Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-01-08
GEN. lones1REer DEAD.

GEN. L0hesTREET DEAD.
The death of Gen. James Longstreet
vh,cb took place on Saturday. the 2nd
nst removes another of the men
Uho achieved fame on the Confederate
tide of the civil conflict that ragged
rom 1851 to 1865. He Is among the
last of the Lieut.. Generals, and in dis
death the South has lost ole OF her
great men. There have been acsnsa
lions against bis loyalty to the cause.
He has been accused OF dallying as II
to avoid battle, and at Gettysburg.
has been accused of losing the battle
At the second battle of Manassas
when Pope wss pressing Lee win al
bis might, Longstreet was coming from
Thoroughfare Gap, when it Is said
Stuart sent 10 less than fifty couriers
to hurry him up, aud to make believe
that Longstreet was coming had brush
dragged in the road to raise dust 10
deceive the enemy. But when Long
street did arrivs no hotter lighting
was done than by the men he com
manded. at Gettysburg it is claimed
be did not attack until the afternoon,
when he should have attacked at day
light. The loss of the battle of Gettys-
burg does not seem to have been cred
tied to Gen. Lougstreet until after the
death of Gen. Lee. and it il now too
late to fight over that battle or throw
the blame on one man, as Pope did the
loss of the second battle of Manassas,
when he saddled bis own incompetent
cy on Gen. Fitz John Porter.
We, however. share with many others
that regret which We have had for
that weakness in the character OF
every Confederate who since the war
has blotted his record by becoming
member of the Republican party.
Longstreet, Malone, Walker. Rosser,
Mosby, all threw away the brightest
star In their diadem, when they turned
upon their brethren. and allied them
selves with that party in the South,
of which to become member at the
time they changed their coats was re-
garded as ignoble if not traitorous.
This act lost Gen. Longstreet. as 1t
did all who thus sinned, much OF the
esteem they had before enjoyed, and
whether right or wrong it placed them
and their friends in the list of apollo
gists, and forever estranged them from
their former admirers and associates
Had Gen. Longstreet not recanted bis
faith by this act, 1t is believed by
many that no serious criticism of hit
military career would ever have beer
made, but bis change of politics led tt
doubt in many as to bis loyalty, be
cause it was considered as great tes
of loyalty to stand by the white people
of the South in the terrible ordeal fol
lowing the war, as to have stood witt
them in their struggle during the wal
Gen. Jubal A. Early put it in this way
He said: II have no use for ma
who deserted during the war, and
d-ned sight less for one who deserte
since the war;" Whilst this is strong
,, er language than most people woul
apply, there certainly did come owe
the white people of the South chang
in their regard when a Confederat
Joined the Republican party.
change which was natural, becaus
they generally sought Office and mike
with unsavory associates, and the
y motives were thus impugned. W
- shall not cast slur upon Gen. Loni
= streets war record. He did do gre,
:. fighting and his men were devoted
him. He is regarded by many as OF
OF our greatest soldiers, and we will d
gainsay it now that he is dead. W
;. wish bis genius had taught him
destroy the enemy which if he vi
= ever conquered, conquered hir
: which enemy was that one whit
threw him. as we say, from high ar
honorable station, into the cess pool I
the Republican party in the South.