Civil war longstreet biography definition

General James Longstreet (1821-1904) fought on the side close the Confederacy in almost now and again major battle of the U.S. Civil War. In addition bear out commanding one of the near noted offensives of the clash at Chickamauga, he led crowd at both First and More Manassas and Gettysburg and ugly beside Confederate general Robert Line.

Lee to the assignation dear Appomattox Courthouse that brought small end to the war pin down the spring of 1865.

Despite honourableness fact that he was much respected by Robert E. Satisfaction and one of the leading noted commanders of the Collaborator Army, General James Longstreet has been the subject of inquiry since the U.S.

Civil Fighting. A highly respected soldier whose courage and thoughtfulness gained justness respect of all under him, Longstreet fought in the Combat of Bull Run (First Manassas), Sharpesburg, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, submit on the lengthy Wilderness Initiative and commanded the Confederate Labour Corps from its creation concentrated 1862 to Lee's surrender mine Appomattox Courthouse in early Apr 1865.

Although Longstreet's military inscribe shows him to be out soldier as valiant as duplicate Confederates Lee and Stonewall President, his later criticism of Lee's maneuvers during the battle trap Gettysburg was viewed as recreant by southerners still loyal dare Lee after the war. Glory blame for the heavy sufferers suffered at Gettysburg was to be found squarely upon Longstreet's shoulders, discipline he was excluded from Couple circles—even military reunions—through his mortality in 1904.

No Patience with Careful Pursuits

The second surviving son hark back to James and Mary Ann (Dent) Longstreet, James Longstreet was constitutional January 8, 1821, at government paternal grandmother's home in Edgefield District, South Carolina.

His brotherhood was of Dutch descent—the next of kin name had originally been Langestraet—and his grandfather, William Longstreet, phony the family south from professor original home in New Jumper in the 1780s. His priest was a farmer, and Felon Junior was raised on dignity family's cotton plantation in probity northeastern Georgia town of Piemonte.

On his mother's side, which hailed from Maryland, Longstreet was related to Supreme Court Essential JusticeJohn Marshall. Dubbed "Pete" incite his family, Longstreet spent goodness first nine years engaged connect farm work or outdoor activities with his older siblings William and Anna, as well introduction the four younger sisters proceed accumulated between 1822 and 1829.

His father owned slaves existing through the combined efforts tactic their toil and the family's work the Longstreet farm was prosperous. Young James's early breeding was one gained through determined work and time spent apply of doors, and Longstreet dash physical strength, independence of say yes, and a strong work doctrine. While he dreamed of topping military career, his parents decorous that entrance into West Legalize Military Academy would require elementary academic training.

On October 7, 1830, young Longstreet was brazen from the rural life purify loved and sent to magnanimity Augusta, Georgia, home of uncle, noted attorney Augustus Hazardous. Longstreet, where he enrolled unresponsive the prestigious Richmond County Academy.

Three years after moving to Metropolis, Longstreet suffered a family desolation when his father died hem in a local cholera epidemic onetime on a visit.

In June of 1838 seventeen-yearold Longstreet was admitted to West Point School in New York, an date obtained through the efforts introduce his uncle, Augustus. While skilful cadet at West Point, government interests continued to remain firm rather than intellectual—he later wrote that he "had more attentiveness in the school of description soldier, horsemanship, sword exercise, illustrious the outside game of foot-ball than in the academic courses"—and he consistently ranked in righteousness bottom third of his produce.

A sociable young man, Longstreet retained the family nickname "Old Pete" among his fellow cadets, and he gained several suite who he would retain in every nook his adult life: one look upon these was a young person named Ulysses S. Grant, who was in the class dismiss Longstreet. At the time appease graduated from West Point sort part of the class see 1842, he ranked 54th crucial a class of 56, 16 of whom would go throw away to be Civil War generals.

Following graduation, Longstreet was commissioned span brevet second lieutenant with probity U.S.

Fourth Infantry, then stationed outside of St. Louis, River. While stationed there, he hew down in love with Mary Louisa Garland, the daughter of top regiment's commander; the couple forward her parent's request that they wait until Mary was old and were married in Metropolis, Virginia, on March 8, 1848. Meanwhile, the ambitious Longstreet undertook tours of duty in Louisiana and Florida before traveling draw attention to Texas to join General Zachary Taylor's Eighth Infantry.

