Monuments to Individuals at Gettysburg
The monument to Lieutenant General James Longstreet is southwest of Gettysburg along West Confederate Avenue in Pitzer’s Woods. (West Confederate Avenue – Part 4 tour map) It was dedicated on July 3, 1998. Two nearby tablets tell Longstreet’s background history and his role in the Gettysburg campaign.
The equestrian statue was commissioned by the North Carolina Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. It was sculpted by Gary Casteel, who also created (among others) the 90th Pennsylvania monument at Antietam, the North Carolina monument on South Mountain in Maryland, and the bas-relief of the Mount Jackson, Confederate Hospital in Mount Jackson, Virginia.
| Commander, First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia |
Monument to Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet at Gettysburg
Tablet for the monument to General Longstreet
From the first tablet beside the monument
Lieutenant General James Longstreet
Commanding First Corps Army of Northern Virginia
Soldiers of Gen. Longstreet’s command held and protected the right wing of the army July 2-4 1863. His First Corps attacked and dislodged Union forces at the Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard, on July 2. As a portion of his infantry secured the Peach Orchard, Gen. Longstreet advanced on horseback with them. The following day, Gen. Longstreet was ordered by Gen. Robert E. Lee to coordinate an attack against the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. On July 3, “Longstreet’s Assault” was repulsed with great loss after penetrating the enemy’s battle line on Cemetery Ridge. During the march back to Virginia, Gen. Longstreet and his First Corps played a prominent role in protecting the retreating army.
“By the soldiers he is invariably spoken of as ‘the best fighter in the whole army.’ “- Lt. Col. Arthur J. Fremantle, Her Majesty’s Coldstream Guards (June 27, 1863)”
From the second tablet beside the monument
Commanding First Corps Army of Northern Virginia
January 8, 1821 – January 2, 1904
Born in Edgefield District, S.C. Graduated from West Point 1842. Served as Lieutenant with the 8th U.S. Infantry in the Mexican War and brevetted major for gallantry, Battle of Molino del Rey. Resigned commission as a major, U.S. Army, May 1861. Appointed brigadier general, Confederate States Army, June 1861. Promoted to Major General, CSA, October 1861. Promoted Lieutenant general, CSA, October 1862. Gen Robert E. Lee’s second in command and ranking lieutenant general in the Army of Northern Virginia. Gallantly led troops in battles at First Manassas, the Peninsula, Second Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Chickamauga and Knoxville. Wounded at Battle of the Wilderness, May 1864. Returned to duty during the Union siege of Petersburg, and present with Gen. Lee at surrender of army at Appomattox. Buried at Alta Vista Cemetery, Gainesville, GA.
“Ah! here is Longstreet, here’s my ‘Old War-Horse.'”
Gen. Robert E. Lee (September 17, 1862)
Location of the monument to James Longstreet at Gettysburg
The map to the monument to Lieutenant General James Longstreet at Gettysburg is south of Gettysburg. It is in Pitzer’s Woods on the west side of West Confederate Avenue next to the Amphitheater parking lot. (39°48’20.6″N 77°15’23.6″W)