Book Description
Many historians have touched on Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's relationship with African Americans in light of his Christian faith. Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend explores an aspect of his life that is both intriguing and enlightening: his conversion to Christianity and how it affected his relationship with Southern blacks. Covering the origin of Jackson's awakening to faith, the book challenges some widely held beliefs, including the assumption that this spiritual journey did not begin until his adulthood. Furthermore, Richard G. Williams Jr. examines a paradox of Jackson's life: his conversion to Christianity was encouraged by Southern slaves. That faith would one day lead Jackson to minister to other slaves through his Sunday school class.
Exploring in depth Jackson's now famous "Colored Sabbath School," Williams reveals—for the first time—the influence his efforts had on subsequent generations of African Americans. Using original documents, interviews, historical resources, and heretofore unpublished letters and photographs, Williams confirms the veneration with which blacks from Virginia esteemed Jackson, even years after his death—and some to this day. An interview with and photographs of two spiritual descendants of Jackson's black Sunday-school class adds a real-life connection to this fascinating dimension of the famed general's life.
The book also examines Jackson's documented youthful pangs of conscience regarding the illiteracy of American slaves—and how Providence ultimately came to use him to have a lasting and positive impact on Southern blacks.
Customer Reviews:
Engaging and compelling.......2007-05-17
Reviewed by Mark A. Raborn for Reader Views (5/07)
"Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend," Richard G. Williams Jr.'s biographical offering of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, is an intimate and very interesting portrayal of Jackson's Christian efforts and influence on others around him, most remarkably the enslaved Negroes of his era. Expertly written and splendidly researched, Williams reveals a portion of Jackson's character that is predictably amiss in much of modern academia. Indeed, I remember learning about the premature death of Jackson, the brilliant military strategist, who was shot by his own forces; however, I only learned of his enthusiasm for Christ while reading this work.
Williams presents Jackson as a spiritual philanthropist who worked in earnest to bring salvation to his fellow man, relating numerous accounts of his Christian witness to those in bondage. However, this writing is not only a testimony of Christian faith, but a valuable historical chronicle of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's life and character, both as an individual and as a professional soldier. Williams takes the reader into Jackson's world with such clarity and ease that it would seem he was actually there, pen in hand, throughout the journey of Jackson from orphaned child to Major General; through mortality and burial and a legacy of character, faith and bravery that transcends the years.
Of Jackson's work with the Rockbridge Bible Society (the "genesis of Jackson's black Sunday School class"), Williams writes (as quoted from one Robert Lewis Dabney, a contemporary of Jackson): "The free blacks of the quarters, all of whom he had visited in their humble dwellings, and encouraged to give a pittance of their earnings to print Bibles. He argued that these small sums were better spent thus than in drink or tobacco; that the giving of them would elevate their self-respect, and enhance their own interest in the Holy Book."
Williams goes on to write: "One can picture the devout and zealous Presbyterian deacon (Jackson) knocking respectfully and confidently at the door of a free black's shanty, hat in hand, perhaps becoming a little doubtful about soliciting funds from such impoverished members of society. After noticing the poor condition of the humble home, somewhat ashamed, Jackson may have considered turning and walking away before the door opened. Imagine Jackson describing the work of the Bible society to these illiterate blacks: the publication of tracts and books for Sabbath schools and education for the ministry. He would be soliciting donations for reading materials from those who could not read." Scenarios like this certainly offer one a different and, perhaps, a clearer perspective on the life and character of Stonewall Jackson.
Williams' style is engaging and compelling: offering the reader a sense that you really come to "know" Stonewall Jackson as a person, a friend and as a fellow Christian believer. I highly recommend "Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend" to anyone with an interest in extremely well-written historical accounts with an uplifting, positive tone.
Proud to be a Virginian.......2007-04-20
This is an excellent book about a side that most people do not know about Stonewall Jackson. Not only was he a great general, but he was also a great man and christian. I found this book easy to read and really enjoyed it.
Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend.......2007-03-29
I find this book extremely interesting. The other side of General T. Jackson and the work he accomplished within the Confederacy. A must for the students of Stonewall Jackson.
Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend.......2007-01-11
This is an excellent work on the in-depth Christian character of Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson. Mr. Williams has obviously spent countless hours gleaning the information contained in this volume. His interviews with several direct links to the Lexington Colored Sabbath School add just the right touch to tie all the information together.
I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking information on the true character of T.J. (Stonewall) Jackson.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent insight into the way Thomas Jackson became "Stonewall"
- History at its Finest.
- Great, but needs better maps
- AN OUTSTANDING BIOGRAPHY OF LEE'S BEST LIEUTENANT!
- PRAYER WARRIOR
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Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend
James Robertson
Manufacturer: MacMillan Reference Books
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ASIN: 0028646851 |
Amazon.com
A distinguished Civil War historian unravels the complex character of the Confederacy's greatest general. Drawing on previously untapped manuscript sources, the author refutes such long-standing myths as Stonewall Jackson's obsessive eating of lemons and gives a three-dimensional account of the profound religious faith frequently caricatured as grim Calvinism. Though the author capably covers the battles that made Jackson a legend--Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, etc.--he emphasizes "the life story of an extraordinary man." The result is a biography that will fascinate even those allergic to military history.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent insight into the way Thomas Jackson became "Stonewall".......2007-09-13
This is a great book that helps its readers understand how a poor orphan from Virginia became arguably the greatest general in American history.
History at its Finest........2007-07-29
It is clear that this book was a labor of love to its author. Robertson presents Jackson in a fair light that draws out all his eccentricities and quirks while also presenting his military genius and moral fortitude. The book is well written and thoroughly researched. Upon completion of reading this book you will feel that you knew the man.
Great, but needs better maps.......2007-07-08
If you want a thorough and highly readable book on Jackson, this is the one. The prose of its 700+ pages read like a good novel and keep you interested. My only comlaint is with the quality and quantity of maps. There are too few and those that exist lack details. Trying to follow Jackson's travels using the maps is well nigh impossible because most of the places mentioned in the text are not on the few maps present.
AN OUTSTANDING BIOGRAPHY OF LEE'S BEST LIEUTENANT!.......2007-07-08
He may have had humble beginnings in rural western Virginia, but Thomas Jonathan Jackson was destined for greatness. Caring, fearless and compassionate, but also hard, ruthless and cunning, Jackson became one of the greatest leaders in American and world history, and would forever be known as "the Mighty Stonewall."
Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr., one of the country's leading Civil War historians, give us a fascinating look at one of the greatest leaders in American military history. This fascinating account sifts through the legends and myths to present the real Jackson, a man full of paradoxes; a man who could be ruthless and cruel on the battlefield, but was also a devout Christian, and a loving husband and father. Robertson also presents exciting accounts of the battles that made him famous, while also putting us on an emotional level with the man, something that even the best of fiction fails to do sometimes.
