1 comments about Mary Todd Lincoln: Her Life and Letters.

1. The correspondence of Mary Todd Lincoln reveals much about her personalty, and also demonstrates her memory's occasional fallibility. Includes letters dating from the 1840s and into her widowhood. Rewarding for the specialist. A general reader will probably want to dip into the book occasionally rather than read long sections at a time.

4 comments about Confederate Engineer: Training and Campaigning With John Morris Wampler (Voices of the Civil War).

1. This is an interesting book for a variety of reasons. The subject is John Morris Wampler, a young man whose life we follow from an inauspicious start in pre-civil War MD, to his untimely end as a Confederate Captain in Charleston, SC. The story is made doubly interesting, as Wampler is the author's great-great-grandfather, and one can feel Kundahl's personal investment to tell the story completely and without embellishment. One strength of the book is the insight it gives us into the institutions that built our country. Prior to the war, Wampler finds his early niche with the U.S. Coast Survey; at the time, an organization considered to be the premier scientific organization in the country and charged by Congress to conduct a thorough survey of the US coastline. For those with a technical bent, they will enjoy Kundahl's detailed description of the surveying techniques used by Wampler in his work along the Texas coast. Another strength is the unadorned manner in which we follow Wampler's somewhat unsuccessful pursuit of fame and fortune, both prior to and during the war. Kundahl provides a solid record of Wampler's attempts to advance his career, to include the sometimes clumsy use and abuse of mentors. The underlying story could probably be written about any aggressive 30-year-old, however, and that adds credibility to the book, showing us that human nature has not changed. The real strength--and in some respects the weakness--is Kundahl's description of Wampler's involvement in various actions during the war. At best, Wampler's involvement was alwyas peripheral. Kundahl's strength is his ability to take the perspective of the periphery and show how it played into the greater scheme of things. For those without a detailed knowledge of the Civil War, however, the view is sometimes hard to grasp. While the book is well-illustrated with Wampler's maps--his forte--battle maps showing the greater picture would be a very welcome addition. Nonetheless, the thorough accounting of Wampler's actions does give an excellent insight to the life of a staff officer. This duty is not usually depicted in typical histories, which tend to focus on the generals at the top or the infantryment at the bottom. In addition, the book gives a good review of the art of military engineering during the war and opens the idea of other books focusing on specialized staff functions at the time. The book ends with the very personal story of Wampler's widow trying to place his sacrifice into a framework that brings it the dignity and honor she feels it deserves. Kundahl's ability to draw on family records gives this section special poignancy. Given his access to family records, Kundahl's book also raises an interesting question: In this age of e-mails and telephone calls, will such books be able to be written in the future? There will always be a large public record to help document the actions of the generals and a corpus of front-line reporting to reveal the ordeal of the privates. It is doubtful, though, that these personal accounts from the periphery--which is no doubt the view of the vast majority of the participants in any period of history--will be preserved. If for nothing else, Kundahl's telling of one particular individual's peripheral view is a valuable addition to our understanding of this period in our history.



2. Kundahl's biography of Morris Wampler is an excellent read! The story of Wampler's life and untimely death has an appeal for Civil War enthusiasts, for those interested in the development of the engineering profession, and for those who would like to learn about the life and times of an average citizen in a tumultuous period in American history. The material of the book has been gathered from Wampler's personal diaries and from the painstaking research of the author, who is Wampler's great, great grandson. The rich source material and Kundahl's deft handling of it give the reader the immediate experience of Wampler's life from his early education at the Mercer Academy to his work with the U.S. Coast Survey, an important scientific body that was mapping the Nation's expanding boundaries, and, finally, to his labor and ultimate sacrifice in support of the Confederate cause. Viewing the progress of the Civil War from the vantage point of and, at times, in the very words of a mid-level officer is an extraordinary experience.

   Kundahl had done a masterful job for transforming Wampler's life into a compelling experience for the reader. Four stars!




