James Longstreet: the story on HearLore

Mexican War And Marriage

On the 23rd of February 1847 he was promoted to first lieutenant before General-in-Chief Winfield Scott ordered Worth's division south to Mexico City. The army arrived at Veracruz on March 9 after sailing 180 miles from Lobos Island. Scott besieged the city which surrendered on March 29 following regular bombardments. In August Longstreet served at Churubusco where the Eighth Infantry reached Mexican earthworks under heavy fire. Troops found themselves stuck in ditches scaling defenses by standing on each other during fierce hand-to-hand combat that resulted in an American victory. Longstreet received brevet promotions to captain for actions at Churubusco and major for Molino del Rey. During Chapultepec on September 12 he was wounded in the thigh while charging up the hill with regimental colors. Falling he handed the flag to Lieutenant Pickett who reached the summit. The capture of the fortress led to Mexico City falling. He recovered in the home of the Escandón family treating wounded Americans until December when his wound healed enough for him to leave. After recovery Longstreet married Maria Louisa Garland called Louise on the 8th of March 1848. The marriage produced ten children though little is known about their courtship or marriage since no letters survive between them. Most anecdotes come through writings of his second wife Helen Dortch Longstreet. Novelist Ben Ames Williams depicted him as a devoted family man with an exceptionally happy marriage after questioning surviving descendants. Following the war Longstreet served recruiting duty in Poughkeepsie New York before moving to Carlisle Barracks Pennsylvania. On the 1st of January 1850 he became Chief Commissary for the Department of Texas responsible for food distribution to soldiers and animals. The job involved complex paperwork providing administrative experience despite being mostly desk work. An 1850 census shows he owned two slaves: a thirty-five-year-old woman and a thirteen-year-old girl. In June 1850 hoping for promotion beyond his forty-dollar monthly salary he requested transfer to cavalry but

Resignation And Confederate Command

Alabama which had appointed him to West Point where his mother still lived. As senior West Point graduate from that state he could potentially command its soldiers. After settling accounts he submitted resignation letter from U.S. Army on the 9th of May 1861 intending to join Confederacy having already accepted lieutenant colonel commission on May 1. Resignation was accepted June 1. Arriving Richmond Virginia with new commission he met President Jefferson Davis at executive mansion on the 22nd of June 1861. Appointed brigadier general dated June 17 he accepted commission June 25 ordered to report to Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard at Manassas commanding three Virginia regiments: 1st, 11th, and 17th Infantry. Longstreet assembled staff training brigade incessantly before first action at Blackburn's Ford July 18 when colliding with McDowell's advance division under Daniel Tyler clashing heavily with Israel B. Richardson's brigade. An infantry charge pushed Longstreet's men back forcing him to ride with sabre in hand for leading files determined to give everything sword and horse heels could provide. Colonel Jubal Early's brigade arrived reinforcing position after firing volley while Longstreet still positioned ahead causing him to dive off horse. Under renewed Confederate strength Union left wavered though Tyler withdrew per orders not bringing general engagement. During Peninsula campaign Union Major General George B. McClellan launched offensive targeting Richmond capital. In temporary command of Confederate army Longstreet proposed combining forces with Thomas J. Jackson in Shenandoah Valley though no evidence supports this claim. Following delay at Siege of Yorktown Johnston oversaw tactical withdrawal to outskirts where defenses already prepared. Longstreet's division formed rearguard heavily engaged May 5 at Williamsburg against Joseph Hooker's division commanded by Samuel Heintzelman coming out forest into open ground attacking his men. To protect supply wagons Longstreet

Eastern Theater Campaigns

counterattacked using brigades of Cadmus Wilcox, A.P. Hill, Pickett, Raleigh Colston plus two regiments driving soldiers back. Finding ground untenable he requested reinforcements from D.H. Hill receiving Early's brigade later added entire division launching fruitless bloody attack well after wagons safely evacuated overall success protecting passage delaying McClellan advance giving Confederates four cannons despite inaccurate Union victory characterization. May 31 during Seven Pines battle Longstreet received verbal orders from Johnston apparently misremembering them marching wrong direction down wrong road causing congestion confusion diluting effect of Confederate counterattack against McClellan. Argument ensued over seniority with Benjamin Huger causing significant delay when D.H. Hill subsequently asked for reinforcements compliance failed proper coordination leaving only one of Longstreet's brigades reaching field none of Huger's. After six hours fighting ended draw though Johnston praised performance while biographer William Garrett Piston calls it lowest point in military career. June 1 Robert E. Lee assumed command of Army Northern Virginia after Johnston wounded. In memoirs Longstreet suggested initially doubting Lee's capacity writing arrival far from reconciling troops loss beloved chief Joseph E. Johnston claiming Lee lacked reputation then there were misgivings about power skill field service. Late June Lee organized plan drive McClellan army away capital culminating Seven Days Battles starting daybreak June 27 Gaines's Mill attacking V Corps under Fitz John Porter positioned north Chickahominy River. Longstreet arrived battlefield Gettysburg around 4:30 p.m. the 1st of July 1863 hours ahead troops Lee hadn't intended fight before fully concentrated chance decisions A.P. Hill brought confrontation first day strong Confederate victory driving two Union corps positions north town into defensive heights south meeting Lee concerned strength Union position elevated ground advocated strategic movement around left flank secure good ground between him capital compelling Meade attack defensive positions erected Confederates instead Lee exclaimed if enemy tomorrow I will attack him. Longstreet replied if he

