My dear Mrs. Longstreet,—Please accept my profound sympathy in your great bereavement.
While as a member of his corps from the time of its organization to the end, I knew General Longstreet only as a subordinate knows his superior officer, after the struggle was over I met him frequently and conversed with him on many subjects, and to my admiration and devotion to the soldier and general was superadded esteem for him as a citizen and a high regard and fondness for him as a friend.
If some critics had known his methods as a commander, and witnessed his powers in battle, as we of his corps did on many hard-fought fields, and understood his course and motives as a civilian as his friends did, they would bestow upon him nothing but words of praise and gratitude. The ranking lieutenant-general of Lee’s great army, he always had the confidence of the commander-in-chief and the respect and admiration of all, and the “lost cause” had no braver or truer defender and the country no more devoted patriot.
But I only intended to write a line of sympathy, hoping to meet you again some time when we can talk of him and his career.
With kind regards, I am,
Very sincerely,
N. L. Hutchens.
Lawrenceville, Georgia.
*****
“The brilliant leader of gallant armies, but greater in peace as the patriotic citizen.”
Washington, D. C., January 5, 1904.
My dear Mrs. Longstreet,—My heart was very deeply touched by the news of General Longstreet’s death, and I write to assure you of my profound sorrow over the event and of my warm sympathy for you in the unspeakable loss which you sustain.