I found this to be a very unusual book. For the first part of the book, the author seems to repeat some of the distorted Southern Mythology history of the war. This history is finally reaping the "Whirlwind" in recent protests, court actions and renaming of military bases and other buildings. Basically, that distorted history tries to make us believe Southerners were always good, Yankees were always bad; the War was never about slavery, but was about Northern oppression; Robert E. Lee never made any mistakes, other people---especially General Longstreet---did; Confederate soldiers were well disciplined, Yankees were thieves, and so on. And he does this is such a way, you might not notice what he was saying, unless you pay close attention to what he is writing.
Then suddenly, he seems to shift to being more objective in his description of the battle and the people involved. In fact, he even begins---of all things---to praise the Yankees. Plus, he doesn't just mention key players, but also provides some of their history, much of which I enjoyed reading about. He also discusses why some decisions were made, offering explanations I've never read elsewhere. And which I found interesting.
Finally, he ends the book with a listing of mistakes Lee and other Confederate generals made during the battle. The result was I really enjoyed reading a book I started out wishing I had never opened.
Still, I have my own list of what you need to be aware of if you read this book.
The author often quotes letters Confederate General Pickett wrote to his wife. After Pickett died years later, his wife published a book of those letters. For awhile, the book was praised, then historians realized many of the letters discussed events or personalities which Pickett couldn't have known at the time the letters were dated. Historians finally realized Mrs. Pickett wrote many of the letters herself for the book.
The author talks about the absence of "foraging" by the soldiers or the Army of Northern Virginia while in Pennsylvania, comparing this to the "looting" Yankees did in Virginia. Sorry, but according to numerous other historians the Army of Virginia was just as bad, if not worse. For example, despite Lee's orders to leave civilians alone, the Confederates seized numerous free blacks and hauled them south to sell at slave auctions. And for the food, horses, shoes and whatever else they "seized" they paid for in Confederate money which was worthless in the North and, or they just presented IOUs they knew farmers or storekeepers would never be able to present for payment. The book"General Lee's Army"---by Glatthaar---provides documentation that Virginia farmers considered their own army as even more devastating to their farming than Yankee foragers.
The Minie ball was not invented by just Captain Minie, A French officer. He was only one person in a progression of advancements to the bullet made by several others---French, British and American. This is a common false tale often retold. See Wikipedia's "Minie Ball" article for details.
The author describes Confederate General Hood as "...one of the best strategists and fighters in the army." This about a man who destroyed his own army, the Confederate Army of Tennessee, at the battle of Franklin and Nashville? Yet later in the book the author describes Hood as"...although he possessed a full measure of courage and dash, he lacked the moderating qualities of caution and discernment required for high, independent command." This makes you wonder how organized the author's notes were before he began to write this book.
Still, I would recommend this book to readers, for there is much in it of worth.
Then suddenly, he seems to shift to being more objective in his description of the battle and the people involved. In fact, he even begins---of all things---to praise the Yankees. Plus, he doesn't just mention key players, but also provides some of their history, much of which I enjoyed reading about. He also discusses why some decisions were made, offering explanations I've never read elsewhere. And which I found interesting.
Finally, he ends the book with a listing of mistakes Lee and other Confederate generals made during the battle. The result was I really enjoyed reading a book I started out wishing I had never opened.
Still, I have my own list of what you need to be aware of if you read this book.
The author often quotes letters Confederate General Pickett wrote to his wife. After Pickett died years later, his wife published a book of those letters. For awhile, the book was praised, then historians realized many of the letters discussed events or personalities which Pickett couldn't have known at the time the letters were dated. Historians finally realized Mrs. Pickett wrote many of the letters herself for the book.
The author talks about the absence of "foraging" by the soldiers or the Army of Northern Virginia while in Pennsylvania, comparing this to the "looting" Yankees did in Virginia. Sorry, but according to numerous other historians the Army of Virginia was just as bad, if not worse. For example, despite Lee's orders to leave civilians alone, the Confederates seized numerous free blacks and hauled them south to sell at slave auctions. And for the food, horses, shoes and whatever else they "seized" they paid for in Confederate money which was worthless in the North and, or they just presented IOUs they knew farmers or storekeepers would never be able to present for payment. The book"General Lee's Army"---by Glatthaar---provides documentation that Virginia farmers considered their own army as even more devastating to their farming than Yankee foragers.
The Minie ball was not invented by just Captain Minie, A French officer. He was only one person in a progression of advancements to the bullet made by several others---French, British and American. This is a common false tale often retold. See Wikipedia's "Minie Ball" article for details.
The author describes Confederate General Hood as "...one of the best strategists and fighters in the army." This about a man who destroyed his own army, the Confederate Army of Tennessee, at the battle of Franklin and Nashville? Yet later in the book the author describes Hood as"...although he possessed a full measure of courage and dash, he lacked the moderating qualities of caution and discernment required for high, independent command." This makes you wonder how organized the author's notes were before he began to write this book.
Still, I would recommend this book to readers, for there is much in it of worth.
