Book SummaryLongstreet, by Elizabeth R. Varon

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Longstreet

The examination focuses on the period when Longstreet was in charge and his participation in key battles of the Civil War that ignited controversy.

Longstreet's role in the Civil War was significant and underwent rigorous scrutiny. Longstreet's tactical acumen and leadership choices as a Confederate commander garnered significant commendation, especially during the intense clashes at Chickamauga and the conflict referred to as the Second Battle of Bull Run. Longstreet's legacy became inextricably linked with the devastating loss suffered by the Confederates at Gettysburg and the ongoing discussions after the war regarding his involvement in that battle and its impact on the outcome of the war.

Longstreet developed his leadership abilities through early victories, aligning them closely with the principles of the Confederacy.

Varon suggests that Longstreet's early military experiences, shaped by his upbringing in a slaveholding area, as well as his involvement in the Mexican War and duties along the Texas frontier, equipped him to view himself as a guardian of white Southerners against threats from both outside and within.

Longstreet's inclination toward defensive tactics was clearly demonstrated during the clash that took place at Blackburn's Ford.

In this section, Varon demonstrates that Longstreet's early battlefield encounters, combined with Confederate principles, cemented his conviction that he could overcome an opponent with greater forces through defensive tactics and strategically executed counterattacks.

Longstreet's victory at Blackburn's Ford in July 1861 had a significant impact on his subsequent strategic decisions and his broader viewpoint regarding the war. Longstreet's forces, fortified along Bull Run, effectively repelled the Union's initial attack and initiated a robust counteroffensive. From the onset of the conflict, the thorough planning undertaken by Longstreet, coupled with his troops' exemplary performance, endowed him with a revitalized sense of confidence. This initial victory, as noted by Varon, influenced Longstreet's strategic approach in several key ways. He inferred that initiating a counterattack from a position of strong defense, rather than directly confronting the opponent, would improve a leader's likelihood of victory. Longstreet became increasingly convinced that the early struggles of the Union and the initial triumphs of the Confederacy could be attributed to the Union leadership's persistent undervaluation of the bravery and fighting prowess of the Confederate soldiers. Longstreet was a staunch advocate for always engaging an opponent with due respect. The writer suggests that the military strategy was deeply entrenched in the broader values of the Confederate national spirit, which sought to promote solidarity among the Southern white populace as they contended with the dominance of the North, claiming that individuals from the South displayed more bravery, enhanced skills, and loftier ethical values than those from the North.

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Longstreet perceived the growing alliance of African Americans with the Union as a significant threat to the goals of the Confederacy.

Varon argues that Longstreet's choices and declarations were shaped by the growing number of enslaved people escaping to Union lands, potentially exposing critical details about the Southern armed forces' operations.

Longstreet, who remained unwavering in his dedication to the cause even after his children succumbed to sickness, warned his troops in a speech from June 1862 that garnered significant notice, regarding the possibility of an uprising by the enslaved, which he believed the Northerners were encouraging to advance their aim of domination. The author notes that this speech, trafficking in a common trope of Confederate nationalism defining enslaved Blacks as outside of the realm of politics, was designed to stoke white Southerners' fears that the war would result in race war. Longstreet held...

Longstreet Summary Longstreet's transition in political loyalty, coupled with his engagement during the Reconstruction era, involved his support for the Union and cooperation with prominent figures,

Varon argues that Longstreet's political evolution after 1865 was conditioned by his desire to reestablish, as best he could, his rights as a citizen of the United States, to rebuild his family's fortunes, and to protect his old comrades in arms. Longstreet's gradual shift from supporting the Johnson administration to eventually embracing the nascent Republican Party and supporting the Reconstruction initiatives in Louisiana unfolded over time. This change was shaped by his relationship with U.S. Grant and a growing recognition of the reluctance to change among white Southerners, along with an increasing willingness to confront this resistance.

Longstreet's quest for exoneration resulted in political consequences from his former Confederate associates because of his allegiance to the Union.

Longstreet exhibited a willingness to embrace pardon and his forward-thinking remarks on Southern matters, illustrating his efforts to reconcile the differences between the traditional Southern Democrats and the emerging Republican Party in that area.

Longstreet commenced a fresh phase in his life as a proponent for the Southern Union by accepting amnesty and committing his...