Helen Dortch Longstreet
Encyclopedia
Helen Dortch Longstreet (April 20, 1863 – May 3, 1962), known as the "Fighting Lady," was the second wife of Confederate
General
James Longstreet
. She earned her nickname from being a champion of causes such as preservation of the environment and civil rights. She is also remembered for her work as a Confederate memorialist and postmistress.
, Georgia
, and attended Georgia Baptist Female Seminary (now Brenau College) and the Notre Dame Convent in Maryland
. Having met Longstreet through her roommate, she married him on September 8, 1897, when she was just 34 and he was 76. She was widowed in 1904, childless.
Prior to marrying Longstreet, she was the first woman in Georgia to serve as Assistant State Librarian in 1894. She also authored the "Dortch Bill" (which became law in 1896) to allow a woman to hold the office of State Librarian.
Before and after becoming a widow, Helen Dortch Longstreet devoted much time to ensure that General Longstreet was accurately portrayed by history. In 1905, she documented her husband’s account of the Civil War
by publishing the book Lee and Longstreet at High Tide. Another important cause that she took up about 1911 was the creation of a state park at Tallulah Gorge
. Helen Longstreet was opposed to a plan by Georgia Power
to build a series of hydroelectric dams along the original course of the Tallulah River
and particularly concerned about the potential impact on the Tallulah Gorge. Although unsuccessful, her campaign was one of the first conservation movement
s in Georgia.
During World War II
she was a Rosie the Riveter
at the Bell Aircraft
plant in Atlanta. She said, "I was at the head of my class in riveting school. In fact I was the only one in it."
Helen Longstreet was also politically active. She became a member of the Progressive Party and supported Theodore Roosevelt
when he lost the Republican nomination to Taft
in 1912. In fact, she was a delegate to the Progressive Party convention in 1912. She ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign for governor of the State of Georgia against Herman Talmadge
in 1950.
She received a number of honors. In 1947, she became the first woman to have her portrait placed in the State Capitol. When the Tallulah Gorge State Park
was finally created in 1993, it was done in her honor and the trails in the park were named the "Helen Dortch Longstreet Trail System" in 1999. Helen Dortch Longstreet was inducted in the Georgia Women of Achievement in 1994.
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
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...
. She earned her nickname from being a champion of causes such as preservation of the environment and civil rights. She is also remembered for her work as a Confederate memorialist and postmistress.
Biography
Helen Dortch was born in CarnesvilleCarnesville, Georgia
Carnesville is a city in Franklin County, Georgia, United States. The population was 541 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Franklin County.-Geography:...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and attended Georgia Baptist Female Seminary (now Brenau College) and the Notre Dame Convent in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Having met Longstreet through her roommate, she married him on September 8, 1897, when she was just 34 and he was 76. She was widowed in 1904, childless.
Prior to marrying Longstreet, she was the first woman in Georgia to serve as Assistant State Librarian in 1894. She also authored the "Dortch Bill" (which became law in 1896) to allow a woman to hold the office of State Librarian.
Before and after becoming a widow, Helen Dortch Longstreet devoted much time to ensure that General Longstreet was accurately portrayed by history. In 1905, she documented her husband’s account of 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...
by publishing the book Lee and Longstreet at High Tide. Another important cause that she took up about 1911 was the creation of a state park at Tallulah Gorge
Tallulah Gorge
The Tallulah Gorge is a gorge that is formed by the Tallulah River cutting through the Tallulah Dome rock formation. The gorge is approximately long and features rocky cliffs up to high. Through it, a series of falls known as Tallulah Falls, drop a total of in one mile...
. Helen Longstreet was opposed to a plan by Georgia Power
Georgia Power
Georgia Power is an electric utility headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is the largest of the four electric utilities that are owned and operated by Southern Company....
to build a series of hydroelectric dams along the original course of the Tallulah River
Tallulah River
The Tallulah River is a river in Georgia and North Carolina. It begins in Clay County, North Carolina, near Standing Indian Mountain in the Southern Nantahala Wilderness and flows south into Georgia, crossing the state line into Towns County. The river then travels through Rabun County and ends in...
and particularly concerned about the potential impact on the Tallulah Gorge. Although unsuccessful, her campaign was one of the first conservation movement
Conservation movement
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....
s in Georgia.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she was a Rosie the Riveter
Rosie the Riveter
Rosie the Riveter is a cultural icon of the United States, representing the American women who worked in factories during World War II, many of whom produced munitions and war supplies. These women sometimes took entirely new jobs replacing the male workers who were in the military...
at the Bell Aircraft
Bell Aircraft
The Bell Aircraft Corporation was an aircraft manufacturer of the United States, a builder of several types of fighter aircraft for World War II but most famous for the Bell X-1, the first supersonic aircraft, and for the development and production of many important civilian and military helicopters...
plant in Atlanta. She said, "I was at the head of my class in riveting school. In fact I was the only one in it."
Helen Longstreet was also politically active. She became a member of the Progressive Party and supported Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
when he lost the Republican nomination to Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
in 1912. In fact, she was a delegate to the Progressive Party convention in 1912. She ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign for governor of the State of Georgia against Herman Talmadge
Herman Talmadge
Herman Eugene Talmadge was an American politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. He served as governor of Georgia briefly in 1947 and again from 1948 to 1955. His term was marked by his segregationist policies. After leaving office Talmadge was elected to the U.S...
in 1950.
She received a number of honors. In 1947, she became the first woman to have her portrait placed in the State Capitol. When the Tallulah Gorge State Park
Tallulah Gorge State Park
Tallulah Gorge State Park is a Georgia state park adjacent to Tallulah Falls, Georgia along the county line between Rabun and Habersham Counties. The park surrounds Tallulah Gorge, a deep gorge formed by the action of the Tallulah River, which runs along the floor of the gorge...
was finally created in 1993, it was done in her honor and the trails in the park were named the "Helen Dortch Longstreet Trail System" in 1999. Helen Dortch Longstreet was inducted in the Georgia Women of Achievement in 1994.