James Longstreet and the American Civil War

The Confederate General Who Fought the Next War

By: Harold M. Knudsen

Narrated by: Bob Neufeld

The American Civil War is often called the first “modern war.” Sandwiched between the Napoleonic Wars and World War I, it spawned a host of “firsts” and is considered a precursor to the larger and more deadly 20th century wars. Confederate Gen. James Longstreet made overlooked but profound modern contributions to the art of war. Retired Lt. Col. Harold M. Knudsen explains what Longstreet did and how he did it in James Longstreet and the American Civil War: The Confederate General Who Fought the Next War.

Initially, commanders on both sides extensively utilized Napoleonic tactics that were obsolete because of the advent of the rifled musket and better artillery. Some professional army officers worked to improve tactics, operations, and strategies. On the Confederate side, a careful comparison of Longstreet’s body of work in the field to modern military doctrine reveals several large-scale innovations.

Longstreet understood early that the tactical defense was generally dominant over the offense, which was something few grasped in 1862. Longstreet’s thinking demonstrated a clear evolution that began on the field at First Manassas in July 1861, developed through the bloody fighting of 1862, and culminated in the brilliant defensive victory at Fredericksburg that December. The lethality with which his riflemen and artillery mowed down repeated Union assaults hinted at what was to come in World War I. Longstreet’s ability to launch and control powerful offensives was on display at Second Manassas in August 1862. His assault plan at Chickamauga in Georgia the following September was similar, if not the forerunner to, World War II tactical-level German armored tactics. Other areas show progressive applications with artillery, staff work, force projection, and operational-level thinking.

Longstreet was not the sole agent of modern change away from the Napoleonic method, but his contributions were significant and executed on a large scale. They demonstrated that he was a modern thinker unparalleled in the Confederate Army.

Unfortunately, many Civil War students have a one-sided view of Longstreet, whose legacy fell victim to bitter postwar Southern politics when “Old Pete” supported Reconstruction bills, accepted postings with the Grant Administration, and criticized Robert E. Lee. Many modern writers continue to skew the general’s legacy.

This audiobook draws heavily upon 20th century U.S. Army doctrine, field training, staff planning, command, and combat experience, and is the first serious treatment of Longstreet’s generalship vis-a-vis modern warfare. Not everyone will agree with Knudsen’s conclusions, but it will now be impossible to write about the general without referencing this important study.

©2022 Harold Knutsen (P)2022 Harold Knustsen

Evan's Review

This book changed my feelings about Longstreet. Because of the theory of the Lost Cause he became underrated. Truely he was the best Flield Commander in the Conferate Army. It gives you different idealogy between General Lee and how expense of Longstreet had commanded in the field vs Lee had not.
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Detailed professional analysis of Longstreet’s innovations and brilliance

I enjoyed it all. It was an absolute tour de force. Kudos to Lt Col Knudsen on this amazing contribution to Civil War military scholarship

Superb Narration About a Superb General.

Outstanding narrator with a perfect voice for telling military history. Bob Nuefeld is extremely interesting to listen to.

Great new take on Longstreet

Long overdue a rethinking of Longstreet. The author begins by pointing out that Lee's career had been engineering and staff while Longstreet was infantry all his military service. The author credits Longstreet with being ahead of his time by realizing the new muskets and ammunition were much more deadly than seen 50 years prior by Napoleon and adjusting tactics accordingly.
The book looks at part of Longstreet's civil war career in discussing second Mananas, Gettysburg, Tennessee and Petersburg. He points out mistakes made by Lee in stratagic and tactical issues. He refutes lost cause authors who blame Longstreet for defeats.
I enjoyed this book and was happy to see some new thinking about this general who raised the ire of Southerners after the civil war because he became a republican and supported reconstruction. I agree that he was one of the best generals the South had.
I was a bit put off by the narrator, although I noticed before getting this book that at least one person disagrees with me. While the narrator was matter of fact and down to earth I thought it was a bit of a monotone, other than that everything else was great.

A military book by a military person

While in college, which was quite a while ago, we were assigned a paper on the "best" general for the south and justify our position. Most picked Lee, I chose Longstreet. I wish this book had been available then, would have made the paper much easier. It is obvious that HMK knows his stuff and I loved the historical parallels. BN, is solid in his performance in a passed and temperate delivery. For me as a retired surgeon this book is like a history of surgery written by a surgeon instead of a historian. I highly recommend this book.

Detailed!

Much of detail! Some times overwhelming! It reinforced my sense of Longstreet and his brilliance! Also, how Lost Cause historian s lost their honesty and objectivity!

Grandpa reading mushmouth

This is a great topic but you have an old man talking while eating apple sauce at the Golden Acres retirement home. I don't understand why no one vets or listens to these people before allowing them to narrate a book. Get someone else and let gramps retire. Pitiful.