James Longstreet, whom General Lee called his “Old War Horse,” was born in South Carolina on January 8, 1821, grew up at Augusta, and after his family moved to Alabama entered West Point from that state, graduating in 1842. He played a gallant role in the Mexican War, and in 1861 resigned from the United States Army to serve the Southern Confederacy. Under Lee, his capable performance of duty brought him rapid promotion to Lieutenant General. After the war, President Ulysses S. Grant, who had married Longstreet’s cousin Julia Dent, appointed him Surveyor of Customs at New Orleans. He also served as Supervisor of Internal Revenue, Postmaster at Gainesville, Minister to Turkey, United States Marshall, and United States Railway Commissioner. He first married Maria Louise Garland of Virginia on March 8, 1848, and later Helen Dortch of Atlanta on September 8, 1897. He died on January 2, 1904.