J. Longstreet

Confederate (CSA)

Major General

James Longstreet

"Old Pete"

(1821 - 1904)

Home State: South Carolina

Education: US Military Academy, West Point, NY, Class of 1842

Command Billet: Army Wing (Corps) Commander

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: Longstreet's Command

see his Battle Report

Before Sharpsburg

He graduated from the USMA in 1842, and served on Indian campaigns and in the Mexican War. He resigned his US commission in June 1861, and was appointed Brigadier General, CSA. He was at First Manassas, and in October 1861 was promoted to Major General He commanded his division at Williamsburg, Seven Pines, the Seven Days, and at Second Manassas.

On the Campaign

Commanded Longstreet's Command (Corps). For further details you might also like to see Longstreet's Official Report about the campaign.

The rest of the War

In October 1862 he was appointed Lieutenant General in command of the First (I) Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia (ANV), and led it at Fredericksburg, on the Suffolk campaign, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Knoxville, and the Wilderness (where he was wounded). After his recovery he was in the defense of Richmond and at Appomattox.

After the War

He was variously a "cotton broker and insurance agent, Surveyor of Customs for the Port of New Orleans, President of the New Orleans and Great Northern Railroad, Adjutant General of the Louisiana State Militia, U. S. Marshall for the state of Georgia, Postmaster of Gainesville, GA (where he owned and operated the Piedmont Hotel)", and Minister to Turkey. Finally, "he was U. S. Commissioner of Railroads, the post he held when he died." He once declined an offer to be a lottery supervisor. (from S. Rosenvold)

References & notes

Thanks to Susan Rosenvold of the Longstreet Society for straightening us out on the details of his post-War life. The Society's site is a very fine place to learn considerably more about the General.