How Longstreet Acted During Pickett's Charge

At Gettysburg, Gen. James Longstreet is remembered as a reluctant, hesitant commander who disapproved of Gen. Lee's orders that ended in a heavy loss of life and strategic failure in Pickett's Charge. Longstreet, so the popular story goes, could barely bring himself to give the order for Pickett's Division to advance. But here's another view of Longstreet at Gettysburg from a trusted staffer—Gilbert Moxley Sorrel.

[thomassimmer]

Longstreet is a man of incredible character, which he demonstrated both during Pickett's charge and in the decades following the war.

[claywilkinson]

He was a soldier. He disagreed with the orders but once they had been given was trying to make it work. That is apparent to me.

[Grunter]

Gilbert Moxley Sorrels book is one of the best I have read on the war. Greetings from NZ

[kuhndog]

I am not sure how that passage changes anything about Longstreet's reluctance of ordering Pickett's charge. He may not have agreed with Lee but he would have surely watched over Pickett and assisted as best he could as any good obedient dedicated general would. He would not merely hang Pickett out to dry just because he did not agree with Lee's orders.

[michaelwoods]

I sometimes wonder what military experience commentators have. A subordinate should express disagreement with force proportionate to the strength of his conviction until the order is issued, then forget prior disagreement and execute orders with vigor and enthusiasm. The behavior described here is exactly in accord with that principle.
-- MDW, USMC retired

[HaroldShipley]

Longstreet was often criticized for being slow. When he hit he put it all on the line and he was very effective as a commander. He praised Lee as being perfect on defense but felt he was sometimes too agressive on offense.

[stevewiley]

I took a group of high school kids to Gettysburg on a senior trip many years ago...We had read Killer Angels.. The kids and I were in the woods where Pickett's division was preparing their quarter mile charge across the field.. As they quietly surveyed the position and remarking on the Union's well fortified position, one girl quietly asked, "Mister W, why did they go"?!

[craigconkel]

Longstreet was right in his assessment of Lee’s battle plans as the poor outcome suggests!
Once committed to battle you might as well try and win no matter how bad an idea he knew it was!

[kenowens]

Longstreet was more of a defensive leader. He wanted the Union Army to attack him. He knew right away that the charge would not succeed, especially with the long distance his soldiers had to go.

[gfsrow]

Very interesting. Thank you. As I understand it, Longstreet wasn't so much a hesitant or reluctant commander at Gettysburg, but rather he was painfully aware of the obstacles that would be faced by Pickett while moving across open ground. But once committed, he was all in.

[larrydemaar]

Thanks for sharing this positive view of General Longstreet. Interesting quotes.

[Philobiblion]

I love your channel. After watching it for the past year or two, I am wondering about the few, iconic motion pictures about Civil War battles, in particular, Gettysburg. As I have been drawn into your historical, forensic analysis, my initial love for this film has been buoyed. It seems to me about as accurate historically as it could be, and very realistic. I was a literature major in college 55 years ago. An old, part-time English professor who was a WWII sea captain in the British merchant navy, torpedoed and sunk twice, told me that the point of literature is to 'shed light'. You have showed me how that dictum also applies to the discipline of history.

[davidb]

I'm not a historian, but was fortunate to walk the entire Gettysburg Battlefield twice with a private military historian to discuss military battlefield tactics and lessons on Leadership. I obtained great insight and respect for Gen. Longstreet on how he attempted multiple times to reason with Gen. Lee against Picket's charge, and that he had a far superior plan. As we know... Gen. Lee shut him down and the rest is history. One thing that often gets missed is how crucial Gen. Longstreet was in successfully covering Lee's retreat along the treeline.

My first battlefield tour happened shortly after Longstreet's bronze statue had been erected. I am not sure, but was under the impression that this was a "semi secret" placement as there was still those who protested the statue. I am happy that I was able to see it for myself... for however long the monuments will be allowed to remain.

[warthogA]

I always viewed Longstreet as someone with a high intellect,
Someone whose mind was constantly flashing through every scenario and possible results/outcomes in every situation long before most could notice what was going on around them.
An extremely attentive person who noticed every detail..

[scootdaws]

Longstreet knew that Lee was making a mistake and tried to talk about him out of it. Lee overruled Longstreet and they got crushed.

[tomjones]

Longstreet knew what was about to happen. He KNEW some of his close friends in this horrible charge were NOT coming back. It was a farewell to his old friends and comrades whom he'd never see again, , and he KNEW it.. But, , he carried out Lee's orders and we see what happened...

[bassdaddy]

There was a quote from George Picket years after the war. When he was asked why the charge failed, he replied "I've always thought the Yankees had something to do with it."

I think Longstreet was a scapegoat for the lost causers because of his friendship with Grant and other Republicans at that time (after the war). If Lee felt he was incompetent, Longstreet would not have been in command.

[G.I.JeffsWorkbench]

Thanks Ron for this perspective. It affirms my view of Longstreet as a loyal Soldier executing his commander’s (Lee’s) intent. This perspective needs to be propagated. While most historians covey Longstreet’s disagreement with the wisdom of Lee’s plan to attack the Federal center, I’ve yet to encounter one who covers in convincing detail what Longstreet did to maximize the chances of success.

[NoelG]

One of my favorite descriptions of Longstreet right after Pickett's charge comes from Arthur Fremanle. In his book, he saw the very end of the charge and thought it was going well. He went to find Longstreet, who he found sitting on a fence whittling sticks. Longstreet told him that they had been repulsed.

[BigRed]

Longstreet was given an impossible task and people don’t want to blame Lee why?