As one who feels Confederate Army General James Longstreet often receives the short end of the the stick when it comes to historical recognition, I was thrilled to find an organization dedicated to revamping history’s memory of Longstreet. The General Longstreet Recognition Project created a website that lists projects and events that are planned with the intention of increasing the general public’s knowledge of this defensive mastermind. The site also offers information about membership within the project and houses a link at the bottom of the page that allows visitors to contribute financially to the venture. This site provides Longstreet fans the opportunity to elevate his memory to the standing it deserves.
9
Jun
09
Rejuvenating Longstreet
Posted by parkd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Recent News Themes: Battles & Soldiers
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10 users responded in this post
That site hasn’t changed in six or seven years. There is a very active Longstreet organization at http://www.longstreet.org
Fantastic! I’m glad to see Gen. Longstreet getting some long-deserved recognition. It’s unfair that “Lost Cause-ers” tried to pin blame for losing the ENTIRE war on him – just because he converted to being a Republican and because he DARED to question Gen. Lee. I respect Gen. Lee, but the man was not a minor deity. He was a man. I think Gen. Longstreet would be very pleased with the new recognition site, as he spent most of his post-war life trying to clear his name and his reputation. Maybe, at long last, his scapegoat days are over.
The Longstreet Society is going to meet this year in Gettysburg. I believe it is in late October over a weekend. There are a couple of well known Historians scheduled to speak. Look up “The Longstreet Society” website for more info!
I’m currently researching the memory of the civil war as it relates to the community I am from in Wisconsin. An interesting fact that relates here is that Longstreet was present (and spoke) at the dedication of the 7 Wisconsin monuments in 1888 — 25th anniversary. His presence and remarks indicate the theme of reconciliation that David Blight talks about in his book, War and Reunion.
Longstreet certainly deserves attention, but let’s hope it’s not mostly limited to military matters whether antebellum or 1861-65. To wit, I’d like to see his post-war years given their full due, with special attention given to his identification as a Republican. Areas of interest should go to his motivations and subsequent activities, the resulting villification from former peers and subordinates, other responses both North and South to his actions and statements, and any evidence of his own self-assessment and adjustments,etc.
– John Mellana, Seattle
There is an excellent book on Longstreet called Lee’s Tarnished Lieutenant by William Garrett Piston that does a great job of discussing the Lost Cause theory of the South. Paints Longstreet in a very favorable light.
I really enjoyed your post about college. I will have to come back again to read some more of them.
Among the rival groups which purport to honor Lee’s “Old War Horse”- only one – the General Longstreet Recognition Project (GLRP)- has actually campaigned at Wilderness, taken on the “Warlord Bureaucrats” of NPS known to be unsympathetic to Longstreet’s memory, and debated with modern day “historians” who continue to discredit Old Pete with proven falsehoods in order to perpetuate the character assassination/s which began after Lee’s death and trace to the present.
For more details see “Out of the Wilderness: Heroes on Both Sides Easier to Locate – The Scene at Wilderness”, (op.ed) Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star, November 8, 2009
Check out the GLRP for some new links off their Wilderness page which also shows a picture of the Vermont Brigade Monument. Another fight is brewing in the Wilderness as Wal-Mart is planning to build a large store about 2-3 miles down the same two lane (Orange Plank Road) which played such a strange role in the formation of the Longstreet Recognition Project (i.e. accidental wounding and car rear-ender)
I saw General Longstreet project mentioned favorably in the Culpeper, Virginia newspaper (Star Exponent) on January 27, 2010 – op.ed. piece challenging Walmart plans to build near the Wilderness Battlefield. Apparently, GLRP is leading the attack as reportedly another large commentary was published in Fredericksburg Freelance Star on February 3
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