3. I didn't think this book would mean so much to me but it did and I'm pleased. I am a mother, feminist, and yankee; certainly not a student or enthusiast of the Civil War. Somehow this book came to my attention and I read it at first out of boredom. But I could not put this book down. In feminist studies we say "the personal is political." Through the depiction of John Wampler, this book masterfully demonstrates that concept. Kundahl tracks this man's life in careful detail, from his uniform to his marching orders. Kundahl delves where other historians fear to tread; the homelife. It doesn't matter that he fought for the South or the North. It doesn't matter that he was an engineer rather than a foot soldier (although the description of 1800's engineering principles is fascinating.) Fundementally, John Wampler was a man, a husband, a son, a father who sacrificed everything for duty and maybe even just a sense of adventure. Kate Wampler demonstrates the concept of bravery as well. While John went off to war, she kept her family and community together. Very rarely does a historical text bother to address in such detail the effects of war on women and families. Perhaps the fact that Kundahl is related to this extraordinary woman serves as the impetus for that desicion. Perhaps we should all look to our family trees to find such matriarches. I would highly recommend this book. It reminds me of another excellent book entitled "Galileo's Daughter" by Dava Sobel. That book chronicals the life of Galileo through corrispondence with his daughter.



4. I was researching a relative who served in the 2nd Rgt Engineers, PACS, and there is not much information available on the three Confederate Engineer Regiments. This book is more of a biography of Wampler, who was a staff officer and not a line officer in an engineer organization.

1 comments about Reminiscences of a Rebel (American Civil War series).

1. When war broke out in 1861, Wayland F. Dunaway was studying law at the University of Virginia. He promptly enrolled in the 47th Virginia Infantry and, after a non-eventful first year, participated in the 1862 battles of Seven Pines, Mechanicsville, Gaines's Mill, and Frayser's Farm. Due to the regiment's heavy losses in these encounters, Lieutenant Dunaway served as a company commander during July and August of 1862. He then assumed the post of regimental adjutant, a position that he held until March 1863 when he became captain of Co. I, 40th Virginia Infantry. Soon thereafter, Dunaway joined the staff of Brockenbrough's Brigade. Dunaway's memoir was characterized by one reviewer as "brief and bright"; another wrote that his recollections were "even-tempered" and that they "avoid the unreliability of more detailed narratives." This book serves as one of the only substantial sources on Charles W. Field's Virginia brigade.

5 comments about Touched With Fire: Five Presidents and the Civil War Battles That Made Them.

1. In his latest book, Touched With Fire: Five Presidents and the Civil War Battles that made them, James M. Perry has given us a glimpse into the wartime efforts and heroics of five men who later occupied the Oval Office of the White House.

   Presidents Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Harrison, and McKinley were all soldiers in the Civil War, and all had exposure to enemy fire at some point during the war (Hayes was wounded four separate times during the course of the war, though none of his injuries was life-threatening).

   In my opinion, Perry has given us a good reading of Civil War history, including an introduction to some battles that are not often heard of (such as Garfield's involvement at The Big Sandy Valley battle in Kentucky). However, Perry gives short shrift to U.S. Grant, who was the only professional military officer to become President, and to McKinley, who was but an 18 year old Private when he enlisted at the outbreak of the war.

   Perry's writing is lively, and gives the reader a nice vision of what was going on not only on the battlefield, but also in the minds of these five men. He closes the book by giving us a brief glance into the political careers (however short, bland or corrupt their administrations may have been) of these men as well.

   I enjoyed reading the recounts of the battles and the actions taken by these men immensely, and I would highly recommend the book to anyone that is looking for a good understanding of the military years of Garfield, Hayes, or Harrison. With the shortcomings given to Grant and McKinley, I think that a more exhaustive biography would better provide an adequate picture of their wartime activities.




