James+Longstreet+8


 * James Longstreet**

He was in born in Edgefield District, Sounth Carolina. January 8th, 1821. When his father died he went with his mom to Somerville, Alabama. He entered West Point from Alabama, graduated in 1842. He resigned his commision on June 1, 1861 and joined the confederacy. He commanded a brigade, he fought at Blackburn's Ford and 1st Bull Run. In the final days of the latter he also directed A.P. Hill's men. By now promoted to be the Confederacy's senior lieutenant general, he led an independent expedition into southeastern Virginia where he displayed a lack of ability on his own. Rejoining Lee, he opposed attacking at Gettysburg in favor of maneuvering Meade out of his position. Longstreet, who had come to believe in the strategic offense and the tactical defense, was proven right when the Confederate attacks on the second and third days were repulsed. After the war he wasn't friends with anymore Grant and became a Republican. He became Grant's minister to Turkey. He was also the commissioner of Pacific Railroads under Mckinley and Roosevelt, from 1897 to 1904. Criticized by many former Confederates, he fought back with his book, From Manassas to Appomattox. He lived longer then most of his high-ranking postwar detractors. He died at Gainsville, Georgia, on January 2, 1904, the last of the high command of the Confederacy. He is buried in Gainsville.

Work Cited: http://www.civilwarhome.com/longbio.htm