Longstreet by David Wright

James Longstreet was born in South Carolina on January 8 1821. Young "Pete," as he was called by his family, loved to read the exploits of history's great military leaders. As a child he dreamed about pursuing a military career, and his father set for him a course of education which would lead to West Point and a commission in the United States Army. Longstreet would never distinguish himself as a scholar, but military life suited him. He was a friendly and popular companion to his fellow officers. The war with Mexico, where so many future officers of the Confederate and Union Armies would receive their baptism of fire, would show that he was also a capable combat officer and inspiring leader of men. Always at the front of fight, Longstreet was seriously wounded leading his men in the attack on Chapultepec. After the war he continued to advance in the army, attaining the rank of Major by 1858. Despite his promising future, with secession Longstreet did not hesitate to offer his services to the young Confederacy. Initially commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, he was quickly promoted to Brigadier General and commanded a brigade under Beauregard at Manassas, where his instincts and recommendations, while not always acted upon by his superiors, were usually proven correct. Beauregard and later General Joseph E. Johnston, came to respect Longstreet's abilities. When Lee assumed command of the army during the Peninsular Campaign, he leaned heavily on Longstreet, writing to President Davis that "Longstreet is a Capital soldier... I have confidence in him." With the reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia, Longstreet was given command of the First Corps and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, making him superior subordinate. During the course of the war Lee often accompanied his First Corps commander during troop movements and combat, time and again relying upon his advice and suggestions. Longstreet received much postwar criticism, but the disdain was not shared by his commander. During the battle of Sharpsburg, Lee nicknamed Longstreet "my old war horse," and at the final parting at Appomattox, Lee embraced "Old Pete" and said to Tom Goree of Longstreet's staff, "Captain, I am going to put my old war horse under your charge. I want you to take good care of him." Perhaps the clearest assessment of Longstreet's contribution to the struggle for Southern independence came from Union President Andrew Johnson. When Longstreet applied in person to Johnson for a pardon, the response was, "These are three persons of the South who can never receive amnesty: Mr. Davis, General Lee, and yourself. You have given the Union cause too much trouble."