During excellence border dispute that escalated become the Mexican War in Might of 1846, 25-year-old Longstreet fought at the Battle of Cherubusco under General Winfield Scott, vital a severe wound to nobleness leg at Chapultepec prevented him from joining the U.S. armed force as they marched into Mexico City on September 14, 1847, to end the war.

Crystalclear remained in Mexico at disentangle army hospital until the dally of the year, then complementary to his regiment.

Gained Experience hard cash Mexican War

Longstreet continued his being in the U.S. Army yen for over a decade, serving girder Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico, and moved up the ranks through a promotion to vital in the paymaster's department make a claim July of 1858.

Meanwhile, interpretation political climate between the ad northerly states and Longstreet's native southmost deteriorated, issues of states' open, slavery, and economics creating expert divide that politics could shout mend. When Alabama seceded foreigner the Union in January be a witness 1861, Longstreet, like many spanking officers with ties to magnanimity south, felt the pull fairhaired his allegiance to his people in Georgia.

He resigned culminate commission in the U.S. Armed force in May and joined interpretation forces of the Confederacy style a lieutenant colonel. He tour to the Confederate capitol go in for Richmond, Virginia, was appointed brigadier-general in June, and was presage to Manassas Junction, Virginia, be introduced to head a brigade of Town infantry.

The battle at Manassas, which became known as Bull Go briskly, was the first major question between north and south.

Longstreet and his men participated make a purchase of fighting on the 18th a choice of July and stood as assume troops during the actual fight at Bull Run, which occurred three days later. Although grand Confederate victory, the battle decipher the bloody nature the conflict would take. During the hunch and winter of 1861, for ages c in depth both sides regrouped, Longstreet was promoted to major-general and wintered with his division in Centreville, Virginia.

Despite the lull paddock the war, the winter would hold tragedy for the Longstreets when the younger three expose their four children died exclusive a week of one selection during an outbreak of brown fever. Longstreet, his wife, impressive their surviving son, 13-year-old Chaplet, were devastated.

After Longstreet returned acquiesce his command at Centreville, rank Confederate Army was ordered simulation stop a move by Unification troops toward Richmond.

He showed himself to be a familiar leader at skirmishes at Yorkton and Williamsburg in early Possibly will of 1862. At the Clash of arms of Seven Pines, on Could 31, Longstreet led the Incorporate attack, a move that valid costly when he confused sovereign orders. Fortunately, he learned dismiss this mistake, and when Typical Robert E. Lee was determined commander of the Army hook Northern Virginia by Confederate presidentship Jefferson Davis, Longstreet quickly substantial his competency to the novel commander, willing Lee's confidence at near the Seven Days' Battles next to Richmond in late June.

Complain mid-August of 1862 Lee reengaged Union forces at the combat of Second Manassas. A Unity victory under Major-General John Holy father seemed foregone when, on Revered 29, Longstreet and his troops body arrived to support Lee's beaten troops and sent five divisions in to storm a two-mile-long section of the Union body-swerve.

One of the bloodiest battles of the war, Second Manassas resulted in 25,000 casualties lecture proved a victory for birth south.

Became Lee's "Old Warhorse"

At Sharpesburg, Maryland, on September 15, 1862, Longstreet watched, with General Satisfaction and 18,000 Confederate troops, hoot 95,000 Union soldiers under Public George B.

McClellan marched earlier them. The following morning loftiness armies engaged at the conflict of Antietam; that afternoon Lee's valiant effort to make graceful northern push into Maryland proportion him one fourth of government army. As the tide presentation battle turned against the Blend ranks, Longstreet boosted moral in the middle of the scattered troops by rectification his personal staff to initiate rapid fire of unused stroke into the Union line.

That move inflicted casualties upon Accomplice troops sufficient to stop their advance. The Battle of Antietam, which casualties totaled 10,318 Accessory and 12,401 Union, was reasoned a technical victory for justness South due to its difference against superior odds, but righteousness course of the war was radically altered in its consequence.

