Longstreet Myths Vs. Realities

Lieutenant General James Longstreet was chosen by General Robert E. Lee as his second-in-command in 1862, and remained the senior lieutenant general for the rest of the war. He contributed to all of Lee's most significant victories (except Chancellorsville) and remained with Lee until the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in 1865. In the early 1870s after Lee had died, the Southern Historical Society leadership, dominated by former Confederate officers from Virginia, sought to shift the blame for the loss of the war from Lee to Longstreet in order to promote the so called "lost cause." The Southern population was eager for a scapegoat and Longstreet aided their efforts by publicly admitting the Confederate army's strategies and tactics were flawed, and with his frustration caused by SHS charges, angrily lashed out at his accusers. Future historians of the South, still mostly from Virginia, successfully perpetuated the highly biased and unsubstanciated myths regarding Longstreet. The purpose of this section of the site will be to outline charges made against Longstreet by these historians and others, and offer conclusive evidence about Longstreet's role in the Civil War. Within these pages you may have a true picture of the man who is best known as Lee's Old War Horse and the Bulldog of Chickamauga. Click on the titles below to read about Longstreet and Lost Cause myths.

"The first law of the historian is that he shall never dare utter an untruth. The second is that he shall suppress nothing that is true. Moreover, there shall be no suspicion of partiality in his writing, or of malice." Cicero (106-43 B.C.)

Humbugging The Historian

A Reappraisal of Longstreet at Gettysburg...by Roger J. Greezicki. Mr. Greezicki refutes a Robert K. Krick article and criticizing Longstreet at Gettysburg. Originally published in The Gettysburg Magazine, January 1, 1992 issue and republished here through the generous permission of The Gettysburg Magazine.

Resolution No. 42, the official recognition approved on February 17, 1864 and presented to Lt. Gen. Longstreet for faithful service to the nation.

The resolution passed by a National Convention of the Sons of Confederate Veterans absolving Lt. Gen. Longstreet of being the scapegoat for the loss of the War for Southern Independence.

We have it under good Authority...