Savannah Georgia

                                                                                                                        April 4 1888

Dear Genl

                        I send you.

 

In my report of operations (printed) I made no comment although the temptation was very strong to do so,..and I have been highly commended for not doing so as they would have/weakened them, because it would have been thought that my statements were colored by malice. But the [?] is before the world, and it certainly with the lights before us there should be comments made or the facts stated. For instance, in Gen Longstreet’s reply to my letter, giving him, in all generosity, in writing my opinion that under our then existing circumstances, the assault on Knoxville should not be made, he says that Safety and Honor”, demanded that the assault should be made & when at that very time he knew that Gen Bragg had been disastrously defeated and that two Corps Sherman & another, were on their way to relieve Burnside. I was honest in my belief that the welfare of our troops & the interest of the Government would be better served by not making the assault, & that if Genl L should have any doubt as to the necessity, he would be gratified to know that he would be sustained by his Second in command & I could but feel, knowing the facts concerning this, which my letter to Genl Wright shows I know—that this high sounding talk about Safety and honor, was but Clap trap expressions, and that he had omitted the word “My” and could certainly not have intended to include anybody else—for there certainly could be no Safety for the command in making the assault/and as you were the officer in charge, you must be secure in your proofs that you did urge that a strong force be kept at Browns ferry, and that you never represented that it was impracticable to do so.

Longstreet has a great reputation in the North as a great leader. The Compte de Paris speaks of him in the highest terms and among our own people it will be very difficult to make the masses believe that Gen Lees “Old War horse” was not true.

 

            I can readily trace his blunders to his Woodenheadedness, his obstinacy, conceit, and maliciousness, and would rather give them as reasons for his conduct, than to attribute them to the other cause, so venious, one is loath to put it on paper.

 

But all together his conduct in the Tennessee Campaign was so strange, that it needs explanation. the first explanation he will give will be his own account, differing very naturally from yours. So let me beg of you to go slow and fortify as you go—Very truly &c

                                                                                                            L M^cLaws

PS

Have read your report with much pleasure and alas with much surprise. Have taken full notes of it for my own information. Herewith returned.            Very truly

                                                                                                            L M^cLaws

 

[Note: in the margin beside point 3. he has written “(Return!)” referring to his returning the report mentioned in the postscript]

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