The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-01-20

Washington, January l5.'-Gencral
Thomas l.. Rosser, of Virginia, who
vas the youngest Major General Of
che Confederate Army, who command
ed Regiment at Gettysburg, and
who was with the Army of Northern
Virginia from the first battle to the
surrender, bitterly resents the criti.
eism Of General Longstreet' course
as Gettysburg. General Rosser was
appointed an officer in the Spanish
War by President Mckinley, and in
5eeent years has been acting with the
Republican party. Reviewing the
work of some of the great Confederate
Generals, General Rosser said to the
correspondent of The Grcenville
News
with the death of Gen. Long
sa1eet passes the last Of the great
soldiers of the Army of Northern
Virginia. He fought alone the battle
Of the 18th of July, 1861, and won the
a1st victory of that splendid army.
Nc shared in she glory Of all the great
e0ssles the army fought. He was
Badly wounded in the Wilderness near
USeYe jackson fell, and under similar
circumstances, and had he died there
De would have gone down into history
side by side with Jackson and Lee.
AoDsctgeet and Lee, as soldiers, were
siDi!ar In many respects. Both were
gseas defensive generals, but neither
can be elassed amongst the successful
Offensive generals Of history. Take
Jachson, for instance. His campaign
8Iosa Kearnstown to Port Republic, in
sbe Valley Of Virginia, in 1862, was
a brilliant as the first Italian cam
paign Of the great Napoleon. In re-
onlts bs took Mcdowell from Freder-
5sksburg. He left Shields, Fremont
and Banks confused as to his where
abOuts, dashed across the mountains,
joined Lee on the 26th Of June, strik-
lDg Mcclellan the surpriso blow, drove
MIN TO the James and raised the siege
81 Richmond. With the dispatch of
lightning he wheeled around, met
Pope at Cedar Mountain, stopped his
advance upon Lees rear and flank,
Aeld him until Lee could arrive with
endorsements, passed to his rear and
fought the battle of tho 2S;h of Sep
aember at Grovetown Heights, opened
aho way for Lee to press on with his
srDy, and crowned the campaign with
ahe successful battle Of the second
Bull Run. He crossed the Potomac
with Lee, was detached, sent back,
captured Harper's Ferry and joined
Lee at Sharpsburg in time to stop
Mcclellan and save Lees army. In
May, 1863, when Lee was hesitating
ID the Wilderness. believing that
-Mooker's movement below Fredericks-
Ansg was serious one, with the fore
sight 81 genius, Jackson pronounced
as a feiDt, urged Lee to allow him to
move around Hooker's right, which,
m aa3acity, boldness AID brilliancy,
to paralyze Lee, and while on
AAss wonderful march SickIes got be-
aBSsn MIN and Lee with all army
aeaz}y equal to his own, Jackson
Dyessea on, turned on, turned Hook
ar's right, as he contemplated, dissi-
Yaisa the Eleventh corps and all It's
sppyort, and was Within half mile Of
sac goal, the Bullock house, of which
bad hs gained possession, Hookrr's
would have been impossible
md he at the mercy Of the Coufcdcr-
nae army, when he was shot and NOR
tally wounded by his own men.
Lee. then in command of an army
ahat Knew no defeat and not realizing
sha. his great offensive general had
been, taken away from the army, com
saitssd the fatal blunder Of attempting
she invasion of the North. At no
sise during that campaign did he
move with ceierity, maueuver to tho
,n.Drise Of the enemy Or do anything
Da . brilliant character, marking him
with the genius Of war. The battle
Of Gettysburg was lost the first day,
although the Confederates claimed a
victory, and it might have been turn
ID into victory had Lee been mas.
Ter Of the art of aggressive warfare.
Bnt he followed up the first day by n
stubborn attack Of the enemy ia an
entrenehed position, and, failing to
dislodge him. seemed to hesitate and |
his plans seemed to be confused. FL
nally, he committed great error in
superior enemy in on en-.
trenehed position at tho strongest
point. In the history of battles very