"Bad as was being shot by some of our own troops in the battle of the Wilderness, - that was an honest mistake, one of the accidents of war, - being shot at, since the war, by many officers, was worse"

This quote by James Longstreet is describing the Battle of the Wilderness during the American Civil War. Longstreet is claiming that being fired by some of their very own soldiers was an error, a crash of war, but being contended by lots of police officers after the war was even worse. This recommends that the officers were not making truthful mistakes, yet were intentionally targeting Longstreet as well as various other soldiers. This could be interpreted as a sign of disrespect and an absence of understanding for the sacrifices made by the soldiers throughout the battle. It could also be viewed as an indication of the lingering bitterness between the Union as well as Confederate forces, also after the war had finished. Longstreet's words are a reminder of the importance of appreciating those that have served in the army, and of the requirement to progress in a spirit of settlement.