LEE AND LONGSTREET AT GETTUSBURG BY GLENN TUCKER VERY GOOD

Description: In "Lee and Longstreet at Gettysburg," Glenn Tucker methodically picked apart and reduced to shreds the argument advanced by Longstreet's detractors that the First Corps Commander was somehow responsible for the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg in that he dragged his feet and failed to attack in a timely fashion as a result of his disagreement with Lee over how the battle should be fought. Tucker portrayed Longstreet as a strong, conscientious general who cared about his troops and faithfully carried out Lee's orders as expeditiously as possible, even though he did so with justified reservations. For Tucker, much of the unfair criticism of Longstreet which came to life after Lee's death may have been motivated by the need to distract attention from one's own deficiencies on the battlefield, while at the same time attempting to protect the reputation of Lee for future generations. Tucker suggested also that Longstreet's detractors were probably not overly thrilled by the fact that he later became both a Catholic and Republican. Tucker's study reviews these charges in detail and sensibly and convincingly exonerates Longstreet. With respect to the first charge, he finds that Lee issued no orders for an early morning attack. He concludes that Longstreet moved his troops with more than reasonable dispatch under the circumstances and launched his attack, fortuitously, at the time it had the best chance of success. The second and third charges involve the exercise of military judgment on the battle plan at Gettysburg. Tucker, in the company of an increasing number of students of the battle, concludes that Longstreet had the better of it and the strategy more likely to lead to success at Gettysburg than the strategy that was pursued. With Pickett's charge on July 3, the case is, alas, clear to make. The matter is closer with respect to the July 2 strategy (Longstreet proposing to go around the Union army) but this too may have been the preferable course given the strength of the Union position on Cemetery Ridge.Tucker documents the Lee -Longstreet disagreements well and, I think, fairly. One of the more fascinating aspects of his book is his discussion of visits of President Eisenhower and Field Marshall Montgomery to Gettysburg to review the battle plans. Both Generals were supportive of Longstreet's strategy and were strongly negative about Pickett's charge in particular. Minor shelf wear only. Book itself is unmarked and in like new condition.

Price: 14.99 USD

Location: Cleveland, Ohio

End Time: 2025-01-18T02:22:03.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5 USD