Civil War History - The Eastern TheaterDiscuss any and all battles, movements, and events occuring in the Eastern Theater here! This includes any actions in tha area east of the Appalachian Mountains in the vicinity of the river capitals of Richmond and Washington D.C.
I would not say that Longstreet's caution is a negative. I feel he was more forward thinking than his comtemporaries. All those who graduated from West Point before the CW had their heads filled with Napoleonic style tactics. As a matter of fact, cadets had to learn French in order to read books on tactics, at least until they could be translated into English.
There were those who actually thought that hiding behing fortifications was cowardice. They first called Lee "Granny" because of his use of entrenchments, many not knowing that he was a trained engineer.
Longstreet knew that the days of mass formation attacks were ending. Lee saw that possibly too late to change the outcome of the war. Too many commanders wanted the "glory" of the charge, and lost a lot of manpower as a result.
The CW actually rewrote the book on tactics.
__________________ F. S. Powers
Union Ancersor: Pvt Arnuah Norton, 60th Ohio. (G-G-G Grandfather) Died at Salisbury NC, November 3, 1864
Confederate Ancestors: Captain Thomas A. Morrow, 29th Texas Cavalry (G-G-G- Uncle) and 2LT George W. Morrow, 31st Texas Cavalry (G-G-G Grandfather). Both survived the war
Longstreet's hammer blows were self-evident at Chickamauga. The were visibly absent at the Siege of Suffolk and impotent at the Siege of Knoxville. I'll take Jackson as a combat leader any day.
Comparing Longstreet and Jackson is much like comparing Thomas with Sherman. Each had his own style. Each style was demonstrably effective at times and ineffective at other times.
Given the changed nature of warfare, Longstreet's cautious hammer-blows and fight from the defense made more sense. Jackson's shoot-now-ask-questions-later aggressiveness won battles at a price the ANV could ill afford.
At least Jackson and Sherman didn't drag their feet when given an order or suggestion.
The method of war was changing. Digging spades were all the rage. Stand up fighting was becoming "passe`" and exspensive.
Rifled bullets and new types of artty fuses were making things difficult above ground - unless you moved fast and with mission-Jackson.
Possibly you had ,if everyone showed up, a point you could concentrate and Drive your way through-Longstreet.
But otherwise , dig an keep digging from mid 63 on entrenchments were all the rage. Angainst which niether Jackson nor Longstreet could hope to prevail.
I do not concede[SP] Longstreet`s, tardiness, but maybe his stubborness to move only after completly in place. Lee-"He is my best general, but the hardest to move" Possibly[hoof in cheek] he spent too much time diggin` Eh! While the rest of the boys were coming up --Course two days of coming up is a "Hole" lotta dgging - Eh?
Gauss
Last edited by pvt gauss; 09-24-2005 at 01:11 AM.
Reason: make sense
The Longstreet/Jackson discussion is one of those likely to be with us forever. Both did boneheaded and brilliant things. But how do you weigh bonehead against brilliant and get an accurate reading? And what is more boneheaded than another? Or brilliant?
Comparing Longstreet and Jackson is much like comparing Thomas with Sherman. Each had his own style. Each style was demonstrably effective at times and ineffective at other times.
Given the changed nature of warfare, Longstreet's cautious hammer-blows and fight from the defense made more sense. Jackson's shoot-now-ask-questions-later aggressiveness won battles at a price the ANV could ill afford.
At least Jackson and Sherman didn't drag their feet when given an order or suggestion.
Sherman at Missionary Ridge dragged about as much as a man could
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
I keep hearing that Longstreet didn't like charging entrenchments. What did he do out west? That very thing. People keep giving him cerdit at Chickamagua. That's bull. He fell into that one. There was a large hole in the Union line right in front of him. He didn't know it.
Martin
__________________ "I want to bury myself in a den of books. I want to saturate myself with the elements of which they are made and breathe their atmosphere until I am of it."
--Lew Wallace, 1885
CivilWarTalk.com -
A free and friendly Civil War community. 
Linear Mode