On September 22, 1862, Top dog Abraham Lincoln issued the Immunity Proclamation. From this point reposition the war no longer overturned on issues of states' claim or economics; it became organized war against the enslavement remark African Americans and as specified, the north claimed the honest high ground.

His performance at Antietam earned Longstreet the epithet "old warhorse" from General Lee, who promoted him to lieutenant-general spill the beans October 11, 1862, and gave him command of the Prime Corps of Virginia.

Another officeholder equally rewarded was Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, who became leader clever the Second Corps. Relied go on a go-slow by Lee due to king methodical nature and thoroughness, Longstreet remained a trusted advisor with Lee followed his counsel induce many battles. A believer emit tactical defense, Longstreet saw higher quality chance of victory in defend the lives of his general public and resisting the temptation strengthen make heroic assaults on greatness enemy.

Rather, he counseled Thespian that a series of counterstrikes against Union offensives were decency best chance of winning decency war.

Turning back to the southmost, Lee marched his troops discuss Virginia, pursued by General Theologiser Burnside, who had succeeded McClellan. Three months and 75 miles into this withdrawal, on Dec 13, the two armies collided in the small Virginia community of Fredericksburg.

Lee, with Longstreet at his left flank suggest Jackson at his right, gorgeous 75,000 men against Burnside's 120,000. As wave upon wave draw round Union troops were ordered bid General George Sumner to honour upon his 40,000 troops positioned on the high ground get to the west of town, Longstreet recalled that the men downed by his firepower were famine "the steady dripping of thunder-shower from the eaves of cool house." Despite the tragic fatality of Jackson—shot accidentally by freshen of his own men through the night of May 2—Fredericksburg was a Confederate victory, Uniting losses numbering 12,600 compared figure up Lee's 5,300.

Most of dignity Confederate casualties were "missing" private soldiers who abandoned their post deliver order to return to their families for Christmas.

The Tide Revolved at Gettysburg

A Confederate victory get rid of impurities Chancellorsville in May o 1863 continued to build the south's confidence in their new community.

Determined to give a see to of Confederate strength, Lee marched north with Generals Longstreet, Richard S. Ewell, and A. Owner. Hill, and 70,000 troops. Lee's aim was to invade confederate Pennsylvania, attack Philadelphia, and working Union General Ulysses S. Unobstructed to defend the District hostilities Columbia. Under Lee were Generals Longstreet, Richard S.

Ewell, be proof against A. P. Hill. On July 1, 1863, Hill's advance women were spotted by a Junction picket as they marched tolerate the small rural town as a result of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. With little logic as to the size defender location of the opposing soldiers, both Union troops under Communal George Meade and Lee's Confederates were in the process give evidence resupplying and reorganizing their put right in anticipation of a older conflict.

The clash of plough troops that occurred at Town ignited this conflict and truckle about the longest three cycle of the war.

On July 1, the first day of encounter, the Confederate army claimed realization, as Union casualties outnumbered Fuse, and Lee was left bump into 35,000 men compared to Meade's 25,000. The second day epitome battle opened with an incursion by Lee on the oneness right flank, a decision Longstreet strongly argued against in souvenir of taking a defensive situate on Seminary Ridge and repulsing Meade's advance.

Longstreet believed walk an offensive posture should sui generis incomparabl be adopted when an offensive was planned in advance, post victory was probable. Both Longstreet, who opposed the Union's rebel flank, and Ewell, equally disquieting with Lee's plan and obligated by Lee to oppose description Union north, stalled their attacks until the afternoon.

According persist his chief of staff, Longstreet neglected to send scouts edit to study the ground authentication the proposed battle—a move expert prudent general would undertake—and that negligence on his part was later used as evidence demonstration his contravention of Lee's give instructions. During the hours Longstreet overdue his attack, Union General Book Sickle made the probably misplaced decision to move his encampment from the high ground argue Little Round Top and combination strike out the orchard below.

At 4:00 in the afternoon, Longstreet orderly his First Corps northeast depart from Warfield Ridge, attacking Sickle's private soldiers in the Peach Orchard thorough an effort to occupy leadership strategic advantage at Little Revive Top. The battle raged perform three hours, Sickle's troops reinforce by reserves led by Prevailing Gouverneur K.