2. James M. Perry's "Touched With Fire" is a highly readable popular history of the wartime service of the five U.S. Presidents who were veterans of the Civil War. The story of U.S. Grant is well-known, but Perry performs a real service for Civil War fans in illuminating the careers in uniform of Rutherford B. Hays, James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, and William McKinley. With the exception of Grant, a West Point graduate with prior service in the regular Army during the Mexican War, each of the other four was caught up from civilian life by the outbreak of war, served in volunteer Midwest infantry regiments, and turned out to be brave and reasonably competent officers. McKinley initially enlisted but earned a battlefield commission. Each was noted for bravery and battlefield leadership. Of each it could be said that their wartime service was critical to their post-war political careers. Of the five, only McKinley was a successful President, although in fairness, Garfield served only a few months before being assassinated.
   
   What may be of topical interest for the present day reader is Perry's commentary on how deeply the prosecution of the war divided the North. A significant fraction of Northern politicians and their followers opposed the war effort, whether on grounds of sympathy with the Confederacy, partisan rivalry with the newly ascendant Republican Party, a distaste for the liberation of slaves, or exhaustion over the high cost in blood and treasure of combat. The desperate political infighting necessary to push to completion President Lincoln's agenda of reuniting the country and freeing the slaves translated into a post-war landscape in which the Republicans waved the "bloody shirt of rebellion" at the Democratic Party to win all but two Presidential elections between 1868 and 1908. Like any other era of politics, power tended to corrupt, and the "Gilded Age" of the late 1800's was renowned for its corrupt political practices.
   
   "Touched By Fire" is easily accessible to the general reader; Perry's narrative is entertaining and backed by solid if generally derivative scholarship.



3. This is a book we Civil War fans needed. Grant,Hays,Garfield,Harrison and Mckinley. I think Chester Arthur also served but he wasn't in any battles. Being from Cumberland Maryland it's interesting to note that Mckinley and Hays were both in town the night Crook and Kelly were captured by McNeils rangers. Hays is probably the most combat experienced, himself being at South Mountain and The Shenandoah. Harrison was with Sherman in Georgia but was at the Battle of Resaca a pretty intense battle itself. Garfield saw some fighting in Kentucky and Chickamauga and Mckinely was at Antietam and Shenandoah. But you should read the story it's quite good and i guarantee adventure on every page.



4. I am a big fan of Civil War histories. I have more than 75 fiction and non-fiction Civil War books on my bookshelf (mostly non-fiction) so I am hardly a newbie to this area. When I comment that this is a new angle, I an really saying something.
   
   It's not that James M. Perry has uncovered new documents or new information, but he has re-shuffled the "same old" information into a new pattern. In this case, he has focused on the five Presidents that fought in the Civil War. Perry includes a modest pre-war biography of each of the men and then goes into greater detail on their war experiences. The level of detail is neither skimpy nor excessive - he strikes a nice balance.
   
   As a group, they all had many things in common. To a man, they all became competent officers of brevet Major or higher, they all had extensive combat experience in the Western theater (although Hayes and his men were transferred to the Eastern theater) and they were all Republican (Perry does point out that the Democrats did run Civil War veterans, but none were successful).
   
   Mercifully, Perry does not cover the entire career of U.S. Grant since his Civil War biography would essentially be a re-telling of the war itself and his war biography would dwarf those of the other four combined. Instead, he begins with Grant at Forts Henry and Donelson and only chooses to include him again when he interacts in the lives of the other four. The other four are hardly a homogeneous group, despite all being Republicans. Their temperaments range from stoic and quiet to loud and openly scheming. Their ages range from 18 to 38 and previous military experience range from a West Point education to none at all.
   
   Perry includes a chapter at the end telling the post-war political history of each of the five men which is also a basic history of Gilded Age politics. Perry points out the powerful influence that Civil War veterans groups such as the Grand Army of the Republic had.
   
   Interesting. Easily accessible. Worth the read by Civil War buffs and devotees of the Presidency.



5. Most of this book is very interesting but there are a few slow areas. Even so it is worth the read. A wonderful glimpse into the military lives of our Civil War Veteran presidents, from the General to the private.

2 comments about Jefferson Davis in Blue: The Life of Sherman's Relentless Warrior.

1. This is a biography of an obscure figure from the American Civil War who had a famous name. Jefferson Columbus Davis was no relation to the Confederate president, and stayed loyal to the Union, rising the the rank of brevet Major General. He's probably best known as the culprit in the murder of William Nelson, another Union army general, in 1862. There was, however, more to Jefferson C. Davis than that, as this admirable biography shows.

