American history offer. His word john adams, john republicanism an obstacle to stand before us was published by a Massachusetts Historical Society in 2014. His his book length study on the general james long straight performances battle of gettysburg was public this year but Macfarlane Press currently he lives in marilyn with his wife and children without any further introduction, i would like you to present you to mr. Cory pfarr thank you very much. Thanks to the Gettysburg Heritage Center for having me here. We will get right into it just after janes longstreet nine new york we will begin regarded by future generations it asserted quote that we dont think that history will sustain conventions of mr. Janes longstreet critics he will be seen as an ablest who fought on the the reason we can look back today the reason this bolton is because it was written after a group of ex confederate officers, including John B Gordon and others had wade had seen fit waging a post war camping of allegations against longstreet conduct particularly his performance at harrisburg. Beginning in 18 71 million a year after leads death and not before, there was a chance that lee might come to the defense of his senior lieutenant with whom he had a close relationship before and you are this group of officers saw fit to do to defend his record to the almost extensively that most Critical Engagement of the war that confederacy high tide was at that if the battle of Northern Virginia the saudi very well might have won the war. With his belief firmly in mind they realized these action and decision that gettysburg were most vulnerable to criticism these men simply could never allow lead to be blamed for what he considered to be the confederate most consequential loss. With his goal in mind, they set out to find someone else to carry the burden of the defeat in pennsylvania. It will not take long to find that person enter janes longstreet the second in command in gettysburg. Who after the war became a southern republican while urging of reconciliation with the north and question leads judgment in interviews for the book the campaigns of the army of the potomac. For these reasons he turned out to be the post war ex confederate groups perfect candidate, lowhanging proverbial fruit on whom they could hoist the blame for a while the south lost the battle of gettysburg. Essentially, long streets decision to become a post war republican created a virtual environment for criticism because of his unpopular political decision, accusations leveled against him could more easily be fabricated as truth. As the grooves general narrative when, it long street was a trader to the south after the war, he might have been wondering it and especially a gettysburg. The groups first salvo against him and his actions i gettysburg was that that lee had ordered a long streak to execute an attack against the federal left at sunrise july 2nd. This was the bunk as early as the main 1870s, largely is the result of several actor ex confederate officers writing letters and say they had never heard of a sunset sunrise attack plan whatsoever. The group began to form more accusations against long street performance. The major one was that his alleged natural snow slowness let this late arrival on the ball battlefield, preventing lead from launching an attack on senator hill in the evening hours. He dragged his feet during morning a july 2nd because lee did not adopt his tactical decisions, delaying singlehandedly delaying the confederate attack into the afternoon hours. He ignored leads alleged orders during the overnight hours to resume the attack against the federal federal says he plans poorly and limited the execution limiting chances of success against the federal center. Much of what ive described so far about the post war accusations leveled against demonstrated gettysburg performances probably well known to most of you what. Fall is probably much well less well known but the consequences significance to todays understanding of the gettysburg battle. Indeed while the new york tribune and several other post death tribute along street exuded confidence that future histories would expose the post war agenda driven accusations against the generals action at jet gettysburg for the falsehoods and lies and the overwhelmingly, were their predictions have largely gone unfulfilled over the decades. To the contrary, most historians from 1904 to the present they have inadvertently or deliberately perpetuated the post war the group the emotional agenda. As will be shown, a number of historians have regularly engaged in the following lapses of historical integrity in addressing long streets gettysburg performance specifically. Jerry primary source material that supported their argument while ignoring primary source material that discounted. Neglected to cross reference time or resources to make an accurate in the form documents to the merits and reliability of each source used. Misrepresented sources entirely. And often stretch the bounds a historical interpretation in advance late in the supposition collectively, all of these areas over the decades of misconstrued long streets actions at gettysburg and because of this by the publication the hundreds of books on gettysburg, fashioned an incomplete history of the confederate side of the battle. The first major error of historical matt another stop it, has been many historians cherry pick primary sources that support their argument while being a unaware of the ignoring sources that contradict or claim. There has been no better example of his strength and handling of his march and counter march on the afternoon of july 2nd. To briefly bring this topic, sometime between 12 and 1 pm, his two divisions set out for the confederate. Lee directed they should advance via around conceal from the federal armys view. Given his this directive, wants long Street League division under hood, under the reach Black Horse Tavern they had to halt or be seen by Little Round Top messages were sent to long street who proceeded to the head of the column and