The Black Lives Matter movement has precipitated a national discussion over who and what should be honored with statues, monuments and place names. Jim Loewen, author of Lies My Teacher Told Me, posted on History News Network his concerns that the movement could target some wrong people. In the article he specifically cites Confederate General James Longstreet. There is a statue of Longstreet on the Gettysburg battle field, which is now a national park. Loewen argues that Longstreet, a U.S. army officer who violated his oath to defend the Constitution when he commanded Confederate troops at Gettysburg, Chickamauga, and Wilderness, deserves positive recognition for his post-Civil War stands. The future of the Longstreet statue is a great topic for debate in secondary school social studies classes.
James Longstreet grew up in South Carolina and Georgia and in his last years lived in Gainesville, Georgia. According to the 1820 manuscript census, his father owned 24 enslaved Africans, but the local Longstreet Society claims James Longstreet never personally owned slaves. However, the 1850 manuscript census shows that a James Longstreet of San Antonio, Texas owned two enslaved African women, one aged 35 and the other a 13 year old girl. Our Longstreet was posted in Texas with the U.S. Army during this period.
James Longstreet attended West Point where he was a classmate and friend of Ulysses S. Grant. His statue was not placed in the Gettysburg National Military Park until 1998, largely because of opposition from “neo-Confederate” groups who blamed him for the Confederate defeat there and hated him for supporting Reconstruction after the Civil War. During Reconstruction Longstreet argued that African Americans should have full civil rights and in 1874, while living in New Orleans, he commanded Black troops in the militia and the New Orleans Metropolitan Police Force who fought against a White League effort to overthrow the interracial government of Louisiana.
On September 14, 1874, the Louisiana White League attacked the New Orleans Metropolitan Police in a battle for political control over the city and state. After the restoration of white rule in the state and the push to honor the Confederacy, a monument was built in New Orleans to celebrate the “The Battle of Liberty Place” and white supremacy. That monument was finally removed in 2017.
In an 1867 letter to the New Orleans Times, Longstreet explained why he thought Southerners should accept the new federal Reconstruction Acts and why he supported the Republican Party. Longstreet received a Congressional pardon in 1868 with assistance from Grant, who appointed him Surveyor of Customs for the Port of New Orleans. Longstreet later served in other appointed government positions.
Confederate statues should be torn down. But the statue of James Longstreet, who fought for justice for the formerly enslaved after the Civil War, should remain.
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Documenting James Longstreet – Weigh the Evidence. You decide.
(A) James Longstreet’s Letter to the New Orleans Times (March 19, 1867)
“The surrender of the Confederate armies in 1865 involved:
1. The surrender of the claim to the right of secession.
2. The surrender of the former political relations of the negro.
3. The surrender of the Southern Confederacy.
These issues expired on the fields last occupied by the Confederate armies. There they should have been buried. The soldier prefers to have the sod that receives him when he falls cover his remains. The political questions of the war should have been buried upon the fields that marked their end.”
(B) James Longstreet’s Letter to the New Orleans Times (June 8, 1867)
“The sword has decided in favor of the North, and what they claimed as principles cease to be principles, and are become law. The views that we hold cease to be principles because they are opposed to law. It is our duty to abandon ideas that are obsolete and conform to the requirements of law.
The military bill and amendments are peace offerings. We should accept them as such, and place ourselves upon them as the starting point from which to meet future political issues as they arise.
Like other Southern men, I naturally sought alliance with the Democratic party, merely because it was opposed to the Republican party. But as far as I can judge, there is nothing tangible about it except the issues that were staked upon the war and there lost. Finding nothing to take hold of except prejudice, which cannot be worked into good for any one, it is proper and right that I should seek some stand-point from which good may be done.
If I appreciate the principles of the Democratic party, its prominent features oppose the enfranchisement of the colored man, and deny the right to legislate upon the subject of suffrage, except by the States, individually . . . [T]he colored man is already enfranchised here, and we cannot seek alliance with a party that would restrict his rights.
