Did Longstreet have a headquarters at Gettysburg during the battle?

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This building below was once considered to be the HQ for General Longstreet during the battle of Gettysburg. This is a vintage postcard (as you can tell from the the cars in the background) with the Warfield Ridge observation tower in the background.

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Nowadays, you'll find the upright cannon marker that designates Longstreet's HQ, along West Confederate Avenue.

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The little building with the sign saying it was Longstreet's HQ, however, is gone. This really well-researched and just plain interesting report by the NPS's Katie Lawhon from 1981 is probably the reason why:

http://www.gdg.org/Research/BattlefieldHistories/kghhdqr.html
 
This building below was once considered to be the HQ for General Longstreet during the battle of Gettysburg. This is a vintage postcard (as you can tell from the the cars in the background) with the Warfield Ridge observation tower in the background.

View attachment 34089

Nowadays, you'll find the upright cannon marker that designates Longstreet's HQ, along West Confederate Avenue.

View attachment 34090

The little building with the sign saying it was Longstreet's HQ, however, is gone. This really well-researched and just plain interesting report by the NPS's Katie Lawhon from 1981 is probably the reason why:

http://www.gdg.org/Research/BattlefieldHistories/kghhdqr.html

"For the sake of historical integrity, it would perhaps be a blessing to let the old frame alteration have a well-deserved rest and quit calling it something it could never have been. Either let it stand as a humble outbuilding or remove it as a reminder of how easily history can become subverted by the entrepreneurs and self-seekers, and become distorted by the local residents and descendants to the detriment of the written record."

Good line ending a good article.
 
This building below was once considered to be the HQ for General Longstreet during the battle of Gettysburg. This is a vintage postcard (as you can tell from the the cars in the background) with the Warfield Ridge observation tower in the background.

View attachment 34089

Nowadays, you'll find the upright cannon marker that designates Longstreet's HQ, along West Confederate Avenue.

View attachment 34090

The little building with the sign saying it was Longstreet's HQ, however, is gone. This really well-researched and just plain interesting report by the NPS's Katie Lawhon from 1981 is probably the reason why:

http://www.gdg.org/Research/BattlefieldHistories/kghhdqr.html

Excellent link, and well written research. A tip of the hat to the author.
 
Looks like Longstreet didn't get much respect. Not only did it take about 130 years till he got a statue at Gettysburg, but it appears that his HQ was also taken down and replaced with the upright cannon.
 
Looks like Longstreet didn't get much respect. Not only did it take about 130 years till he got a statue at Gettysburg, but it appears that his HQ was also taken down and replaced with the upright cannon.

At Gettysburg, all of the headquarters of generals who had them are marked with upright cannons. At Antietam, downturned cannons mark the locations where generals were killed. I'm not sure what other sites have conventions regarding cannons.
 
One of my pet projects is trace the movements of senior Generals throughout the battle. Here are a few lesser known examples pertaining to Longstreet:

Noon, June 26: Rode through Hagerstown, Maryland (with Lee).
June 27: Rode into Chambersburg, Pennsylvania at the head of Posey's brigade (of the Third Corps).
Morning July 1: Gen. Longstreet rode beside Gen. Ed Johnson (Second Corps) for a distance on the Chambersburg Pike.
Mid-afternoon July 2: On Seminary ridge near the Emmitsburg road (with Lee).
Just before attack July 2: Longstreet rode in front of the 5th Texas (with Hood and Pickett).
Before Kershaw's advance, July 2: Longstreet was in front of the 2nd South Carolina.
About 6:45 p.m.: Led Wofford's brigade for a short distance as it advanced from Seminary Ridge.
Just after 10 a.m. July 3: Longstreet rode in front of the 11th Virginia.
 
Great article! I always wondered why the "Longstreet HQ" souvenir stand disappeared. In an era before air conditioning in cars, it was in an ideal location to deliver ice cold lemonade to hot and frazzled tourists. Of all the gone-but-not-forgotten tourist sites in Gettysburg, it's the one I miss the most. Sic transit and all that...
 
One of my pet projects is trace the movements of senior Generals throughout the battle. Here are a few lesser known examples pertaining to Longstreet:

Noon, June 26: Rode through Hagerstown, Maryland (with Lee).
June 27: Rode into Chambersburg, Pennsylvania at the head of Posey's brigade (of the Third Corps).
Morning July 1: Gen. Longstreet rode beside Gen. Ed Johnson (Second Corps) for a distance on the Chambersburg Pike.
Mid-afternoon July 2: On Seminary ridge near the Emmitsburg road (with Lee).
Just before attack July 2: Longstreet rode in front of the 5th Texas (with Hood and Pickett).
Before Kershaw's advance, July 2: Longstreet was in front of the 2nd South Carolina.
About 6:45 p.m.: Led Wofford's brigade for a short distance as it advanced from Seminary Ridge.
Just after 10 a.m. July 3: Longstreet rode in front of the 11th Virginia.
Interesting research, Tom. :thumbsup:
 
This building below was once considered to be the HQ for General Longstreet during the battle of Gettysburg. This is a vintage postcard (as you can tell from the the cars in the background) with the Warfield Ridge observation tower in the background.
Appreciate the post! Interesting read
View attachment 34089

Nowadays, you'll find the upright cannon marker that designates Longstreet's HQ, along West Confederate Avenue.

View attachment 34090

The little building with the sign saying it was Longstreet's HQ, however, is gone. This really well-researched and just plain interesting report by the NPS's Katie Lawhon from 1981 is probably the reason why:

http://www.gdg.org/Research/BattlefieldHistories/kghhdqr.html
 
One of my pet projects is trace the movements of senior Generals throughout the battle. Here are a few lesser known examples pertaining to Longstreet:

Noon, June 26: Rode through Hagerstown, Maryland (with Lee).
June 27: Rode into Chambersburg, Pennsylvania at the head of Posey's brigade (of the Third Corps).
Morning July 1: Gen. Longstreet rode beside Gen. Ed Johnson (Second Corps) for a distance on the Chambersburg Pike.
Mid-afternoon July 2: On Seminary ridge near the Emmitsburg road (with Lee).
Just before attack July 2: Longstreet rode in front of the 5th Texas (with Hood and Pickett).
Before Kershaw's advance, July 2: Longstreet was in front of the 2nd South Carolina.
About 6:45 p.m.: Led Wofford's brigade for a short distance as it advanced from Seminary Ridge.
Just after 10 a.m. July 3: Longstreet rode in front of the 11th Virginia.

Great pet project !!!! I'd love to hear of others you've traced!
 
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