In his 1896 memoir of the Civil War, From Manassas to Appomattox, former Confederate general James Longstreet told the story of the conflict as he saw it, while taking care to address the criticisms of southern detractors who had heaped responsibility on him for “all the adversity that befell” the Army of Northern Virginia.
One thread that runs through the book is Longstreet’s deep and abiding friendship with Ulysses S. Grant. The two had met as cadets at West Point (Longstreet graduated in 1842, Grant in 1843), where they were known by their nicknames “Pete” (Longstreet) and “Sam” (Grant). After graduation, they served together in the U.S. Army, both garnering accolades for their conduct during the Mexican War. Grant’s marriage in 1848 to Julia Dent, a distant cousin of Longstreet’s, only reinforced the bond between friends.
As Elizabeth Varon shows in this issue’s cover story, “Friendly Foes” (page 22), the relationship between Longstreet and Grant not only survived the Civil War, in which they commanded troops on opposite sides, but seemingly strengthened in the postwar years. By the time Longstreet wrote From Manassas to Appomattox, the ex-Confederate’s admiration for Grant, which enraged many southerners, had not diminished. “As the world continues to look at and study the grand combinations and strategy of General Grant,” Longstreet wrote, “the higher will be his award as a great soldier.”
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Though numerous photos of Grant and Longstreet exist, none show them together. With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), the two old friends appear on this issue’s cover—and on page 23 of the print and digital editions—as they might have looked had the pair been photographed during the conflict. What do you think about the results? Share your thoughts on this, or other aspects of the issue, by sending your emails to [email protected].
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Speaking of your feedback, regular readers will note that this issue doesn’t contain our usual letters to the editor section. Not to worry—it will return with our Spring 2024 issue. So please, keep your letters and emails coming! We really do value your comments and suggestions.