Without a doubt, Robertson has written the definitive history of the life of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Historians and non-historians will find much to appreciate. Don't let the epic length scare you away; it's a great read that all should enjoy!
Grade: A+
PRAYER WARRIOR.......2007-05-27
"Yell like Furies!" Stonewall commanded and the most raw and famous, yet to be recorded, most dreaded and terrible battle cry was born.
Robertson's monumental work on Stonewall Jackson will stand the test of time as the most accurate account of this strange, enigmatic, but charismatic VMI professor. His whole life is lovingly told, his character accurately analyzed. His "Bibliography" is 25 pages long, his "Notes" 135 pages. I cried the last two chapters. Do they make men like this anymore? Maybe at West Point where he went to college, but nowhere I've been looking. I cried and cried.
"Shh. The general is praying," one of his barefoot, beloved soldiers would exclaim. And everyone would be still and silent.
I'll always remember the silent, beautiful valley I beheld at Blacksburg, from my motel room early in the morning, before I moved up north to Massachusetts. Little did I know that 15 years later, these silent towns would be terrorized by a lone, crazed college killer at the very college where Professor Robertson teaches Civil War history at Virginia Tech. He is a well decorated Civil War scholar who's received numerous awards for his research. I've read elsewhere that he decided to become a civil war historian during his Air Force tour during the Korean War. "You may be what ever you will resolve to be", is an oft quoted Jackson phrase which can be found in Robertson's "Stonewall Jackson's Book of Maxims". And so Robertson followed this prescription.
Stonewall Jackson had the most christian command of anyone in the civil war. He hand picked his commanders, many of whom were either ministers themselves or were ministers' sons. "Rejoice in that day when they cast out your name as evil", Christ foretold. I don't think there was ever a more Christ-led soldier that has EVER lived on the face of this earth. Everything Jackson did was accepted by him as G-d's will. G-d's will was sought through daily prayer. Thomas Jonathan Jackson's life was a testimony to His great G-d. He was unassuming in character and dress. He never became arrogant, nor basked in any of his accomplishments, he was simply doing G-d's will. Anyone would have mistaken Jackson as a simple farmer by his bearing as Robertson reveals from soldiers' written descriptions of him. (What a hothead he was in combat though with all that artillery knowledge inside that Scots-Irish noggin). Who in their last hours would talk about the Amalekites in the bible and talk about how soldiers ought to observe the sabbath??!!
I learned in my 7 grade history class that the South had the best commanders on the field. Poor guys. They learned to do much more with much less and manage to scrape by every time while they sent tens of thousands of yankees scrambling for home. I loved J.E.B. Stuart and the contrast so obvious between Stonewall Jackson and himself that Robertson reveals. The colorful cavalryman was the only person who could make Stonewall Jackson laugh when he was about his field command. Stonewall was usually very quiet, focussed, and stern at those times. In Robertson's "Acknowledgments", he mentions that he, Emory Thomas, a J.E.B. Stuart biographer, and several other Civil War historians, meet yearly on the banks of the New River in southwest Virginiia to share their research. Sounds like a grand time to me.
A Union soldier spoke of the problems of command within their ranks. Following their Port Republic fiasco, he wrote that they had 5 commanders all of whom were "equal in rank and envious of each other's reputation. Neither will do anything which would reflect credit on the other. Each one desires all the glory himself." As the union army retreated, Maj. Gen. Freemont cast his last parting shots on the make shift hospitals. Later when Maj. Gen. Shields asked that they be allowed to attend their wounded and bury their dead. Stonewall "tartly refused. The wounded were already receiving care... the dead buried." Jackson then considered it proper to follow with a strong reprimand. "Your wounded were permitted to lay on the field longer than they otherwise would have been had not General Freemont's artillery, hours after the termination of the engagement, not only so fired upon the ambulances and their parties as to drive them from the field. The hospital was also fired upon, notwithstanding it as well as the ambulances were marked by hospital flags.""
What was somewhat new to me was that noone, at least on the southern side, expected a war, if it developed, to last. Most people, like Jackson and Lee, did not like slavery, and what they really fought for was the preservation of their homes. They felt they were invaded and that their self-liberties were being infringed upon in violation of the constitution. Many people did not have slaves, most had a few. Thomas Jackson as a child, being orphaned at a young age, congregated with slave children and even taught one to read who escaped through the underground railroad. I think that of any lies that are propagated by my government the greatest lies revolve around what really happened during the civil war and immediately afterwards. Supposedly, on my father's side I am somehow related to Stonewall Jackson and related to Alexander Hamilton on my mother's side. What's interesting about Hamilton, is that not only did he have southern relatives, but that he predicted, he prophesied that there would probably be a civil war and he was killed in 1804. Jackson predicted a few years before Fort Sumpter that he feared there would be a war and that properties would be taken away. Sound familiar to any of you history buffs? So the civil war is very near and dear to me because these people who marched barefoot for years through snow and sleet and rain fighting a desperate, losing battle are my people.
I love this book. Unfortunately, it was borrowed from a family member's friend who I'm sure would like it back. However, this book would be the premier civil war book within my collection. I loved this book, wish I could keep it.
Colonel John Patton of the 21st Virginia within Jackson's sphere would have a grandson who would follow in Stonewallian marches liberating the beleagured Bastogne and quote the Frenchman Bosuet: "Hands lifted up smash more battalions than hands that strike...And if we go from bad to worse it is simply because we have not prayed".
THE TRUTH HAS BEEN TOLD!!!
Thank you so much Professor Robertson.
Book Description
Dubbed "Stonewall" following the battle of First Manassas in July 1861, Thomas Jackson has long been revered as a brilliant military leader and tactician and as one of the most adroit Confederate commanders. The man himself is a study in contrasts: justifiably feared by his enemies and completely beloved by his men.
J. Steven Wilkins examines the life and character of Jackson. His research reveals a man humble and sincere in his Christian faith, which stands in stark contrast with the general's reputation as a ferocious warrior.
Shortly after his graduation from West Point in 1846, Jackson served in the Mexican War in 1848, where he became one of the most decorated heroes of the conflict and received promotion to the brevetted rank of major. He left the army in 1851 to accept a teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute, resigning his commission in the army a year later. In 1859 he led a contingent of cadets to maintain order during the trial and ensuing execution of John Brown. When Jackson departed VMI in 1861 to join the Confederate army, he was immediately commissioned a colonel and within months was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Mortally wounded by friendly fire in May 1863, he "more than anyone else, personified the compelling and the virtuous in what the subsequent generation would label `The Lost Cause'"—James I. Robertson Jr.
Customer Reviews:
Great book within a great series........2007-03-14
First let me say that the "Leaders in Action" series is tremendous (check the rest of them out--Robert E. Lee, Winston Churchill, Teddy Roosevelt, William Wilberforce and more). They are biographies which deal not only with facts, but also with the character and faith of historical figures. Every school age child should read these books and take these role models to heart.
