No comments about Charles M. Russell, Word Painter: Letters 1887-1926.

No comments about Charles M. Russell.

1 comments about Remington and Russell: Artists of the West (Artists & Art Movements).

1. I own this book, and one that doesn't get loaned out to friends. The book sheds light on both artists and compares and contrasts their life and work. If you want to learn more about the two artists or just want to see more Remington and Russell work, than order this book today!

No comments about C. M. Russell: boyhood sketchbook,.

1 comments about Art of the Lewis & Clark Trail.

1. Every American should know the story of the brave men and woman of the Lewis and Clark expedition. It is arguably this nation's national epic.
   
   One way of learning the story is through the printed word--the narrative derived from the actual expedition journals or the summarizing of that exciting history. But when the story of the adventures of the Corps of Discovery is mixed with visual imagery of the rivers, mountains, skies, wildlife, and the people that the brave troop encountered, the result is a retelling of the expedition's exploits that is as close as humans can possibly come to traveling in time and being part of the expedition. Art of the Lewis and Clark Trail is much more than a collection of superb imagery created by accomplished artists like Russell, Bodmer, Peale, Haynes, and Bateman. Each reproduction is carefully placed opposite a page of corresponding quotes from expedition journals so that the reader can see as exactly as is possible what Captains Lewis and Clark and their brave team must have seen and experienced.
   
   The west--its peoples, its landscapes, its animal and plant life, and its rivers--may have changed, but this book excels at taking the steps necessary to preserve the west that was. To a great degree it insures that this and future generations of Americans can know about and be astonished by what the Corps of Discovery actually experienced and what they achieved.

3 comments about The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 (Military Campaigns of the Civil War).

1. This book of essays covers aspects of the Shenandoah Valley campaign of 1864. As is the case with all the volumes in this series, a number of military, social, and political issues are discussed. The essays are generally well-written and provide insights into some topics not evaluated in general histories of the campaign. Particularly good is the essay comparing the general performances of Sheridan and Early. One is left realizing that, given the resources available to each, Early actually did better than could have been expected and Sheridan made more errors than he should have. Worth the price of the entire volume, is the excellent biographical monograph about General Horatio Wright. This is the first attempt ever to provide a biographical sketch of this important but overlooked officer. The essay is balanced, well-researched, and very worthwhile to the serious student of this period.
   This book is not for someone unfamiliar with this campaign but, as is the case with the rest of the series, is of value to the experienced Civil War reader.



2. Another one of Gallagher's collection of great essays of a campaign while touting the greatest historians on the subject. The authors in this case cover the 1864 Valley situation from Early's arrival to save Lynchburg to his run at Washington to Sheridan's final mobilizing drive that is momentarily derailed by Early's great shock attack at Cedar Creek that crushes the unprepared Federals. But of course, the Union's regrouping at Cedar and counter attack virtually destroys Early's army. The essays cover the key battles and strategies including the make up of Early, Sheridan and a respectful view of the not so flamboyant and thus unappreciated General Horatio Wright who held things together at Cedar Creek when Sheridan arrived on the field. The latter part of the book also includes the social effect the war had on its population particularly as the means to feed the Confederate war machine was destroyed as part of the grand union strategy. Early and the Confederate Army no doubt fought heroically enough to challenge the record of Stonewall; however, they were literally overwhelmed by numbers and better horses and equipment. Of course, once confident, Sheridan keeps the pressure on with his young lions, Custer, Merritt and Torbet. A grand example of that is Robert E. L. Krick's essay on the battle of Tom Brook between the Confederate and Union cavalry that is extremely one sided, resulting in a total crushing of the Confederate horse. It's amazing that the Confederates were able to reorganize and launch what was at first a highly successful attack at Cedar Creek 10 days later. This recovery and attack is a tribute to Early, who unfortunately used his infamous tongue lashing too harshly afterwards demonstrating one of his worst character flaws. The other great aspect of these talented authors is their research, which is so impeccable that they sort out the historical misrepresentations and get to the truth of the matter, albeit at the expense of some such as John Gordon, the great fighter and embellisher. The only negative, I wish there was a summary of the battles in date line fashion along with a map that showed where all the key battles were fought. I also wish the summary of the situation prior to Early's arrival included a discussion of General "Grumble" Jones battle of Piedmont where he lost his life trying to stop General Hunter's attack of the valley. As an additional note, these fine historians get together almost every summer and provide excellent tours of the valley, a treat worth considering.



3. This is an interesting collection of essays on the Shenandoah Campaign of 1864. Gary Gallagher has pulled together a set of essays that, even if they sometimes contend with one another, helps the reader get a better understanding of the 1864 conflict.
   
   The dramatic personae in this action include Lee's "bad old boy," Jubal Early, the combative but capable Confederate commander, versus Phil Sheridan, the hyperactive cavalry commander given charge of the Union forces in the Valley. Key players on the Union side: John Crook, leader of the "Army of West Virginia," William Emory of Sheridan's army, the cavalry (Torbert as head, with Merritt and Custer, and Devin as key subordinates). On the Confederate side: infantry commanders such as Gordon, Rodes and Ramseur and cavalry leaders Lomax, Munford, and Rosser. There was a lot of talent on each side, but Early's army was heavily outnumbered (maybe 40,000 troops under Sheridan and 14,000 or so under Early). Such numbers presaged an almost inevitable defeat of Early, with as combative a Union general as Sheridan on the other side (it can safely be said that prior Valley commanders such as Patterson, Hunter, Sigel, and so on may well have wasted such an advantage; Sheridan, despite his flaws as a combat commander, was unlikely to lose under such conditions).
   
   What is nice about this volume is that the authors of the individuals chapters try to assess what actually happened and how good (or bad) commanders actually were, rather than repeating commonly understood judgments. What about the "Woodstock Races" after the Confederate cavalry's disastrous defeat at Tom's Brook? Confederate ineptitude? Or Union overwhelming force? What about Early versus Sheridan as commander of an army? Gallagher's chapter addresses this in a sensitive manner.
   
   At Cedar Creek, what happened? Did Early's so-called "fatal halt" lose the day? Or were the Confederates so outnumbered and outgunned that--aside from total incompetence in Union leadership--they simply could not triumph? Another essay explores the generalship of the 6th Corps commander, Horatio Wright. The conclusions is that he did a good job as commander after the surprise attack while Sheridan was absent and may not have received the credit due him. Still, his performance in other venues in the Civil War was uneven. Here, however, he probably deserves good grades.
   
   And so on. The essays in this volume provoke some thinking about the Valley Campaign of 1864. This is a good work to look at. The chapters are somewhat uneven (as to be expected from an edited volume), but--all in all--this is a useful examination of the subject.

No comments about Riding the High Country.

1 comments about Charles M. Russell: Sculptor.

1. Probably the most well researched book about Charles M. Russell. Even if one is not normally drawn to sculpture, this book could possibly be the one to change your mind. The subjects are varied, inspiring, and beautiful.

No comments about Trails Plowed Under.

No comments about African Notebook (Albert Schweitzer Library (Syracuse, N.Y.).).