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James Longstreet Page One of Three |
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James Longstreet Page One of Three |
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 Confederate General James Longstreet. 1821 - 1904 James Longstreet was born on January 8, 1821 in Edgefield District, South Carolina, the son Of planter James and Mary Ann (Dent) Longstreet. His father died when James was twelve. Although he was born in South Carolina, Longstreet considered Georgia his home. He was raised and educated there. Longstreet was appointed to West Point Military Academy from the state of Alabama in 1838, where he met Ulysses S. Grant. After he graduated fifty-fourth in a class of sixty-two in 1842, Longstreet was assigned, along with Grant, to the Fourth Infantry at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. It was there that he introduced his cousin, Julia Dent, to Grant. The two were soon married. He was also assigned to various military posts in Louisiana until the outbreak of the War with Mexico in 1848. Serving under General Zachary Taylor, Longstreet saw combat at Palo Alto, Resaca, and Monterrey. He participated in several other battles including the decisive Battle of Chapultepec where he was wounded. His gallantry and service won him several promotions, but by 1852, he was still only a captain. Longstreet was not discouraged but continued with his duties and assignments in Texas, New Mexico, and finally in Washington where he was promoted to major. Longstreet married Marie Louise Garland, the daughter of one of his former commanders. |