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Birth
Longstreet was born in Edgefield District, South Carolina . He was the fifth child and third son of James Longstreet , of Dutch descent and Mary Ann Dent of English descent, originally from New Jersey and Maryland respectively, who owned a cotton plantation close to where the village of Gainesville would be founded in northeastern Georgia. -
Moving
James's father decided a military career for his son, but felt that the local education available to him would not be adequate preparation. At the age of nine, James was sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Augusta, Georgia. -
West Point Academy
James was appointed in 1838 by a relative to the United States Military Academy, Reuben Chapman, who represented the First District of Alabama. James was a poor student academically and a disciplinary problem at West Point. -
Graduation
He Graduated in 1842. he ranked 54th out of 56. Then Longstreet was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Infantry -
Mexican-American War
Longstreet served in the Mexican War with the 8th U.S. Infantry. In the Battle of Chapultepec on September 12, 1847, he was wounded in the thigh while charging up the hill. After the war he was involved with a plan to capture the mexican state chihuahua to make it a slave state. -
Conforming
He resigned from the U.S. Army to join the confederecy. Longstreet wasn't enthusiastic about secession from the Union, but because where he came and becasue he was the senior West Point graduate from Alabama, which implied a commensurate rank in the state's forces would be available. -
The Second Battle of Bull Run
Longstreet played a very vital role in the second battle of Bull Run. While the Union Soldiers were planning out the defense for Stonewall Jackson's regiment, Longstreet hurried 30 miles in little time to suprise the Union. The next day when the Union thought Jackson was retreating Longstreet planned a flanking attack on the Union forcing there retreat. -
The First Battle of Bull Run
Longstreet was involved in the the battle of Bull Run. He commanded the 1st, 11th, and 17th Virginian Regiments. Although he didnt play a major role in the battle. -
Battle of Suffolk
Longstreet besieged Union forces in the city of Suffolk, Virginia, a minor operation, but one that was very important to Lee's army, still stationed in war-devastated central Virginia. It enabled Confederate authorities to collect huge amounts of provisions that had been under Union control. However, this operation caused Longstreet and 15,000 men of the First Corps to be absent from the Battle of Chancellorsville in May. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
Longstreet role in the battle of gettysburg was quite controversial. He was blammed for being to slow in his attack on the second day of the battle. Which led to many fatalities becasue of the lack of men and misscommunication. Longstreet did not talk to General Lee after the second day of the battle which wasnt rutine. This caused a lack of preporation for the third day of battle where the conferderates lost the biggest battle of the Revolutionary war. -
Battle of the Wilderness
The battle of the wilderness was Longstreets best battle up to the point in the war. His tactics for gettign around the bad terrain to attack was unreal for most generals. He faced Ulyseuss Grant in the battle who was his friend and said this about him "he will fight us every day and every hour until the end of the war.". Longstreet was shot through the shoulder severing nerves and cutting his throte causing him to leave the battle. He came back later in 1864 without the use of his right arm. -
Life After and Death
After the war he moved with his family to New Orleans. He was the only Senior General of the Confederecy to join the republican party. He endoresed Ulyseuss Grant during presidency. He retracked cancer in 1903 he died in 1904 being one of only a few civil war generals to live in the 20th centurary.
