Show I r THRILLING MEMORIES OF WAR Interesting General Longstreet Talks His Greatest Greatest Great Great- Great Conflict His Conflict ly Iy y of est Battle It was in the early early spring of 1883 of calling for forthe forthe forthe that I had the pleasure Longstreet Longstreet Long Long- the first time upon Gen James street who as one authority puts it enjoyed the distinction of being one fighters of the Confederacy Confederacy of f th the greatest and possessed the unbounded confidence and affection of his sol sol sol- diers It was at his home in Atlanta of early flowers and md the fragrance and the glory that shone in the blossoming blossoming blos bios peach trees lent an especial attraction attraction at at- traction to the approach to his home Says E. E J. J Edwards in Boston Globe The picture I had in my minds mind's eye of ot the great leader who had so often otten discomfited noted Union commanders was based on war-time war prints all displaying displaying dis dis- playing him with a long an and flawing beard But I found him without of each beard except a tuft in front ear His complexion was ruddy his eyes were bright and yet he seemed somewhat infirm The really noticeable ble thing about his features was the tho scar th that t they bore mu mute e evidence atthe of at the frightful wound that he h had bad d received received received re re- at th the Wilderness at a most critical moment in that battle I General 1 I said after a time I have heard that many military critics critics believe that h had d you not been wounded wound wound- I ed just when and where you were you probably would have driven Grant Grantback Grantback Grantback back across th tho Rapidan Perhaps was the reply no one can ever tell what the result of a battie battle bat bat- tie tle will be until it is over For several moments he was thoughtfully silent That battle he said Is one of ot my thrilling war war- recollections of course the twinges that the wound gives me now in my cheek and now in my shoulder shoulder der will not let me forget it I fear until the day of my death But I 1 think that the most thrilling recollections recollections certainly the most pleasing that have of the late struggle are those which tell of the personal relations between the commanders upon one sIde Bide with those of the other after battie battle bat bat- tie tle when prisoners were captured and especially immediately after alter the war They rhey tell me that me that G Gen n. n Joe Johnston who has just retired retired re reo re- re tired from congress and General Sherman frequently sat side by side like lIce two twp intimate friends in the house of of representatives at Washington Yes that is true I answered I 1 have bae often seen them together there r- r r WS I e rte v i l 7 IJ- IJ I p ili NJ t 1 f l I General Johnstons Johnston's seat was near the thedoor door ioor General Sherman had the privileges lIeges of oC the floor and frequently he come in quietly edged his way to a vacant va vat va I cant ant seat beside Johnston and there they mey sat side by side like old cronies sometimes for two or three hours Ah Ab exclaimed General Longstreet that Illustrates the real spirit which the men who were true soldiers soldiers not not political generals generals ors on either side felt fell for their opponents when the fighting was all over oyer when duty dub to their cause was done Why that spirit began began be be- gan with that very kindly act that Grant did after aftel Buckner had I surrendered dered to him hit You know the story- story how Grant received Buckner as a personal personal per per- friend and offered to share his purse with him That spirit was char char- of the personal relations Df of the opposing generals throughout the war and for a long time after and wish it could also have been charac of some of or the politicians on either side Then rhen there would have b been en many irritations many resent ments man many difficulties of both war and peace eliminated Oh I sometimes I wish that the reconstruction period could have been left to the direction of those who were in important command com corn m mind mand nd at the time of the tho war I am certain that they would have con con- to show the utmost delicacy of ot consideration for each other Yes the the most per per- and in many respects the most thrilling recollections that I have of the war arc are associated with the noble Doble courage and dignity and true kindliness which were characteristic Df f the personal relations of Opposing commanders They are memories that thai will Ill not that fade-that not even thought D of stirring battle can displace |