The great thing about this book is that it gives a solid summary of Stonewall Jackson's life and history as well as a thorough examination of his faith and values. If you can believe it, I was almost brought to tears by the account of his death. Especially for Civil War buffs--this is a must read.
Stonewall Jackson and his personal relationship with God.......2006-01-09
This is an excellent look inside the life of Thomas Johnathan "Stonewall" Jackson.
Reverend Wilkins does an excellent job of researching first-hand accounts of the important events that occurred during Jackson's life and how they refined him into the man that God made him.
Book Description
In eight new essays, contributors to this volume explore the Shenandoah Valley campaign, best known for its role in establishing Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's reputation as a Confederate hero.
In early 1862, Union troops under George B. McClellan had arrived within range of Richmond and threatened to take the Confederate capital. Robert E. Lee ordered Jackson to march north through the Shenandoah Valley, hoping to tie down Federal forces that might otherwise reinforce McClellan's troops. The strategy worked, and for two months the Confederates evaded and harassed their Union pursuers. Jackson's speed and audacity boosted plummeting Southern morale, and he emerged from the Valley as the Confederacy's greatest military idol.
Contributors address questions of military leadership, strategy and tactics, the campaign's political and social impact, and the ways in which participants' memories of events differed from what is revealed in the historical sources. In the process, they offer valuable insights into one of the Confederacy's most famous generals, those who fought with him and against him, the campaign's larger importance in the context of the war, and the complex relationship between history and memory.
Contributors include Jonathan M. Berkey, Keith S. Bohannon, Peter S. Carmichael, Gary W. Gallagher, A. Cash Koeniger, R. E. L. Krick, Robert K. Krick, and William J. Miller.
Customer Reviews:
Selling Out? Hardly!.......2006-03-26
I read with incredulity the review that accused Gary Gallagher of "selling out" because he has steadily broadened his "Military Campaigns of the Civil War" series to incorporate more political, social, and cultural context. Wars do not occur in a vacuum, and the direction of Gallagher's series has shown both scholarly growth and real leadership.
Too much Civil War history falls into two categories. First, the category of operational/tactical studies -- narratives of combat for its own sake, usually with no sense of a larger military context (for instance, whether the ranges of engagement in a given battle better support the argument that the rifled musket had a revolutionary impact, or whether the fighting was essentially just incrementally different from Napoleonic combat). Second, the category of political and social histories that virtually ignore the fact that the Civil War was, indeed, a *war.*
Gallagher is one of the finest examples of a Civil War historian determined to bring these two categories into active conversation with each other. He has trained some of the best young Civil War historians we have, and has influenced them to look seriously at the intersection of military, political, social and cultural developments. One of his proteges, Bill Blair of Penn State University, has revitalized _Civil War History_, the flagship journal of the field, and Gallagher's two series for University of North Carolina Press--"Civil War America" as well as "Military Campaigns of the Civil War" -- regularly showcase up and coming historians as well as established ones. He is, I would argue, the most important single scholar shaping the field today.
I don't mind seeing historians criticized. That's part of the business. I don't even mind people who don't know what they're talking about, like the author of the "sell-out" comment. I do mind it when people can't express their opinions in a civil manner.
What's truly weird is that Gallagher's essay in this volume is a classic bit of strategic command-level analysis, while Bob Krick -- whom the "sell-out" reviewer praises for doing "pure" military history -- here contributes an essay on the development of Stonewall Jackson's public image.
It makes you wonder if the guy even read the book.
Oh, and one last thing: Mr. Sell-Out seems to think it's easy to edit a volume of essays. In my experience, it's as difficult as writing a book of one's own, and sometimes more so.
-- Mark Grimsley, author of _The Hard Hand of War_ and a specialist in military history at The Ohio State University
Essays cover various aspects of well known campaign.......2003-08-27
With this book, Gary Gallagher continues his efforts to add details to well known Civil War campaigns by compiling essays from a variety of authors. In Gallagher's opinion, most Civil War battles have already been covered well enough by one author or another in narrative form. Thus, the challenge becomes, how can greater detail and insight be presented without simply rehashing the same facts and figures of previous works. His campaign series takes the approach that it would be interesting to have noted Civil War historians present detailed essays about various military aspects of a certain campaign. Typically, these books have resulted from summertime battlefield tours that Dr. Gallagher offers through his university history department (first with Penn State, and now with UVa).
The Shendandoan Valley Campaign of 1862 is somewhat different than previous installments of this series for two main reasons. First, even Gallagher admits that a great overall narrative of this campaign has not been written. Most people know of the campaign, but they do not really know the details of what happened. I fall into this category. I know the basic plot of Stonewall Jackson helping save Richmond through his military exploits and victories against a handful of bumbling Union generals in the Shenandoan Valley. These essays have definitely helped broaden my understanding of what actually occurred.
Secondly, as a previous reviewer mentioned, this book does not have much of a military focus. Instead, it covers a wide gamut of topics. I like the variety and enjoyed most of the essays, but I must admit that a few of them seem somewhat misplaced in a military campaign series. The first few essays discuss Jackson's success, and the impact it had on Union plans, and I would have like to see more of these type essays included. That is my main criticism of the book. Although I found all eight essays well written, at least two of them were not very interesting.
Despite its flaws, I still recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about this campaign. If you are looking for a book that details the various battles fought during the campaign, this is not the right book for you. But, if you are looking for a broad perspective of the campaign, and how it impacted those involved (soldiers, generals, civilians, and government leaders), then you will be pleased by the contents of this book.
Another essay collection from Gary Gallagher.......2003-07-23
Back in the mid-90s, Gary W. Gallagher made a name for himself collecting a series of essays on the battle of Gettysburg. They were more than just histories of parts of the battle. For one thing, the authors looked into various parts of the battle that bad been neglected or misinterpreted, and reexamined things that were taken for granted. For another, the authors examined subjects that hadn't been written about before. One essay even looked into the historiography of Pickett's Charge, and why it was viewed the way it was by the participants.
Since then Gallagher's been doing these at approximately the rate of one a year. All of the campaigns covered so far have been in the Eastern Theater, and all have been relatively well-covered in more comprehensive books. This volume, dealing primarily with Stonewall Jackson's campaign in the Shenandoah in 1862, is something of a departure for the series. The author admits that there's no comprehensive study of the campaign from both sides, and then apologizes half-heartedly for this entry to the series, which devotes most of its attention to the Confederates. Frankly, I don't think that's neccessary. I'm no Southerner, but to be honest, the Yankees in this campaign aren't that interesting. Stonewall, on the other hand, is fascinating, warts and all.