consulted with mike laws who suggested a counter march based on a reckoning sauce he had personally conducted in the Morning Hours. Over the decades many historians have solely relied on a select post war statement made by samuel johnston, one of leaves engineers who had led a faulty Early Morning recon on july 2nd that produce the mistaken impression that there was no federal troop activity south of senator hill setting in motion the confederates misconceived assault plan to attack up the emits bergh road, he proceeded to carry a additional reconciles missions one intended to find a concealed marching rogue the roads would have to move and of quote. Despite johnston clear affirmation he investigated roads to the right historians have neglected to draw attention to it. To the contrary, most historians typically typically only mentioned johnstons Early Morning reconnaissance effort likely to allow the dubious followup assertion that he would he never ordered johnston to gothic or concede route to the road. He was merely there with and was merely there to record to support with knowledge of roads in the area. The fight may clause post for assertion provided vital corroborating evidence historians have been hesitant asylum narratives on the topic. Even though modern historian and long long streak critic has admitted that on this topic and several other topics, the resulting lay key testimony is left out. The fact of the matter is make law has confirmed johnston claim that he conducted a Reconnaissance Mission specifically to examine the roads to the run, contending quote generally then remarked he had ordered a reconnaissance for the purpose of finding out a way to go into position without being seen by the enemy, and i must hold myself in readiness to move, unquote. Make laws also confirmed long street after battle report and post war claim that johnston was hand selected by lead to drive, to guide the first Court Division to the right. Quote at length, my recollection is that it was 1 pm. Captain johnston of general lee staff came to me and said he was ordered to conduct me on march. My command was not once but in motion, captain johnston in myself riding some distance ahead. While ignoring that testimony entirely 20th century historians like clifford out a, modern historians like robert crick have based their claim that lee never intended for johnston they got long streets column solely another common johnston made in post war years about having quote no idea i had a great confidence of the great lead to set, the two greatly to such an extent that he would give me an army corps without move when moving within two miles of the enemy line. A some now believe that the officer hooley attached to examine the roads to the right to to discover a concealed route for a long history collar, indeed the officer who wouldve presents the most knowledge of these roads would never have been ordered by lead to guy the divisions blur attack. Furthermore, there is some just the musthave leave that although it has been well documented that during the beginning of the march lee illustrated they rolled together towards a middle of the call and a commanding generals of us im a simultaneously convinced last year will be leaning the column and decided to say nothing about hit about it to his subordinate. Students of the world to completely discount long streets accounts along with johnstons reconnaissance statement while being cognizant at large streets after about a report claim that engineers sent by the commanding general and myself was ready to provide a commanding general himself just after the. Battle historians have also selectively but their faith in johnson supposed to our comments when it comes to another controversial topic namely long streets decision not to use a notorious path across fields near Black Horse Tavern that alexander is gone have used to get a position earlier in the day. Historians from Douglas Freeman to jeffrey worth have alleged johnson but quote when we reached the men of the road i call the general launch streets attention to the hill over which you would have to pass in full view of the enemy into a rude across the field shorter than the road and completely hidden from the enemies observation. In cherrypicking the recollections historians have been unaware of or ignored critical details on the accounts of my, clause alexander, along street while overlooking the obvious inaccuracy of johnson statement. It is well documented in long streets after battle report that he was not in the head of the column when it reached back was tavern. Additionally, if some are inclined to not believe long street, nicholas clearly stated in his account he was with johnston at the head of the column, and at one point even riding with him 200 yards ahead of it. The claws never mention law streets present the head of the call and during the march, they never eluded anything about johnson suggesting a path across fields. Further more, in a pr League Sanders multiple accounts of the black horse to iran seen, he writes of arriving there the head of the call in and learning that long street had been sent for with several messages. Naturally, if messages are being sent to an officer, that means he was not near the head of the column where the divisions halted. In short though many historians have tried to convince students of the war the johnston to launch about a path across feel it is clear law street was nowhere near johnston at the time the captain alleged he spoke with the first court commander. To address yet another blatant example of many historians tendency to selectively apply sources and only support allegations a long long sleeves we need to shift to the overnight hours of july 2nd. Increasingly over the decades, along street critics and historians have expanded on this topic in allege a long streak undoubtedly received orders firmly during the overnight hours to attack in the morning of july 3rd. The claim is based on a little more than alexandras post war accounts, fighting for the confederacy. In this account alexander