ALS signed “J. A. Early,” two pages, lightly-lined both sides, 7.5 x 9.75, March 17, 1872. Letter to General Fitz Lee. In part: “Showing that General Lee has sent word to Ewell that ‘the enemy was flying in a disorganized state on the heights, and that it was only necessary to push ahead and occupy them.’ I have to say that I was not aware of any such fact, and I undertook to state only what I know—Taylor mentioned something like this to me since the address was delivered, but I was not aware of it before, and General Lee has mentioned no such fact in his report, published since the war in ‘The Historical Magazine.’ I think this is a sufficient answer to the criticism…I don’t know that I would have mentioned it if I had been aware of the fact, because it necessarily would have reflected on Ewell…It was only necessary to vindicate General Lee, not to censure Ewell…I might also have suggested that if the cavalry had not gone traipsing up to Carlisle, we might have known the position of the enemy ‘troops’…but all this was unnecessary—the great point which I wished to enforce was that General Lee was not responsible for the failure to gain a decisive victory at Gettysburg, and that if his plans had been carried out on the second day, after he decided to fight there, we would have had the victory. I had no hesitation in intimating that Longstreet's delay lost us the battle, because he has deserted to the enemy, and he has made some statements…that are exceedingly unjust to General Lee. It is but fair retaliation on him. I did not care to be the critic of others…Many persons seem to think that if we had gone on to the heights the first evening, the victory would have been won at once…It would have been an advantage to us certainly to have gained those heights on the 1st day, but not such a one as generally supposed—whether the position stated by Meade would have been more favorable to us, I do not know, as I know nothing of the grounds. Some officer once undertook to say to General Lee, that it was a great mistake to fight at Gettysburg according to his opinion, and the general in that peculiar and quiet way of his, said: 'Why didn't you tell me that before—even as stupid a man as I am can see that now.' This was a very just and telling criticism on all those prophets, who could so well foretell things—after they had happened." Tape-repaired partial separations to intersecting folds, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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