Lieutenant General James Longstreet: Innovative Military Strategist: The Most Misunderstood Civil War General
A “fascinating and informative” reassessment of the underappreciated Confederate general’s achievements and ahead-of-his-time military strategy (Midwest Book Review).
 
Lieutenant-General James Longstreet, commander of the First Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, was a brilliant tactician and strategist. Prior to the Civil War there were many technological developments, of which the rifled musket and cannon, rail transport, and the telegraph were just a few. In addition, the North enjoyed a great advantage in manpower and resources. Longstreet adapted to these technological changes and the disparity between the belligerents, making recommendations on how the war should be fought.
 
Longstreet made a mental leap to adjust to this new type of warfare. Many others didn’t make this leap, including Lee, Jackson, Bragg, Hood, and Jefferson Davis, and Longstreet’s advice went unheeded. In contrast to many southern generals, he advocated for defensive warfare, using entrenchments and trying to maneuver the enemy to assault his position, conserving manpower, resources, and supplies. With the advent of the highly accurate and long-range rifled musket, offensive tactics became questionable and risky. This caused Longstreet to come into conflict with General Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg, and with General Bragg at Chickamauga.
 
Longstreet, a pragmatic and methodical general, was never given full authority over an army in the field. Had his suggestions been utilized there would have been a better outcome for the South. Many historians and biographers have misunderstood Longstreet and his motives, but this work offers a fresh perspective. It takes a new viewpoint of the Civil War and the generals who tailored their designs to pursue the war, analyzes Longstreet’s views of the generals and the tactics and strategy they employed, and examines why Longstreet proposed and urged a new type of warfare.
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Lieutenant General James Longstreet: Innovative Military Strategist: The Most Misunderstood Civil War General
A “fascinating and informative” reassessment of the underappreciated Confederate general’s achievements and ahead-of-his-time military strategy (Midwest Book Review).
 
Lieutenant-General James Longstreet, commander of the First Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, was a brilliant tactician and strategist. Prior to the Civil War there were many technological developments, of which the rifled musket and cannon, rail transport, and the telegraph were just a few. In addition, the North enjoyed a great advantage in manpower and resources. Longstreet adapted to these technological changes and the disparity between the belligerents, making recommendations on how the war should be fought.
 
Longstreet made a mental leap to adjust to this new type of warfare. Many others didn’t make this leap, including Lee, Jackson, Bragg, Hood, and Jefferson Davis, and Longstreet’s advice went unheeded. In contrast to many southern generals, he advocated for defensive warfare, using entrenchments and trying to maneuver the enemy to assault his position, conserving manpower, resources, and supplies. With the advent of the highly accurate and long-range rifled musket, offensive tactics became questionable and risky. This caused Longstreet to come into conflict with General Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg, and with General Bragg at Chickamauga.
 
Longstreet, a pragmatic and methodical general, was never given full authority over an army in the field. Had his suggestions been utilized there would have been a better outcome for the South. Many historians and biographers have misunderstood Longstreet and his motives, but this work offers a fresh perspective. It takes a new viewpoint of the Civil War and the generals who tailored their designs to pursue the war, analyzes Longstreet’s views of the generals and the tactics and strategy they employed, and examines why Longstreet proposed and urged a new type of warfare.
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Lieutenant General James Longstreet: Innovative Military Strategist: The Most Misunderstood Civil War General

Lieutenant General James Longstreet: Innovative Military Strategist: The Most Misunderstood Civil War General

by F. Gregory Toretta
Lieutenant General James Longstreet: Innovative Military Strategist: The Most Misunderstood Civil War General

Lieutenant General James Longstreet: Innovative Military Strategist: The Most Misunderstood Civil War General

by F. Gregory Toretta

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Overview

A “fascinating and informative” reassessment of the underappreciated Confederate general’s achievements and ahead-of-his-time military strategy (Midwest Book Review).
 
Lieutenant-General James Longstreet, commander of the First Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, was a brilliant tactician and strategist. Prior to the Civil War there were many technological developments, of which the rifled musket and cannon, rail transport, and the telegraph were just a few. In addition, the North enjoyed a great advantage in manpower and resources. Longstreet adapted to these technological changes and the disparity between the belligerents, making recommendations on how the war should be fought.
 
Longstreet made a mental leap to adjust to this new type of warfare. Many others didn’t make this leap, including Lee, Jackson, Bragg, Hood, and Jefferson Davis, and Longstreet’s advice went unheeded. In contrast to many southern generals, he advocated for defensive warfare, using entrenchments and trying to maneuver the enemy to assault his position, conserving manpower, resources, and supplies. With the advent of the highly accurate and long-range rifled musket, offensive tactics became questionable and risky. This caused Longstreet to come into conflict with General Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg, and with General Bragg at Chickamauga.
 
Longstreet, a pragmatic and methodical general, was never given full authority over an army in the field. Had his suggestions been utilized there would have been a better outcome for the South. Many historians and biographers have misunderstood Longstreet and his motives, but this work offers a fresh perspective. It takes a new viewpoint of the Civil War and the generals who tailored their designs to pursue the war, analyzes Longstreet’s views of the generals and the tactics and strategy they employed, and examines why Longstreet proposed and urged a new type of warfare.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781636241180
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Publication date: 07/07/2023
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 264
Sales rank: 698,571
File size: 14 MB
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About the Author

F. Gregory Toretta is a writer and historian with a passion for the American Civil War, accumulating an extensive library and undertaking copious research.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION: Lieutenant-General James Longstreet: A Confederate Genius Reexamined

CHAPTER ONE: Technological Changes and Comparison of the Antagonists: Advantage North
CHAPTER TWO: Chancellorsville—To Stand Behind Our Intrenched Lines
CHAPTER THREE: Prelude to Gettysburg—Skillful Use of Our Interior Lines
CHAPTER FOUR: Marching towards Gettysburg—the Spy Harrison
CHAPTER FIVE: Gettysburg Day One—Old Bulldog
CHAPTER SIX: Gettysburg Day Two—Up the Emmetsburg Road
CHAPTER SEVEN: Gettysburg Day Three—We Gained Nothing But Glory
CHAPTER EIGHT: Gettysburg Day Four—A Very Taciturn and Undemonstrative Man
CHAPTER NINE: Gettysburg Reconsidered—Lee’s Old Warhorse
CHAPTER TEN: Chickamauga—Prologue: Western Concentration
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Chickamauga—Bull of the Woods
CHAPTER TWELVE: Chickamauga’s Aftermath—Longstreet is the Man
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Knoxville—They Had Few Equals And No Superiors
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: East Tennessee—Strategic Importance of the Field
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: The Wilderness

EPILOGUE: General Longstreet—Strategy and Tactics
APPENDIX: Civil War Timeline
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