The essays cover a wide range of subjects, and cover them well, for the most part. One deals with Lincoln the war president responding to the crisis in the Valley, another is devoted to Jackson's image and what it meant to the South. One looks at Ashby's image also (this is a common theme in the series, what things meant to the participants, and how they changed history in order to suit their preconceptions), while two other essays examine how the common people looked at the campaign, one following a particular Confederate regiment, the other the civilians in the path of the campaign. Another essay is a brief biography of Charles S. Winder, the commander of the Stonewall Brigade for part of the campaign, while the last image deals with the court martial of Richard B. Garnett. Of all the essays, only the Garnett one is inadequate, with the author plowing little new ground, and basically rehashing what we already know: Jackson couldn't stand to be contradicted, even when he was demonstrably wrong.
The series has gotten away from the battlefield pretty much entirely now. I'm not sure I like this development. I did like it that the series spent some time paying attention to things that weren't directly related to the fighting, but I also enjoyed the battlefield analysis. I'm afraid I am a bit perturbed that Gallagher has gone as far as he has. That doesn't however mean I don't recommend the book; just that I wish he would balance things a bit more.
Book Description
No single group of men at West Point--or possibly any academy--has been so indelibly written into history as the class of 1846. The names are legendary: Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, George B. McClellan, Ambrose Powell Hill, Darius Nash Couch, George Edward Pickett, Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox, and George Stoneman. The class fought in three wars, produced twenty generals, and left the nation a lasting legacy of bravery, brilliance, and bloodshed.
This fascinating, remarkably intimate chronicle traces the lives of these unforgettable men--their training, their personalities, and the events in which they made their names and met their fates. Drawing on letters, diaries, and personal accounts, John C. Waugh has written a collective biography of masterful proportions, as vivid and engrossing as fiction in its re-creation of these brilliant figures and their pivotal roles in American history.
Customer Reviews:
As Good As It Could Be.......2005-06-15
This book is at its best in the first 200 pages, when all of the classmates get fairly equal coverage at West Point and the Mexican/frontier Wars.
The book is extremely entertaining and well researched throughout, and the author is not attempting to challenge any aspect of Civil War history, so the narrative on the soldiers as we know them in that War does not change.
As mentioned in other reviews, the Civil War portion of the book is discombobulated almost out of necessity, since the soldiers were no longer equally important. Doing so would make the book incredibly long, and the simple truth is that people will inherently be more interested in Jackson than Stoneman.
Regardless, it's still a more than worthy book to pick up, if only to see how opinions and relationships were molded over a 15 year period of time among all these brothers turned enemies.
student.......2004-09-19
This book is a MUST READ for any serious student of the Civil War. It lets us see how the West Pointers were trained and how they bonded. It gives us the insight To the meaning "an Officer and Gentleman". You find many times over the gallantry and foolishness of men. You also find the depth of friendships that led to the healing of wounds so a young nation could move forward.
It is hard to see these young men's dreams fall to battle. Without their leadership it would have been so much worse on the average citizen. Read it, then cry for all our nation lost.
History in human incidents and anecdotes........2004-06-29
The author of this book is a Civil War buff who had worked on some prestigious publications, the most important for this field was CIVIL WAR TIMES ILLUSTRATED. He has written others on this subject, including ON THE BRINK OF CIVIL WAR and SURVIVING THE CONFEDERACY.
In the Foreword by James McPherson, author of many Civil War books, he describes it as a war of brothers. When asked ten years ago by a new friend from Belize to tell him about our Civil War, that was all I knew of it -- brother against brother. Since then, I've purchased a varied selection of books on the War Between the States. He states: "The war did divide families, especially in the border states." Senator Crittenden of Kentucky, whose illfated compromise proposal of 1861 failed to avert the War, had one son who became a Confederate general and another who was on the Union side.
Seven brothers and brothers-in-law of Mary Todd Lincoln fought against the army whose commander-in-chief was her husband. In numerous cases brother and brother, uncle and nephew, even father and son chose different sides and faced each other on the battlefield.
This book follows the military careers of some of the fifty-nine members of the Class of 1846 at West Point who considered themselves as "brothers." Ten members became Confederate generals while twelve became Union generals. A few of them became immortal. At a recent talk about Nathan Bedford Forrest, a UT professor called him white trash, which I refuted most vociferously as he not only hadn't done his homework; he had Forrest as being from Memphis, and he was born in Chapel Hill, TN, (not too far from Shelbyville, home of the Tennessee Walking Horses), who proved to be one of the most brilliant officers and calvary tacticians of that war. He was the most remarkable man our Civil War produced on either side. General Lee called him the greatest soldier under his command.
Charles S. Stewart was #1 in this class but was never a star on the battlefield. He became a colonel for the Union side. James Stuart was killed in the Indian Wars in 1858. Stonewall Jackson was the hero of this Class.
George McClellan, #2 in the class, was a Major General for the Union and fought against Lee at Antietam in Western Maryland. On September 17, 1862, the bloodiest battle of the War was fought there in which 23,000 died. One summer on the way to Union Bridge, my sons and I stopped off to look at this beautiful landscape where so many perished, as we traveled to visit my sister. It was a memorable experience. Also these two fought at Shiloh in Tennessee where I took my Maryland nephews and my sons and a friend to observe that vast area where Geoffrey and his Scout troop would camp out on occasion. A local Scoutmaster from Knoxville took his group there, also.
George Pickett became a Major General for the Confederates! Sam Davis Sturgis, Major General for the Union, was defeated by Nathan Bedford Forrest in Mississippi. A young Confederate by the name of Sam Davis from Smyrna, TN, 'Boy Hero of the Confederacy' was hanged as a spy by the Union in Giles County, TN. His last words, "I'd die a thousand deaths before I would betray my friend." I was told that the person who gave him the information was in the cell next to him but was spared through Sam's valiantry.
Birk Davenport Fry, dismissed from this class for some reason, became a Brigadier General for the Confederates and went on to become a cotton manufacturer in Richmond, VA. He was a fierce fighter at Gettysburg, where I took my sons on many summer excursions. Gettysburg, PA was the place to be.
Good book for understanding the Civil War Generals.......2004-04-12
To understand the Civil War one needs to understand the generals and their relationships between each other. I can think of no other war in history where the leaders on both sides knew each other so well and the focal point of all this is West Point.
Class of 1846 is perhaps the most legendary class in West Point history. 20 members from it's class went on to become generals in the Civil war. Names like McClellan, Couch, Reno and Stoneman for the Union while men like Jackson, Pickett, Fry and Wilcox for the Confederacy.
What makes this book such a good read is we see and read about these men before the Civil War. We see how they did at West Point and in the Mexican American War and see members of the class interact with other men who will in time be important figures. We read about West Point Cadet U S Grant and what he thought of underclassman Thomas Jackson. In the Mexican War McClellan works with Army Captain Robert E Lee. George Pickett shows extreme bravery in Mexico where he becomes friends with another officer named James Longstreet.
