"The Cervical Wound of General James Longstreet" Topic

"Background Lieutenant General James Longstreet was arguably the finest corps commander on either side during the Civil War. He was severely wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia on May 6, 1864, after a successful flank attack that nearly routed the Union army.

Design A thorough review of the firsthand accounts of the events leading up to and following Longstreet's wounding was made. In addition, all articles listed in the medical literature describing Longstreet's care and numerous recent texts and articles about Longstreet have been researched…"

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Armand

Thank you for posting this, and looking forward to reading.

Do they really mean "cervical" wound? I thought that was a lady thing…

Longstreet was arguably the finest corps commander on either side during the Civil War.

I, for one, would certainly argue with that!

CERVIX in the original Latin means 'neck,' hence 'cervical vertebrae.'

I'll leave you to extrapolate

A votre service mon ami….

Armand

Read it years ago and have never been able to find it again, but someone did a list of the ten most devastating attacks in the war. And discovered that four of them were commanded by Longstreet: 2nd Manassas, 2nd day Gettysburg, Chickamauga, and I'm trying to remember #4. Wilderness, maybe?

The Flank attack at 2nd Bull Run by Longstreet was decisive. The Attack 2nd Day Gettysburg by Longstreet crushed union 3rd Corp, but did not break the line.

He's attack at Chickamauga was helped when Woods union division pulled out of the line when his 8 brigades made their attack. At the Wilderness he's counter attack did turn the tide, but he was severely wounded and it turned into a stalemate.

He's defense of Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg was unsurpassed, but no component general should have attacked the position. On par with Jackson? Maybe.

Reynolds, Hancock, Thomas on the Union side were certainly as good or better.

Kim

Kim, Chickamauga is interesting. It a great "what if" scenario. What if Woods had not pulled out at exactly the time he did, In exactly the spot Longstreet hit. Very similar to Ewell not proceeding on Day 1.

Thanks!

Armand

Right in the same army was T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson.

To Reynolds, Hancock and Thomas I would add Sherman.

Thomas, definitely. Hancock, arguably. What exactly did Reynolds do that marked him out as a great corps commander?

Good question…

Armand

Well he was the choice of Lincoln on June 2nd 1863 for the command of the Army of the Potomac. He wanted complete command with no political interference. Lincoln could not promise that and the command went to Meade. So they saw something in him.

Was Lincoln's opinion of Reynolds based on his performance as commander of I Corps? Or was it based on Reynold's commander of a brigade and division, and on how he took on the command of the Pennsylvania militia during the Antietam campaign as well?

The assertion is that Reynolds was a better corps commander than Longstreet. Who was the better corps commander requires a comparison of their records while corps commander, not a comparison of their overall records.

Don't forget his stand at "2nd Bull Run". But I would agree if we are basing it solely upon Corp command, then he falls short of the criteria.

What Lincoln's real reasons were, only Lincoln really knows. Maybe Reynolds wanting to continue the fight at Chancellorsville instead of retreat, had a lot to do with that.

Lincoln's choice was based on the recommendations of several of his fellow corps commanders, including Meade.