Customer Reviews

May I Quote You, General Longstreet?: Observations and Utterances of the South's Great Generals

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Randall Bedwell's "May I Quote You ..." series is always a pleasure to read. General Longstreet was a plain spoken man, and Mr. Bedwell has captured the essence of him exactly! From General Longstreet, an undeservedly maligned American patriot, I have found words to live by: "Error lives but a day. Truth is eternal." If you enjoyed this book, try my other two favorites in the series, "May I Quote You General Lee?" and "May I quote You General Forrest?"

87 pages long and published in 1997 by Randall Bedwell through Cumberland House Publishing Inc., "May I Quote You, General Longstreet?" is an excellent book, just as all the other books in the "May I Quote You?" series are. It contains many statements and observations made by and about General Longstreet, his comrades in gray, and his foes in blue. The book holds an introduction and seven additional chapters, each chapter with a foreword giving some background and general information on what it contains.
General Longstreet was one of the South's bravest and most skilled leaders, yet he is also one of its most troubled. While respected and admired by allies and enemies alike during the war, James Longstreet's reputation suffered badly in Reconstruction years. He spent the rest of his life battling against accusations and attacks on his good name and reputation, insisting to his dying day that he had always done the honorable thing, and had never compromised his loyalty to the South or the army in which he served. Unlike many others who served in the war, Longstreet was never really allowed to know peace. But as the general himself said, "Error lives but a day. Truth is eternal." In the years since his passing, General Longstreet's image has been gradually redeemed, but still is not as good as that of men such as General Lee. Monuments and honors dedicated to him slowly have been built over the years, but his tarnished reputation is still, oddly enough, being reconstructed.
While this is indeed a fine book of quotes by and about General James Longstreet, keep in mind that's what it is. This is not the life story of James Longstreet, just a simple yet remarkably informative book of quotes. If something like that would appeal to you, I highly recommend it.

This is one of a series of books with quotes by and about "The South's Great Generals." A slim volume, it takes only a short time to read through.

I enjoyed this collection of quotes, as much for what his Union enemy's said about Longstreet, as what he said himself. However, reading the quotes regarding the criticisms of Lee's Old Warhorse in the battle of Gettysburg are almost painful. Yet they had to be included to give as full a picture of the man and the soldier as can be done in so short a space.

Readers and scholars of the War Between the States will enjoy this book, perhaps even keep it at hand to browse through at any time.

A trifle, but interesting. I purchased this at a store on the central square in Gettysburg, which featured books about trhe Civil War (not surprisingly). This is a part of a series under the title "May I Quote You." Here, the subject is James Longstreet, a corps commander in the Confederate Army, normally associated with the Army of Northern Virginia. Some deem him one of the best corps commanders in both armies--Union or Confederate. Others are very critical of him. This volume features brief comments about him--his own, colleagues, critics.

At Bull Run, Thomas Goree said of Longstreet (Page 10): "[Longstreet] amid a perfect shower of balls, rode amongst them with his cigar in his mouth, rallying them, encouraging them, and inspiring confidence among them.

In the end, an enjoyable trifle.

This is another great book of quotes from Southern Generals.
( actually you should by the set, which is four books of these) I really enjoyed the quotes, everyone taken from the history books.

There is one quote, which states, had Lee listened to Longstreet at Gettysburg, the Southern people would today be Free!

( Oh give me a break!)

Ok, that is a direct quote, but it's one Longstreet wrote, simplying putting words in Lee's mouth.

Please don't discard the book for this single quote, as it's a great book.

I'd like to see more of these quote books on all the Civil War Generals.