   ...

   Jefferson C. Davis was from Indiana. He enlisted in the army young, and participated in the battle of Buena Vista as a private in his Indiana volunteer regiment, distinguishing himself so much that he was considered for an appointment to West Point. When that fell through, Davis was directly enlisted in the regular army as a second lieutenant of artillery, and spent the years between the Mexican war and Fort Sumter studying and learning to be a soldier. He was part of the garrison of Fort Sumter, and this notoriety positioned him for a brigade command of Indiana state troops. He led them through the battle of Pea Ridge, and never looked back, concluding the war in command of the Fourteenth Corps during the March through the Carolinas, and during the battle of Bentonville. After the war, he was Alaska's first military district commander, and briefly fought the Modocs on the California-Oregon border.

   The authors do a wonderful job of bringing Davis, and his many contradictions, to life. He was a demanding soldier, and a hard taskmaster, but he appears to have generally been a fair and decent person. There is the one incident where he shot Nelson dead, but the authors lay out the course of events, and frankly the whole thing sounds provoked. Nelson was disliked by a lot of people, apparently, to the point that when he was shot, there weren't very many calls for his killer to be brought to justice. The whole thing is laid out in considerable detail. And where Davis emerges as a surprise is in his competence as a soldier. Though his troops were routed at both Stones River and Chickamauga, at Pea Ridge it was Davis who stopped Louis Hebert's attack on the Union left, and at Jonesboro it was Davis who broke the Confederate front. At Bentonville he again held off the main Confederate assault, though with some help. Frankly I was surprised: he turns out to have been a pretty good general, and generally well-liked by the troops, even though he *never* praised anyone for anything, and apparently thought bravery nothing extraordinary. In his defense, he was brave himself.

   There is one shortcoming in this book. There is a lack of maps to illustrate the text. The authors try to detail battlefield maneuvers from Buena Vista to Bentonville, with no tactical maps at all, and only three general area maps, none of which are particularly helpful. Only one of the maps even deals with the Civil War. This unfortunately makes the text a bit hard to follow at times. Other than that, I would highly recommend this book for the Civil War scholar. It's definitely worth the money.




2. A fascinating and first rate biography of this little known Union leader by newcomer Whitney and veteran writer Hughes.
   The authors follow Jefferson C. Davis from an enthusiastic young soldier in the Mexican War to his outstanding leadership at Ft. Sumter and throughout the Civil War.
   Excellent reading for any history buff!

5 comments about Lincoln's Virtues: An Ethical Biography.

1. This is a fascinating read. Lincoln deserves to be on Mt Rushmore.
   I was impressed with Lincoln's ability to run the political rat race, all the way to presidency, and yet keep his moral torch so bright.
   
   Lincoln's Virtues is a unique biography, because it focuses on Abraham Lincoln's political and philosophical ideas instead of the chronological history described in typical biographies. Most Americans know Lincoln lived in a wooden cabin, led the North to victory in the Civil War, and emancipated the slaves. However, not many know how shrewd a politician Lincoln was, and how effective a debater he was.
   
   The book analyzes Lincoln's speeches with a focus on how he was able to stand for his beliefs while at the same time not alienate the mainstream public. His speeches were not as zealous and emotionally charged as the New England abolitionists' were; however, his moderate stance was the most practical and effective way to achieve the emancipation. While he made compromises, he never abandoned his core values. He believed all men were created equal and that one should always do the right thing. This book vaulted Lincoln to the top of my `most admired people' list.
   
   Besides learning Lincoln's beliefs and virtues, the reader will enjoy the great political debates decorated with wit and humor. The writing by author Miller is vivid and animating: you just traveled back in time to 1859 and are sitting in the auditorium listening to the speech by the great man from Illinois.



2. Instead of a passive retelling of Lincoln's life, Miller examines Lincoln's choices, and how they made him the great man he became. Highly recommended.



