James Longstreet

James Longstreet
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Name	James Longstreet
Caption	Lieutenant General James Longstreet, 1863
Birth date	8 January 1821
Death date	2 January 1904
Birth place	Edgefield District, South Carolina
Death place	Gainesville, Georgia
Placeofburial	Alta Vista Cemetery
Allegiance	United States, Confederate States of America
Serviceyears	1842–1861 (USA), 1861–1865 (CSA)
Rank	Major (USA), Lieutenant General (CSA)
Commands	First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
Battles	Mexican–American War, American Civil War
Spouse	Maria Louisa Garland, 1848, 1889, Helen Dortch, 1897
Children	10

James Longstreet. He was one of the foremost Confederate States Army generals during the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "old war horse." Longstreet's command of the First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia was instrumental in several major Confederate victories, though his controversial postwar political alignment and criticism of Lee's strategies led to a contentious legacy among Lost Cause of the Confederacy proponents.

Early life and education

Born in the Edgefield District, South Carolina, he spent much of his early youth in Augusta, Georgia, and later in Somerville, Alabama. His father, a farmer, died when he was young, and the family moved to Gainesville, Georgia. Securing an appointment through a family friend, United States Representative Reuben Chapman, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1838. A close friend and classmate of future Union general Ulysses S. Grant, he graduated in 1842, ranked 54th out of 62 cadets, and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Infantry.

Mexican–American War and antebellum service

During the Mexican–American War, he served with distinction under General Zachary Taylor in the Battle of Monterrey and the Battle of Buena Vista. He later transferred to the command of General Winfield Scott for the campaign against Mexico City, earning brevet promotions to captain and major for gallantry at the Battle of Churubusco and the Battle of Molino del Rey, where he was wounded. His postwar assignments included service in Texas and as a paymaster in Albuquerque. He married Maria Louisa Garland, daughter of his regimental commander, in 1848.

Civil War service

Resigning his U.S. Army commission in June 1861, he joined the Confederate States Army as a brigadier general. He commanded a brigade at the First Battle of Bull Run and was promoted to major general. As a corps commander under Lee during the Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days Battles, he demonstrated tactical skill. His defensive prowess was crucial at the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Fredericksburg. He performed notably at the Battle of Gettysburg, though his perceived slowness in executing Lee's orders for the assault known as Pickett's Charge later became a source of controversy. After service in the Western Theater at the Battle of Chickamauga, he returned to Lee's army for the Overland Campaign, where he was severely wounded by friendly fire at the Battle of the Wilderness. He resumed command during the Siege of Petersburg and surrendered with Lee at Appomattox Court House.

Postwar career and politics

After the war, he settled in New Orleans and entered the cotton business. His postwar political actions generated immense controversy among former Confederates; he joined the Republican Party, supported the Reconstruction policies of President Ulysses S. Grant, and accepted appointments as Surveyor of the Port of New Orleans, Minister to the Ottoman Empire, and United States Marshal. He commanded Louisiana state militia troops against the White League in the Battle of Liberty Place in 1874. These actions led many in the South to brand him a traitor. He later served as a U.S. Railroad Commissioner under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.

Legacy and historical assessment

For decades after his death, Lost Cause of the Confederacy historians, particularly those aligned with the "Lee cult" like Jubal Early and William N. Pendleton, vilified him as primarily responsible for the defeat at Gettysburg. This portrayal was cemented in popular culture by works like Michael Shaara's novel The Killer Angels. Modern scholarship, beginning with historians like William Garrett Piston and Jeffry D. Wert, has undertaken a significant reassessment, recognizing his considerable military talents, his advocacy for defensive warfare, and the political motivations behind the postwar attacks on his reputation. His memoirs, From Manassas to Appomattox, remain a critical primary source. Today, he is widely regarded by academics as one of the most capable corps commanders in the conflict.

Category:1821 births Category:1904 deaths Category:Confederate States Army lieutenant generals Category:People of the American Civil War