He wasn't too brave at Gettysburg.
As promised, here are a few I found in a quick search of period documents.
Describing the behavior of General Longstreet at Gettysburg, Captain Lemon had this to say:
General McLaws and Longstreet had ridden, to our surprise, most recklessly out ahead of our advancing brigade, but had determined it necessary in order to see our proper line of advance....We double-quicked through our guns, which ceased their fire to allow our passage, and when doing so the gunners removed their hats and cheered us gaily.....When almost to the Emmittsburg Road, we reached and passed Gen'ls Longstreet and McLaws, who had wisely halted and allowed us to pass by. We greeted them with a cheer, to which both Gen'ls doffed their hats in salute. Longstreet called out, "Cheer less boys and fight more. Your work is up ahead - give them the steel!" Our feelings slightly injured at this mild rebuke, and heedless of his advice we nevertheless answered with yet another cheer. We soon reached an dcrossed the Emmitsburg Road and entered the large grove of peach trees...... ~ Capt. James Lile Lemon, Co A, 18th Georgia Infantry, Wofford's Brigade, McLaws Division, Longstreet's Corps
And this one from a letter sent to the
Richmond Enquirer by a soldier in Wofford's brigade --probably someone in the 3rd Battalion GA Sharpshooters.
Wofford’s Georgia Brigade.
To the editors of the Enquirer:
CULPEPPER CO., VA., 25th July, 1863.
.....Generals Longstreet and McLaws who were on the field throughout the action, perceiving that this stronghold – the mountain side, steep and very rugged – could be carried only at a heavy sacrifice of men and Barksdale having obliqued so far to the left as to leave a long interval through which a flank movement was being made against Wofford’s left, Gen Longstreet ordered him to withdraw and fall back to the Emmettsburg [sic] Road. The brigade retired in good order. The flanking party fired a volley into the left, now become right, but with little visible effect. Such is a “plain, unvarnished” and imperfect account of the action of Wofford’s brigade in the fierce and sanguinary conflict of the 2d July at Gettysburg....
Not at Gettysburg, but a diary entry of Robert P Myers, Surgeon, 16th Georgia Infantry
(23 Sept 1863 near Chattanooga)
Wednesday 23rd -- At 2 oc P.M. the enemy commenced to shell us and kept it up until dark, our sharp shooters still in front. Genl Longstreet has just pass’d and gone to the front.
And this one. While it doesn't say Gen Longstreet is 'brave' I cant imagine his men would have cheered his return if he was perceived as a coward?
"Gen. Lee seems delighted to have him [Longstreet] back again, but he can not possibly be more pleased than the old 1st Corps is at his return to their commander...When the men saw him coming, they mounted the breastworks and while he rode down the lines made the welkin ring with cheers for the 'old bull of the woods,' as they love to designate him. It is gratifying to Genl. L. to know that though he is not favorite with the President & Bragg, yet he has what is much better, the unbounded confidence of Genl. Lee and the officers and troops of his command."
-T.J. Goree in a letter to his sister, October 1864 regarding Longstreet's return October 19, 1864 after recovering from the wound suffered at the Wilderness in May 1864.