General James Longstreet: the Confederacy's Most Modern General [Paperback]

LTC Harold M. Knudsen (Author), Mr. Ken Hendricksen (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2007

While many books and writings are available on the history of Lieutenant General James Longstreet of the Confederate States Army, nearly the entire body of this historiography marginalizes his accomplishments and is devoted to his falling from grace with the postwar Southern elites. This piece of historiography aims to look at Longstreet with twenty-first century objectivity, and completely abandons the Lost Cause linked hatred that many postwar Southern elites had for him and his post war politics. While Longstreet s political incorrectness was the reason he became ignored, politics is completely irrelevant to the student of warfare looking to garner lessons from Longstreet s battles and campaigns. This work will compare the similarities of Longstreet s innovations and operations to certain aspects of war that became standard in the First and Second World Wars. Interpreting Longstreet through the comparison of his methods to twentieth century methods shows Longstreet was a very modern general. Even more important than identifying Longstreet s originality is identifying how his actions greatly added to the changing complexion of warfare. Some of his innovations were the early origins of prominent facets in twentieth century warfare, and he clearly established his legacy as a modern innovator as early as 1862. But only now are the postwar negative portrayals of Longstreet faded enough for him to emerge as the Confederacy s most modern general.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In a letter to a friend in the 1890s James Longstreet wrote that he was prepared to leave this world but felt that he'd like to have some errors about his record corrected first. He passed away in 1904 without achieving his goal. Sadly, in 2007, Longstreet's reputation must still endure the slander of writers who mistakenly claim to be historians. Lt. Col. Knudsen's book General James Longstreet: The Confederacy's Most Modern Soldier, is a clear step in the right direction. Lt. Col. Knudsen, is an army artillery officer with vast military experience. His area of expertise is in integrating fire support into maneuver plans and fire control/artillery computation in cannon units. He has also been an evaluator and instructor of artillery operations, fire support, and maneuver planning and execution. Additionally he has taught ROTC at Claremont McKenna College, CA, and saw combat during Desert Storm performing extensive artillery fire planning and execution in support of U.S. forces for the length of the war. During the War on Terror he has served as a Force Manager in HQDA G-8, Pentagon, in Kuwait and Iraq fielding new eqiupment to deployed units, and also worked to prepare and deploy units to the Iraqi Surge. He has a Masters degree in Liberal Arts from Georgetown University. With this expertise, Lt. Col. Knudsen sheds significant light on the achievements of Longstreet during the Civil War. Knudsen objectively analyzes Longstreet's performances in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chickamauga and the siege in Petersburg, and uses them to demonstrate the tactical and strategic abilities Longstreet developed during the course of the war. The first two chapters explain how Longstreet's reputation was slanderously depicted and how professional officers from both armies viewed tactics and strategy as the war commenced. Chapter two concludes that "The next battle [Fredericksburg] would not only bring the South a major victory, but Longstreet would give the world a glimpse of twentieth century warfare." A thorough review of these battles identifies the tactics used and how Longstreet and several of his peers reacted to them. Knudsen compares the strategy of both Longstreet and Lee and presents a compelling case for the former. Considering the level of expertise of the author, this book is very readable and interesting, even for those with little military experience. It should be mandatory reading for all students of the war and military evolution, and especially important for those with aspirations of writing Civil War military history. Perhaps now Lt. Gen. Longstreet may rest in greater peace as his proper reputation as a military leader is being restored. --Reconstructed Rebel; MD

