Longstreet Remembers Appomattox...

Private Watkins

2nd Lieutenant
Joined
Apr 12, 2014
Location
Oklahoma
Longstreet wrote this letter in 1877 responding to an inquiry he had received regarding the discussions between Lee, Mahone, and himself prior to the surrender at Appomattox...
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And here is my attempt at transcription... although if you think I've made any mistakes please let me know.
Gainesville Ga
Augt 26th 1877

W. H. Stewart, Esq.
Portsmouth, Va

Dear Sir

I have your esteemed favor
of the 15th instant asking my account
of the conference between Generals Lee
Mahone and myself the morning of &
just before the surrender.

For the life of me it would not be
possible for me to give you a detailed
account of the interview. As I remember
the substance, Gen Lee expressed to
Gen Mahone and myself the difficulties
of his position and concluded his
remarks by saying that “it is impossible
for us to escape the enemy.” I am
of the opinion that Gen Mahone suggested
an interview with Gen Grant looking
for the best terms for surrender. I know
that I had made a similar suggestion
before Gen Mahone was sent for or
 
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before he arrived, I cannot now say which.
My recollection then is that Gen Lee made
some objection to negotiating for surrender
expressing his apprehension of the shock
that such result would be to the people. As
well as I can now remember the substance
of our replies to this was that his responsibility
to the people ceased when he assured us that
it was “impossible for him to escape.” If
the proposition was correct as he stated
it, he Gen Lee had no right to sacrifice
another life.

I regret that I am so poor in
memory as to have permitted the words and
the order in which they occurred escape me,
but my memory is very insufficient about
such matters growing more so from
the old army habit of having everything
put down in writing thus avoiding the
change of ones memory. As the interview
was not recorded, and as the matter did not at
the time occur to me as one of great interest
I have lost sight of all its details.

I am very truly yours

James Longstreet
 
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Well, I'm sure he could be headstrong, too, and is said to have been pretty stubborn - that's what I like so much in him.
But you are right, this is what his aide, Thomas Goree, wrote about Gen. James Longstreet:

Genl. Longstreet is one of the kindest, best hearted men I have ever known. Those
not well acquainted with him think him short and crabbed, and he does appear so
except in three places: 1st, when in the presence of ladies; 2d, at the table; 3rd, on the field of battle. At any one of
these places he has a complacent smile on his countenance, and seems to be one of the happiest men in the world.”


http://telegraph.civilwar.org/education/curriculum/Gifted and Talented/CWPT Gifted Curriculum - James Longstreet.pdf
 
There's something about his response. I can't quite put my finger on it, but he seems like he would have been a warm, friendly person.
Yes... and this part of his response just won't leave me alone...
As the interview
was not recorded, and as the matter did not at
the time occur to me as one of great interest

I have lost sight of all its details.
 
@Private Watkins I thought the same thing. I wonder if it was the long road of the war had worn him down and he was more astonished that the struggle may finally end. The notion of recording for army purposes was overlooked because of the sheer exhaustion and disbelief. Either way it says so much about that moment in our history.
 
Longstreet wrote this letter in 1877 responding to an inquiry he had received regarding the discussions between Lee, Mahone, and himself prior to the surrender at Appomattox...
Page 1
View attachment 86657

And here is my attempt at transcription... although if you think I've made any mistakes please let me know.
Gainesville Ga
Augt 26th 1877

W. H. Stewart, Esq.
Portsmouth, Va

Dear Sir

I have your esteemed favor
of the 15th instant asking my account
of the conference between Generals Lee
Mahone and myself the morning of &
just before the surrender.

For the life of me it would not be
possible for me to give you a detailed
account of the interview. As I remember
the substance, Gen Lee expressed to
Gen Mahone and myself the difficulties
of his position and concluded his
remarks by saying that “it is impossible
for us to escape the enemy.” I am
of the opinion that Gen Mahone suggested
an interview with Gen Grant looking
for the best terms for surrender. I know
that I had made a similar suggestion
before Gen Mahone was sent for or


Much respect for Longstreet. Thanks for posting this.
 
Longstreet is also one of my favorites. I think a good word to describe him is "pragmatic" .
That is an excellent work. I think at the time he had no desire to surrender. He had just given Lee the "Not Yet" line. I'd like to look up the date of that conversation. Longstreet knew Grant would also be pragmatic and supported Lee in his final decision to surrender. I'll have to see if I can find the date of that counsel in his memoirs.
 
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