New Orleans, Louisiana, March 20, 1866.
General R.E. Lee,
Lexington, Virginia :
My Dear General,--. . . .To go back to the history of the war. There is one portion of our records as written that I should like corrected,--the battle of Gaines’s Mill. Your report of that battle does not recognize the fact that the line in my front, that is, the enemy’s line, was broken by the troops that were under my orders and handling. A part of Jackson’s command, being astray, reported to me just as I was moving my column of attack forward,--Whiting’s division,-- and I put it in my column of attack, as stated in my report. I think that you must have overlooked my report on this point, and have been guided by Jackson’s. Jackson knew nothing of the matter of my having his troops, I suppose, and merely made his report from riding over the ground after the battle. I presume that he was not within one mile of the division when I put it in, and had no idea of its whereabouts. General Whiting reported to me that he had lost his way, and did not know where to find General Jackson, and offered his troops if I had use for them. I was then moving to assault, and put Whiting in a little behind Pickett’s brigade. The commands made the assault together, and broke the enemy’s line. Anderson’s brigade followed and secured it, the assaulting columns being somewhat broken in making the charge. Just after breaking his lines the enemy made a severe attack, and would have recovered his position, I think, but for the timely support of Anderson’s and Kemper’s brigades at this point. Another fact should not be lost sight of in this connection. A. P. Hill had made several formidable attacks at the same point, and had fought manfully against it for several hours, and though not entirely successful, he must have made a decided impression, and have injured the enemy as much as he was himself injured, and thus weakened the enemy’s lines so as to enable us to break them. It is quite common to give those credit only who show results, but it frequently happens, as in this case, that there are others who merit as much who are not known by results,--that is, who are not seen by others than those on the ground. . . .
I remain very truly yours,
J. Longstreet.
Source: From Manassas to Appomattox
Commentary
The following letter, written to General Lee after the war, was inspired by Lee's request of Longstreet for documents and information regarding the activities of troops under his command during his service with the Army of Northern Virginia. With this letter Longstreet corrects an inaccuracy in Lee's official report of the battle.