Dr. William G. Piston
My role was very modest, as the emphasis was on touring the battlefield and I did not speak until Sunday morning. I thought the tours were excellent, although riding around in a bus made me aware that we were contributing to the noise pollution which increasingly impenges on the quality of every visitor's experience.My brief talk addressed the changes in Longstreet's image since 1965. I began with an overview of the success of the Lee Cult in convincing historians that Longstreet should be criticized for his actions at Gettysburg, noting in particular the significance of D.S. Freeman's works. I then briefly explored how historical opinions of Lee have changed, as I believe the current changes in how Longstreet is viewed have been possible only because Lee is no longer viewed exclusively as an infallible saint. In this connection I discussed the works of T.L. Connelley, Archer Jones, and Herman Hattaway. I closed by asserting that the popularity of the movie "Gettysburg" and the novel THE KILLER ANGELS have combined with the actions of the Longstreet Memorial Fund, the Longstreet Society of Gainesville, and the Longstreet Birthplace Marker Association of GA and SC, to accomplish more than Wert and I have in our biographies of Longstreet, because their actions are at the grassroots level. Since Longstreet's reputation was tarnished slowly, over time, at the grassroots level, it is only over time, at the grassroots level, that it will be restored. I hope that those who have worked hard to see an equestrian statue of Longstreet at Gettysburg will have enough enthusiasm left over to support the Longstreet Society's efforts to establish a Longstreet museum in Gainesville.
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