This is the first book produced which attempts to objectively analyze James Longstreet's ability and skill as a professional soldier and his strategic vision in the Civil War. Although in need of some editorial trimming and grammatical tweaking, this paperback volume is still a very good read. The author devotes the introduction to an analysis of the Lost Cause mentality which has dominated the South's historical writings until recent times and how it effected the disappearance of Longstreet's innovative lessons in modern warfare from the tomes of later military strategists and student reading lists. The rest of the book is a rather astute discussion of why Longstreet was actually the best combat soldier of the Civil War. Simple said, Longstreet's use of staff, his use of "blitzrieg movements" and "in depth" attack, his innovations in trench warfare and centralized indirect fire, his "Western theatre" strategy and use of interior lines, his use of large strategic movements of troops and materials, as well as a host of other innovations helped make obsolete the use of Napoleonic and Jominian Theory in Civil War combat and facilitated the movement towards the twentieth century trench warfare of WWI and the Blitzkrieg of WWII. Of secondary note, it is interesting and satisfying to see the inexorable approaching destruction of the "anti-Longstreet" cabal which has for so many years been able to hide the greater talents of this Civil War general in a blanket of "Lost Cause" hate. Do you ever wonder why Lee wanted Longstreet as second in command and had his commission as a Lt. Gen. dated one day before that of Stonewall Jackson's. There should be no doubt about why Longstreet represented the "crème de la crème" of Civil War generals after reading this book. --Clark Thornton - Decendent of General Longsteet and family geneologist

I had three great grandfathers and three great uncles who served in the war. During a recent meeting of our Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Harold Knudsen of the US Army was our guest speaker. I had no idea of who General Longstreet was and, at the time, really didn't care all that much. After all, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were my heroes. However, Knudsen quickly captured my attention as it became apparent that the legacy of James Longstreet had been swept under the rug by the philosophy of political correctness. I was so enthralled by Knudsen's lecture; I was the first person at his book table to purchase a hardbound copy of his book. LTC Knudsen's book is small and is less than one hundred pages. Tiny in comparison to the monolithic volumes that exist on Lee and Jackson and other figures. I have in times past started to read some of those exhaustive works on the Civil War and its heroes, but have rarely completed any. It seems I would get bogged down in what would seem to be the endless battles and forever lost in the explanations of force movements, placement of batteries, flanking maneuvers and all the minutiae of military speak. Even though Knudsen is militaryesque in his writing, he is succinct and keeps the reader's attention. At one point I asked myself, where are the maps? However, I soon realized his descriptions do not require maps. Actually, I believe maps would have been a distraction. Knudsen makes the case that General Longstreet has not only been misjudged by history, but actually was one of the most successful generals of the war. He subtitles his book: The Confederacy's Most Modern General; and indeed it appeares Longstreet was. Longstreet broke with the Napoleonic practices of warfare and introduced innovations that had not been seen in nineteenth century warfare. Not until recently has Longstreet's reputation begun a slow re-examination. In fact, it wasn't until 1998 that the first monument to honor him was erected at Gettysburg. Biographers of the post war era stated Longstreet was smart and ambitious but also a know it all. They turned against him for rejecting the ideology of the Lost Cause. Indeed, Longstreet was not a politically correct person, and according to the author, considered political correctness a form of dishonesty. Longstreet wasn't interested in political debate and didn't engage on the causes of the war, but instead excelled in the art of war. His view was simple: once war was decided to be the course of action; his goal was to win it. Knudsen does not discuss Longstreet's post military career, other than mentioning his involvement with the passage of military reconstruction bills in Congress. However, that only fueled my curiosity in wanting to do more research on the general. My research uncovered that Longstreet enjoyed a career working for the U.S. Government and he was a convert to the Republican Party. Combining this with his support for reconstruction and some critical comments he wrote about General Robert E. Lee, he inflamed his detractors and distanced himself from his Confederate colleagues. Portions of Knudsen's conclusion were steeped with a good bit of military strategic lingo which required me to read it twice to obtain a good comprehension. Knudsen's background in military command structure and control is very evident as he knows his stuff. However, parts of the final chapter sometimes leave the reader with a feeling he is at a military academy receiving a briefing on military policy and doctrine. All in all, I believe his book is long overdue and it deserves a place on your bookshelf. You won't be disappointed. --Johnny W. Kicklighter - Belleville, IL --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

The author is an Army Artillery Officer with 23 years of active commissioned service. He has served at all levels from platoon and battery to division, corps, through Headquarters Department of the Army Staff. LTC Knudsen is a graduate of various Artillery Career Courses, Command General Staff College, Army Force Management College, and is a recent graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College. His training experience features nearly a decade of maneuver and fire support training in Europe, and he is a veteran of Desert Storm, Bosnia, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Product Details

• Paperback: 110 pages
• Publisher: USA Publishing Services (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595711880
• ISBN-13: 978-1595711885
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,861,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate Analysis of Longstreet, August 24, 2007

