Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-04
Sketch of His Career.

Lieut.. General James Longstreet, the last
OF the great quartet of confederate gener-
ais. died at his home in Gainesville Ga. at
o'clock Saturday afternoon, at the age of
elshty-three years, as the result of an az
tack of pneumonia. General Longstreet
had been confined to his bed but a few
days when the end came. His health has
not been of the best for more than a year
For many weeks during the spring and
summer he occupied a room at Garfield
Hospital undergoing treatment for rheu-
matism. the result of exposure and wounds
received during the great war. When he
was able to move from here he went to
Gainesville for short rest before return
ing to his duties as commissioner of rail-
roads of the Interior Department. Here
cancerous growth over the left eye gave
him considerable trouble and he went to
Chicago to be operated on. The operation
was successful and he returned to Gaines
VILE, apparently in better health than he
had enjoyed for years. A few days ago he
walked out with friend and contracted a
cold. The cold developed into pneumonia.
and almost before any one could realize the
critical condition he was in the old soldier
breathed his last.
His wife and daughter, Mrs J. E WHEEL
chel, and two of his sons John G. and
+. Randolph LOngStreet, were at the bed
side when the end came. Another son. R.
Lee Longstreet, is a resident of this city
and hurried south as soon as the news OF
his fathers death reached him. The fourth
son, James Longstreet, jr, followed the
profession Of his father and is now cap
tain in the 18th u. s. Cavalry and is sta
toned in the Philippines The couple resided
in Washington. having apartments at the
Highlands. although up to the beginning
OF his Illness last spring Gen. Longstreet
occupied house ut 1918 18th street which
became known as one OF the most hos
pitable homes in the city.
His Military Services
The services of Gen. Longstreet to the
confederacy have become a matter of his
tory With Lee. Johnston and Jackson, he
stood in the front rank of the confederate
heroes and though he Fought desperately,
he was universally respected among the
officers of the Union army The name of
Longstreet first became associated with
the military history of the United States
when James Longstreet was appointed a
cadet at the Military Academy at West
Point in 1888. He was native of the
Edgeteld district, South Carolina but his
mother moved to Alabama while her son
was yet a youngster and he received his
preliminary education there On his grad
uation from the Military Academy in 1892
Longstreet was appointed a second lieu
tenant In the 4th Infantry. with which
regiment Grant was also assigned. With
his company Longstrect served in Mis-
souri,. Louisiana and in the occupation Of
Texas up TO the time of the war with Mex
leo
distinguished himself on several occasions
be was engaged in the battles of Palo Alto
Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, the seige
and battle OF Vera Cruz. Cerro Gordo, San
Antonio, Churubusco and Moline del Rey
For conspicuous gallantry In the two last
named battles he was promoted TO the rank
of first lieutenant and brevetted captain
and ma or. In the desperate fight that took
place at the storming OF Cha pultepec Long
street was severity wounded. He was made
adjutant of the Sth Infantry after the war
with Mexico, and was promoted to be cam
tain in 1852. During the years that inter
vcned until the civil war he served with
his regiment. chiefly in Texas. Just before
the outbreak of the civil war he was made
paymaster, which commission he resigned
10 enter the confederate service in 1861
At Bull Run.
The confederate government gave Long
street commission as brigadler general.
and In the battle of Bull Run, at Manassas.
Va, he commanded brigade on the right
OF the confederate line and rendered great
service TO Cen jackson. and practically
prevented a large force of the federal
ment Mcdowell had planned thlis aiding
greatly In the final defeat and practical
rout or the Union forces. In the peninsular
campaign of McClellan's forces Longstreet
was one OF the Union armys principal on
ponents. He was in command of the rear
guard OF Johnston's army in the retreat of
the confederates before Yorktown nc bud
peen made major general by this time
anu was In command of division, some
times OF an entire army corps. The army
organization OF the confederate forces was
slightly different from that of the Union
army, however; a division OF confedern,es
OFTEN having many men as a CORPS of
Union troops, so that the command of di-