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Lieutenant General James Longstreet Commanding First Corps, Army
of Northern Virginia January 8, 1821 - January 2, 1904 Born in
Edgefield District, South Carolina. Graduated from West Point
1842. Served as lieutenant with the 8th U.S. Infantry in the
Mexican War and brevetted major for gallantry, Battle of Molino del
Rey. Resigned commission as Major, U.S. Army, May 1861.
Appointed brigadier general Confederate States Army, June 1861.
Promoted to major general, C.S.A. October 1861. Promoted
lieutenant general C.S.A., October 1862. Gen. Robert E. Lee's
second in command and ranking lieutenant general in the Army of
Northern Virginia. Gallantly led troops in battles at First
Manassas, the Peninsula, Second Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg,
Gettysburg, Chickamanga, and Knoxville. Wounded at Battle of
Wilderness May 1864. Returned to duty during the Union siege
of Petersburg and present with General Lee at surrender of Army at
Appomattox. Buried at Alta Vista Cemetery, Gainesville,
Georgia. "And here is Longstreet, here's my 'Old
War-Horse." Gen. Robert E. Lee (September 17, 1862)
Lieutenant General James Longstreet Commanding First Corps, Army
of Northern Virginia Soldiers of Gen. Longstreets command
held and protected the regular wing of the army July 2, 3, 4, 1863.
His First Corps attacked and dislodged Union forces at the Devil's
Den, the Wheatfield, and the Peach Orchard on July 2. As a
portion of the infantry secured the Peach Orchard, Gen. Longstreet
advanced on horseback with them. The following day, Gen.
Longstreet was ordered by Gen. Robert E. Lee to coordinate an attack
against the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. On July 3, "Longstreet's
assault" was repulsed with great loss after penetrating the enemy's
battle line on Cemetery Ridge. During the march back to
Virginia, Gen. Longstreet and his First Corps played a prominent
role in protecting the retreating army. "By the soldiers
he is invariably spoken of as 'the best fighter in the whole army.'"
Lt. Col. Arthur J. Fremantle, Her Majesty's Coldstream Guards. (June
27, 1863)
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