Longstreet was described even at West Point as the "dour dutchman". His father died when he was 12 or 13. He was hearing impared and was deeply affected by the deaths of his children. Old Pete always seemed older than his years.
Early's vitriol was not limited to Longstreet. He was quoted from his deathbed, "I look forward to heaven and seening Bobby Lee and Stonewall Jackson once more, but if the Almighty decides otherwise I hope to get to hell in time to see the devil burn that damned blue coat off of Joe Wheeler".