The only complaint I have about this book is it's a bit narrow focused. The book spends a bit to much time on McClellan and Jackson. Still it's a fine book and a unique view of these Civil War generals.
It made me laugh, and made me cry........2003-02-13
This is one of the best Civil War books, I've ever read. John Waugh brings so many of our Civil war Generals, both North and South, back to life. We learn so many interesting details about their lives at West Point. This book had me laughing, with their antics at West Point, it rather reminded me of my own "boot Camp" life in the military 25 years ago. I can still see Thomas J. "StoneWall" Jackson, sweating at the blackboard, to try and solve problems,walking at the same pace, even when the others hurry to get out of the rain. The Fight that almost broke out, in the Church at West Point, between two future leaders.
One of the things, John Waugh does, is very emotionally grab you by the throat, as he describes StoneWall Jacksons dying, his wifes and Lee's reaction, and the funeral. I literally, had to put the book down and wipe the tears from my eyes. I've read about this incident, many times before, but Waughs version, really got to me.
McClellan, A.P.Hill, Pickett, Wilcox, Stoneman, Darius Couch, Sturgis and many others are brought to life.
I have so many Civil War books to read, but I certainly want to read this book again, in the future.
If you're a real Civil War Buff, you owe it to yourself to read this. To me, it was as good as Shelby Foote.
Customer Reviews:
This is the book for any person who loves Stonewall!!!.......1999-07-04
I have been a fan of the American Civil War for over five years, and I have read many books on the subject and especially on Stonewall Jackson. I have never found a book more thorough about both subjects in my life. The author dives into several contravercies like: Why did the Civil War started, Did Stonewall fall asleep at the Seven day Battle? He also doesn't just stick to Stonewall, he also talks about other important figures in the Civil War. So if you are interested, kinda like, or a fanatic about Civil War and Stonewall Jackson like I am, I would recammend this book to every one!
Average customer rating:
- How did we ever............
- Might have been impressive if written by a high school student
- Gods and Generals
- A Great Read, but now your committed to the trilogy
- A great way to get your history lesson
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Gods and Generals
Jeff Shaara
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
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Binding: Hardcover
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The Killer Angels: A Novel of the Civil War (Modern Library)
ASIN: 0345404920
Release Date: 1996-05-28 |
Amazon.com
In a prequel of sorts to his father Michael Shaara's 1974 epic novel The Killer Angels, Jeff Shaara explores the lives of Generals Lee, Hancock, Jackson and Chamberlain as the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg approaches. Shaara captures the disillusionment of both Lee and Hancock early in their careers, Lee's conflict with loyalty, Jackson's overwhelming Christian ethic and Chamberlain's total lack of experience, while illustrating how each compensated for shortcomings and failures when put to the test. The perspectives of the four men, particularly concerning the battles at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, make vivid the realities of war.
Book Description
"BRILLIANT DOES NOT EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE THE SHAARA GIFT. THANK GODS AND GENERALS THAT IT WAS PASSED FROM FATHER TO SON."
--Atlanta Journal & Constitution
"LIVELY, FAST-PACED . . . A worthy companion to The Killer Angels . . . Shaara brilliantly charts the war, the exploits of the combatants and their motivations. He also concisely shows how the early parts of the campaign unfolded. His accounts of the battles of Williamsburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville are exciting. . . . Though the story of the Civil War has been told many times, this is the rare version that conveys what it must have felt like."
--Chicago Sun-Times
"SHAARA'S BEAUTIFULLY SENSITIVE NOVEL DELVES DEEPLY into the empathetic realm of psycho-history, where enemies do not exist--just mortal men forced to make crucial decisions and survive on the same battlefield. . . . [He] succeeds with his historical novel through fully realized characters who were forced to decide their loyalties amid the horrors of their divided nation."
--San Francisco Chronicle
"The battle of Gettysburg featured a cast of characters dramatically and poignantly portrayed in Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels. This new novel by his son Jeff Shaara describes the interconnected paths that brought these men together at this crossroads of our history. Readers of The Killer Angels won't want to miss Gods and Generals."
--James McPherson, Author of Battle Cry of Freedom
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Download Description
The story of Gods and Generals begins with Michael Shaara, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic The Killer Angels. A native of New Jersey, Michael Shaara grew to be an adventurous young man: over the years, he found work as a sailor, a paratrooper, a policeman, and an English professor at Florida State University. In 1952, his son Jeff was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Michael's interest in Gettysburg was prompted by some letters written by his great-grandfather, who had been wounded at the great battle while serving with the 4th Georgia Infantry. In 1966, he took his family on a vacation to the battlefield and found himself moved.
In 1970, Michael Shaara returned to Gettysburg with his son Jeff. The pair crisscrossed the historic site, gathering detailed information for the father's novel-in-progress. In 1974, the novel was published with the title The Killer Angels. This gripping fictional account of the three bloody days at Gettysburg won Michael Shaara a Pulitzer Prize and a vast, appreciative audience. To date it has sold two million copies.
When Michael Shaara died in 1988, his son Jeff began to manage his literary estate. It was a legacy he knew well, having helped his father create it. When director Ron Maxwell filmed the movie Gettysburg, based on The Killer Angels, he asked Jeff to serve as a consultant. Maxwell encouraged Shaara to continue the story his father began; inspired, Jeff planned an ambitious trilogy, with The Killer Angels as the centerpiece, following the war from its origins to its end.
With Gods and Generals, Jeff Shaara gives fans of The Killer Angels everything they could have asked -- an epic, brilliantly written saga that brings the nation's greatest conflict to life.
The heartbreaking saga of the years preceding The Killer Angels.
"Brilliant does not even begin to describe the Shaara gift. Thank gods and generals that it was passed from father to son."
ATLANTA JOURNAL & CONSTITUTION
"Lively, fast-paced... A worthy companion to The Killer Angels... Shaara brilliantly charts the war, the exploits of the combatants and their motivations. He also concisely shows how the early parts of the campaign unfolded. His accounts of the battles of Williamsburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville are exciting.... Though the story of the Civil War has been told many times, this is the rare version that conveys what it must have felt like."
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
"Shaara's beautifully sensitive novel delves deeply into the empathetic realm of psycho-history, where enemies do not exist -- just mortal men forced to make crucial decisions and survive on the same battlefield.... [He] succeeds with his historical novel through fully realized characters who were forced to decide their loyalties amid the horrors of their divided nation."
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
"The battle of Gettysburg featured a cast of characters dramatically and poignantly portrayed in Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels. This new novel by his son Jeff Shaara describes the interconnected paths that brought these men together at this crossroads of our history. Readers of The Killer Angels won't want to miss Gods and Generals."
