An Unbiased Analysis of James Longstreet

[M E Wolf]

Dear List Members;

It is my understanding, that there was a Board of Inquiry after the Civil War, where many of the Generals were called into; as to tell their versions and compare with the other side's information. General Longstreet was called into such an inquiry I believe.

It is from this, I believe that gathering evidence for this inquiry, as well as charges from the Confederate side; papers in support of General Longstreet gave weight to what he wanted to get off his chest--which was the besmirching of his reputation. Many of the supporting documents were supplied by General A. L. Long; Lee's Military Secretary and on Lee's personal staff. Unlike movies portraying that only Col. Marshall and Col. Taylor were the only ones on staff--many others indeed were.

I would also say, that it was very easy to forge documents after General Lee's death and seemingly, this may be when Col. Fairfax's admission to the files were set up as to appear Longstreet was given orders for a sunrise battle (Gettysburg) when it was proven by other documents by General A. L. Long; that there were no such orders.

I am sure if General Robert E. Lee would have survived beyond General Longstreet, although impossible due to the age differences in the very beginning--I am sure General Lee would have firmly squashed all negatives in regard to General Longstreet. Not even including supporting documents from the Union side, to which observed from their position such things.

Nobody seems to mention, that Longstreet was being attacked from the rear by Union Cavalry in a harassive manner--clearly a distraction. While others were engaged in the frontal assault towards the Union lines.

I still feel, General Longstreet was not politically savy--why should he have been? He was a professional soldier. That is why he had a target on him, just as big as targets were on Grant, other Generals and or veterans of the Civil War.

War doesn't suddenly end at the signature of surrender.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully,
M.E. Wolf

[ole]

Longstreet's greatest sin was that, after the war, he became a (gasp) Republican!

p;r

[elektratig]

I am no proponent of the Lost Cause, but I think that Longstreet was a mixed bag during the war. The best analysis of Longstreet's actions on the second day of Gettysburg that I have read is Harry Pfanz's Gettysburg: The Second Day -- and Pfanz raises serious questions about whether Longstreet could and should have gotten into position more quickly. His performance during Seven Pines is also hard to understand.

Longstreet's actions later in the war -- at Chattanooga and Knoxville -- are also subject to serious criticism. His treatment of Lafayette McLaws seems to have been particularly despicable. See Robert K. Krick's essay, "Longstreet Versus McLaws -- and Everyone Else -- About Knoxville," in The Smoothbore Volley that Doomed the Confederacy.

Don't take me wrong. In many ways Longstreet was magnificent, both as a general (Fredericksberg, Second Manassas, the Wilderness) and as a person (his actions after the war are only to his credit). But that should not blind us to his serious failings.

[diddyriddick]

Since I'm a newbie, I'm a little late to this party, but here goes...

The Wert book is excellent! What I found particularly eye opening was his point that Longstreet accepted pay from the US and the CSA simultaneously.

On a related note, Desjardin points out in his excellent These honored Dead that part of the reason for the hero worship of Lee at the expense of Longstreet, et al. was because Jubal Early played such a prominent role in molding the Southern view of the war.

David

[M E Wolf]

Dear Elektratig,

I am thinking that you might be thinking of General Laws.

There was a big issue between General Longstreet and General Laws who did not follow orders; to which Longstreet wished General Laws to be court-martial and General Lee was made aware of the issues and there were correspondences between Lee and President Davis--

The above is in The Official Reports of the Rebellion

It is very easy to be confused with General McLaws and General Laws.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[M E Wolf]

Dear Diddyriddick,

I would not be a bit surprised if others recieved pay from the US and CS, not just Longstreet.

Retirement pay or disability pay for those former US Soldiers that went to fight for the CSA; or those who collected from CSA and went to work for the US Government in one form or another.

Of course, those who have names that are easy to focus on and recognized universally, will have more critical inspection of their lives.

And, I do believe in addition to Early; Colonel Pendleton (the Colonel who was a reverand, that was Stonewall Jackson's artillery commander; who lost his son 'Sandy' Pendleton'/Jackson's aide; wasn't exactly nice to Longstreet either--.

Being associated with "Stonewall"--added much weight to anything they said.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[diddyriddick]

Excellent point, M. E, as usual. But I should clarify. According to Wert, he was getting his regular US Army salary, and regular CSA Army salary simultaneously. My copy of Wert is loaned out, so I'm just going by memory; but it seems like there was an overlap of 2 months or more before he resigned his US Army commission. Maybe somebody who has Wert handy can clarify.

Having said that, I completely agree that Longstreet's reputation was completely and unduly besmirched by Early et al after the war was over.

[cw1865]

Another way to look at it is that there is a short list of those who are better, even if you put Union generals on the list....

[whitworth]

Well anyone who found some fault with Lee, joined the Republican party, worked for the U.S. government, and became a Catholic, could not find much constructive criticism from the unreconstructed Confederates of the late 19th Century South.