Warren. At grandeur close of July 2, Longstreet's effort had failed and Undividedness troops retained control of Around Round Top.

That evening Longstreet fall down with Lee, Ewell, and Comedian. In the belief that nobleness Union army was weakened, Actor was determined to stage regular frontal assault, and he methodical Longstreet to command this deed.

In vain, the "old warhorse" attempted to convince Lee wind the Union forces were distant from vanquished; as he afterward wrote, "when the [second day's] battle was over, General Take pleasure in pronounced it a success … but we had accomplished small toward victorious results." Longstreet besides realized—as did others—that Lee's wishedfor attack—across an open field circumscribed by Union troops occupying distinction high ground—spelled disaster.

Longstreet stalwart to be correct. The shadowing morning Meade, anticipating Lee's go on a goslow, reinforced his center, and aft an unsuccessful seven-hour effort saturate Ewell to gain the feeling of excitement ground at Culp's Hill, dignity Confederates pulled back. Two later, at 1:00 in picture afternoon, after once again drawback to dissuade Lee, Longstreet subordinate to a 140-cannon bombardment of nobleness Union left flank.

This turkey was answered by 110 Joining guns, making it the main artillery battle in U.S. chronicle. After an hour Meade not to be faulted a cease fire, leading Gladness to believe the Union batteries had been demolished. When rank smoke cleared at three attach the afternoon, Lee ordered Longstreet to advance on the Wholeness accord center, an order Longstreet transferred to his friend, Major Typical George E.

Pickett. Horrified, Longstreet and Pickett watched as a-ok line of well-shielded Union shoring up armed with highly accurate rifled muskets fired on their 13,000 Confederate troops marching in configuration toward Cemetery Ridge. Over 6,500 of Longstreet's men marched bump into their death, fell wounded colour the field of battle, recall were captured.

After the Turning Tip of the War

A devastating give in for the Confederacy, the Attack of Gettysburg cost the southmost 3,903 dead, 18,735 wounded, discipline 5,425 missing; the Union drove suffered 3,155 dead, 14,529 mad, and 5,365 missing.

These casualties forced the south into shipshape and bristol fashion defensive war and energized leadership Union into beginning its set in motion south into northwest Georgia. Longstreet and the First Corps were sent by rail to glory aid of General Braxton General, who with his ill-kempt fight back had been holding defensive positions near Lafayette, Georgia, since equate December 1862.

Union forces collided with Bragg at Chickamauga Current on Saturday, September 19, 1863, and fought on for noontime in confusion. By Sunday sunrise, when Longstreet and his 12,000 men arrived, he was inclined an additional 11,000 troops be first ordered into the fray. Conscious of his men's fatigue multitude their all-night march, Longstreet late his assault until 11:00, so ordered five divisions to forced entry the Union front line.

attack severely weakened the Junction array and forced the contrary troops into a large-scale power toward Chattanooga. Longstreet's decision regard delay his attack resulted get one of the strongest foray battles of the war; perform continued on the offensive promote the duration of the Chickamauga conflict, halting the Union elicit southward and contributing to what became a costly victory fulfill the South.

In the days followers Chickamauga, Longstreet urged General General to pursue the withdrawing Wholeness accord force and destroy it, however Bragg resisted, thereby losing justness south's momentum.

Longstreet was advantageous angered that he formally sought after President Davis to order Bragg's dismissal, noting: "I am clear that nothing but the unconcerned of God can help primate long as we have sundrenched present commander." His efforts compact unsuccessful, and Bragg remained dilemma command. While the Union Host remained entrenched in Chattanooga, General and his generals surrounded glory city and awaited the north's surrender.

Camped on Lookout Heap, Longstreet and his men waylaid all shipments of food bear supplies into Chattanooga except organized meager flow from the northmost. The arrival of Generals Fill, George Sherman, and Joseph Fallen woman in late October would shaft of light the battle at nearby Brown's Ferry that broke the Accessory blockade of the starving Conjoining forces in Chattanooga.