3. This book describes the age and circumstances Lincoln grew up and ruled in. It does this with great detail and numerous of small accounts and that's what makes it interesting to read.
   
   Throughout the book suggestions are made of Lincoln's thoughts and at some point this gets annoying, as there are no survivors to tell the tale of the man they knew. And how good do you have to know someone who's living to judge him on his virtues, let alone someone long gone.
   
   The ethical propaganda makes me deduct one star from this wonderful written book that can teach us a lot about the times and the decission making in our lifes. Whether Lincoln's virtues were based on the ones William Lee Miller writes about is something we'll never know...



4. William Lee Miller is an academic who writes in an understandable style. In "Lincoln's Virtues" the historian examines in clinical detail the ethical cosmos of the railspiltter from the West who rose to the White House in the nation's darkest hour.
   Miller shows that Lincoln held two principles as sacred to those virtues enunciated in the Declaration of Independence: the Union which was indissoluble and predated the formation of states; the right of every American to be free. Lincoln fought hard for the black race in a racist society beyond a 21st century person's ken. He thought slavery wrong from an early age and will live forever for his authorship of the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 and support of the 13th amendment to the Constitution freeing slaves.
   Lincoln as a congressman in the 1840s opposed the Mexican War as unjust. He was an enemy of the Polk administration's Manifest Destiny hubris. As a Whig politician for most of his career his great hero was Henry Clay of Ky. who managed to get the Compromise of 1850 passed. Lincoln deplored the Kansas-Nebraska act of 1854 which nullified the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The Kansas-Nebraska Act was the brainchild of Lincoln's racist 1858 opponent for the Senate in Illinois: Stephen A. Douglas. With Kansas-Nebraska it became possible for slavery to be extended into the territories entering the Union. Lincoln also opposed the Dred Scott decision and the fugitive slave act.
   Miller shows how skillful a politican Mr. Lincoln was as he sought political power while at the same time moving the country forward to a more just and democratic society. His strong defense of the Constitution and the Union led to the waging and winning of the Civil War. Miller's portrait of Lincoln makes clear to this reader why he is our greatest president!
   Lincoln is sometimes been attacked for racism but those critics who cast aspersions on him fail to realize the type of white supremacist society in which he was immured.Without Lincoln the United States as we know it would probably not have survived the major challenges of secession by eleven states and a horrific civil war.
   Lincoln, teaches Miller, was a kind man who abhorred cruelty to animals and human beings. The sixteenth president was merciful to soldiers who fell asleep on guard duty. Had he lived, reconstruction in the southern states would no doubt have been less severe than it was. Lincoln rarely held grudges grasping the moral if not the doctrinal teaching of Christianity. He had the skills of a great author/poet. Lincoln's speeches soar higher and probe deeper into the American psyche than do those of any other American Chief Executive.
   This outstanding book should be read in tandem with the author's second volume on Lincoln entitled "President Lincoln." Read these books slowly and absorb their content. One wishes their was an Abraham Lincoln to cast his stovepipe hat in the presidential ring in the current frenzied contest for the Oval Office!



