Longstreet Remembering James Longstreet

Legion Para

Captain
Retired Moderator
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
'Old War Horse' James Longstreet will be remembered at graveside service:

http://civil-war-picket.blogspot.com/2017/01/old-war-horse-james-longstreet-will-be.html

Alta Vista.JPG
 
My husband and I are planning a weekend trip to the Gainesville area so I can participate in the Longstreet Bivoac being hosted by The Longstreet Society. Their newsletter said they would be sharing some private papers written by the general and Helen Dortch Longstreet. I've only recently become acquainted with this group so I'm not sure what to expect. I have noticed some incorrect information regarding the general on their Facebook page. I would love to hear from anyone who has been to an event they have hosted. If we do make the trip, I will certainly share what I see and learn.

@War Horse, I visited Alta Vista Cemetery several years ago. The general's grave is beautifully maintained. Just look for the flag! Hope you can also check out the site of his original home (farm), the site where he died (a vacant lot identified with an historical marker), etc.
 
My husband and I are planning a weekend trip to the Gainesville area so I can participate in the Longstreet Bivoac being hosted by The Longstreet Society. Their newsletter said they would be sharing some private papers written by the general and Helen Dortch Longstreet. I've only recently become acquainted with this group so I'm not sure what to expect. I have noticed some incorrect information regarding the general on their Facebook page. I would love to hear from anyone who has been to an event they have hosted. If we do make the trip, I will certainly share what I see and learn.

@War Horse, I visited Alta Vista Cemetery several years ago. The general's grave is beautifully maintained. Just look for the flag! Hope you can also check out the site of his original home (farm), the site where he died (a vacant lot identified with an historical marker), etc.
I will be sure to do that. Thank you :smile: So far I've visited his place of birth, his battlefields the site in the Wilderness where he was wounded. It's only fitting I visit the place he died and his grave. I wouldn't make the trip without it on the itinerary.
 
How about his family ran a cotton plantation in Edgemont, SC . A region that was predominantly known for it tobacco crops. His father William and a modest force of slaves produced a very prosperous income growing cotton and utilizing William invention, a steam powered cotton gin.
 
I want to point out that Gen. Longstreet and Gen. Meade were similar as generals. I want to point out that both would fight if forced to or had to but neither never went out looking for a fight. When either one had independent command nothing ever happened. Longstreet command would always end in a siege of a city and Meade command marched around Virginia somehow never engaging the enemy. It seems they both could administrate and move a large force of troops and supplies effectively but could never effectively use their large force in engaging the enemy. It seems they lack the ability to bring the fight to the enemy on their own unless directed to. They both filled the same role for the superior commanders Grant and Lee. They were great second in commands, Great Lieutenants.

Neither Meade nor Longstreet could commit their forces to combat if they were in command but could commit their forces to combat if directed to and fight well...
 
I want to point out that Gen. Longstreet and Gen. Meade were similar as generals. I want to point out that both would fight if forced to or had to but neither never went out looking for a fight. When either one had independent command nothing ever happened. Longstreet command would always end in a siege of a city and Meade command marched around Virginia somehow never engaging the enemy. It seems they both could administrate and move a large force of troops and supplies effectively but could never effectively use their large force in engaging the enemy. It seems they lack the ability to bring the fight to the enemy on their own unless directed to. They both filled the same role for the superior commanders Grant and Lee. They were great second in commands, Great Lieutenants.

Neither Meade nor Longstreet could commit their forces to combat if they were in command but could commit their forces to combat if directed to and fight well...
Longstreet never had a true opportunity at Independant command and Meade is the only Union general to flat out woop Robert E. Lee on an open battlefield. When Grant came along he did finally defeat Robert E. Lee by means of a siege.
 
When Grant came along he did finally defeat Robert E. Lee by means of a siege.

I respectfully submit that Petersburg was no siege. I call it trench warfare with episodes of open field warfare on the flank. Had Petersburg been a siege Lee would've been bagged within a couple of months of it's commencing, like Pemberton was.
 
Longstreet never had a true opportunity at Independant command and Meade is the only Union general to flat out woop Robert E. Lee on an open battlefield. When Grant came along he did finally defeat Robert E. Lee by means of a siege.


Wait..... Longstreet had an indenpent command at Sulfolk and in Tenn.. He did little with either opportunity... Meade gets credit for beating Lee once.. and anyone knowing the facts knows Lee destroy his own army... so neither one were willing to take the fight to their opponents ... they were both unwilling to use their instruments(men) ...
 
Wait..... Longstreet had an indenpent command at Sulfolk and in Tenn.. He did little with either opportunity...

At Suffolk he kept the Union from roaming through Virginia and collected much-needed supplies. His forces didn´t have a reasonable ratio to successfully conduct a siege. In Tennessee his forces, being partially deducted, had no better ratio and had to operate in winter in partially hostile territory against a fortified enemy that got a relief column underway.

In the first campaign he did alright and the second campaign was a failure from the moment it left Bragg's brain.
 
