Great Commanders General Johnston, Robert Hughes. (Paperback 1502359995)

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Great Commanders General Johnston
Author: Robert Hughes

?[The South?s ranking of senior generals] seeks to tarnish my fair fame as a soldier and a man, earned by more than thirty years of laborious and perilous service. I had but this, the scars of many wounds, all honestly taken in my front and in the front of battle, and my father's Revolutionary sword. It was delivered to me from his venerated han... more »d, without a stain of dishonor. Its blade is still unblemished as when it passed from his hand to mine. I drew it in the war, not for rank or fame, but to defend the sacred soil, the homes and hearths, the women and children; aye, and the men of my mother Virginia, my native South." ? Joseph E. Johnston to Jefferson Davis, September 1861 During the Civil War, one of the tales that was often told among Confederate soldiers was that Joseph E. Johnston was a crack shot who was a better bird hunter than just about everyone else in the South. However, as the story went, Johnston would never take the shot when asked to, complaining that something was wrong with the situation that prevented him from being able to shoot the bird when it was time. The story is almost certainly apocryphal, but it was aptly used to demonstrate the Confederates? frustration with a man who everyone regarded as a capable general. Johnston began the Civil War as one of the South?s senior commanders, leading the ironically named Army of the Potomac to victory in the Battle of First Bull Run over Irvin McDowell?s Union Army. But Johnston would become known more for losing by not winning. Johnston was never badly beaten in battle, but he had a habit of strategically withdrawing until he had nowhere left to retreat. When Johnston had retreated in the face of McClellan?s army before Richmond in 1862, he finally launched a complex attack that not only failed but left him severely wounded, forcing him to turn over command of the Army of Northern Virginia to Robert E. Lee. Johnston and Confederate President Jefferson Davis had a volatile relationship throughout the war, but Johnston was too valuable to leave out of service and at the beginning of 1864 he was given command of the Army of Tennessee. When Johnston gradually retreated in the face of Sherman?s massive army (which outnumbered his 2-1) before Atlanta in 1864, Davis removed Johnston from command of the Army of Tennessee and gave it to John Bell Hood. Johnston has never received the plaudits of many of the South?s other generals; in fact, there are only a couple of monuments commemorating his service in the South. Yet Johnston was a competent general who fought in some of the most important campaigns of the Civil War, and it?s often forgotten that it was his surrender to Sherman weeks after Appomattox that truly ended the Civil War. Johnston did so over Davis?s command to keep fighting, incurring his wrath once more. Having dealt with each other, Sherman and Johnston became friends after the war, and when the elderly Johnston served as a pallbearer at Sherman?s funeral, he contracted an illness that eventually killed him. Given his prominent and controversial role in the Civil War, Johnston naturally took to writing memoirs, Narrative of Military Operations During the Civil War, which gives an extremely detailed account of the war, a defense of his actions, and criticism of Jefferson Davis and John Bell Hood. One of the most interesting parts of Johnston?s memoirs come at the end, with his letters, telegrams, and even an anecdote about the origins of the Confederate Battle Flag.

ISBN-13: 9781502359995
ISBN-10: 1502359995
Publication Date: 9/13/2014
Pages: 134
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4 stars, based on 1 rating

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Book Type: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
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jjares reviewed Great Commanders, General Johnston on 9/20/2014 + 3255 more book reviews

This is an engaging book with lots of lesser-known information and analysis. All Southern generals ride in the shadow of Bobby Lee. This book shows why this shouldn't be the case; are you aware that Robert E Lee didn't become overall leader of all the Southern troops until near the end of the conflict?

The Johnstons (Scottish) met the Lee's of VA during the American Revolution and were friends for generations. Joseph E Johnston was at West Point along with Robert E Lee. When the Civil War was about to begin, these 2 generals in the Army left to defend VA; this left a leadership vacuum in the North.

This book places a glaring light on the foibles and power plays of various Confederate leaders and military commanders. It also shows the poor outcomes when government executives try to dictate military policy (from afar) during battles.

Jefferson Davis, in this book, is showed to be a seriously flawed leader; he promoted pet generals and turned out competent generals to make way for his inept friends. Davis carried grudges; he didn't seem to be able to accept valid criticism shared in private and in the mildest of terms.

I only saw two problems with this history: The book would have been more understanding (to non-Civil War enthusiasts) if there had been drawings to accompany the descriptions of the major battles and the editing of the Kindle was awful.

I've just noticed that this book is written by Johnston's great-nephew; that may color some of the analysis and caustic comments. If I read anything else that vindicates Jefferson Davis, I'll rewrite this review.

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