GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET

CHILDHOOD

Born: January 8, 1821Home: GeorgiaHobbies: Horseback riding, Hunting, and FishingNickname: PeteAcquired Traits: Strength, Self-reliance, Self-confidence, and Hard working

Early Life

Dreams for the Future: Wanted to be like the many war heroes in history, but the only way to achieve his dreams and please his father was to go to a prestigious military school.Education: Richmond County Academy and later the United States Military Academy at West Point

HOME LIFEFirst Marriage: Louise GarlandSecond Marriage: Helen Dortch

Children: Three died of scarlet fever within a week of each other, two died at birth, five lived on to become adults. All of Longstreet’s children were a result of his first marriage.

Wife with first two children

Grave of those three children that died due to Scarlet Fever

WAR YEARS Mexican War: Was wounded in the leg at Chapultepec as a major under General Zachary Taylor. Viewed this war as a training ground for the civil war.

1849 protected immigrants that were moving into the country. When he was relived of this duty, he was assigned an office job.

1854- 1858 Assigned to Fort Bliss to protect farmers, ranchers, and townsfolk from Indians.

Civil War

Fought for the South because he was for state’s rights. Even though he was against secession.Had to resign from his position in the Union army in order to join the South

He was named brigadier general over three untrained Virginia regiments

Battle of the First Manassas First battle that Longstreet’s regiments were present at.

Was positioned at Blackburn’s Ford.

During the battle, when the Union troops’ defenses were down, Longstreet asked for permission to attack but was instructed to retreat.

At this order he dashed his hat furiously to the ground and cried, "Retreat! Hell, the Federal army has broken to pieces."

Civil War cont. During the first winter, epidemics of measles and typhoid spread throughout the southern camps, supplies were low, and there was a stalemate between the North and South.

Meanwhile, Longstreet earned a new position as major general in charge of seven infantry brigades

1862- Longstreet had four remaining children when the Scarlet fever epidemic struck. Even though he lost three, he kept to his duties and earned the nickname “My Old War Horse” from Lee.

When Longstreet returned, his six brigades were positioned under Johnston and their total troops numbered 70,000 against McClellan’s 100,000.

The Confederate troops were in the process of moving from Centreville to a position behind the Rappahannock River.

Longstreet brought up the rear and this proved to be a good decision when he defeated advanced Union troops at Williamsburg.

Longstreet lost the battle of Seven Pines due to misinterpreted orders…

…But made up for it with outstanding courage during the Seven Days Battle.

Longstreet was then entrusted with half of the confederate infantry and was directed to aid Stonewall Jackson in his attack of Pope near Orange Courthouse.

Longstreet’s attack with Jackson lead into the Second Battle of the Manassas, in which the Union army failed to win.

A little more than two weeks later he was back in battle at the Antietam.

Lee then promoted Longstreet to a position

as Lieutenant general in charge of I Corps.

Note for Longstreet to take charge of I Corps

As the testing 1862 drew to a close, Longstreet experienced yet another battle.

This battle occurred at Marye’s heights at Fredricksburg.

Here the Union troops posed many suicidal attacks at the Confederates and ended up having twice as many casualties.

1863

The Suffolk Campaign, where Longstreet, Pickett, and Hood were instructed to guard Richmond, was Losgstreet’s first semi-total command position.

Longstreet left his position at Richmond and, impressing vehicles along the way, collected enough food to feed the army for two months.

THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE

This was the battle that mortally wounded Stonewall Jackson, earned Longstreet his place as Lee’s right hand man, and began the argument over statistics that lead to Gettysburg.

Though all of this happened because of this battle, Longstreet had not even been present for it. He was in transit at the time.

THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG This was the time at which Lee made one wrong move and the tides of war shifted direction.

The first and second days Longstreet was meant to attack the Union troops, but he hesitated and lost that battle.

On the third and final day, Picket lead a full on charge onto the Union position with Longstreet in tow.

That day Longstreet lost almost all of his men and the Confederate Army began to break up.

THE FINAL BATTLES The Battle of Chickamauga- Confederate win The Knoxville Campaign- Longstreet was weary at this point in the war and his troops were in a bad position. Both aided to a Union win.

THE FINAL BATTLES CONT.

The Battle of the Wilderness- Longstreet’s troops arrived between the first and second day. The battle ended in a draw but the North could now travel South without any interference from Lee. But before it had ended, Longstreet had received a shot to the throat given by his own men.

On April 12, 1865, the war officially ended with the Confederate surrender.

MISTAKES

Argued with general Lee at Gettysburg Was correct Became a republican

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