I want to point out that Gen. Longstreet and Gen. Meade were similar as generals. I want to point out that both would fight if forced to or had to but neither never went out looking for a fight. When either one had independent command nothing ever happened. Longstreet command would always end in a siege of a city and Meade command marched around Virginia somehow never engaging the enemy. It seems they both could administrate and move a large force of troops and supplies effectively but could never effectively use their large force in engaging the enemy. It seems they lack the ability to bring the fight to the enemy on their own unless directed to. They both filled the same role for the superior commanders Grant and Lee. They were great second in commands, Great Lieutenants.

Neither Meade nor Longstreet could commit their forces to combat if they were in command but could commit their forces to combat if directed to and fight well...

Longstreet believed in defensive warfare. He would let the enemy come to him instead of attacking.
Given the smaller numbers of the Confederate forces in nearly if not every engagement and the fact that you need a larger force for a successful attack, he was wise in favoring the defensive.
 
Wait..... Longstreet had an indenpent command at Sulfolk and in Tenn.. He did little with either opportunity... Meade gets credit for beating Lee once.. and anyone knowing the facts knows Lee destroy his own army... so neither one were willing to take the fight to their opponents ... they were both unwilling to use their instruments(men) ...
Good point. Anyone who knows the facts knows the difference between open field operations and those of undermanned forces facing intrenched armies. Meade engaged and beat Lee on more than one occasion following his victory at Gettysburg.

Giving Meade no credit for his victory at Gettysburg is ridiculous. All other union generals prior to Meade had opportunities and squandered them. Meade competently lead the AOP to a victory at Gettysburg which could have very easily gone the other way in the hands of less competent general such as oh let's say a Hooker!
 
Longstreet believed in defensive warfare. He would let the enemy come to him instead of attacking.
Given the smaller numbers of the Confederate forces in nearly if not every engagement and the fact that you need a larger force for a successful attack, he was wise in favoring the defensive.

I see little indication that Longstreet had a particular favoring for the defensive. I think his record shows that Longstreet favored the offensive whenever possible and as been said here many times he was a <very> heavy hitter. I doubt the Army of the Cumberland thought of him as favoring the defensive.
 
At Suffolk he kept the Union from roaming through Virginia and collected much-needed supplies.

In general, Longstreet did achieve most of his goals...

In Tennessee his forces, being partially deducted, had no better ratio and had to operate in winter in partially hostile territory against a fortified enemy that got a relief column underway.

I think getting beat to the Campbell station and then putting up a lackluster assault maybe epitomizes Longstreet independent commands...

Giving Meade no credit for his victory at Gettysburg is ridiculous.

No, he gets the victory for either being wise or scared which made him stay within his superior position on the battlefield...

Meade engaged and beat Lee on more than one occasion

Where? He battles Lee's rear guard and Stuarts cavalry back to Virginia and once inside Virginia he battles A P Hill in a meaningless fight... and later at Mines Run he withdraws... Where?

I see little indication that Longstreet had a particular favoring for the defensive.

I think this idea of a defensive Longstreet comes from his memoirs...

Let's bring up my main point, Longstreet and Meade were similar as generals. They were interchangeable if they had fought for the same side...
 
Last edited:
I think getting beat to the Campbell station and then putting up a lackluster assault maybe epitomizes Longstreet independent commands...

Being on a march and arriving ca. 15 minutes later ... bad luck, can happen. Lackluster assault is probably true. It could have been done much better; but even if done so the numbers would still speak against overall success. So, in my opinion, if there needs to be an epitome for said campaign it must be "Assigned too few to do too much.".
 
No, he gets the victory for either being wise or scared which made him stay within his superior position on the battlefield
Really?

Where? He battles Lee's rear guard and Stuarts cavalry back to Virginia and once inside Virginia he battles A P Hill in a meaningless fight... and later at Mines Run he withdraws... Where?
Another incredibly informative post!!!!! Only rearguard and cavalry scraps, a meaningless fight with A.P Hill. Tell us more!

I think this idea of a defensive Longstreet comes from his memoirs...

Let's bring up my main point, Longstreet and Meade were similar as generals. They were interchangeable if they had fought for the same side

Allow me to help. Interchangeable. Meaning they were both competent professionals that didn't throw lives away needlessly. As you may have noticed Lee inflected no real harm on the AOP during this time frame. Perhaps Lee was tired and didn't feel like fighting. Please share your opinion.
 
Being on a march and arriving ca. 15 minutes later ... bad luck, can happen. Lackluster assault is probably true. It could have been done much better; but even if done so the numbers would still speak against overall success. So, in my opinion, if there needs to be an epitome for said campaign it must be "Assigned too few to do too much.".
Excellent points. Neither operations can be deemed true independent command failures. Longstreet's main mission at Suffolk was gathering much needed supplies. He was to do as much damage to the enemy as possible. He accomplished both.

At Knoxville. Bragg was punishing Longstreet by sending him off to fail. (As he took revenge on all officers involved in attempting to have him removed from command) Undermanned and with inadequate supplies. Longstreet's response was certainly not his finest hour. He attempted to accomplish the impossible with limited resources and reluctant Brigadier Generals. Certainly not his finest performance.
 
Back
Top