Longstreet Do You Consider Longstreet A Good General?

[Creighton1930]

I started reading James Longstreets memoirs (I am also reading a book on Chickamauga and Chattanooga), and I've always held him in a high regard, mainly because of what I've been told about him. People tell me he was a brilliant tactician, and I have to admit, my lack of knowledge is hindering me in forming some kind of judgement about him. The only complaint I guess I could have of him, is his treatment of Braxton Bragg, which I read about in Hess' book on Braggs war career.

So, was he truly a good general? What are some examples of his tactical mastery in terms of battles? If you consider him a good general, What qualities made him a good general?

 

[GwilymT]

Yes, he was a good general. Three of the most devastating attacks of the war were conducted by Longstreet. The most successful defensive stand was Longstreet (holding at Fredericksburg when Saint Jackson had his line broken)

 

[rpkennedy]

Longstreet was probably the finest corps commander that the war produced. And the list of his potential peers is very short.

Ryan

 

[John Winn]

I am a big fan of Longstreet. I do think he was one of the best the confederacy had. I also think he was right at Gettysburg and got a lot of bad press after the war from people like Early, probably because he became a Republican.

 

[damYankee]

If Lee had taken Longstreet's advice Gettysburg would have never happened. Would Longstreet's plan been more successful?
We will never know.

 

[nc native]

James Longstreet was Robert E. Lee's best corps commander and possibly the best corps commander in the Civil War. At Second Manassas, Chickamauga and in the Wilderness he launched some of the most successful attacks of the Civil War. Had he not been wounded by his own men in the Wilderness who knows how long it would have taken Grant to pin Lee at Petersburg and begin the slow demise of the Army of Northern Virginia. Longstreet's only black mark against his record were his independent operations in the Knoxville campaign after splitting away from Bragg after Chickamauga. Longstreet was both uber reliable and a great tactician at the corps level.

 

[jackt62]

Despite the post-war attempts to diminish his reputation, Longstreet is probably the best all-around senior commander that the Confederacy had. Longstreet was an effective handler of large formations, and was skilled at offense and defense as indicated by engagements at 2nd Manassas, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg Day 2, Chickamauga, and the Wilderness, to name some of his most prominent battles. No wonder that Lee considered him his "warhorse," a fitting description for his reliance on Longstreet's capabilities. Of course, the detractors will point to his disagreement with Lee at Gettysburg, and his less than stellar independent command in East Tennessee. But it was Longstreet whose counsel Lee relied on at Appomattox and Longstreet's deficiencies must be weighed and balanced alongside that of any other commander including Lee.

 

[infomanpa]

My vote is yes.

 

[Pete Longstreet]

Some call Lee the greatest general who ever commanded troops in battle. If this is true... then that cements Longstreet as a very solid Lt. General, and if you analyze his record, it speaks for itself. Lee truly respected and relied on his ability to orchestrate battle plans and lead troops on the field of fight. Was Longstreet perfect, no. Was he a capable and effective commander, absolutely.

 

[BillO]

Competent, trained commander when loosely supervised. Not great but not horrible. Not useful in independent command.
I think it also depends on when you are talking about him. After his children died, it changed his personality and not for the better.

 

[GwilymT]

Competent, trained commander when loosely supervised. Not great but not horrible. Not useful in independent command.
I think it also depends on when you are talking about him. After his children died, it changed his personality and not for the better.

Any negative assessment of Longstreet is necessarily a negative assessment of Lee.

 

[Irishtom29]

I think his failings at Chattanooga---his getting involved in the anti Bragg business and failure to hold Lookout Valley---were the low point of his leadership. I don't blame him much for Knoxville as it was a pretty tough job under bad logistical conditions. All in all though he was very good.

 

[121st PA Vols]

I am a big fan of Longstreet. I do think he was one of the best the confederacy had. I also think he was right at Gettysburg and got a lot of bad press after the war from people like Early, probably because he became a Republican.

After Cedar Creek, Early had some nerve criticizing anyone. Anyone!

 

[JerryD]

Lee held him in very high regard, and that is good enough for me.I suppose some here feel they know much better than Lee did, despite being removed by 150 years and not being present for any actions of the ANV, but I think that speaks more towards them than it does to Lee or Longstreet.

 

[ErnieMac]

I think Longstreet was an excellent corps commander, possibly the best of the War on either side. His personal interactions with subordinate officers were less than exemplary at times.

 

[Woods-walker]

Longstreet was probably the finest corps commander that the war produced. And the list of his potential peers is very short.

Ryan

Certainly right you are.!

 

[JerseyBart]

Absolutely

 

[Elliot Crumblemuffin]

The fact that Longstreet was held in such high esteem by General Lee has got to say something about the man's capabilities. Longstreet was Lee's "Old Warhorse" for PETE'S sake

 

[GwilymT]

The fact that Longstreet was held in such high esteem by General Lee has got to say something about the man's capabilities. Longstreet was Lee's "Old Warhorse" for PETE'S sake

Agreed. If Longstreet was a bad general, so was Lee.

 

[Creighton1930]

I think his failings at Chattanooga---his getting involved in the anti Bragg business and failure to hold Lookout Valley---were the low point of his leadership. I don't blame him much for Knoxville as it was a pretty tough job under bad logistical conditions. All in all though he was very good.

Gotta agree with you there! I am 175 pages into his memoirs, and it's really great.