5. Having been educated in the mythology of Abraham Lincoln, I anxiously ordered this supposed "biography". What a disappointment. It is little more than a hypocritical opinionated essay attempting to rationalize the inconsistent and criminal conduct of one of our worst Presidents. It must be remembered that the myth of Lincoln is that he somehow "saved" a union (which was voluntary and from which a democratic majority in the Confederate states had withdrawn)by instigating a "Civil War" resulting in the death of more than 600,000 human beings and the destruction of much of the South. Supposedly, the War was fought over slavery. But, both before and during the War, Lincoln stated that the war was not over this issue. Furthermore, as is typical of those trained in the law, the statements he made prior to the War about black people were so ambiguous that no one can fairly comment on his ethics or principles. What we do know is that this megalomaniac insisted upon the use of force and warfare to enforce his political theories. He believed black people were inferior. He openly espoused sending the Negroes back to Africa. Only in 1862, when it appeared the North was in jeopardy of losing his personal war did he sign the Emancipation Proclamation, an "executive order" which could not have the force of law. It freed the blacks only in the rebellion states. Ethical, obviously not. Cynical and politically self serving, obvious so. Bombing civilians in the South. Destroying civilian food supplies and means of production. No problem. Suspending habeas corpus. Locking up dissident editors of newspapers. No problem. Screw ethics. Murder for political purposes, then claim it was for the cause of abolition. Where did he stand before the War while Seward and others put themselves on the line for the abolition of slavery? He contended it was protected by the Constitution. As a lawyer he was correct. Why then did he not use his supposed personality and powers of persuasion to seek an Amendment or propose that, as recognized property under the law, slaves be purchased and freed? This book is only the most recent apology for this madman. Page after page the author extolls Lincoln with his own personal hyperbole, excusing Lincoln's misconduct. As a result of Lincoln, the blacks were supposedly "freed". Freed into what? Freed how? A century later the black population of this country was still fighting for its freedom, voting rights, against segregation, and the racial divide remains. How did this happen? When violence is involved, the memory of human beings is long. In many parts of the "old south", as a result of the assault upon them by Lincoln, they are still fighting this war. Lincoln, the hypocrite. Lincoln, the murderer. Lincoln, the war criminal. Lincoln, the depressed megalomaniac. It is just a matter of time before historians will be attempting to rewrite the history of George W. Bush, a man much like Lincoln, whose egomaniacal sociopathic personality and actions resulted in the death of countless human beings. In the case of Lincoln, history was rewritten to claim the death and destruction was necessary to free the slaves. With Bush, the weapons of mass destruction will also disappear and history will likely claim the war was fought to "free" the Iraqis by killing, maiming and dislocating more than four million human beings. Ethics, what a joke.

2 comments about The Lincoln Family Album.

1. Mark Neely has compiled a fascinating collection of the Lincoln family's pictures from their family album. What's interesting is what is NOT included in the album: not many photographs of Abraham Lincoln, perhaps the most photographed president of the 19th century. But the pictures of his children and grandchildren are especially interesting and poignant, especially those of a grandson named Abraham (Robert's son) who died at 16 but who bore an uncanny likeness to his famous grandfather. An important addition to any serious Lincoln student's library.



2. Being a Lincoln fan, I pride myself on keeping up on the latest books that come out, and usually, one way or another, end up purchasing them. So, imagine my surprise when I visited a local bookstore, and was browsing in its impressive Lincoln section to find this jew, "The Lincoln Family Album". What, a book that I hadn't heard of?
   
   At first, I thought it was just a simple recounting of the many familiar books with Lincoln photos in it. But upon glancing inside, I realized how wrong assumptions are. The pictures in this book are from the actual Lincoln photograph album, kept through the family generation after generation, until the last surviving member of the clan died in 1985. Up until then, the book lived in secrecy, but now, in this stunning paperback, the photographs have been reproduced. Each page contains a picture, and a small vignette that describes the person in the picture, and why it would be found in the Lincoln family album.
   
   I found myself engrossed, not only in the pictures, but the information contained in each page. For some reason, the pictures came more alive to me with this information than any other picture book of Lincoln. Especially touching are the pictures of Lincoln's kids, Tad, Willie, and Robert. As proud parents would, they are well-documented in this book.
   
   If you are a devotee of Lincoln, I highly recommend this book. With an engrossing first chapter that talks about how photography was catching on just as Lincoln became President, and a wealth of knowledge of the Lincoln family, this book is sure to please you!!

3 comments about Major General John Alexander McClernand: Politician in Uniform (History Book Club Selection).

1. Rich Kiper has written a biography of a little-known personality, John Alexander McClernand, that is a lesson for soldiers who may be tempted to politick and for politicians who may be tempted to "play soldier." This book is an objective and balanced description of the period when the Union Army was suffering from the drain of military talent to the South and "politicians in uniform" were a national necessity. In spite of an abject lack of military training and experience, McClernand did perform remarkably well while preparing troops for combat and while leading them in the field. While he used his political clout to organize, train and equip the soldiers of his brigade, McClernand's tendency to be self-serving and critical of his superiors (to their superiors!) ultimately outweighed his usefulness and hastened his relief by Grant. John McClernand's nemeses included Generals Ulysses Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and, most notably, John McClernand himself. This book was written from a soldier's perspective and can be read and appreciated by soldiers and civilians alike.



