Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 24.djvu/83

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on the part of General Loiiijstreet of the as^ressivr ta. tics M, often pursued In <icnn-.il l.cc, which the Telegraph discovers in his hook, and to which it .yi\cs expression as follows: "Yet, we think all readers of this Look will admit that, considering the in- equality of strength brought into the field by the two belligerents. and of the vast superiority of the North, < ieneral I.eewas far too fond of lighting. Many extracts might be made from it to show that such is the undoubted opinion of its author."

Perhaps so. Unquestionably this opinion was shared by (ienerals M Clellan. Pope, Burnside, Hooker, Meade, and Grant, of the Fed- eral Army of the Potomac.

Now. there is the gist of the London Telegraph 's version of (ien- eral Longstreet's criticism of General Lee. Our old chief was too fond of righting. Well, who else is there in the Army of Northern Virginia who cannot pardon him for that weakness in consideration of the very brilliant results that almost invariably attended his exhi- bitions of pugnacity ? In war it is said that nothing succeeds like success. In C ieneral Lee's career his success would seem to attest the good- qualities of his generalship, including his -tendency to assail his opponents. It was in attestation of his admiration for (ieneral Lee's fondness for successful righting, and in recognition of the bril- liant achievements won by his corps in righting under (ieneral Lee's command, that (ieneral Longstreet wrote, ' ' All that we have to be proud of has been accomplished under your eye and under your or- ders." The truth is that General Lee was not a wild and reckless fighter, but a discreet and judicious one. When the time arrived to strike he did not hesitate, but gave the blow with force and confi- dence.

The Telegraph devotes much space to the consideration of (ieneral Longstreet' s account of the battle of Gettysburg. As is well known. most of the controversy that has occurred since the war between the admirers of General Lee and General Longstreet and his followers has been in regard to the incidents of that campaign. In the discus- sion of those events intense feeling, and at times even bitterness, has been manifested by both sides; and some of the charges and counter charges made are alike irreconcilable with the general trend of affairs and the unquestionable ability and admitted excellence of each of these great soldiers. Had General Lee lived he would unhesitatingly have accepted his fair share of responsibility for the lack of final success at (iettysburg; but his readiness to assume all blame for failure, even though his lieutenants had failed to do what he had a right to expect