If every man in the country will meet the crisis with a proper appreciation of our condition, and come fairly up to his responsibilities, on to-morrow the sun will smile upon a happy people, our fields will again begin to yield their increase, our railroads and rivers will teem with abundant commerce, our towns and cities will resound with the tumult of trade, and we shall be invigorated by the blessings of Almighty God.”
(C) Longstreet Denounced in Southern and Northern Copperhead Newspapers
Headline from the Metropolitan Record and New York Vindicator. On July 17, 1867 it reprinted Southern replies to the Longstreet letter.
Extremities of Human Endurance
Daily Constitutionalist, Augusta, GA, June 12, 1867. (Note: This document originally contained the N-word).
We observe the General Longstreet officiated as a Vice-President at a late Mongrel meeting in New Orleans called to listen to a speech from Senator Wilson of Massachusetts . . . This man Wilson only asks three things of such men as Longstreet, all of which he, no doubt, believes, or fancies that he believes are right, and will really benefit the said Longstreet.
First – He asks him to give up self-government, and submit to be ruled by the conqueror, Wilson.
Second – He expects him to harmonize and amalgamate [inter-marry] with his own N-word; and
Third – He insists the Mr. Longstreet admit that Mr. Wilson has conferred infinite benefits on him, and vastly improved his prospects in thus striking down self-government, and especially in forcing him to a level with N-word!
Good Bye Longstreet
Macon Weekly Telegraph, Macon, GA, July 26, 1867, reprinted from the Baton Rouge Advocate
“If Longstreet has gone to the Radicals, he is dead to us, and we draw him a veil, behind which is all that is bright and glorious of our Confederate General. Beyond the screen, a Longstreet may participate in the wild deviltry of the oppressors of his people, but there will be few to follow him in his wild career . . . Longstreet had the right to remain with us and patiently await our restoration, but he has chosen otherwise, and instead of being followed into the camp of our enemies by our people, they will, as did the gallant battle-scarred Hood, turn from him with a ‘good-bye Longstreet.’”
(D) New York Times Coverage of the “Battle of Liberty Place”
“A Call for Troops in New Orleans,” September 2, 1874
“The Governor has called out an extra regiment of State Militia, to be composed of picked white men, the orders being issued some days ago, in view of the apprehended white league disturbances and the entire absence of United States troops from the state. Recruiting has been quietly going on, and it is stated that no ex-soldiers have volunteered. This regiment will be added to Longstreet’s brigade, and will be used mainly to keep down disturbances in and around the city.”
“The Louisiana Outrages. The White League Dominant. All the Public Places Except the United States Buildings In Their Possession—The Government To Be Resisted By Force In Restoring The State Government,” September 16, 1874
“Considering the bloody work of yesterday, the streets at midnight of Monday were remarkably quiet. With the exception of the Third Precinct Station, the several Police Stations had been captured by the White Leaguers. The principal streets were effectively barricaded in the vicinity of Canal street by throwing horse cars, boxes, barrels, iron covers of street crossings, and other things across the way, and strong guards of the League were on duty . . . At an early hour this morning the League succeeded in capturing the third Police station, wounding and making prisoner Capt. J. H. Lawler, who was left in command of the Metropolitan force. The scant State militia were overpowered, and Gen Longstreet, commanding, still remains lodged in the Custom-house for protection, where United States troops are quartered . . . Capturing the State Army to-day, a large quantity of arms were taken and distributed to citizens. The Leaguers are now in undisputed possession of all the public places here, excepting the Custom-house and Mint, and claim to have fully 8,000 armed men under the command of Gen. Ogden . . .The force of the United States numbers less than 360 men . . . It is impossible to obtain a complete list of casualties, although they cannot fall short of 30 killed and 100 wounded on both sides . . . A rumor that Longstreet was captured having gained credence, an excited crowd gathered in front of the St. Charles Hotel.