These are the memoirs of James Longstreet (1821–1904), Robert E. Lee's "Old War Horse" and a brilliant leader of the Confederate cause. His life and career were somewhat controversial: he has been dismissed as stubborn and vain as well as praised as one of the South's greatest tacticians. Some blame him for the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg, while others maintain that if Lee had heeded his advice, the South would have won the battle and turned the tide of the war.
First published in 1896, these highly readable reminiscences trace the general's life and wartime experiences, from a Southern boyhood and training at West Point to his commands during the Mexican-American War and the Civil War. Longstreet covers the battles at Manassas, Antietam, and Chickamauga, and presents an in-depth treatment of Gettysburg. He surrendered with Lee at Appomattox, and after the war joined the Republican Party, supporting rights and freedoms for former slaves — a stance that made him deeply unpopular with former Confederates. His memoirs reflect his combative style in addition to offering a personal account of the Civil War and many fascinating anecdotes about Lee and his officers. This edition is richly illustrated with maps and vintage images.