Lt. Gen. James Longstreet I don't like going in without Pickett. It's like going in with one boot off. I'll wait as long as I can before sending my boys in.
Played by Tom Berenger 
Gettysburg (1993) · 75 quotes
Gettysburg (1993) · 75 quotes
2nd most-quoted character in Gettysburg (1993): in 15 of its 75 quotes
Most scenes with: Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead (3), Maj. Gen. George Pickett (2), Lt. Col. Arthur Fremantle (2)
I guess we Southerners and you English have at least one thing in common. We'd rather lose the war than admit to the mistake.
No fifteen thousand men, ever made, can take that ridge.
More lines from Lt. Gen. James Longstreet
6 quotes Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Lt. Gen. James Longstreet We should've freed the slaves, then fired on Fort Sumter.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet If they get batteries up there, we're gonna need buckets to catch the lead.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Place the guns! Bring up the guns!
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet I must tell you now, I believe this attack will fail. No fifteen thousand men, ever made, can take that ridge.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet [to his spy, Harrison, just before Pickett's Charge]
You know what's gonna happen? I'll tell you what's gonna happen. Troops are now forming behind the line of trees. When they come out, they'll be under enemy long-range artillery fire. Solid shot. Percussion. Every gun they have. Troops will come out under fire with more than a mile to walk. And still, within the open field, among the range of aimed muskets. They'll be slowed by that fence out there, and the formation - what's left of it - will begin to come apart. When they cross that road, they'll be under short-range artillery. Canister fire. Thousands of little bits of shrapnel wiping the holes in the lines. If they get to the wall without breaking up, there won't be many left. A mathematical equation... But maybe, just maybe, our own artillery will break up their defenses. There's always that hope. [he sighs] That's Hancock out there, and he ain't gonna run. So it's mathematical after all. If they get to that road, or beyond it, we'll suffer over fifty percent casualties. But, Harrison...I don't believe my boys will reach that wall.
Scenes with Lt. Gen. James Longstreet
8 scenes Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Good Lord, George, what is that smell?
That's me. Ain't it lovely?
He got it off a dead Frenchman.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet You English had your own civil war once, didn't you?
Oh, that was ages ago. Wouldn't dream of it now. Cavaliers and Roundheads. "Off with his head, off with his head!" Heads lying about everywhere. One could hardly take a step without tripping over a fallen crown. We're much more civilized now, I assure you.
We have so much in common, your country and mine. I earnestly hope that we shall become allies.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Your government will never ally itself with a Confederacy that had the institution of slavery. You know that, and so do I.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet I've got some night work for you. Are you up for it?
Harrison "All the world will be in love with night, and pay no worship to the garish sun!"
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet When this is over, I do look forward to seeing you on the stage.
Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood
General. Look here. The ground is strewn with boulders. The soldiers up there are entrenched all over the ground. And there are guns in the rocks. Every move I make is observed. If I attack as ordered, I lose half my division. And they'll still be looking down the throats at us from that rocky hill, right there. We must move around to the right, sir, and take them from the rear.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Sam, the commanding general will not allow a flanking movement around those hills. I argued it yesterday, I argued it all morning, hell, I've been arguing against any attack at all. I can't call this one off. You know it.
Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood
Let me move move up the big round hill to the south. There's nobody on that. Now if I could get a battery up there...
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet There ain't enough time. You'd have to cut down trees to place your artillery. It'd be dark before you were in action. On the other hand, if they get batteries up there, we're gonna need buckets to catch the lead. You've got to take that hill.
Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood
They don't even need guns to defend that. All they need to do is roll rocks down on you.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Just take it.
Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood
General, I do this under protest.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Sam, you are the best I got. Now, sir, if you are ready, why don't you take that hill?
Well, what do you hear about Sam Hood?
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet May lose an arm.
Dick Garnett ain't fit. Can't hardly walk. Thing is, if there's a fight, he can't stand to stay out of it. But if you ordered him to stay out of it... Huh. Don't suppose you could do that.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Mm-mm.
Irish Tenor
[in the background]
Kathleen Mavourneen, the gray dawn is breaking. The horn of the hunter is heard on the hill. The lark from the light... [continues song through conversation]
Lt. General James Longstreet
Mm-hmm. That boy can sing. That's "Kathleen Mavourneen".
Lt. Gen James Longstreet [lighting pipe]
Ran into him today. He's out there, 'bout a mile or so. Just a mile or so. He was... tough. Very tough today.
