Longstreet Longstreet General of the Confederate Army Country: USA

Biography of James Peter Longstreet

James Peter Longstreet was born in Edgefield County, South Carolina in 1821. Although he was born in South Carolina, he considered Georgia his home. He attended West Point in 1838 and was later appointed as a major in the United States Army. After resigning from the army, Longstreet offered his services to the Confederacy in Alabama, hoping for a modest position as a treasurer. However, he was surprised to be promoted to colonel and placed in charge of infantry.

During the Battle of Bull Run, Longstreet served as a brigadier general, commanding three infantry regiments. He continued to rise through the ranks of the Confederate command and became close friends with General Robert E. Lee. Thanks to Lee's support, Longstreet was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed to command the First Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Longstreet led his soldiers through numerous battles, demonstrating his skill in both offense and defense. He proposed a plan to Lee and the Confederate government to relieve pressure on Vicksburg, an important port on the Mississippi River, but his plan was not accepted. Instead, Lee decided to invade the North, leading to the Battle of Gettysburg.

During the Battle of Gettysburg, Longstreet had reservations about the plan and believed it would result in defeat. His concerns proved to be true, and disagreements between Longstreet and Lee became a contentious issue after the war. Longstreet once again proposed a plan to shift Confederate forces westward, but by the time it was approved, the situation had worsened for the Confederacy.

Longstreet's leadership abilities were questioned during his time in East Tennessee, particularly during the siege of Knoxville. He rejoined Lee's army and was seriously wounded by friendly fire. Longstreet resumed his command during the Petersburg Campaign and remained with Lee until the surrender at Appomattox.

After the war, Longstreet befriended Ulysses S. Grant, became a Republican, and served as an ambassador to Turkey during Grant's presidency. From 1897 to 1904, during the presidencies of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, he headed the Pacific Railroads. In response to criticism from former Confederates, Longstreet wrote the book "From Manassas to Appomattox". He outlived many of his comrades and opponents and passed away in 1904 in Gainesville, Georgia, where he was buried. James Peter Longstreet was the last of the prominent Confederate military leaders.