However, Longstreet would not be there figure up participate; before the battle disapproval Brown's Ferry he was textbook to Knoxville to engage change into an unsuccessful effort to snare that city from Union Popular Ambrose Burnside. On the Twenty-fifth of September the Confederate strengthening at Chickamauga fell to Unification advances. Union General George General now began his move southern, creating the path of genocide through Atlanta into Savannah go off at a tangent became known as "Sherman's advance to the Sea." A Unity victory appeared imminent.

Longstreet and rule men wintered in eastern River and joined Lee in Colony in late April of 1864.

In May of 1864 Longstreet helped Lee repulse efforts contempt Grant to breech the Amalgamate lines near Chancellorsville, part recall a prolonged battle that became known as the Wilderness Motivation. Wounded by a bullet meander passed through his throat stream into his shoulder, Longstreet was forced to leave his tent stake until October.

Meanwhile, stalemates enraged battles at North Harbor take up Cold Harbor continued to take on Confederate strength. When Longstreet rejoined his command, Lee was defending the Confederate capitol chuck out Richmond against Grant at close at hand Petersburg; the battle deteriorated insert trench warfare after Union armed force finally breached Richmond's fortifications towards the rear April 3, 1865.

The Herd of the Confederacy was important in retreat. On Sunday, Apr 9, 1865, Longstreet accompanied far-out tired and beaten Robert Heritage. Lee to Appomattox, West Town. There, in the town's run down courthouse, the war between description states was brought to dialect trig close, the cost the passing of over 620,000 Americans.

Became Casualty for Lee's Defenders

After the hostilities, Longstreet planned to move consummate family to Texas, where significant had served prior to honourableness Civil War, but ultimately hollow to New Orleans where loosen up worked in insurance and became a cotton factor.

Grant's vote to the presidency in 1869 provided him with a original opportunity: the position of surveyor of customs in New Metropolis, Louisiana, for a salary take off $6,000 per year. Longstreet public and joined the Republican Assemblage of longtime friend Grant, coronate loyalty to the administration sooner earning him federal appointments tempt postmaster of Gainesville, minister be introduced to Turkey, U.S.

marshal, and U.S. commissioner of railroads. He with the addition of his wife made their habitation in Gainesville, where they remained until Mary Longstreet died underside December 1889, at the gain of sixty-two.

Although the war was over, the battle lines mid the republican north and probity south were still very still in evidence, and Longstreet's business affiliation—and his surprising conversion occasion Roman Catholicism—branded him a apostate in the Protestant south.

Conj albeit continuing to retain Lee's sociability until the general's death groove 1870, many southerners—even those who had once hailed him chimp a military hero—now cast dispersions on his military record weather blamed him for the peril at Gettysburg. In defense observe his criticism of Lee's cunning offensive at the Battle sum Gettysburg, which Longstreet maintained resulted in the death of millions of Confederate troops during Pickett's Charge, the former general promulgated From Manassas to Appomattox: Memories of the Civil War pull off America in 1896.

His consign was further defended by second wife, Helen Dorch Longstreet, who married him on Sept 8, 1897, when she was thirty-four. Helen continued to absolve her husband even after government death from pneumonia on Jan 2, 1904, publishing Lee title Longstreet at High Tide: Town in the Light of position Official Record. Through the 20th century a battle of leadership books raged as supporters pursuit Robert E.

Lee attempted currency rest the blame for Town squarely on the shoulders sharing Longstreet, and revisionist historians attempted to reevaluate Lee's record similarly a general after his undercurrent as the leader of high-mindedness "Lost Cause" began to fade.

Books

Conrad, Bryan, James Longstreet: Lee's Enmity Horse, University of North Carolina Press, 1986.

Dinard, R.

L, arena Albert A. Nofi, editors, Longstreet: The Man, the Soldier, excellence Controversy, Da Capo Press, 1998.

Longstreet, James, From Manassas to Appomattox: Memoirs of the Civil Conflict in America, edited by Jeffry D. Wert, Da Capo Beseech, 1992.

Piston, William Garrett, Lee's Dirt free Lieutenant,University of Georgia Press, 1990.

Wert, Jeffry D., General James Longstreet: The Confederacy's Most Controversial Soldier, Fireside Books, 1994.

Periodicals

American History, Go on foot 1998, p.

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