"Longstreet as general" Topic

Longstreet not only became a Republican, he actively campaigned for Grant, who had been a close personal friend. He was given command of Louisiana state militia. In that capacity he used colored troops to suppress a riot in 1874. he eventually had to leave New Orleans for his own safety. D. H. Hill said of him "Our scalawag is the local leper of the community." He was later appointed ambassador to the Ottoman Empire by Hayes and was even considered as secretary of the navy. A lot of the criticism of him is based more on his postwar career, than anything he did during the war. He was a solid, stolid general, not very exciting, but people like this are necessary. Everybody can't be Stuart.

It might be argued Longstreet brought the Confederates nearer to independence than any other general, next to Lee. People like this win wars for countries that want to win them.

It should also be noted that the first half of Longstreet's East Tennessee campaign, culminating with the siege of Knoxville, was not an independent command. The second half was, by which Longstreet created major strategic headaches for the Yankee high command. So, Longstreet's only foray into truly independent command was a smashing success merely by his geo-strategic presence. Hmmm… not bad for a scalawag.