Savannah Georgia

                                                                                            April 13 1888

 

Gen E M Law

            Yorkville S.C.

                        Dear Genl

                                                I sent you by Express some days since a package of papers, which I hope have been received. Taken in connection with your revelations, I think we have grounds to have grave suspicions, but yet we may be mistaken. It looks very “curious” that your three regiments were removed from the Valley, twenty-four hours before the time fixed for the transfer of Grants force, down the river in ponton boats to Browns Ferry, and this against your current protest, and representation of the pressing necessity for even larger force. and then the apathy afterwards!

 

            did you make your representations to Longstreet? or to Jenkins? I ask, because, my opinion of Jenkins makes me believe that he would have suppressed any documents from you, calculated to give you credit. He was exceedingly ambitious, but the brunt of his genius was to gain advancement by destroying the reputation/of all in his way by suppression, insinuation and depreciation, rather than by his own deeds of valor. I have heard him suggest, exceedingly bold, [?], he once suggested to M^r Davis, that Newport R Island might be taken by Confederate troops, aiding the Confederate cruisers, insinuating that he would be the man to lead the enterprise—M^r Davis turned his back on him! If therefore your communications went through Jenkins, Longstreet may not have seen them or they may have been misrepresented to him & hinted as unworthy of notice or not sent. But the mere fact that the Only dangerous direction, the only one, from which we had any reason to suspect that assistance in provision & force, would be sent was carelessly & inefficiently guarded…throws a great responsibility upon the shoulders of somebody—Your saying that Gen Bragg told you that he had offered Longstreet any force he wanted to make the valley secure throws the necessity for defence primarily upon Longstreet He told me that a Staff officer sent by him to examine Browns Ferry, reported that it was impracticable to keep a force there of Arty & Infantry. Gen L will undoubtedly throw the blame on some officer/and the command could not lose any honor, in not making it. It would have been in Longstreets honor if he had made the assault when he went there. The honor was lost when he waited until Gen Bragg had been defeated and until the enemy had after two weeks hard work, before his eyes, made their position impregnable. and most certainly to say that there was Safety to the troops, at this time, to make the assault is simply absurd—He had not only waited and waited, doing nothing, but he had made such representations to Gen Bragg as to induce him to weaken his forces by sending re-inforcements to Gen Longstreet—just after this was done Gen Grant assaults Genl Bragg, and defeats him. all of the circumstances, when brought to bear together, can but strengthen our suspicion, that there was great criminality or great stupidity. You can imagine, what my sensations were when [?] under Gen L told him all the facts as above stated, and as were particularly stated in my letter to Gen Wright, were known to me, and when my command found a ditch 17 feet deep, from 12 to 17, around Fort Sanders. when/Longstreet had told me that there was no ditch which offered any obstacle to an assault I was certainly thrown off my guard, and while rallying men & re-forming them, I cursed a great deal, and damned a good many people. I think it probable I did not spare Gen L. and made use of expressions that were treasonable to Gen L (Humor?) and that they were imparted to him. I recollect that Gen Benning came to where I was, and asked if I intended to renew the assault & I told him “No! not on this fort”!

 

            I am writing very frankly to you, in all confidence. it is a matter which I try not to think of, but when I do I can but recall the number of brown men who were satisfied because Longstreets Safety & honor demanded it, in his opinion, only.

 

 Very truly yours,

                                                                                                L M^cLaws

 

Gen E M Law

            Yorkville

                        S.C.

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