Longstreet General Longstreet's opinion

[Yankeedave]

I agree that what stopped Ewell from taking Culp's Hill had to do with the Union 5th Corps to its direct east, and the 12th Corps coming in from the South East. Jackson's victories at 2cd Bull Run, and Chancellorsville were Lee's victories. He planned them and others executed, Stuart, Longstreet, Jackson. The battles of Kernstown and McDowel were no victories for ol Stonewall. Cross Keyes he was not present for, and its sister fight, Port Republic only became a victory after Jackson turned tactical control of to Dick Taylor. The Peninsula was a disaster for Jackson, followed up by the butchering he got at Ceder Mountain, with the man Jackson despised, A.P. Hill coming to his rescue. Antietam was no win for Lee or Jackson, and at Fredericksburg, a single division, Meade's, cut a path through Jackson who had 3 divisions. btw the troops who are going to hold Culp's Hill, the 12th Corps are the same troops who beat Jackson up at Cedar Mountain.

 

[bankerpapaw]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Even Longstreet.

We ALL have an opinion, don't we?

 

[BillO]

I don't know about this one Jackson was a darn good general and I personally believe better than Stewart. My biggest problem with long street is this man never got or received the credit he should have by a certain group of generals early and others try their best to discredit him. If you ever read my threats you know I usually hard on Confederate generals for the parts they play in the Civil War. General long street however I personally believe was a good general and yes a good American when the war was over he was ready to swallow his pride and work with others and for that he was vilified throughout the South. And when I say American I mean just that.

Just curious but where are you from?

 

[Rebforever]

I agree that what stopped Ewell from taking Culp's Hill had to do with the Union 5th Corps to its direct east, and the 12th Corps coming in from the South East. Jackson's victories at 2cd Bull Run, and Chancellorsville were Lee's victories. He planned them and others executed, Stuart, Longstreet, Jackson. The battles of Kernstown and McDowel were no victories for ol Stonewall. Cross Keyes he was not present for, and its sister fight, Port Republic only became a victory after Jackson turned tactical control of to Dick Taylor. The Peninsula was a disaster for Jackson, followed up by the butchering he got at Ceder Mountain, with the man Jackson despised, A.P. Hill coming to his rescue. Antietam was no win for Lee or Jackson, and at Fredericksburg, a single division, Meade's, cut a path through Jackson who had 3 divisions. btw the troops who are going to hold Culp's Hill, the 12th Corps are the same troops who beat Jackson up at Cedar Mountain.

'Butchering'? at Cedar Mountain? prove it!

 

[Jamieva]

There are times i really wish we had a dislike option. What a butchering of jacksons record

 

[Yankeedave]

'Butchering'? at Cedar Mountain? prove it!

It was not his finest moment.

 

[Yankeedave]

"I cannot help but think that great results would have been obtained had my views been thought better of; yet I am much inclined to accept the present condition as for the best."
---Longstreet

"Longstreet's advice was sound military sense; it was the step I most feared Lee would take."
--General George Meade on Longstreet's advice to General Lee at Gettysburg.

"Bring me Longstreet's head on a platter and the war will be over."
--President Abraham Lincoln

 

[jackt62]

There were three, and Longstreet was as valuable to Lee as Jackson and Stuart. At the point Longstreet is referring to Stuart was the last. The replacements were good, just not as good.

Yes, I happen to believe that Longstreet is another one of those great commanders who history has not dealt kindly with.

 

[Yankeedave]

Pete was a wiz with artillery too.

 

[James N.]

It was not his finest moment.

Oddly enough, HE supposedly thought it was! For some reason - maybe because his command "bounced back" rather quickly after their initial drubbing, or because he eventually routed the despised Banks - Jackson is said to have regarded Cedar Mountain as his finest battle.

 

[Rebforever]

It was not his finest moment.

Prove it. Show me more than your opinion.

 

[motorstreet]

I'd have to see the context in which Longstreet made this statement but if by "impact" he meant the ability of the South to win the war, then I disagree. Had Jackson not been killed at Chancellorsville, he might have made the difference at Gettysburg. By the time Stuart was killed, the war was all but over and the South really had no chance, so I can't see how Stuart's death had any impact at all on the outcome of the war.

 

[thomas aagaard]

I do not i anyway hold with the idea that Jackson would just have taken the hills on the 1st.
But if Jackson had lived, the campaign might have developed differently. Even if Lee ended up with a 3 corp army, the corps might have marching in a different order , so who know, maybe Longstreet had been the guy who got engaged first... Or the battle might have been fought somewhere else.

 

[Yankeedave]

http://uncpress.unc.edu/books/T-924.html
It's a linc for a copy of Robert Krick's Jackson at Ceder Mountain.

 

[leftyhunter]

I do not i anyway hold with the idea that Jackson would just have taken the hills on the 1st.
But if Jackson had lived, the campaign might have developed differently. Even if Lee ended up with a 3 corp army, the corps might have marching in a different order , so who know, maybe Longstreet had been the guy who got engaged first... Or the battle might have been fought somewhere else.

The inherent problem with these hypothetical discussions is it is impossible to prove or disprove that if General X would have survived he would have won battle Y.
In the context of the Civil War since the Confederacy was dependent on slaves, it is dependent on cotton exports, it has a navy that can't protect it's trade routes or ports , it's outnumbered and it is badly divided plus no foreign aid the Confederacy was doomed.
It is doubtful that any group of Confederate generals could overcome the above fundamentals. I know you get that but I question even if Jackson was at Gettysburg the Confederacy would have emerged victorious.
Leftyhunter

 

[Yankeedave]

It's been said before by many a person, but the biggest problem with the confederates at Gettysburg was the Yankee's.

 

[jackt62]

It's been said before by many a person, but the biggest problem with the confederates at Gettysburg was the Yankee's.

"I always thought the Union army had something to do with it."
General George Pickett's response to the question about which Confederate general was responsible for losing the battle of Gettysburg.

 

[Yankeedave]

I had that quote in particular in mind.

 

[OpnCoronet]

In General Longstreet's book, "From Manassas to Appomattox" he stated that he thought J.E.B Stewart's death had a greater impact than did Stonewall Jackson's death. Your thoughts.

Can never be sure, of course. But, it could very likely be true. I think Lee and Jackson were more like professional colleagues. While Lee's relationship with Stuart, while professional, also had a very high personal affection for each other attached, much like that between a father and son.



P.S. If Jackson had not died so early, it is possible, IMO, that he and Lee might have developed a more personal relationship(or possibly not, i.e., they could have become secret or public rivals.)
'

 

[Borderruffian]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Even Longstreet.

Old Pete you Slay Me!