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Commentary
by McLaws — Personalities Johnston, Bragg, Magruder & Longstreet |
| Lafayette
McLaws offered numerous views and opinions in his letters and
papers. The following are representative comments he penned
during and after the War. |
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Joseph
E. Johnston |
| McLaws
penned an 1862 description of General Joseph E. Johnston
when he wrote Emily, |
"General
Johnston will never speak on official matters to but
the person interested, dislikes to have a crowd about
him, never mentions military matters when away from
his office. Often rides off alone, never will have
more than two with him. Has not much to say to even
his best friends, and does not appear to care about
dress, although he dresses neatly & in a uniform
coat -- if you have business with him it is yes or
no, without talking more than to a proper understanding
of the subject." (1)
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| Braxton
Bragg |
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Emily
received a letter from McLaws which described some of
the politics surrounding his court-martial in 1864. He
noted, |
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"General
B [Bragg] speaks very plain and to the purpose. His
advice I think of following in relation to the attack.
But yet I will not join a faction in doing it but
will make my own movement and on my own responsibility."
(2)
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| John
Bankhead Magruder |
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| There
have been many descriptions of Major General John Bankhead
Magruder. McLaws was direct when he described his first
commanding officer on Virginia's peninsula, as, |
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"fond
of dress and parade and of company. Conceals nothing,
and delights to have a crowd about him, to whom he
converses freely upon any and all subjects . . . "
(3)
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James
Longstreet |
| Many
historians believe Lafayette McLaws and Lieutentant General
James Longstreet reconciled their differences late in
life. Family Papers illustrate that daughter Virginia
continued her negative views of Longstreet as late as
1937. I am not so sure McLaws ever forgot how he was treated
by his boyhood friend and West Point classmate. In 1895,
two years before McLaws died, and shortly after Longstreet
published his memoir, he wrote: |
"so it looks as if Gen Longstreets crucial test
of fitness of any one to command was his compliance
or non-compliance with Longstreet's 'suggestions'
— It was a sort of mania of his, and there can
be no doubt that he was honest in that belief —
for it seemed to make the difference, who it was he
advised — if he followed his advice he was worthy,
if he did not he was not worthy." (4)
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(1)
LM to Emily, April 25, 1862. ASG-LM, 138-139.
(2) M to Emily, March 8,
1864. ASG-LM, 228.
(3) M to Emily, April 25,
1862. ASG-LM, 138.
(4) Manuscript marked 9.
ASG-LM, 59-60.
Virginia McLaws to her nephew Lafayette McLaws, August
30, 1937, GHS-LM. |
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| To
read more of McLaws comments, observations and opinions, check
the MENU. |
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