Longstreet, Remembering Gettysburg

General [Wishbone] Longstreet

Gazing pensively toward the horizon,

Remembering that day - 

July 3, 1863

When he told General Lee, as they stood on Seminary Ridge

at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,

Facing an impossible situation,

'It is my opinion that no 15,000 men ever arrayed for battle can take that position! '

and even now,

as he rests in history,

we hear him quietly whisper,

'Told you so.
Just sayin' '

James Longstreet c.1867
National Archives

Next year in Gettysburg!

Aert van der Neer

A Frozen River Near a Village, With Golfers and Skaters

National Gallery - London

This picture was among those on my Jacquie Lawson London Advent Calendar this year. 

I thought it was so beautiful, I had to look it up and find out something about the artist. 

So, from www.getty.edu 

Aert van der Neer 

b. 1603 Amsterdam, d. 1677 Amsterdam

painter

Dutch

"A master at representing light, Aert van der Neer painted moonlit river views that embody the principles of Dutch landscape painting in the 1600s. Those principles included isolated figures on meandering paths that cut through a wooded forest, and cloud-filled skies. Van der Neer used a restricted palette of earthy colors and, like most artists during this period, painted indoors. Although he did not receive much attention in his own time, modern scholars praise his ability to create a sense of space and atmosphere.

Van der Neer first worked as a steward and then became a painter, possibly as a result of contact with his wife's brothers, both of whom were painters. His first known painting, which dates to 1632, shares stylistic similarities with those of his brother-in-laws. Later in his life, between 1659-1662, Van der Neer and his son were the keepers of a tavern. After then declaring bankruptcy, his property--including his paintings--were appraised at little value. He continued to paint, residing in a state of extreme poverty, until his death fifteen years later."

I remember that famous line from the movie Gettysburg, when Aert said, in his Georgian drawl, 'My people were Dutch.'  (Sorry, that's just a little inside joke for my family, great fans of James Longstreet.)

By the way, if you haven't yet seen the Jacquie Lawson London Advent Calendar, be sure to visit her site. You won't be sorry. I know Christmas is over, but the calendar is worth looking at anytime.

I plan to be back reading your blogs next week.

...and more! Check out all my soaps at

Soap'n'Such

Birthdays of Famous People...

...or those who ought to be.

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.) :-)