Chapter I: Preface

This brief story of a gigantic event, and General Longstreet’s part therein was arranged for publication in book form in the fall of 1903, before his death, which occurred January 2, 1904. It is the carefully sifted story of the records and contemporaneous witnesses, and for clearness I have here and there introduced General Longstreet’s personal version of some of the disputed points. But the reader will perceive that at last it is the _story of the records_.

For my undertaking I drew liberally from General Longstreet’s memoirs of the war, “Manassas to Appomattox;” from his stores of knowledge in the military art, and his treasure-house of memories of the Titanic encounter on the field of Gettysburg. The war-pictures included herein are also from the above-mentioned volume. And I am gratefully indebted to Captain Leslie J. Perry, formerly of the War Records Office, Washington City, for valuable assistance.

An appendix, added since General Longstreet’s death, includes a small selection from the thousands of tributes from every quarter of the republic.

One of the last of the brilliant generals of the Civil War, whose valor and skill in the command of great armies, is to-day the common glory of the restored Union, has contributed an introduction. No survivor of the great struggle has a better right to speak of Gettysburg than General Daniel E. Sickles. In this connection the following letter is appreciatively reproduced.

“WASHINGTON, September 19, 1902.

“GENERAL D. E. SICKLES,
“Gettysburg, Pennsylvania:

“MY DEAR GENERAL SICKLES,--My plan and desire was to meet you at
Gettysburg on the interesting ceremony attending the unveiling
of the Slocum monument; but to-day I find myself in no condition
to keep the promise made you when last we were together. I am
quite disabled from a severe hurt in one of my feet, so that I
am unable to stand more than a minute or two at a time. Please
express my sincere regrets to the noble Army of the Potomac, and
accept them, especially, for yourself.

“On that field you made your mark that will place you prominently
before the world as one of the leading figures of the most
important battle of the Civil War. As a Northern veteran once
remarked to me, ‘General Sickles can well afford to leave a leg
on that field.’

“I believe it is now conceded that the advanced position at the
Peach-Orchard, taken by your corps and under your orders saved
that battle-field to the Union cause. It was the sorest and
saddest reflection of my life for many years; but, to-day, I can
say, with sincerest emotion, that it was and is the best that
could have come to us all, North and South; and I hope that the
nation, reunited, may always enjoy the honor and glory brought to
it by the grand work.

“Please offer my kindest salutations to your governor and your
fellow-comrades of the Army of the Potomac.

“Always yours sincerely,
(Signed) “JAMES LONGSTREET,
“_Lieutenant-General Confederate Army_.”

Early in December advance chapters were given to the press for January 3; by strangely pathetic coincidence that being the date on which public announcement was made of General Longstreet’s death.

This hour does not clamor for the charity of silence, but for the white light of truth which I reverently undertake to throw upon the deeds of the commander who, from Manassas to Appomattox, was the strong right arm of the Confederate States Army.

I was writing for love of him whose dear name and fame had been attacked; to place before his fading vision enduring appreciation of his valiant deeds as a soldier and high qualities as a gentleman. Providence decreed otherwise. While the opening chapters were running into type, the Great Captain on High called him hence, where he can at last have his wrongs on earth forever righted.

The warrior sleeps serenely to-day, undisturbed by all earthly contentions, the peace of God upon him. And I bring to his tomb this little leaf fragrant with my love, bedewed with my tears, heavy-weighted with my woe and desolation.

H. D. L.

GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA, August 1, 1904.

CONTENTS

LEE AND LONGSTREET AT HIGH TIDE

PAGE
INTRODUCTION 17

CHAPTER I
THE STORY OF GETTYSBURG 31

CHAPTER II
LEE CHANGES PLAN OF CAMPAIGN 40

CHAPTER III
PICKETT’S CHARGE 50

CHAPTER IV
GORDON’S “ESTABLISHED FACTS” AND PENDLETON’S FULMINATIONS 53

CHAPTER V
LONGSTREET’S VERSION OF THE OPERATIONS OF JULY 2 68

CHAPTER VI
PENDLETON’S REPORT 71

CHAPTER VII
PENDLETON’S UNRELIABLE MEMORY 75

CHAPTER VIII
GENERAL LONGSTREET’S AMERICANISM 85

CHAPTER IX
FINALE 89

LONGSTREET THE MAN

HIS BOYHOOD DAYS 93
LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIP OF GRANT AND LONGSTREET 100
HIS FIRST ROMANCE 109
HEROIC CITIZEN OF THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD 112
THE CHRISTIAN PATRIOT LOVED THE SOUTH TO THE LAST 115
WORSHIPPED BY THE SOLDIERS OF THE CONFEDERACY 119
HIS COUNTRY HOME IN PICTURESQUE NORTH GEORGIA 123

LONGSTREET ON THE FIELDS OF MEXICO

CHAPTER I
THE WINNING OF OUR WESTERN EMPIRE 127

CHAPTER II
PECULIARITIES OF SCOTT AND TAYLOR 134

CHAPTER III
UNPRETENTIOUS LIEUTENANT GRANT 139

CHAPTER IV
PLEASANT INCIDENTS OF CAMP LIFE AT CORPUS CHRISTI 144

CHAPTER V
INTO THE INTERIOR OF MEXICO 149

CHAPTER VI
FROM CONTRERAS TO CHAPULTEPEC 156

CHAPTER VII
LONGSTREET’S HONEYMOON 159

GREAT BATTLES BEFORE AND AFTER GETTYSBURG

THE FIRST MANASSAS 163
WILLIAMSBURG 167
FRAYSER’S FARM 170
MARCH AGAINST POPE AND THE SECOND MANASSAS 173
THE INVASION OF MARYLAND AND THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM 180
FREDERICKSBURG 185
CHICKAMAUGA 191
IN EAST TENNESSEE 194
THE WILDERNESS 205
THE CURTAIN FALLS AT APPOMATTOX 208