Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/129

 Review of " From Manassas to Appomattox." 117

movements of the officer commanding the First Army Corps ; and if Lee was to blame at all in the Gettysburg campaign, it was in taking as his second in command a general who was so completely indifferent to the claims of discipline.

We do not for a moment believe that General Longstreet can fairly be charged with deliberate disloyalty to his superior. He set out on the campaign with a false idea of their relative posi- tions, and when the enemy was encountered, his irritation at the rejection of his advice was such that he forgot his duty. His error was amply atoned at a later period ; and had he frankly confessed that his temper got the better of him on July 2 and 3, we might easily overlook the one blot on' the career of a gal- lant soldier. But his endeavors to clear his own reputation by assailing those of others, together vv^ith the bitterness of his re- criminations, serve only to alienate sympathy and destroy respect. General Longstreet did splendid service for the South. He has been subject to the merciless attacks of many enemies. He has been assailed with accusations which are utterly without founda- tion ; and it may seem harsh in the extreme to criticise the vet- eran's defense of his military conduct. But where historic truth and great reputation are at stake it is impossible to be silent.