JAMES MCPHERSON, AUTHOR OF BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM
Customer Reviews:
How did we ever...................2007-09-01
.....get into such a mess? Actually, that question is approached [not answered; it will never be answered] elsewhere. The Civil War was NOT the fault of the Generals. In Jeff Shaara's prequel to his Dad's "The Killer Angels", the story is, once again, told from the viewpoint of leaders from each side...these men did not want war, and none of them wanted to see the Union broken. All were men of the same time, but of a different place....that was the problem. Winfield Scott Hancock had real feelings of friendship for Lewis Armistead. Robert E. Lee's decision to follow Virginia was not made lightly [and had the Virginia Secession Convention voted to stay in the Union, the war would have been totally different, with Lee leading the North with a clear conscience].
This history of the Civil War up to Chancellorsville is essentially accurate. It isn't "Lee's Lieutenants", but Mr. Shaara has never claimed to be Dr. Freeman. Lee and Hancock were career Army men who had seen promotion pass them by, stuck in a system where leaders were usually in place for life...Chamberlain did his duty, which always seemed to push him center stage...Stonewall Jackson was a misfit with one supreme talent; he knew how to fight...Longstreet was a genius far ahead of his time; the first twentieth century general, fighting the last eighteenth century war. [Bragg and Beauregard were twentieth century officers, too, but they aren't in the book]. McClellan was certainly not the idiot that history has painted him, but Pope and Hooker were. JEB Stuart had flash and style, and he knew how to lead...Hood and Pickett were as different as two men could ever be, but both were fine Generals.
As I said, this is not profound academic history; it's a novel. Still, it's accurate...I don't think I found any real errors of fact. Mr. Sharra has given us realistic portraits of Armistead and Hancock's differing views of duty, Chamberlain's clear-sighted patriotism, Longstreet's frustration, Lee's agony, Jackson's ???...Stonewall was a devout Christian, and a great fighter; my fellow Confederates consider me a heretic for my opinion of Jackson's mental stability, but I stand by it. Maybe the South would have won had Stonewall lived....but, see my review of "The Killer Angels". The cameos of Albert Sidney Johnston and Winfield Scott are certainly true to life.
If you want deep study, go elsewhere; the supply of good, bad, and indifferent books on our Civil War is endless. Look at my other reviews, and you will find books of interest to only a few people on earth. This fine novel is for the other 99.99999% of the population...if you want a good, honest, well-written, basic overview, start right here.
Might have been impressive if written by a high school student.......2007-07-04
I have read the first 60 pages and can see that the rest is likely to be an endurance test. The author reminds me of a very young person whose thoughts and convictions about life are as yet unformed and who isn't quite sure that he has enough to say about them, so he falls into a prose style that goes something like this:
"He walked through the forest, the collection of trees, and he came to a brook, a babbling stream, and thought about his wife, the woman he had married..." etc. The reader is about to scream, to emit a hoarse cry of anguish, from his mouth, the oral cavity. As I said, the writer seems simultaneously haunted by the fear that he may not have enough to say and a sense of being pleased with himself that he has discovered a "thoughtful" and "flowing" style. He doesn't really understand the 19th century, as he shows when he has Robert E. Lee ask Stonewall Jackson, "Will you be obliged to carry me across the river," which is nonsensical; if such a conversation had really happened, Lee would either have asked "Will you oblige me" or have stated "Sir, you will oblige me..."
Fortunately, the Civil War really happened, so one supposes that there must be some grain of reality somewhere in this book, though the author's understanding of it, based on what I have seen so far, is likely to be about on the level of a Hallmark card.
Gods and Generals.......2007-06-28
I enjoyed reading the book,however the chapters near the end of the book were repetitive. It was as if they were repeating themselves. Would I recommend to others to read the book. Yes
A Great Read, but now your committed to the trilogy.......2007-05-09
If you have read and enjoyed Killer Angels, you will enjoy the same styles and characters. But you will have to then read the conclusion book for the Civil War, The Last Full Measure. Also try Gone for Soldiers: A Novel of the Mexican Warby Shaara, I knew very little about the Mexican campaign and it introduced Grant, Lee and other characters at the beginnings of their military careers.
A great way to get your history lesson.......2007-03-26
Fascinating portrayal of a sad time in US History, as told from the perspectives of the generals involved in these campaigns. I was most particularly moved by Lee and his torn loyalties to the US Army and his home state of Virginia, and most especially by the great Stonewall Jackson. I've come across the names in history classes (oh so long ago) and the occasional novel covering this period, but it was wonderful to have them brought to life as this author did, and we are once again reminded that was is indeed h***. One moment in the book that particularly touched me was during a retreat of Federal soldiers. One of them slipped in the mud and was told that since the general decreed the roads to be in good condition therefore there is no mud.
A very good book and recommended for anyone interested in this period of US History. Four stars instead of five as the author's habit of inserting a comma instead of the word "and" was a bit of a distration for me. I'm not sure where the editors were, and why they didn't correct it.
Book Description
The Valley Campaign conducted by Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson has long fascinated those interested in the American Civil War as well as general students of military history, all of whom still question exactly what Jackson did in the Shenandoah in 1862 and how he did it. Since Robert G. Tanner answered many questions in the first edition of Stonewall in the Valley in 1976, he has continued to research the campaign. This edition offers new insights on the most significant moments of Stonewall's Shenandoah triumph.
Customer Reviews:
Thrilling, informative, the best.......2007-04-13
A well-written and thoroughly researched account of one of the most impressive military campaigns in history. Mr. Tanner's portrayal is an enjoyable read without the sappy hero worship yet with all the details that gave us the Stonewall legend. No one can doubt the genius of this unlikely military leader nor his place in military history. Few could compare to the Elder Jackson's pious and quiet humility in victory and genious of maneuver. The valley campaign is studied to this day as a model of the indirect approach and the importance of maneuverability. Mr. Tanner gives us the best account yet of that campaign to thrill and inform. Very highly recommended.
A Remarkable Book!.......2004-10-17
I have always been fascinated by the Valley Campaign, and surprised that nothing appeared to have been written specifically on the Campaign itself - at least nothing definitive.
I just knew Tanner's book was what I was looking for, just by the appearance of it. And in fact it is THE definitive account of the Shenandoah Campauign of 1862.
This is a remarkable campaign history. Never does Tanner's pacing seem off. He tells the reader precisely what he or she wishes to know. At proper moments he gives a literary touch to th writing; at other times he tells us what the soldiers were thinking; and at other times he tells amusing anecdotes.
THe sheer amount of research that must have gone into this book is phenomenal. Most books on civil war battles and campaigns tend to rely on accrued secondary evidence, and those pieces of primar evidence that are already widely known.
