LONGSTREET PAGE LONGSTREET PAGE
We're lucky enough to have in our midst Lee's "Old Warhorse"'s great-grandson, Dan Paterson. He is related to the general on his mother's side. She's Jamie Longstreet Paterson, the general's grand-daughter.
Dan beside the unfinished equestrian statue of the General. The statue came about due to the efforts of the Longstreet Memorial Fund . Dan is seen here portraying Col. Stockton Heth (a cousin of General Harry Heth) at the 134th Gettysburg re-enactment. This was 1 year before the unveiling.
Dan's Uncle William Longstreet, circa 1970, where his grandfather, General Longstreet was wounded. William knew the general as a small boy. He was 7 when the general passed away in 1904.
Below is an excerpt from a 1943 Life Magazine article on Helen Dortch Longstreet, the general's second wife. Note the photos of Helen being a war time riveter - she was probably in her 70's. Now that's gumption!
Confederate General’s Widow-(from Life Magazine December 27, 1943)
The aged widow of Confederate Army General James Longstreet turned up this month as a war worker at a Bell Aircraft plant inAtlanta, Georgia. Nobody seems to know exactly how old Mrs Helen Dortch Longstreet is, but most newspaper reports put her age at over 80. Even so, she commutes daily in her Nash coup from the trailer near Atlanta in which she is living alone, to the plant where she is on the regular 8 to 4:45 shift. Usually she wears a black visor cap, black sweater, black slacks, white socks and brown oxfords. Says she, “I am going to assist in building a plane to bomb Hitler and the Son of Heaven to the Judgement Seat of God.”
Mrs. Longstreet met General James Longstreet, Lee’s right-hand man at Gettysburg, when she was a classmate of the General’s daughter at Brenau College, Gainesville, Georgia. They were married at the Executive Mansion in Atlanta in1897 when Longstreet was 76. After their married life was terminated by the aged general’s death in 1904, she embarked on a varied career as reporter, free-lance writer, editor, post-office mistress, farmer, librarian, disbursing agent and politician. In addition to working for Bell, she is vice president of a Catholic group called the Army of Prayer.
Below are some press clippings from the early 1950's of Jamie Longstreet of various Longstreet Events in Gainsville Georgia, courtsey of Dan Paterson
Dan gives a talk at the Memorial ceremony the night before the statue's unveiling.
The indomitable Ed Bearss gives a great talk on 'Ole Pete' and calls him "Lee's thunderbolt".
Finally, the statue is unveiled!
The Rebel Flag is unfurled for the unveiling ceremony. Many rebel yells went up from the crowd!
Dan besides the finished statue. You can visit the Sculptor, Gary Casteel's Website.
The General's hotel in Gainesville, GA. The original hotel was demolished in 1918. The picture is of the remaining north wing's lower level. Woodrow Wilson was a frequent guest and one of his daughters was born at the hotel. Luckily, the room that Woodrow Wilson stayed in is in this remaining wing. The Longstreet Society is currently undertaking the task of purchasing and restoring this remaining portion as a tribute to General Longstreet. The General's house was at nearby Park Hill Farm. The farm tragically burned down in 1889, destroying many of the General's civil war mementos and his almost completed memoirs. If your interested in joining or helping out the Longstreet Society you can contact them at:
The Longstreet Society
P.O. Box 191
Gainesville, GA 30503
(770) 531-0100
The Generals grave - Alta Vista cemetery, Gainesville, GA. Dan put the flag up 2 years ago to honor his great-grand father. People visiting the grave have been known to leave the General cigars - much like people leaving Stonewall Jackson lemons!
Dan places the Confederate Cross of Honor on General Samuel Cooper's grave in Alexandria, VA - April 2001
Dan with members of the Samuel Cooper chapter of the MOSB laying a wreath on his grave. General Cooper's great-grandson, Cooper Dawson is third from the left and is 91 years old.
Longstreet Links!
Read about The January 10th) dedication of Longstreet's Birthplace pictures added 1/29/98
John W. Fairfax Page - He was one of Longstreets Aides - By Arthur House who portrays him at civil war reenactments.
The 1289 General Longstreet Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Impressive site!