Do you remember who General Robert E. Lee's senior subordinate officer was in America's Civil War? And don't even whisper the name Stonewall Jackson within my hearing. I mean it.
It happens to have been James Longstreet. If you got it right and are NOT a Civil War re-enactor or historian, I'm very impressed!! If not, please rush to your local book seller, purchase the book Killer Angels by Michael Shaara and read it this weekend. It may start you on the road to Longstreet appreciation. Trust me, his life is a fascinating story.
And no, you can't borrow my books.
these are just a few
Actually it was the Longstreet after the War that clinched the deal for me.
Below are some of the pictures I have hanging around our house, a mini course in Longstreet Appreciation. Some are prints by artists; others are actual photographs from various sources.
The collage I made with pics of the General, his first wife, and two of his children who died in the winter of 1862 from scarlet fever, pics I took at the battlefield at Gettysburg, a couple newspaper articles, a pic of Longstreet as Minister to Turkey, and a pic of Longstreet with those most unbecoming mutton chop whiskers and his new and much younger wife Helen. Then, of course, there's Wishbone in his little Confederate uniform and cap I made for him, a pic of the Longstreet Memorial at Gettysburg, and the one of our three youngest kids when we had a Longstreet birthday party. Yes, Dänika, there was a time when you were loyal to the General. :-)
I had a special frame made for this print. I wanted one that looked kinda like tooled leather, and it does.
This is a portion of a print by Don Stivers, one of my favorites
Here are Longstreet and Hood
Longstreet and staff
There are more upstairs, but this probably gives you more pics of General Longstreet than you've seen in your life to date.
Happy Birthday, General Longstreet.
James Longstreet
January 8, 1821-January 2, 1904
and Happy Birthday to Kimmy's mother, Martha!!!!! (she's much younger than the General.) :-)
Ah, I love a woman who loves her books ... :)
ReplyDeleteI don't count, I've done too many historical reenactments and I've been studying the civil war for years. (It's one of my favorite topics)
ReplyDeleteLongstreet...hmmm...I don't know what I think of him...I am (in a book I'm writing with a friend) one of the STONEWALL BRIGADE and I'll always be loyal to him just as he was loyal to his country (the confederate stats) Longstreet was a good general, no denying that, and he had some good ideas (however hard they would have been to accomplish in practice) about the battle of Gettysburg, but AFTER the war: TRAITOR! (sorry, I can get overly vehement sometimes...) He saw an opportunity for wealth and power and he took it, by joining what he and thousands of others (who were lying dead somewhere) fought against. :( Still a great general.
P.S. where did you get that picture of Stonewall you have? ;)
Like the General himself, I must remember to be charitable to the uneducated or misinformed...
ReplyDeleteBTW, I'm sure I do not have a pic of Stonewall Jackson or I would have gotten rid of it by now.
ReplyDeleteOooh, I love looking at old books and historical as well. What a great collection! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Judy, i know its late, but better late than never to greet you Happy New Year!! Its my pleasure to be one your readers... You have quite a lot of books. Great collection!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! How did you get interested in this particular general? Our family has a Civil War diary kept by a great great grandfather (a soldier from WI) that's quite interesting. One of my cousins has done lots of research on it.
ReplyDeleteI love American History! Just love it...almost majored in it until I had Dr. Webb's class--CRAZY! You should visit us in Charleston SC sometimes...there are places here that are still fighting the Civil War. LOL
ReplyDeleteWhat a great collection of books. Love the photo collection. Thanks for a great post.
ReplyDeleteJudy, my friend, you post the most interesting things. I love reading your blog every morning before I go to work. You always leave me with things to think about throughout my day.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Happy Birthday to Gen. Longstreet!!! His story will always have a soft, sad spot in my heart! My dad and I both taught The Killer Angels for many years, so I know there are people in our little corner of the world who will remember him as well. Just heard from one of my former student teachers that she is going to teach KA to her classes! WOOOOO! And the legend lives on!
ReplyDeleteYou do know something about the South, don't you? I'm impressed! You and my oldest, I have a feeling, could just snuggle up in a couple of warm blankets, grab a cup of tea, and read to your heart's delight. She has book shelves literally in every room of her house and has taught her children to love reading. I'm so glad!
ReplyDeleteSnow in Arkansas!
ReplyDeleteI really wrote you to ask you to pray for this family--for several reasons, as you will see when you read her posts. My heart has gone out to her
and her little one. Thanks for praying. http://transplantedx3.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/a-call-to-arms/#comment-430
Ok, I totally didn't know the answer. I feel like I failed history...and I always aced history...
ReplyDeleteI'm running out and reading up on him. Happy Birthday Senor Longstreet!
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner
www.mawhats4dinner.com
I am going to have to check this out! I love learning and reading about history. I hope you are doing great! We are getting more snow. We are very excited! Have a good night!
ReplyDeleteMama Hen
K, so I like history and all, I even kinda fancy myself a history buff of sorts...but now, I'm thinkin not so much! I would have loved to have studied under a teacher such as yourself! All my history teachers were coaches...cute coaches, but coaches, none the less...I know, I know, that probably makes your skin crawl thinking of how history is taught in the public schools...it certainly does mine now that I mention it!
ReplyDelete