Gettysburg Controversy

is there tomorrow because wants you to attack Lee energized success refused suggesting immediate assault federal positions insisting wait Hood McLaws marching Chambersburg Pike sent courier Cashtown Road hurry along eventually bivouac four miles behind lines Pickett performing rearguard duty Cashtown ready move until morning major blunder occurred Ewell failed seize heights Cemetery Hill ordered do so practicable by Lee. Lee plan July 2 called Longstreet attack Union left flank followed Hill attack Cemetery Ridge near center while Ewell demonstrated right. Longstreet again argued flanking maneuver around Union left but Lee rejected plan not ready attack early envisioned received permission wait Law's brigade Hood division reach field before advancing Law marched quickly covering eleven hours did not arrive noon three brigades still march column distance designated positions soldiers forced take long detour approaching enemy position misled inadequate reconnaissance fail identify completely concealed route. Postbellum criticism claims ordered attack sunrise disobeyed factually untrue denied staff officers Walter Taylor Charles Marshall Lee agreed delays arriving troops issued formal order attack 11 a.m. Longstreet did not aggressively pursue orders launch attack Sorrel writes unenthusiastic displayed lethargy bringing troops forward expected attack noon not ready until 4 p.m. Meade used time bring more troops forward campaign historian Edwin Coddington presents approach federal positions comedy errors expect inexperienced commanders raw militia not veteran troops. Following Chancellorsville death Stonewall Jackson Longstreet and Lee met mid-May discuss summer campaign once more pushed detachment corps sent Tennessee justification becoming urgent as Ulysses Grant advanced critical Confederate stronghold Mississippi River Vicksburg argued reinforced army Bragg could defeat Rosecrans drive Ohio River compelling Grant break hold Vicksburg advanced views meeting Seddon approved idea doubted Lee would opined Davis unlikely go against Lee wishes criticized Bragg generalship may have hoped replace him indicated content serve Joseph Johnston as corps commander. Lee prevented by telling Davis

Western Theater Operations

parting large numbers troops force move closer Richmond instead advanced plan invade Pennsylvania relieve agricultural military pressure war placing Virginia North Carolina threatening federal city disrupt Union offensives elsewhere erode support war among Northern civilians In memoirs described reaction there conflicting evidence veracity account written years after campaign affected hindsight results battle heavy postbellum criticism letters time made reference bargain April 1868 Lee said never made promise thought doing such thing yet post-battle report wrote intended fight general battle distance base unless attacked enemy. Army reorganized Jackson's death Richard Ewell A.P. Hill promoted lieutenant general assumed command Second newly created Third Corps respectively Longstreet First Corps gave R.H. Anderson division leaving Hood McLaws Pickett After determining advance north inevitable dispatched scout Henry Thomas Harrison met during Suffolk Campaign gather information paid gold told did not care see bring information importance Ewell corps led army north followed Longstreet Hill crossed Potomac June 25-26 Harrison reported evening June 28 instrumental warning Confederates Army Potomac advancing north meet quickly already gathered Frederick Maryland Lee initially skeptical prompt ordered immediate concentration army north Frederick near Gettysburg Pennsylvania Harrison also brought news Hooker replaced Meade. After Confederate defeat Longstreet enjoyed successful post-war career working U.S. government diplomat civil servant administrator His support Republican Party cooperation pre-war friend President Ulysses Grant critical comments Lee wartime performance made anathema many former Confederate colleagues Reputation South further suffered leading African-American militia anti-Reconstruction White League Battle Liberty Place 1874 Authors Lost Cause movement focused actions Gettysburg principal reason why South lost Civil War As elderly man married Helen Dortch Longstreet worked restore husband image after death Since late twentieth century reputation undergone slow reassessment

When and where was James Longstreet born?

James Longstreet was born on the 8th of January 1821 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. He spent eight years living with his aunt Frances Eliza and uncle Augustus Baldwin Longstreet at their Westover plantation outside Augusta, Georgia.

What were James Longstreet's military achievements during the Mexican War?

James Longstreet received brevet promotions to captain for actions at Churubusco and major for Molino del Rey. During Chapultepec on September 12 he was wounded in the thigh while charging up the hill with regimental colors.

Why did James Longstreet resign from the U.S. Army in 1861?

James Longstreet submitted a resignation letter from the U.S. Army on the 9th of May 1861 intending to join the Confederacy after accepting a lieutenant colonel commission on May 1. His mother still lived in Alabama which had appointed him to West Point so he offered services to that state as senior graduate.

How did James Longstreet contribute to Confederate victories at Fredericksburg and Chickamauga?

James Longstreet served as a key commander who contributed significantly to Confederate successes through defensive tactics employed at Fredericksburg and Chickamauga. Modern scholarship increasingly recognizes strategic insights demonstrated throughout these campaigns alongside Lee's leadership style adapting battlefield conditions effectively.

What roles did James Longstreet hold during Reconstruction under President Grant?

During Reconstruction James Longstreet served as U.S. Marshal for Louisiana appointed by Grant helping enforce federal laws protecting freedmen rights. He held positions including collector of customs at New Orleans and commissioner of railroads while supporting Republican policies aimed at rebuilding Southern states.

James Longstreet.

Mexican War And Marriage

Frontier Duty And Administration