Commanding First Corps Army of Northern Virginia
— January 8, 1821 - January 2, 1904 —
(Left Side Plaque):Lieutenant General James Longstreet
Commanding First Corps Army of Northern Virginia
January 8, 1821 - January 2, 1904Born in Edgefield District, S.C. 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 a major, U.S. Army, May 1861. Appointed brigadier general, Confederate States Army, June 1861. Promoted to Major General, CSA, October 1861. Promoted Lieutenant general, CSA, 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, Chickamauga and Knoxville. Wounded at Battle of the Wilderness, May 1864. Returned to duty during the Union siege of Petersburg, and present with Gen. Lee at surrender of army at Appomattox. Buried at Alta Vista Cemetery, Gainesville, GA.
"Ah! here is Longstreet, here's my 'Old War-Horse.'"
Gen. Robert E. Lee (September 17, 1862)
(Right Side Plaque):Lieutenant General James Longstreet
Commanding First Corps Army of Northern Virginia
Soldiers of Gen. Longstreet's command held and protected the right wing of the army July 2-4, 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 his 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 lien 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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