Tanner, on the other hand, has miraculously discoverd sources NEVER before seen. He is so thorough that the bibliographu and notes take up a seriously large portion of the book. And the information is important - a good deal of it clarifies points that have always been puzzling. For example, he proves that the famous Staunton maneuver, where Jackson seemed to deliberately leave the Valley on foot, only to return by train, was actually ad hoc, and probably not intended.
On the other hand, the new evidence regarding the march south from the Battle of Winchester really makes you feel sorry for the Valley soldiers - my feet really almost felt sore even reading about walking that fast, and going without sleep for so long.
Jackson himself comes across as a flawed genius, which he undoubtedly was. While he was a remarkable soldier, one must admit that there were certain aspects of his character that nearly defeated him on occasion; his almost continuous friction with his subordinates, his extreme strictness, his extreme inflexibility, his religious fervour, his inability to know when his soldiers were past breaking point.
Yet we also see Jackson's incredible energy, his strategic genius, his unerring instinct for what to do next.
Ultimately Tanner's book is about as definitive as a campaign book can get, and is highly recommended to anyone interested in the Civil War.
Excellent History of the 1862 Valley Campaign.......2004-09-14
Tanner has written an excellent summary of the Valley Campaign that established Jackson as a Civil War legend. He manages to describe the experiences of privates and officers who fought in the campaign. While the majority of the book focuses on the Southern side, Tanner is fair and objective in his description of the abilities of the main characters.
Before going into the campaign study, Tanner describes the early history and importance of the Shennandoah Valley and why the area was such an important objective during the Civil War. The maps were okay but could have been more detailed and numerous to enable the reader to better understand the campaign movements and locations.
I particularly appreciated Tanner's fair treatment of Jackson: while we Southerners tend to idolize Jackson, Tanner points out Jackson's most serious flaws: secrecy and inability to get along with subordinates. Indeed, both tendencies probably would have kept Jackson (had he survived the war) from attaining the status of Lee, Grant, Sherman, Thomas, and Johnston. Admittingly, I have read of Jackson's tendencies in several other books.
I highly recommend the book as the standard for a study of the 1862 Shennandoah Valley Campaign. Read and enjoy!
Awesome.......2004-05-04
I'm only about 1/3 through, but I can tell that this is an awesome piece of work. I'm surprised not to see more feedback here.
Tanner does an excellent job of presenting the Confederate deatils of the early valley campaign. He gives an excellent quick history of the valley as far as original colonization, American Revolution tie-ins, etc. He also paints a good picture of the strategic importance of the valley. So far reading, I'm surprised that more action did not take place within the 2 mountain ranges that make this "valley."
Tanner covers every level of the campaigns from simple private, to captains, to regimental colonels, to brigadier generals, all the way up to division commanders and of course General Jackson. Detailed troop movements are given, yet I did not find myself lost in details. Maps are excellent and numerous.
Also, very important, is reference to other Eastern developments which caused the ebb and flow in the Valley. You get the details as to why certain troops found themselves headed in or out of the valley, especially for the Union side.
The writing is very clear, concise, and at times very poetic. I wouldn't say Tanner is another Catton or Foote, but he comes pretty darn close. Much better than a typical dry account of campaigns you usually see out there.
I've been doing a lot of reading on ACW lately. I wasn't quite sure whether to read this because there seemed to be so many other more important works out there. But I'm glad I'm reading it as Tanner does an excellent job of briging this often forgot and vital campaign to life.
Remember it is Jackson's brilliance in the campaign which delays McCellan from striking Richmond by causing panic in Washington and delaying troop concentrations, and more importantly, it is his superiority in the Valley which allows him to break loose and help kick off the 7 Days (although he was MIA in helping).
Any serious ACW student should read this book.
I feel like I was there in the valley.......2003-10-11
Very well written, detailed account of Jackson's dazzling Shenandoah valley campaign. The valley campaign, Jackson's last significant independent activity before attaching himself to General Lee, makes for great civil war history. The author writes in a way that makes you feel like you're a part of Jackson's army, from lowest private to brigadier general. The maps, most of which are reproductions of Jed Hotchkiss's maps drawn at the time, could stand a little more detail but the narrative fills in most of the gaps pretty well. Focuses entirely on Jackson during the campaign and his place in the overall picture at the time. While this book is probably not for novices, it is an excellent and informative read for those with an interest in Jackson and/or the Northern Virginia theater of the war.
Book Description
Few men have ever started from humbler beginnings and risen to greater heights. Thomas J. Jackson never sought fame, but he could not escape its light when opportunity came. When people and soldiers around him cheered, Jackson blushed because he had searched neither for notoriety nor renown and had instead devoted his energies to being a better person, to achieving a reputation of merit and worth.
Jackson was very much a man of his time. He was not alone in this quest for personal development, but he was an earnest man with an iron resolve. Such personal discipline served him well during the war that divided North and South. Although he was fatally wounded by friendly fire on May 2, 1863, Jackson has continued to live in the national memory and to fascinate Americans with his remarkable achievements against incredible odds. His sobriquet "Stonewall" remains the most famous nickname in American military history.
The manner in which Jackson lived his life was heavily influenced by the popular writings of Lord Chesterfield, whose published letters to his son on self-improvement were well known in polite society. No single work—save the Bible—more influenced Jackson in his personal evolution. While he was a cadet at West Point, he collected maxims as part of his quest for status as a gentleman, and in the mid-1850s he carefully inscribed these maxims in a personal notebook, which disappeared after his death in 1863. Subsequent generations assumed this notebook was a casualty of time, but in the 1990s, during his research for a biography of Jackson, the author discovered the long-lost book of maxims in the archives of Tulane University.
Jackson's maxims are reproduced here as he wrote them. Accompanying each are insights into the man, including the origin of the adage, one or more quotations that parallel the maxim, how Jackson may have applied the idea in his own life, and how certain maxims offer insights into the mind of the man.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent insight of one of the greatest generals in American history.......2007-09-13
Not only does this book provide the maxims written by Stonewall but it also provides insight into those maxims. Fantastic book and I highly recommend it to anybody who wants to better understand the man they called "Stonewall".
SOLDIER OF THE CROSS.......2007-05-28
Regardless of who actually originated the maxims that Stonewall collected, what is amazing to me is how steadfastly he followed every single one of these sayings incorporating them into his own character. Each of these sayings was a command, which he seemed to take to his soldier's heart, as if it had come from G-d Himself. I'm sure he wasn't thinking of publication when he collected these, nor was he submitting it for an academic grade, lying that every single phrase had originated from his gray (intensely) matter. He was an amazing gentleman, and please don't ever get rid of West Point. Some fine people come out of that institution.
Great Short Read.......2007-01-03
I loved reading this book! Anecdotes were used from a multiple of sources to describe the marvelous character of General Jackson. The material presented here can readily be applied to your own life today. It is the kind of book you can read and walk away refreshed in not only learning what it takes to be a great man and American hero, but a true man of God. It will be a stretch for most readers just to reach up and touch General Stonewall Jackson's shoelaces.
the source of Stonewall's maxims.......2006-11-15
James I. Robertson, Jr. is an indefatigable researcher, and no one knows more about Jackson than he does. But this book is not his best work.