alleges that over 90 visited first Corps Headquarters modern historians have solely applied this one account from alexander to try to convince students along street undoubtedly received attack orders during the overnight hours when they voted forgot to include in their narrative on epa alexander himself and to other post war accounts either contradicted the details or outright stated lost or did not receive orders. Most notably in his other major was in memoirs Alexander Rob johnson had been ordered under the impression that long streak would attack at the same our. In fact, long street received no order during the nine so naturally students of the war will likely ask why ringing the such a difference between these accounts. Especially when historians have usually heralded alexander as one of the most consistent riders. The difference can be explained where alexander was fighting with the confederacy while nicaragua in 1897. He was going entirely and memory while he wrote entirely and memory memoirs at the confederate when he returned to the United States and revised this recollections for publication in 1907. Even greater important is when examining the claims on this issue do not measure up what is known alexander solely mentions and then the first plan for july 3rd which was in other words he intended lee intended to use make law to supported not spearheaded alexander also mentions leads fighting for the federal crown account to the left of the Peach Orchard, from the confederate perspective, which does also does not size up what is known about lease initial plan for july 3rd, which was to be directed to the right of the Peach Orchard from the confederate perspective. Indeed, perhaps it has not been sufficiently pointed out that leaves initial plan for july 3rd was essentially a repeat performance at what had already been attempted a second, ill be it against them even more solidified and rainforest federal line. It was not until lean met with a long streak on Seminary Ridge that the first come first Corps Commander pointed out that wouldnt clause were the right flying that lead changed his lantern on a dime to the multi core petty grew tremble venture against lastly for certainly if anyone had been warned by the attack to the left center it wouldve been one of the law Streets Division commanders tasked with executing the assault. Then because collapsed corroborate . No. In fact he had no knowledge of Early Morning attack, writing quote what the next move was to be was unknown to me. I was not notify that it wasnt contemplation to make any further attack by hoods or my division, nor was not informed it was an intention to solve the enemy center with tickets division, with the assistance of true some other core. And of quote. The second laps when addressing along streams guesswork was formed has been neglecting the cross reference primary sources to determine the reliability of each source. Resulting in the extend first example of this particular type of error involves his historians of frequently employed in 1905 account from james power smith who served as an aging the battle, to support the longstanding allegation that long street was a slow, mover especially specifically a gettysburg took longer to reach the battlefield than expected. Smith claimed in his account that he was presently on the evening there of july 1st when the commanding general was considering following his success on the outskirts of gettysburg by attacking the federals at senator hill. Apparently smith informed lee that senator hill could be taken off supported by hills core lee had the divisions of johnson, early, tender and anderson in the immediate vicinity to precipitates attack. Smith contended that lee immediately turned his attention to live streamed and asked whether his men had arrived at the field. Long street reported that his divisions were a few miles away, but offered to push up his leading brigades and all possible haste if necessary. So this recollection of leaves reply had been voted by critics along who over the years historians have claimed this was a valid rebuke of long stream, and have used it to further claims that leads old warhorse was obstinate and slow. What is often not discussed by these historians is that it was a very simple reason for why law street had been delayed on that day which is discoverable in post war memoirs memoirs of alexander the least battle reported to name a few examples. Given confusion as to whether the army was that sandal the wagon trains travel much further west the necessary and a morning of july 1st that it in greenwood. Lee in long street were together at that moment, at the former instructed the latter to allow the second core unit the past first, further delaying the advance of law street score. Therefore, any statement lost been made to leave that evening about his court ability would have been patently obviously. Despite minister can advised agenda, it is clear the whereabouts of law streets core nothing to do on july 1st with a name slowness on the part of the first Corps Commander. Simply much more to do with the bottleneck state of the chambers bird hike. Another source used without cross checking against other references as one post war recollection from long street a gilbert modestly sorrel. He wrote as a general common significantly non energy lie second section we could discovered along street did not want to fight of the on the ground not to be made willing lee refused to change but not just a former failed to conceal some anger it was apparent apathy in his movements. They like the fire and point of his usual bearing on the battlefield on a quote. It is only later and this chapter that surround describes what he believes long streets movement were apathetic. He wrote quote we were too late and of quote an attack powerful at 4 pm was different than the expectation of one in the four noon and of course. Therefore, we can deduce thats that he limited this claim to the Morning Hours and not to the execution of the attack in the afternoon hours which he describes is d