By 

Reconstructed Rebel (MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: General James Longstreet: the Confederacy's Most Modern General (Paperback)

In a letter to a friend in the 1890s James Longstreet wrote that he was prepared to leave this world but felt that he'd like to have some errors about his record corrected first. He passed away in 1904 without achieving his goal. Sadly, in 2007, Longstreet's reputation must still endure the slander of writers who mistakenly claim to be historians. Lt. Col. Knudsen's book General James Longstreet: The Confederacy's Most Modern Soldier, is a clear step in the right direction. Lt. Col. Knudsen, is an army artillery officer with 20 years experience that includes several schools such as the Command General Staff College. His area of expertise is in integrating fire support into the maneuver plan and fire control/artillery computation in cannon units. He has also been an evaluator and instructor of artillery operations, fire support, and maneuver planning and execution responsible for National Guard units in the Western half of the United States. Additionally he has taught ROTC at Claremont McKenna College, CA, and saw combat during Desert Storm performing extensive artillery fire planning and execution in support of U.S. forces for the length of the war. He has a Masters degree in Liberal Arts from Georgetown University.

With this expertise, Lt. Col. Knudsen sheds significant light on the achievements of Longstreet during the Civil War. Knudsen objectively analyzes Longstreet's performances in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chickamauga and the siege in Petersburg, and uses them to demonstrate the tactical and strategic abilities Longstreet developed during the course of the war. The first two chapters explain how Longstreet's reputation was slanderously depicted and how professional officers from both armies viewed tactics and strategy as the war commenced. Chapter two concludes that "The next battle [Fredericksburg] would not only bring the South a major victory, but Longstreet would give the world a glimpse of twentieth century warfare." A thorough review of these battles identifies the tactics used and how Longstreet and several of his peers reacted to them. Knudsen compares the strategy of both Longstreet and Lee and presents a compelling case for the former.

Considering the level of expertise of the author, this book is very readable and interesting, even for those with little military experience. It should be mandatory reading for all students of the war and military evolution, and especially important for those with aspirations of writing Civil War military history. Perhaps now Lt. Gen. Longstreet may rest in greater peace as his proper reputation as a military leader is being restored.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captured My Attention, June 19, 2010

By 

Johnny W. Kicklighter (Belleville, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: General James Longstreet: the Confederacy's Most Modern General (Paperback)

I'm a novice when it comes to Civil War history. I get lost in the details of the major military campaigns of the war, much less the smaller skirmishes, and even the geography at times. My interest in the Confederacy relates to my ancestry and my interest in Confederate currency. I had three great grandfathers and three great uncles who served in the war. During a recent meeting of our Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Harold Knudsen of the US Army was our guest speaker. LTC Knudsen is the author of the book, "General James Longstreet: The Confederacy's Most Modern General." I had no idea of who General Longstreet was and, at the time, really didn't care all that much. After all, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were my heroes. However, Knudsen quickly captured my attention as it became apparent that the legacy of James Longstreet had been swept under the rug by the philosophy of political correctness. I was so enthralled by Knudsen's lecture; I was the first person at his book table to purchase a hardbound copy of his book.

LTC Knudsen's book is small and is less than one hundred pages. It is tiny in comparison to the monolithic volumes that exist on Lee and Jackson and other figures. I have in times past started to read some of those exhaustive works on the Civil War and its heroes, but have rarely completed any. It seems I would get bogged down in what would seem to be the endless battles and forever lost in the explanations of force movements, placement of batteries, flanking maneuvers and all the minutiae of military speak. Even though Knudsen is militaryesque in his writing, he is succinct and keeps the reader's attention. At one point I asked myself, where are the maps? However, I soon realized his descriptions do not require maps. Actually, I believe maps would have been a distraction.

Knudsen makes the case that General Longstreet has not only been misjudged by history, but actually was one of the most successful generals of the war. He subtitles his book "The Confederacy's Most Modern General" and indeed it appeares Longstreet was. Longstreet broke with the Napoleonic practices of warfare and introduced innovations that had not been seen in nineteenth century warfare. Not until recently has Longstreet's reputation begun a slow re-examination. In fact, it wasn't until 1998 that the first monument to honor him was erected at Gettysburg.

