Clark T. Thornton

James Longstreet was born on January 8, 1821, on the "old Dent place" near his father’s plantation, "Hopewell," on Fox Creek in Edgefield District, SC. This farm, situated near Cherokee Ponds, was owned by his maternal grandfather, Thomas Marshall Dent.

In 1826, at age four, Longstreet’s family moved eight miles to the "old Cobberson place," a 128-acre farm on the Savannah River, adjacent to his uncle A. B. Longstreet’s "Westover" plantation in Augusta, Georgia. Five years later, in 1831, they relocated once again to a plantation south of Somerville, Morgan County, Alabama, where James attended the Somerville Male Academy.

At 17, Longstreet entered West Point in 1838, where he thrived in military studies, earning the nickname "Old Pete." He graduated in 1842 as a brevet second lieutenant.

During the Mexican War, Longstreet distinguished himself, earning two brevets for bravery while being severely wounded. Afterward, he served on the frontier in West Texas and later as an army paymaster until the Civil War.

When the war erupted, General Robert E. Lee appointed Longstreet as second-in-command of the Army of Northern Virginia (ANV), granting him a seniority date one day before Stonewall Jackson. Lee held Longstreet in high regard, even calling him "my old War Horse" after the Battle of Antietam. Renowned for his bravery and tactical brilliance, Longstreet became a formidable figure feared by Union forces. He surrendered with Lee at Appomattox on April 9, 1865.

Post-war, Longstreet held various positions, including Surveyor of Customs and Commissioner of Levies in New Orleans. In 1875, he moved to Gainesville, GA, and purchased the Piedmont Hotel. His later roles included U.S. Minister to Turkey, U.S. Marshal for Georgia, and Commissioner of Railroads. He authored "From Manassas to Appomattox" and other important works. Longstreet passed away on January 2, 1904.

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Clark T. Thornton earned his BA, MALS in Liberal Arts, MALS in History, and an MS in Archival Studies from CSU. He served as a Captain of Marines during the Vietnam War era, then became a small business owner, manufacturing and selling sports equipment internationally.