OBITUARY FOR JAMES G. LONGSTREET:

Lt. General James Longstreet, CSA

1821 - 1904

James Longstreet, one of Robert E. Lee’s most trusted generals during the Civil War, died January 2, 1904. He was 82.

Longstreet was born January 8, 1821 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. A career soldier, Longstreet graduated from West Point in 1842.

His duty stations took him to Texas from 1845-46, and the following year he saw action in the Mexican War. He served at various posts in the west prior to the start of the Civil War.

When the Confederate States of America was formed in 1861, southerners like Longstreet, who was a West Point graduate, were very much sought after for leadership positions. Longstreet was commissioned a major general in the rebel army.

Longstreet became one of Robert E. Lee’s trusted advisors. It is written of Longstreet that he was not a yes-man to Lee. He is reported to have said that Lee at times would become too excitable in battle, sometimes clouding his judgment, so Longstreet would counsel Lee through those tense moments.

According to Longstreet, the Battle of Gettysburg was a mistake. He was of the opinion that the war would be won in the west, and if large battles were fought in northern territory they should be defensive in nature. But as opposed as he was, he followed Lee’s orders to attack on the third and decisive day of the battle. As it turned out, General Pickett’s infantry assault on Cemetery Ridge was almost a suicide mission. Pickett almost reached his goal, but decimated by his losses, he had to withdraw, and with it came a bitter retreat by Lee’s armies.

Note: Gen. Longstreet outlived Gen. Lee by many years and on occasion rewrote history the way he thought it should be, which was constantly being challenged by General Lee's aid de camp Colonel Walter H. Taylor, Adjutant-General of The Army of Northern Virginia, C. S. A.

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Now the rest of the story

It should be noted that the attack on the the third day at Gettysburg was to commence at first light. The entire Union Line was to be assaulted from Gulp's Hill to Little Round top. Gen. Longstreet saw fit to attack at 2PM. Meanwhile the Second Corps under General Ewell had attacked at dawn was beaten back. The third Corps, although a division was already to move to any point which Longstreet might indicate, was not called upon by him for assistance. Two divisions of his own corps, posted on the right flank, did absolutely nothing; and after a supremely gallant effort, fifteen thousand men who were hurled against the front of the Federal army, and some of whom actually penetrated the position, were repulsed with fearful slaughter.

It was never General Lee's plan to assault the center only, but both center and flank simultaneously, we may note that according to Longstreet's own testimony, the order was given soon after sunrise; and yet the Second Corps engaged the Union Army at daylight, it was not until 1pm, eight hours later that Longstreet opened with his artillery.

Col. Walter H. Taylor, Adjutant-General of The Army of Northern Virginia, C. S. A. General Lee His Campaigns in Virginia 1861-1865 page 209

Walter G. Ashworth

------------------------------------------------- ON A PERSONAL SIDE

Tragedy struck the Longstreet family in January 1862. A scarlet fever epidemic in Richmond claimed the lives of his one-year-old daughter Mary Anne, his four-year-old son James, and six-year-old Augustus ("Gus"), all within a week. His 13-year-old son Garland almost succumbed. The losses were devastating for Longstreet and he became withdrawn, both personally and socially. In 1861 his headquarters were noted for parties, drinking, and poker games. After he returned from the funeral the headquarters social life became more somber, he rarely drank, and he became a devout Episcopalian.

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After Gettysburg, Longstreet was ordered to attack Grant’s army at Chicamauga. Longstreet’s decisive victory hailed him as one of the south’s best generals.

After the war, Longstreet located to New Orleans. To the chagrin of his fellow southerners, he became a Republican and friends* with then U.S. President Ulysses Grant. He worked as an insurance agent, a lottery supervisor and was U.S. Minister to Turkey in 1880. He also served as a U.S. Marshal from 1881-84.

Longstreet died in Gainesville, Georgia on January 2, 1904.

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• Prior to the Civil War Longstreet was US Grant's Best Man at his wedding.

Gen. Longstreet was asked,

"Do you know Grant? [He asked of those who were downplaying Grant's capabilities]. Well, I do. I was in the Corps of Cadets with him at West Point for three years. I was present at his wedding. I served in the same army with him in Mexico. I have observed his methods of warfare in the West, and I believe I know him through and through and I tell you that we cannot afford to underrate him and the army he now commands."

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Longstreet out lived General Robert E. Lee by 34 years and re wrote the history of battles his way. During his life many disagreements arose between his version and Col. Walter H. Taylor, Lee's Trusted Aid throughout the War.

Suggested reading: "General Lee his campaigns in Virginia 1861 - 1865 by Walter H. Taylor. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln and London, Bison Books

Walter G. Ashworth -------------------- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Longstreet