2. Kiper has written a long overdue account of a general who fell through the Civil War cracks. Solid understanding, impeccable research, fluid writing = biography at its best.



3. While best known to Civil War buffs for his feuding with Grant, John Alexander McClernand remains an important second tier figure in the effort to preserve the Union.
   
   Richard Kiper helps shed some light on this obscure politican in uniform and offers new appreciation for his services. While Kiper rightfully shows McClernand as something of a blowhard who had little use with the chain of command, the biographer also argues that the Illinois general deserves better than to be lumped in with failed political generals like Nathaniel Banks and Ben Butler. While not uncritical of his subject's military leadership, Kiper presents a strong case that as recruiter, organizer and, even as a battlefield commander, McClernand proved a solid and brave soldier. Kiper also brings some light on his subject's military career after being removed by Grant, offering insight on McClernand's role in the Trans-Mississippi in 1864.
   
   This is not to say that Kiper provides a definitive biogrpahy of McClernand. McClernand's important role as one of Stephen Douglas's chief lieutenants in Illinois and in the U.S. House is lightly skimmed over. McClernand played an important role in the Compromise of 1850 and the shattering of the Democratic Party, from the Buchanan-Douglas showdown to the 1860 presidential convention in Charleston. McClernand also played a leading role in the compromise debates in the 1860-61 congressional section. He even played a fairly prominent role in the post-bellum Democratic Party. All of this Kiper glosses over. While the focus of the book is on McClernand's military career, there should have been a bit more focus on his political career as well, especially as the subject remained, despite his talents, more of a candidate than a military leader. Despite that flaw, this remains a very good look at an important, and unfairly neglected, leader in the Civil War.

No comments about The Life of Robert E. Lee: Library Edition.

5 comments about Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend.

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. REJOICE IN THAT DAY WHEN THEY CAST OUT YOUR NAME AS EVIL
   
   REJOICE
   
   This book has had my name on it and I had a hard time finding it. The book is dear to my heart in that I do not think the whole truth has been told about the South and the Civil War. Somehow I may be related to Stonewall Jackson. Most of my ancestors were protestants from Northern Ireland as were Jackson's.
   
   This is the book to read to reveal a gentler glimpse of slavery in the Old South. Stonewall Jackson broke a Virginia law by teaching his slaves to read and teaching many others about Christianity. Mr. Williams presents this untold story of the famed Confederate General as Stonewall's most enduring legacy. Many descendants of Jackson's black Sunday School class completed divinity studies and have pastored untold hundreds of others in the way of the cross. The blacks of Lexington, Virginia loved Stonewall Jackson and that love was passed down for generations to people like Richard Williams.
   
   The book is a true gem, not to be missed for a completed view of slavery in the Old South. Thank you so much, Mr. Williams.
   
   This side of the Civil War story has not been told. Little do you know the real reason why Thomas Jackson left the U.S. military. His commanding officer was using his influence, as we would say today, to obtain sexual favors from a little slave girl. Such were some who liberated the slaves and their descendants are here with us today. The abolitionist movement was christian supposedly too, yet what a huge mess they made in my neck of the woods. O.K. Being a christian man of honor, (would that there were more these days), he quietly left the service, though his immediate family knew the real reasons. Most people see white southerners as hypocrites. We live in the bible belt, but we're not really christians in that many of us had slaves at one time. I could go on and on about this subject. Careful who you listen to, careful who you ally yourselves to; 99.99999999999999999999999% of self-professed christians ARE NOT.
   
   IF the truth be told.



5. This book is very informative and very accurate. It is told from the viewpoint of the Black People. I would recommend it to everyone who is interested in the truth about the history of the Civil War and Stonewall's compassion for the Black People.