Augustus Baldwin Longstreet
Encyclopedia
Augustus Baldwin Longstreet (September 22, 1790-July 9, 1870) was an American
lawyer, minster, educator, and humorist, known for his book Georgia Scenes.
, a son of the inventor William Longstreet
. He graduated at Yale University
in 1813, studied law in Litchfield, Connecticut
, and was admitted to the bar in Richmond County, Georgia
. He soon moved and rose to eminence as a lawyer in Greensboro, Georgia
. He represented Greene County
in the state legislature in 1821, and in 1822 became a district judge in Ocmulgee. After several years as a judge, he declined re-election and resumed his legal practice in Augusta, did editorial work, and established the Sentinel, which soon merged with the Chronicle (1838). In 1838, he became a Methodist minister
. During this period of his ministry, the town was visited with yellow fever, but he remained at his post, ministering to the sick and dying.
In 1839, he was made president of Emory College
.
After nine years he accepted the presidency of Centenary College
, Louisiana
, then of the University of Mississippi
, where he stayed for six years, after which he resigned, and became a planter
, but in 1857 became president of South Carolina College
. Just before the Civil War
, he returned to his old presidency in Mississippi.
In politics he belonged to the Jefferson
ian school of strict construction and states rights. He made speeches on all occasions through his life. “I have heard him,” writes one who knew him, “respond to a serenade, preach a funeral sermon, deliver a college commencement address, and make a harangue over the pyrotechnic glorifications of seceding states. He could never be scared up without a speech.”
During his years as a Southern Methodist minister Longstreet preached a doctrine of secession and defended slavery. He was conspicuous in the discussions that led to a rupture of his church. Scholar Lewis M. Purifoy notes that "Augustus B. Longstreet, in a baccalaureate address to the University of South Carolina graduating class of 1859, urged the young men of his audience to defend Southern rights to the utmost. While they should not strive to break up the Union, they should not ‘make a dishonorable surrender of the thousandth part of the mill more to save it.’ He defended slavery mainly on the ground that freeing [slaves] would be ruinous to Southern society; and the burden of his speech was that the South had suffered long and grievously at the hand of the North. Longstreet assured the class that secession would not lead to war, but, if it should, a united South would win.
At an early age, he began to write for the press, and his pen was never idle. His chief periodical contributions are to be found in The Methodist Quarterly, Southern Literary Messenger
, The Southern Field and Fireside, The Magnolia, and The Orion, and include “Letters to Clergymen of the Northern Methodist Church” and “Letters from Georgia to Massachusetts.” His fame is based, however, on a single book, of which he was the author: Georgia Scenes (1835), originally published in newspapers, then gathered into a volume at the South, and finally issued in 1840 in New York
. It featured realistic sketches of Southern humor. It is said that he disavowed the second edition (1867) and tried to destroy the first.
Augustus was a mentor for his nephew James Longstreet
, and was a long time friend and associate of John C. Calhoun
.
He died in Oxford, Mississippi
and is buried in section one of St. Peter's Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, minster, educator, and humorist, known for his book Georgia Scenes.
Biography
Longstreet was born in Augusta, GeorgiaAugusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, a son of the inventor William Longstreet
William Longstreet
William Longstreet was an inventor. He made a steamboat and improved the cotton gin.As a boy, he moved to Augusta, Georgia...
. He graduated at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1813, studied law in Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is known as an affluent summer resort. The population was 8,316 at the 2000 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town...
, and was admitted to the bar in Richmond County, Georgia
Richmond County, Georgia
Richmond County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is one of the original counties of Georgia, created February 5, 1777. As of 2010, the population was 200,549. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 199,486....
. He soon moved and rose to eminence as a lawyer in Greensboro, Georgia
Greensboro, Georgia
Greensboro is a town in Greene County, Georgia, United States. Its population was 3,238 at the time of the 2000 U.S. census. This town is the county seat of Greene County.-Geography:Greensboro is located at .According to the U.S...
. He represented Greene County
Greene County, Georgia
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 3, 1786. As of 2000, the population is 14,406. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 15,662. The county seat is Greensboro...
in the state legislature in 1821, and in 1822 became a district judge in Ocmulgee. After several years as a judge, he declined re-election and resumed his legal practice in Augusta, did editorial work, and established the Sentinel, which soon merged with the Chronicle (1838). In 1838, he became a Methodist minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
. During this period of his ministry, the town was visited with yellow fever, but he remained at his post, ministering to the sick and dying.
In 1839, he was made president of Emory College
Oxford College of Emory University
Oxford College is a two-year residential college specializing in the foundations of liberal arts education, and is one of nine divisions of Emory University. The college is located on Emory University's original 1836 campus in Oxford, Georgia, 38 miles east of the main Atlanta campus...
.
After nine years he accepted the presidency of Centenary College
Centenary College of Louisiana
Centenary College of Louisiana is a primarily undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college in Shreveport, Louisiana. The college is one of the founding members of the Associated Colleges of the South, a pedagogical organization consisting of sixteen Southern liberal arts colleges...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, then of the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, where he stayed for six years, after which he resigned, and became a planter
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
, but in 1857 became president of South Carolina College
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
. Just before the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he returned to his old presidency in Mississippi.
In politics he belonged to the Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
ian school of strict construction and states rights. He made speeches on all occasions through his life. “I have heard him,” writes one who knew him, “respond to a serenade, preach a funeral sermon, deliver a college commencement address, and make a harangue over the pyrotechnic glorifications of seceding states. He could never be scared up without a speech.”
During his years as a Southern Methodist minister Longstreet preached a doctrine of secession and defended slavery. He was conspicuous in the discussions that led to a rupture of his church. Scholar Lewis M. Purifoy notes that "Augustus B. Longstreet, in a baccalaureate address to the University of South Carolina graduating class of 1859, urged the young men of his audience to defend Southern rights to the utmost. While they should not strive to break up the Union, they should not ‘make a dishonorable surrender of the thousandth part of the mill more to save it.’ He defended slavery mainly on the ground that freeing [slaves] would be ruinous to Southern society; and the burden of his speech was that the South had suffered long and grievously at the hand of the North. Longstreet assured the class that secession would not lead to war, but, if it should, a united South would win.
At an early age, he began to write for the press, and his pen was never idle. His chief periodical contributions are to be found in The Methodist Quarterly, Southern Literary Messenger
Southern Literary Messenger
The Southern Literary Messenger was a periodical published in Richmond, Virginia, from 1834 until June 1864. Each issue carried a subtitle of "Devoted to Every Department of Literature and the Fine Arts" or some variation and included poetry, fiction, non-fiction, reviews, and historical notes...
, The Southern Field and Fireside, The Magnolia, and The Orion, and include “Letters to Clergymen of the Northern Methodist Church” and “Letters from Georgia to Massachusetts.” His fame is based, however, on a single book, of which he was the author: Georgia Scenes (1835), originally published in newspapers, then gathered into a volume at the South, and finally issued in 1840 in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It featured realistic sketches of Southern humor. It is said that he disavowed the second edition (1867) and tried to destroy the first.
Augustus was a mentor for his nephew James Longstreet
James Longstreet
James Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse." He served under Lee as a corps commander for many of the famous battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia in the...
, and was a long time friend and associate of John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
.
He died in Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
and is buried in section one of St. Peter's Cemetery.
External links
- Georgia Scenes, Characters, Incidents, &c. in the First Half Century of the Republic - digitalized at the University of North Carolina Website
- Master William Mitten, A Youth of Brilliant Talents Who was Ruined By Bad Luck - digitalized at the University of North Carolina Website.