He's the best they got. God don't make 'em any better, and that's a fact. Well, I'd like to go over and see him as soon as I can. Last time I saw Win, we played that song, that very song. Back in California, we were all together for the last time. Before we broke up. Spring of '61. [pauses] Almira Hancock. You remember Almira, Hancock's wife? Beautiful woman. Most perfect woman I ever saw. They were a beautiful couple. Beautiful... Garnett was with me that night. A lot of fellows from the old outfit. People standin' around singin'. In the blue uniform. We were leavin', the next day. Some goin' North, some goin' South. Splittin' up. [looks up] A soldier's farewell. "Goodbye. Good luck. I'll see you in hell." [chuckles] You remember that? [sighs] Towards the end of the evening, we all sat around the piano. And Mira played that- that song there, that was the one she played. "May be for years, may be forever..." I'll never forget that. [laughs] You know how it was, Pete. [sits down, voice husky] Win was like a brother to me... Remember? [Longstreet nods] Towards the end of the evening... [shakes his head] things got a little rough. We all began to- Well, there were a lot of tears. [takes several shaky breaths] I went over to Hancock.. I-I took him by the shoulder. I said, "Win... so help me... if I ever raise my hand against you... may God strike me dead!" [pauses, quickly wipes his eyes] I ain't seen him since. He was at Malvern Hill, White Oak Swamp, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg... [sighs] One of these days... I will see him, I'm afraid. Across that small, deadly space. I thought about sittin' this one out, but I can't do that. That wouldn't be right, either. [wipes his eyes again] I guess not. [nods] Thank you, Peter. I had to talk about that.
Lt. Gen James Longstreet Yup.
[stands, turns slightly]
Um, I'm sending Almira Hancock a small package to be opened in the event of my death. [takes package from coat, holds it towards Longstreet] You'll drop by and see her, after all this is over... Won't you, Pete? [Longstreet takes the package] Thank you.
Lt. Col. Edward Porter Alexander
The longer we delay, the more time the Federals have to strengthen their own line. And even if we recover more supplies from the ordnance trains, how much more damage can we inflict on them then they on us? They're bringing in fresh Batteries as quickly as we drive them off.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Just get some more ammunition and keep it hot! I cannot send in Pickett's division, or the others, until we clear some of those guns off that ridge!
[Director's CutĖ Pickett has a private word with Longstreet]
Well, sir, you are looking fine.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Lookin' lovely yourself, George.
General... uh, no reflection on you, sir, but, well...you know, my division, my Virginia boys, we haven't seen all that much action for a long time. I mean, well, we weren't all that engaged at Fredericksburg; we missed Chancellorsville altogether, off on some piddlin' affair. Now they took two of my brigades, Corse and Jenkins, and sent them off to guard Richmond? I mean, Richmond, of all places? And now, sir, do you know where I have been placed in the line of march? Last, sir. That's where I am. Exactly last. I'm bringin' up the damn rear, beg pardon, sir. You see, my boys are beginning to feel a trifle disgusted at this attitude towards them as fightin' men. My boys --
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet George...
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Please.
Oh, I sure don't mean to imply you, sir. No. Hell no, sir. No, it's just, uh... well, the bureaucrats. See, I was just... I was hoping, sir, that you could talk to somebody about this arrangement of the troops.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Would you like me to move the whole army to the side so you can go first?
Sir? [chuckles] Now that you mention it...
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet There is no plot, George. It's just the way things fell out. I mean, hell, look at it this way. If the army has to turn around, fight its way back... well, you'll be first in line.
Yes... yes, I suppose that is true, isn't it? You understand, sir. It's just that this whole damn war might be over after one more bout, and my Virginia boys will have missed most of it.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Yeah, I know. How far back are they?
Chambersburg. A hard day's march, sir.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet Mm-hmm... I know I can count on you, George, when the time comes. And it will come. It will come.
[walks up]
Sorry to butt in, but they're calling for George over at the poker table. Your fame, sir, has preceded you.
Well... thank you, General. [shakes Longstreet's hand] Well...cheerio, fellas.
Don't forget to bring your money.
Other characters in Gettysburg
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Jeff Daniels
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead
Richard Jordan
Gen. Robert E. Lee
Martin Sheen
Maj. Gen. George Pickett
Stephen Lang
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain
C. Thomas Howell
Pvt. Buster Kilrain
Kevin Conway
Lt. Col. Arthur Fremantle
James Lancaster
Brig. Gen. John Buford
Sam Elliott
