Generals in Gray: Longstreet

James Longstreet

Out of roughly 12,000 Confederate troops engaged in the assault, nearly 7,000 were killed, wounded or captured, compared to 1,500 Union casualties. The consensus of historians is that despite Longstreet's reluctant compliance, Lee's tactical decisions at Gettysburg were questionable, and the Union forces were strong and tenacious. In short, Longstreet did not lose the battle; Meade's men earned their victory. After retreating back to Virginia, Lee was under pressure from President Davis to bolster the Army of Tennessee, so he sent Longstreet's corps to reinforce Bragg in the vicinity of Chattanooga. The Virginians were largely responsible for Bragg's victory at Chickamauga. Longstreet returned to Richmond in time to play an important role in repulsing the Federal attack at the Wilderness in May 1864. There, in approximately the same location where Stonewall Jackson had been cut down by friendly fire a year earlier, Lee's "Old War Horse" Longstreet was shot in the throat by a stray Rebel minie ball. He recovered and returned to command of his corps in the final weeks of the war. After the war, Longstreet became a Republican and renewed his old friendship with West Point classmate Ulysses Grant. Grant appointed him minister to Turkey in 1880; he also served as a railroad commissioner under presidents McKinley and Roosevelt. He died on January 2, 1904. Despite some criticism of his command abilities, Longstreet is rated one of the most capable battlefield tacticians of the war.
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James "Old Pete" Longstreet was born on his grandfather's plantation in South Carolina on January 8, 1821, and raised in Georgia. At 6'2"' and 200 pounds, he cut an imposing figure. He graduated from West Point in 1842 and served in the Mexican War, where he was shot in the thigh while carrying the flag in an assault on Churubusco. A career soldier, he resigned from the U.S. Army on June 1, 1861, and was appointed a lieutenant colonel in the Confederate service. Promoted to brigadier general, he fought under Beauregard at First Manassas. He was promoted to major general and served under Joseph Johnston in the Seven Days battles, then under Lee at Manassas and Sharpsburg. In October 1862 he was promoted to lieutenant general. At Gettysburg he commanded Lee's right wing and was later faulted for failing to attack quickly and firmly on days two and three. Longstreet was a pragmatist, preferring whatever tactic best suited the situation. Moreover, though personally fearless, he was at times tentative. He was convinced that the Federal position on Cemetery Ridge was too strong and urged Lee to circle around to the enemy's left flank. Lee disagreed and insisted on a direct assault of massed infantry. Longstreet reluctantly complied.

© 2003 David C. Hanson, HIS 269 - Civil War and Reconstruction, Virginia W. Community College

James Longstreet
	Out of roughly 12,000 Confederate troops engaged in the assault, nearly 7,000 were killed, wounded or captured, compared to 1,500 Union casualties. The consensus of historians is that despite Longstreet's reluctant compliance, Lee's tactical decisions at Gettysburg were questionable, and the Union forces were strong and tenacious. In short, Longstreet did not lose the battle; Meade's men earned their victory. After retreating back to Virginia, Lee was under pressure from President Davis to bolster the Army of Tennessee, so he sent Longstreet's corps to reinforce Bragg in the vicinity of Chattanooga. The Virginians were largely responsible for Bragg's victory at Chickamauga. Longstreet returned to Richmond in time to play an important role in repulsing the Federal attack at the Wilderness in May 1864. There, in approximately the same location where Stonewall Jackson had been cut down by friendly fire a year earlier, Lee's "Old War Horse" Longstreet was shot in the throat by a stray Rebel minie ball. He recovered and returned to command of his corps in the final weeks of the war. After the war, Longstreet became a Republican and renewed his old friendship with West Point classmate Ulysses Grant. Grant appointed him minister to Turkey in 1880; he also served as a railroad commissioner under presidents McKinley and Roosevelt. He died on January 2, 1904. Despite some criticism of his command abilities, Longstreet is rated one of the most capable battlefield tacticians of the war. Generals >
James "Old Pete" Longstreet was born on his grandfather's plantation in South Carolina on January 8, 1821, and raised in Georgia. At 6'2"' and 200 pounds, he cut an imposing figure. He graduated from West Point in 1842 and served in the Mexican War, where he was shot in the thigh while carrying the flag in an assault on Churubusco. A career soldier, he resigned from the U.S. Army on June 1, 1861, and was appointed a lieutenant colonel in the Confederate service. Promoted to brigadier general, he fought under Beauregard at First Manassas. He was promoted to major general and served under Joseph Johnston in the Seven Days battles, then under Lee at Manassas and Sharpsburg. In October 1862 he was promoted to lieutenant general. At Gettysburg he commanded Lee's right wing and was later faulted for failing to attack quickly and firmly on days two and three. Longstreet was a pragmatist, preferring whatever tactic best suited the situation. Moreover, though personally fearless, he was at times tentative. He was convinced that the Federal position on Cemetery Ridge was too strong and urged Lee to circle around to the enemy's left flank. Lee disagreed and insisted on a direct assault of massed infantry. Longstreet reluctantly complied.
© 2003 David C. Hanson, HIS 269 - Civil War and Reconstruction, Virginia W. Community College