington, December. 1t
is an article of great merit, splencldly
written. aud | know Of but one officer
who, in my opinion, is capable of writing
it. 1t is not my purpose To take issue
with the writer in the defense OF General
Longstrcet, for whom | had high APP
probation. Nor can I ever forget his
coming to my rescue when | was receiv-
ing the only reprimand ever received
from our great Commander, Gen. Il. Il.
Lee. Ii was on the day before the Sec
ond battle of Manassas when | was act
ing on General Iongstreet's staff at his
own request Having passed through
Thorcughlare Gap, we were approaching
Havmarket, when General Lee ordered
me to get him a guide who knew the
country from Haymarket to Manassas.
Having obtained one from my old COM
pany, | was taking him to General Lee
when | met General Longstreet, who
wished me to execute an order for him.
| told him that General Lee had directed
me to obtain him a guide aud | was TAX
ing one to him. He replied | will take
charge of him and want you to 60 and lex
ecute my order. Having performed this
duty Also was returning to report to
Gen. Longstreet when came upon both
generals at the intersection Of the streets
in Haymarket. Gen. Lee Immediately
said: "Major where is the guide sent
YOU for?" Ireplied General, | was bring
ing him to you when Gen. LOngstreet
took him from me and gave me an order
10 execute for him." He said in a
rather stern voice: "You ought to have
brought him to me, sir" Gen. Long
street Immediately replied: General,
Mai. Berkeley is not at all to blame: ]
turned the guide over to member oil
your staff, as 1 wanted Maj. Berkeley
to attend to an importantmatler Tor me.
Just then the guide came up and
the discussion of the matter ceased.
As stated before it is not my purpose
to take issue with the author Of the aru-
Gle in defence of Gen. Longstrcet, but 1t
is my purpose to defend my old. teacher,
Gen. VIM. n. Pendleton, of the charge
of being an "oral falsifer" During the
three years that was a pupil OF Gen.
Pendleton at the Episcopal High School,
near Alexandria, | never knew him III
single instance to be guilty of the slight
est deviation from the truth. lie was
regarded as man of the most unques
toned veracity by every one of his hun
dred pupils lie was devout member
of the Episcopal Church and one
of its leading ministers and
as such enjoyed the full confidence
of his great Commander, Gen Robert +.
Lee. 1t is extremely unfortunate that
any difference should have arisen be-
tween two OF our Oldest Confederate gen.
erals who have both passed away within
the last few weeks and gone to that
abode where all differences are wiped
away. Now that the Commander Of the
United Camp of Veterans is dead-the
lamented G0rdon--it necessitates and
the election of his successor. This ought
not to be. The officer who ranks by
virtue of seniority in the Confederate
army ought to be Commander of the
Camp and in this manner it would all
ways be known who was the ranking Of
ficer of veterans, aud although this
might be distasteiul to some of our old Of
ficers, | do not think there is one who
would refuse accepting the honor for the
short time he would necessarily hold 1t.
How extremely unfortunate for our coun-
try that Gen. Robert f Lee should not
have written history bf the war before
his death There is only one man living
whocould, in measure, remedy this loss,
and that is his son, Gen. q. w. G. Lee,
who enjoyed his fathers confidence to the
fullest extent and also that of President
Davis Were he disposed to turn the
searchlight of truth on any mooted ques-
ton, it would become as clear as noon
day. as | said before God bless all men
who performed their duty faithfully from
their several standpOints.
EDMUND BERKELEY
Waterfall, Va.