Unbeknownst to Robertson, Stonewall's maxims come almost exclusively from William Alcott's _Young Man's Guide_ and Franklin's Autobiography. Ironically, Alcott was the uncle of Louisa May Alcott and the brother of transcendentalist Bronson Alcott.
Please forgive my self-promotion, as this article focuses on the maxim book: see Wallace Hettle, "The Minister, the Martyr, and the Maxim: Robert Lewis Dabney and Stonewall Jackson Biography," Civil War History, Dec. 2003.
An inspiring look at a man 100% determined to overcome his limitations.......2006-06-11
Jackson is a fascinating man who had some really serious problems and issues but who was determined to apply his faith in God and his absolute best efforts towards being the very best man he could be. The commentary in this book draws that point out very well.
The maxims are Jackson's self help book or memory aide to his efforts to overcoming his painful social awkwardness. In other words these are the things that Jackson felt he needed to work on badly enough to write down for future reference. As a piece of self revelation it is pretty profound.
The quotes in the book from Jackson's wife and associates show just how far he got in his quest to improve. He never totally overcame a lot of his problems (after all, who does?), but the effort he put into the attempt is breathtaking and, as I found, very inspiring. This is a short book and well worth reading and re-reading.
Book Description
The Richmond campaign of April-July 1862 ranks as one of the most important military operations of the first years of the American Civil War. Key political, diplomatic, social, and military issues were at stake as Robert E. Lee and George B. McClellan faced off on the peninsula between the York and James Rivers. The climactic clash came on June 26-July 1 in what became known as the Seven Days battles, when Lee, newly appointed as commander of the Confederate forces, aggressively attacked the Union army. Casualties for the entire campaign exceeded 50,000, more than 35,000 of whom fell during the Seven Days.
This book offers nine essays in which well-known Civil War historians explore questions regarding high command, strategy and tactics, the effects of the fighting upon politics and society both North and South, and the ways in which emancipation figured in the campaign. The authors have consulted previously untapped manuscript sources and reinterpreted more familiar evidence, sometimes focusing closely on the fighting around Richmond and sometimes looking more broadly at the background and consequences of the campaign.
Contributors:
William A. Blair
Keith S. Bohannon
Peter S. Carmichael
Gary W. Gallagher
John T. Hubbell
R. E. L. Krick
Robert K. Krick
James Marten
William J. Miller
Customer Reviews:
Insightful essays about Richmond Campaign.......2001-09-19
I agree with an earlier reviewer who writes that this book is a great companion (or follow-up) book to Stephen Sears "To the Gates of Richmond". Mr. Sears books gives a vivid account of the overall campaign, while this book offers some insightful essays about certain aspects of the campaign. The authors are all experts in the field, and offer well written essays for the reader to contemplate.
I really enjoyed this book because the authors cover a wide range of topics to include General McClellan's flawed performance, "Stonewall" Jackson's less than stellar leadership during the campaign, the artillery battle at Malvern Hill, "Prince" John Magruder's struggles, and the affect of the campaign on both Northern and Southern society. These detailed essays offer readers the latest and greatest scholarship about the Richmond campaign. They really helped me gain a much deeper understanding about what the campaign was like, why it was so important to the overall war effort (for both sides), and most importantly, how did if affect those involved.
I highly recommend this book for those "students" of the Civil War (like me) who are looking to gain a richer grasp of the events that happened during the Richmond campaign. If you have not read anything about the Richmond campaign (usually referred to as the Pennisula and Seven Days campaign) then I suggest that you read "To the Gates of Richmond" by Stephen Sear first, then this book.
Fascinating Detail on Key Battles , Leaders and Politics.......2001-06-01
Great book to read after Stephen Sear's Penninsula Campaign (even noted by the editor). This great collection of CW historians take the leading characters and events of the 7 days campaign and provide insights to this fascinating series of battles that set the Union back three years. Fascinating writing of John Bankhead Magruder, the hero of the lower Peninsula, whose prewar reputation for drink and ladies combined with lack of sleep, stress, illness and improper medical treatment created a magnifyer for his failures particularly at Malvern Hill. Lee's desire to rid himself of Magruder who was a hero just weeks before is in stark contrast to his retaining of Stonewall who as R. K. Krick writes was virtually ineffective for a multitude of reasons, primarily due to sleep deprivation. Also, great essays on McClellan whose grandiose ego was not able to stand upright on the battlefield and his engineers who could build anything he needed but were used as scapegoats just like anyone else to excuse his own conduct. Additional essays are on the great importance of the seven days battles to lift southern morale and the enhancement of the radicals position contributed to by McClellan's failures during the campaign. Superb article on the artillery duel on Malvern Hill and confederate attack that collapsed under murderous and accurate union artillery fire. The Union's artillery was no match for its southern counterparts. R.E.L. Krick highlights Whiting's Division (with Hood) breaking the Union line decisively at Gaines Mill. No one knows the battlefield better than Krick. Longstreet may have wished he never picked up a pen after Krick writes of Longstreet's post war confusion of facts over his command of Whiting, "It appears an unusually early example of the gasconade for which Longstreet is now famous". That commentary would have made "Old Jube" proud.
Nine essays exploring questions regarding high command.......2001-03-11
The April-July 1862 Richmond campaign was a critical point in the American civil war that resulted in more than 50,000 casualties, 35,000 of whom fell in seven days (June 26 - July 1). The Richmond Campaign Of 1862: The Peninsula & The Seven Days offers nine essays exploring questions regarding high command, strategy and tactics, the effects of the fighting upon the politics and society of both the Union and the Confederacy, and the ways in which emancipation figured in the campaign. Included is an invaluable analysis of the Richmond campaign's place in the broader sweep of the war in 1862, assessments of George B. McClellan's generalship and Stonewall Jackson's flawed performance, an examination of the campaign's impact on white and black civilians in the region, the role of the engineers in the Union effort, the role of artillery in the battle of Malvern Hill, and more. Highly recommended for personal and academic Civil War studies reading lists and reference collections, The Richmond Campaign Of 1862 is an impressive work of painstaking, informative, insightful scholarship.
Books:
- Suite Française
- The Battle Between the Farm Lanes: Hancock Saves the Union Center: Gettysburg July 2, 1863 (Discovering Civil War America Series, V. 4)
- The Battle for the Falklands
- The Battle for the Falklands
- The Battle for the Mind: How You Can Think the Thoughts of God
- The Dirty War
- The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits
- The Guilt of Nations: Restitution and Negotiating Historical Injustices
- The Hunters (A Presidential Agent Novel)
- The March: A Novel
Books Index
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