Was Lt. Gen. James Longstreet a lackluster, indecisive leader or a 
victim of political circumstances?

    Though traditionally saddled with much of the blame for the 
Confederate loss at Gettysburg, Longstreet was actually a capable, 
resourceful, and brave commander, argues historian Alexander 
Mendoza. Confederate Struggle for Command offers a 
comprehensive analysis of Longstreet's leadership during his seven-
month assignment in the Tennessee theater of operations. Mendoza 
concludes that the obstacles to effective command faced by 
Longstreet had at least as much to do with longstanding grievances 
and politically motivated prejudices as they did with any personal or 
military shortcomings of Longstreet's.

    Longstreet's First Corps parted company with Lee and the Army 
of Northern Virginia in September 1863. Subsequently, the First 
Corps contributed decisively to the Confederate victory at 
Chickamauga. But when Longstreet then joined a group of 
disaffected generals in denouncing Braxton Bragg, the commanding 
general of the Army of Tennessee, the resulting imbroglio hampered 
the effectiveness of the entire First Corps.

    Confederate Struggle for Command adds an important layer 
of nuanced understanding to the career and legacy of Lt. Gen. 
James Longstreet, and will be an enjoyable and informative source 
for Civil War buffs, military historians, and interested general 
readers.

_________________________________________________________

ALEXANDER MENDOZA, assistant professor of history at the 
University of Texas at Tyler, holds a Ph.D. from Texas Tech 
University.


Number 120: Texas A&M University Military History Series