Longtreet stays with the AoT?

gunny · #1 06-05-2005, 05:28 PM

Would the course of the war have been much different if Longstreet had stayed with the AoT after Chickamauga? His troops and leadership could have made a difference, and in the event Johnston was still replaced in front of Atlanta - he would have been the obvious choice for command of the army. What might have been different in light of this change?

larry_cockerham · #2 06-05-2005, 05:39 PM

Longstreet would never have attacked Nashville and certainly not Franklin under the actual circumstances. My theory is that he would have been more interested in Sherman who was the main threat to the existence of the Confederacy aside from Grant. Forrest could have closed the Cowan tunnel and taken care of the Federal supply problem. Time was the problem for the Army of the Tennessee. Sherman was tightening the noose and the central command was on it's way to Georgia.

8thvacav · #3 06-08-2005, 09:13 AM

gunny,
I don't think Longstreet would have been any better in the west. Look what he did when he was on his own. Nothing but failure. You may say"look what he did at Chickamauga".. He went through a hole that was opened for him by the other side. He never knew the hole was there till he made the charge. Not a Longstreet fan!
Martin

gary · #4 06-08-2005, 11:51 PM

Read Robert Krick's, "The Smoothbore Volley That Doomed the Confederacy." Chapters 4 & 5 are condemnation of Longstreet as a gineral. Even if you don't, consider his independent command at Suffolk and later at Knoxville. While at Suffolk he could legitimately say his only purpose was to gather supplies, he dawdled at Knoxville he came across Burnsides and after his attack failed, blamed his loss on McLaws.

gunny · #5 06-09-2005, 01:53 PM

Yeah, I actually read a cook called General Longrstreet in the West; A Monumental Failure. It makes it clear that Longstreet was definitely better as a subordinate, and no doubt he followed orders well, but lacked imagination on his own.

manofdreds · #6 06-10-2005, 05:52 AM

I would add this: His failure at attacking when ordered at Fair Oaks. His slowness at 2nd Bull Run. Suffolk was already mentioned. His mishandling of Gettysburg second day is legandary as well as day three. No, I think Longstreet would've been just as much of a disaster in the west. I've asked this question on another board sometime ago. After Bragg's demise why wasn't Kirby Smith brought aboard to command the army of tennessee?