Elizabeth R Varon explores the remarkable story of James Longstreet, the Confederate general who embraced the Reconstruction era

By Rob Attar

Published: Monday, 08 January 2024 at 07:48 AM


James Longstreet spent the American Civil War as one of the leading generals in the Confederate Army. But after 1865 he became a supporter of reconstruction and black voting, even leading an interracial force in battle against former Confederates in New Orleans. In this episode, Longstreet’s latest biographer, Elizabeth R Varon, talks to Rob Attar about his remarkable life and extraordinary change of heart.

Elizabeth R Varon is the author of Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South (Simon & Schuster, 2023)