Civil War History - General DiscussionFor Discussions on Civil War Era Personalities, Politics, Issues, Campaigns, Battles, and more. Serious Civil War Discussions Only Please! All other posts will be deleted.
Was Longstreet's "the slows" a post-war tag given to him by the Lost Causers? Alternatively, can anyone find a contemporary (with the war) letter, diary or memoir that complains about Longstreet having "the slows?"
Was Longstreet's "the slows" a post-war tag given to him by the Lost Causers? Alternatively, can anyone find a contemporary (with the war) letter, diary or memoir that complains about Longstreet having "the slows?"
This is a good question to ask, gary. Who were the first confederates to bring up Longstreet having "the slows" and writing about it?
Every historian writes about Longstreet and "the slows" or "being slow to move or act" but I never seen then list their source.
Who was the first to say Longstreet had the slows? I'm given to believe it was Jubal Early.
Part of the Lost Cause myth was the Marble Man, Lee, could do no wrong. So, inexplaining the defeat the Gettysburg, Early complained about Longstreet having the slows there. This shifted the blame of Lee's failed attacks from himself and onto Longstreet. A century later someone marched the route and determined that Longstreet's men made good time.
As mentioned that was always the upper parameter that limited historians. No one could find fault with Lee, so Longstreet was given that mantle.
Longstreet didn't arrive on the battlefield until July 2, because he was forced to follow Hill's Corps and one division of Ewell's corps, over a narrow gapped road to Gettysburg. Hood's division did not arrive near Gettysburg until the start of July 2nd, around mid-night. Only one division arrived on July 1st, after dark had fallen. And the reason for the delay was Lee decided to march over two corps over a narrow road to Gettysburg. Only one road for so many soldiers and so much equipment.
I doubt anyone who blamed Longstreet for coming up slowly to the start line on July 2nd, ever considered that the U.S. Signal Corps had a great observation platform on Little Round Top. Longstreet was attempting to conceal his move from the AoP signal corps, so the AoP would not have much time to move troops to meet his attack. I find little information that Longstreet's name was ever linked with the U.S. Signal Corps, waving their signals flags in observation of any Confederate movement towards Cemetery Ridge.
As if Longstreet had no reason for avoiding a direct line to his start-off point, in his July 2nd attack.
He was slow because he did not want to make the attack. He was also slow to give the charge on third day the "go" as he also did not want to make that attack.
This is a serious problem as Lee had specifically ordered these attacks. One could make a good argument that Lee would have been within his rights to cashier Longstreet for his performance at Gettysburg, specifically disobedience to orders.
I have been a longtime fan of Longstreet and very much appreciate his performance at 2nd Bull Run and Chickamauga in particular. However, I do not believe that there is really any debate of moment on weather or not Longstreet was "sluggish" or "slow" at Gettysburg. He was. Perhaps his Knoxville campaign is illustrative of these traits, I'm not quite sure.
Embracing the Republicans after the War certainly did not help his reputation but it is more about Lee's understanding of character and the reduction of qualified general officers in the ANV that prompted Lee to take no action against Longstreet. As a fan of Longstreet Gettysburg is very very problematic, just as the Seven Days is problematic for any fan of Jackson.
Had Jackson been at Gettysburg and been ordered by Lee to take Little and/or Big Round Top, he would have done it, and I would currently be living in the Confederacy instead of the USA.
I always understood that the phrase "he's got the slows" was credited to Lincoln's description of McClellan.
Although accused of being slow and reluctant to attack at Gettysburg, I was not aware that the descriptive "got the slows" was ever used in ref. to Longstreet.
On other threads, I think it has been shown fairly clearly that from the ANV perspective, the major fault was Lee not being able to enforce his will on his corps commanders.
If Lee could not (or would not) make his subordinates fight when and where he wanted, then it is Lee's fault.
That such was Lee's command style may be correct, but if so, that command style clearly failed at Gettysburg; and that failure was more Lee's than his corps commanders.
If Ewell was hesitent or Longstreet balky, it was Lee's duty as Commanding General to get them with 'his' program and not with theirs.
Which is why the Lost Cause arose and became the Southern Hysterical Society.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
CivilWarTalk.com -
A free and friendly Civil War community. 
Longstreet and "the slows" 
My Homepage
Linear Mode
