Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1914-01-07
General Longstreet al Gettys.
burg.

General Longstreet was undoubt-
edly among the great American
generals who attained distinction
in our Civil war, and to myself, and
| am sure, to large majority of
southern people, it is a source of
profound regret, tha5 general John
B. Gordon, should have waited un.
til death kissed down the eyelids
md sealed forever the lips of our
great chieftain Robert e. Lee be-
fore proclaimine to the world that
the victory at Gettysburg was ost
from the fact thas Gen. Longstreet
tailed to make the attack at sunrise
July 2. (To the law and to the tes-
timony) July lst Longstreet's corps
was at Chamberg, late in the even
ing of the same day, our corps
(Longstreet's) was ordered to hit
the pike for Gettysburg, arriving
on the battle field between midnight
and day. At gray dawn we were or
dered on the battle line. As the sun
was coming out of the gate of the
east, Gen. Lee and Gen. Longstreet
with four or five staff officers pass
ed up the line boot TO boot, and if
the mighty chieftain had ordered
the battle then or at any hour in
the early morning, his war
horse would have opeyed his or
ders. Be that as it may, l am of the
opinion that there was not an hour,
(maybe minule) in the day but
what Gen. Lee knew just where to
find his war horse, and he was
ready TO plunge his gallant corps
in the vortex as he had always done.
This much | know, that later in
the day July 3, Longstreet was or
dered TO advance and make the at
tack. The command went ringing
down the line as upon electric wave
forward guide center across the
wheat fields e-feW--The collision
peach orchard, the AIR quiyefed, 4h4-
hills trembled and the earth qusked.
LongstreeL's corps leading IN the
van. There was ut general in the
southern army that could stay in
battle longer and. do more real
bulldog fighting than Gen. Long
street and the men he led. History
will prove it from Manassas to Ap-
pumattox. He had fighting corps,
and his men had unbonnded faith
aud confidence in his ability to
cornmand and to lead. He told his
nen that war meant fighting and
lighting meant killing" and his IN
junction WIS needed. There never
vas time during the war that
I.ongStrcet's corps was routed at
gettysburg. His command remained
on the battle field all night, and
l4:e on til. next day caring for the
wounded and burying the dead.
There is one thing want to make
plain. Gen. Longstreet had more
men killed and wounded at this
battle than any other corps on the
field. Picket's division who made
the most immortal charge that was
ever made on the continent belonged
to Longstreet's command. The bat
tie of Gettysburg was fought fifty
years ago last July. The collision
there shook this continent, and
made the throne of England trem-
BILE. Wellington at Waterloo and
Meade at Gettysburg, each held
the highlands against his antago-
mist. Waterloo decreed the destiny
OF France, of England, of Europe.
Gettysburg, not 80 directly or i'm
nediately. but practically. decided
the fate of the Confederacy. With
! Lee IL was QlueTeHt w Iudt VI Iva
poleon. He was abandoned by for
tune, deserted by his army, dis
crowned, and doomed, not even his
faithful old guard to rally around
him. Around Lee stood his heroic
legions, With confidence IN him UNI
shaken, love for him nnabated,
ready to follow his lead and to
tight under his orders TO the last
extremity. Lees hold upon the con-
tidence of his army was absolute.
The repulse at Gettysburg did not
shake it. Napoleon never more firm
ly held the faith of Frenchmen.
when thrones were trembling be-
fore him, than did Lee hold the
faith of his devoted followers. e
word more about LongsLree,; 1t is
i historic fact. that Gen. Lee said,
IF had liSlened to zen. Long
street at gettysburg things would