James Longstreet (1821–1904) was a Confederate general of the American Civil War. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy he served in the Mexican–American War, where he was wounded. In June 1861, he resigned his commission to join the Confederate Army. He significantly contributed to most major Confederate victories in the Eastern Theater, primarily as a corps commander under General Robert E. Lee. Longstreet's most controversial service was at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, where he disagreed with Lee and reluctantly supervised several unsuccessful attacks. Afterward, Longstreet was briefly sent to the Western Theater, but returned to the east in 1864, where he was seriously wounded by friendly fire, recovered and returned to the field. After the war he worked as a diplomat, civil servant, and administrator. In 1874 he led African-American militia troops against the White League, an anti-Reconstruction group. Many modern historians consider him among the war's most gifted commanders.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Longstreet

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1640:

A crowd of 1,500 people presented the Root and Branch petition to the Long Parliament, calling for abolishing the episcopacy of the Church of England. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_and_Branch_petition

1907:

The original Parliament House (modern building pictured) in Wellington, New Zealand, was destroyed by fire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_House,_Wellington

1925:

Pope Pius XI promulgated the encyclical Quas primas, establishing the Feast of Christ the King. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quas_primas

1981:

Salvadoran Civil War: About 900 civilians were killed by Salvadoran armed forces in an anti-guerrilla campaign. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Mozote_massacre

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

for the taking: Available; able to be taken without difficulty. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/for_the_taking

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Fools! Do you argue, that things ancient ought, on that account, to be true and noble! Fallacies and Falsehoods there were from time immemorial, and dare you argue that because these are ancient these should prevail? In ancient times, do you think that there was not the ignorant, and the shallow minded? And why after all should you embrace so fondly a carcass of dead thoughts. Live in the present and shape the future, do not be casting lingering looks to the distant past for the past has passed away, never again to return.   --Subramanya Bharathi https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Subramanya_Bharathi