James Longstreet was a South Carolina-born West Point graduate who was raised on a Georgia plantation. He received his first combat experience at age twenty four as the US began its war with Mexico. At age forty, he accepted a commission as a Confederate colonel with the Army of Northern Virginia at the start of the Civil War in 1861. Biographers of the post war era stated Longstreet was smart and ambitious but also a "know it all." They turned against him for rejecting the ideology of the "Lost Cause." Indeed, Longstreet was not a politically correct person, and according to the author, considered political correctness a form of dishonesty. Longstreet wasn't interested in political debate and didn't engage on the causes of the war, but instead excelled in the art of war. His view was simple: once war was decided to be the course of action; his goal was to win it.

It was at the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862 that Longstreet carried out an effective and deadly approach to stopping a Union frontal assault. He merged firearm advancements with field modifications that Knudsen claims were fifty years ahead of its time. Longstreet combined discipline, low aiming, and clear lanes of fire, with one to two rifle loaders for each shooter. This produced an increased rate of fire equivalent to a machine gun in World War I.

Knudsen offers a chapter on the "defensive offense" and a chapter on the vindication of Longstreet's strategic vision. It was the Battle of Chickamauga that gave Longstreet the opportunity to attack and set conditions for decisive victories. It was here that Knudsen believes Longstreet introduced a tactic similar to what the Germans used in their tank warfare in World War II, i.e., the Blitzkrieg theory. Knudsen leaves the reader with the notion that if Longstreet had been in charge of the forces at the Battle of Chickamauga instead of General Braxton Bragg, the Union Army would have been soundly defeated.

Knudsen does not discuss Longstreet's post military career, other than mentioning his involvement with the passage of military reconstruction bills in Congress. However, that only fueled my curiosity in wanting to do more research on the general. My research uncovered that Longstreet enjoyed a career working for the U.S. Government and he was a convert to the Republican Party. Combining this with his support for reconstruction and some critical comments he wrote about General Robert E. Lee, he inflamed his detractors and distanced himself from his Confederate colleagues.

Portions of Knudsen's conclusion were steeped with a good bit of military strategic lingo which required me to read it twice to obtain a good comprehension. Knudsen's background in military command structure and control is very evident as he knows his stuff. However, parts of the final chapter sometimes leave the reader with a feeling he is at a military academy receiving a briefing on military policy and doctrine. All in all, I believe his book is long overdue and it deserves a place on your bookshelf. You won't be disappointed.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Objective View Yet, June 15, 2007

By 

Clark Thornton "powerfullion" (Atlanta, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: General James Longstreet: the Confederacy's Most Modern General (Paperback)

This is the first book produced which attempts to objectively analyze James Longstreet's ability and skill as a professional soldier and his strategic vision in the Civil War. Although in need of some editorial trimming and grammatical tweaking, this paperback volume is still a very good read. The author devotes the introduction to an analysis of the "Lost Cause" mentality which has dominated the South's historical writings until recent times and how it effected the disappearance of Longstreet's innovative lessons in modern warfare from the tomes of later military strategists and student reading lists. The rest of the book is a rather astute discussion of why Longstreet was actually the best combat soldier of the Civil War. Simple said, Longstreet's use of staff, his use of "blitzrieg movements" and "in depth" attack, his innovations in trench warfare and centralized indirect fire, his "Western theatre" strategy and use of interior lines, his use of large strategic movements of troops and materials, as well as a host of other innovations helped make obsolete the use of Napoleonic and Jominian Theory in Civil War combat and facilitated the movement towards the twentieth century trench warfare of WWI and the Blitzkrieg of WWII. Of secondary note, it is interesting and satisfying to see the inexorable approaching destruction of the "anti-Longstreet" cabal which has for so many years been able to hide the greater talents of this Civil War general in a blanket of "Lost Cause" hate. Do you ever wonder why Lee wanted Longstreet as second in command and had his commission as a Lt. Gen. dated one day before that of Stonewall Jackson's. There should be no doubt about why Longstreet represented the "crème de la crème" of Civil War generals after reading this book.