Evening journal., 1910-03-14

YESTERDAY, garnered from the men
who made the uews-the historv-or from
equally authoritative sources. As i'm
portant contributions OF the Human IN
terest' sort to American history, these
articles have distinctive value all their
own.
II was in the early spring of 1883 that
I had the pleasure Of calling for the
hrst time upon General James A0ngstreet,
who, as one authority puts it, enjoyed
the distinction OF being one of the great
est fighters Of the Confederacy, and poss-
essed the unbounded confidence and affec-
tlon OF his soldiers" 1t was at his home
I'm Atlanta that I met the General. and
the fragrance of early flowers and the
glory that shone in the blossomng peach
trees lent an especial attraction O the
approach to his house.
The picture that / had in my minds
eye of the great leader who had so often
discounted noted Union commanders was
based on war time prints all displaying
him with a long and flowing beard. But
1 found him without beard, except a
tuft i'm front of each ear. His complexion
was ruddy. his eyes were bright. and yet
he seemed somewhat inhrm. The really
noticeable thing about his features was
the scar that II bore. mute evidence oil
the frighthil wound that he had received
at the Wilderness at a most critical mo.
ment in that battle
General" I said, after a time. "I hav,
heard that many military critics believe
that had you not been wounded just wheI
and where you We're, you probably woulS
have driven Grant back across the Rapi
dan"
Perhaps was the reply: mo ont
can ever tell what the result Of a bat
tie will be until it is over"
For several moments he was thought
fully silent.
"That battle" he said. 'is one Of m,
thrilling war recollections. of course; tn
twinges that the wound gives me. now g.
my cheek and now I'm my shoulder. Wi
not let me forget it / fear. until the da
of my death. But I think that the mos
thrilling recollections certainly the mos
pleasing. that I have OF the late struggl
are those which tell Of the personal rela
tons between the commanders upon on
side with those Of the other after battle
when prisoners were captured. and es
pecialy Immediately after the war The
tell '-questioningly-"th General 10
Johnston, who has just retired from Cor
gress and General sherman frequentl
sat side by side like two intimate friend
in the House of Representatives at Wash
ington?'
eyes. that Is true" 1 answered 81
have often seen them together Their
General JoDnstons seat was near IN
door. General sherman has the privlles
or the floor and frequently he came
quietly. edged his way to a vacant ses
beside Johnston. and there they sat sid
by side Ike old cronles sometimes fc
two or three hours"
"Ah," exclaimed General Longstree
that illustrates the real spirit which III
men who were true soldiers. not politics
generals. on either side felt for the
opponents when the fighting was all owe
when duty 20 their cause was done. VIII,
that spirit began with that very kind
act that Grant did after Buckner ha
surrendered 20 him. You know the stoI
how Grant received Buclner as a pc
sonal friend and offered to share h
purse with him. That spirit was charal
teristic OF the personal relations OF n
opposing generals throughout tho war an
for a long time after. and I wish Il cou
also have been characteristic OF some
the politicians on either side. Then thei
would have been many irritations. man
, resentments. many difficulties Of bot
war and peace eliminated oh 1 SOM
times wish that the reconstruction peric
could have been left 10 the direction
those who were in important commag
at the time OF the war I am certa
that they would have conupued TO sho
the utmost delicaoy OF consideration r
n each other.
g Again the General was thoughtfulIy !
, lent for an appreclable space. Then h
e face vase radisntly illumined with
reminiscent smile Eyes" he said. d
] cisively, ''the tenderest. the most perm
4 nent. and In many respects the mo
I thrilling reeoilections that have of 4
q war are associated with the noble cou
age and dignity and true kindline