No comments about A Civil War Drummer Boy: The Diary of William Bircher, 1861-1865 (Diaries, Letters, and Memoirs).

5 comments about And One Was a Soldier: The Spiritual Pilgrimage of Robert E. Lee.

1. To try to understand Lee apart from his faith is folly. He embodies all that is noble, beautiful, and worthy of emulation in the best of the Christian tradition. His grace, his poise, his presence are all legendary. His strategic acumen is without peer in all of American history. All are grounded in his simple, profound and unshakeable faith in the wisdom and mercy of God. He has been characterized as enimatic by some historians. I believe he is laid bare in this study. Part history and part meditation no Lee admirer should be without this one.



2. A thought-provoking book about one of the more interesting figures in U.S. history. However one might argue that his support of slavery, the needless misery and suffering caused by his refusal to call for an end to the war after his surrender when he admitted all was lost (basically a matter of protocol, due to loyalty to Jefferson Davis), his refusal to allow prisoner exchanges because of the Union's demand that black soldiers be included ('those species of property' as he put it) tempers the urge to consider him the "embodiment of all that is noble, beautiful, and worthy of emulation in the best of the Christian tradition." One would consider the Christian tradition a bit more enlightened. I also wish the author would have included the words Lee spoke when he shook hands with Ely Parker, one of Grant's aides, after the surrender papers were signed at Appomattox Courthouse: "I am glad to see one real American here." Parker responded, "We are all Americans."



3. The review written in a vain attempt to slash at the character of such a paragon of virtue is ridiculous and only shows the strength of Lee's character and the weakness of any who would care to even attempt such damage to it. Lee freed all his slaves by 1863 only because that was the time period set within his father-in-law's will, he would have preferred to release them earlier since he viewed slavery as a vile and impractical institution although he was not in favor of complete and immediate abolition, preferring gradual abolition for their "education as a race"-- in other words, to fit them with abilities worthy of employment and adequate pay once freed. The comment about protocol was ridiculous and incomprehensible. Lee specificially told his younger officers, who suggested that he lead the army into what would be a devastating round of "bushwhacking"- guerrilla warfare in the countryside, that he would not because the only honorable thing was to surrender to Grant, and thus saved the country from years of devastating warfare. To say that Lee prolonged the war, then, is pointless, for it was he who surrendered when davis, his superior, would have continued to fight. The quote which suggests bigorty and prejudice of Lee shall not even be repeated here due to the fact that it was a misinterpretation of his meaning. Lee, in fact, showed by personal example the best way to unite the country. He attended an Episcopalian church in which the congregation was white, until one day a black man entered the church and proceeded to the rail to take communion. there was a oause in the church, for no man dared sit beside this "colored" man- except Lee, who immediate took his seat beside the man and showed that he was in no way prejudiced.



4. A well-researched book on the religious beliefs of Robert E. Lee. A most instructive study on how these beliefs developed and impacted the man. The book is detailed on just what these beliefs were and how they were at the very core of who Robert E. Lee was.



5. Fantastic! What a great read from a Bishop who can recognize a man of character and faith. Unlike most Episcopal bishops today who chase after the wind, Bishop Brown has written an interesting short tome on the greatest man produced by the 19th Century. Bishop Brown's intertwining of C.S. Lewis, Dorothy Sayers, and T.S. Elliot makes it all the more interesting. This book will bless you during devotional time.

3 comments about Battles and Leaders of the Civil War Vol. 2: Struggle Intensifies.

1. I have the 1956 version of this book called, "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: North to Antietam" - one of the most captivating books on the Civil War that I have ever read. This book is simply the lastest publication of the same book. The book, one of a 4-volume set, is composed of articles and letters published in "The Century Magazine" from 1865 to about 1885 - all by Civil War participants (mostly generals, with the occasional private, colonel, major mixed in). Through their eyes you get the battle as they saw it: "close up and personal". The editors (who were also the editors of "The Century Magazine" in the 1880's) have extensive footnotes to clarify and/or correct information in the authors' articles, plus numerous maps and photographs of the scenes (in the 1860's and 1880's). The maps are invaluable to the reader, showing in great detail the positions of even regiments and artillary batteries. This information proved most useful when I recently visited the South Mountain and Antietam battlefields in person. Using the maps I could pinpoint and follow troop movements with little or no guess-work. This book is a great reference and a fun read. It is full of "what happened", not "what should/might/could have happened"; and, as such, it is most refreshing. (I might add that some parts are actually entertaining and often very amusing.) I recommmend it most highly. P.S.S, Millbury, Mass.



2. This volume (#2) is one of a four volume set - and each is invaluable to understanding what really happened during the various campaigns. The books are a compilation of articles and letters first published in "Century" magazine in the 1870's and 1880's by the editors of that same magazine. In addition, there are numerous DETAILED maps - even down to the placement of individual artillery batteries, photographs, and sketches from the time. Further, the editors have numerous footnotes, which are extremely helpful in presenting evidence and/or additional information concerning events. The articles were all written by men, generals and privates alike, who were there, who took part. This is source material, the unvarnished truth as they saw it. It is sometimes serious, sometimes poetic, sometimes even humorous, yet always extremely interesting. One caution: Ned Bradford's book of the same name is a CONDENSED version of these 4 volumes and is a very poor substitute for this 4-volume set. As a Civil War "buff" of 25 years, I consider this some of the best reading I have ever come across. (If you ever visit a particular battlefield, these books are the only ones you will need to bring along.) This series of 4 books is something that you will read with delight - and refer to again and again.



3. Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: The Struggle Intensifies is the second installment of a four volume set about the Civil War written by eyewitnesses to the battles described. This series opened with "The Opening Battles," this volume is "The Struggle Intensifies," next is "The Tide Shifts," and the final volume is "Retreat with Honor." As with the first volume, the second has well written accounts of the battles fought as it opens with the capture of Fort Pulaski, Georgia and next with New Orleans.

   We begin to see the strategy emerge as point and counterpoint in these battles play out. There is a summary of why there were operations in the far Southwest along with accounts of the Virginia battles of Yorktown and Williamsburg, but there is more as the Peninsular Campaign intensifies. The second battle of Bull Run is well represented here and there are excellent maps, charts, and engravings by the most prominent artists of that era. This said, you'll find that reading these very interesting accounts will bring emotions to the forefront, just as these men were experiencing them first hand. Acoounts of both view points are presented... South and North are fairly represented.

   I found that Brigadier-General John D. Imboden, C.S.A. as he relates Stonewall Jackson's accounts in the Shenandoah to be priceless giving this volume balance. And of course there is Lee's campaign opposing Pope which is enlightening to say the least.

   If you read about the Civil War, this series of books is a must for your library and is ideal for reference when reading other works about this tumultuous time in our history. These volumes are recognized as an outstanding account of the history of this war that writer use for reference... now you can read what that person wrote about his account first hand.

2 comments about Meade of Gettysburg.

1. Meade of Gettysburg is one of the few books written about the life of General George G. Meade. From reading other books about the Civil War, I became interested in General Meade. I was surprised to find that there are only a few books written about this soldier. When I purchased the book, I thought it would be about Meade's actions in the Battle of Gettysburg. While most of the book did revolve around his part in the Civil War, I was pleased to find that it was also a complete history of the man's life. The Battle of Gettysburg was just one part of the book. For example, I was surprised to learn that Meade was actively involved in the Topographical Corps and played a large role in the construction of the Brandywine light in the Delaware Bay. Meade of Gettysburg begins with the birth of George G. Meade and takes the reader through his entire life, ending with his funeral procession where his war horse, "Old Baldy" was brought out of retirement to march riderless behind the caisson bearing his master. For anyone interested in the life of General George G. Meade, this is your book.



2. As much interest as there is in the Civil War today it is amazing that there hasn't been a full scale biography done on George Meade since Freeman Cleaves wrote this book some 45 years ago.
   
   While this is an easy book to read, it definately lacks the level of scholarship we would expect from a biography today. Cleaves has a smooth writing style, however after about 100 pages you really start to get the feeling that you are getting much more style than substance.
   
   I don't know if the problem is lack of source information or simply that to Cleaves it was more important to entertain than to inform but it really got frustrating to me when Cleaves would skim over what were important sections of Meade's life.
   
   Case in point is George Meade's wounding on the Peninsula. Cleaves was blending Meade's entire service on the Peninsula so much that I had to backtrack to figure out what battle Meade was even wounded at. His entire section on the Peninsula amounts to only a handful of pages and in the end Cleaves spends only half a page describing how Meade was actually wounded. His description of Meade's arm wound is simply Cleaves telling us that he had a wound in the forearm and nothing more. Next thing we know Meade is back up and around and heading back to his unit after going home to recuperate. His actual time recovering is completely ignored. We see this over and over again in the book.
   
   Another thing missing out is Meade's opinions. Cleaves had full access to Meade's letters written during the war but makes no use of them. What did Meade think of his fellow generals? We don't know because Cleaves doesn't tell us. You would expect Cleaves to quote liberally from Meade's letters but he doesn't.
   
   Unfortunately this book just doesn't live up to today's standards of what a reader expects from a biographical study like this. In this day and age where we have such great Civil War writers like Sears, Beatie, Detzer and Cozzens one expects a high level of scholarship. This book simply doesn't have that.

No comments about When This Cruel War Is over: The Civil War Letters of Charles Harvey Brewster.

No comments about General James G. Blunt: Tarnished Glory.

2 comments about The Ragged Rebel: A Common Soldier in W.H. Parsons' Texas Cavalry, 1861-1865.

1. This is the story of David Carey Nance, a young Texas farmer caught up in the Civil War as soldier in William H. Parsons' Texas cavalry. This not only the story of a Confederate soldier but it also sheds new light on one of the most famous mounted units in the service of the Confederacy.



2. Well I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it painted a very realistic picture of the mainstream people of the South, that they were good honest, God fearing people, and had more common sense than the people up North. Also, that they weren't cruel slave-beaters like most history books depict them to be. The man put 14 years of research into this book, and so the accuracy of it is unquestionable. I highly recommend anyone to read it, it is only 135 pages long, short enough for anyone.

1 comments about Robert E. Lee: An Album.

1. Without a doubt I have been a diehard fan of Emory Thomas since I attended one of his guest lectures promoting the highly acclaimed biography on the man and soldier Robert E. Lee. His words on the death of LEE were most memorable.

   His recent pictorial essay embodied in this new publication chroniclizes Lee throughout his lifetime in vintage photographs. When I met Lee's great grand daughter Anne Carter Zimmer, I realized that some rather poignant pictures existed, but this book supports the fact.

   This book should be purchased as a bedtime companion to Thomas's brilliant biography of the icon we know as Lee. The layout and selection of photographs in this publication truly satisfy one's soul in meditative reflection. Don't miss.

1 comments about Sheridan's Lieutenants: Phil Sheridan, His Generals, and the Final Year of the Civil War. (American Crisis Series).

1. This short summary of Sheridan's role in the last year of the Civil War is an interesting introduction to the lives of a remarkable group of largely-forgotten soldiers. Merritt, Mackenzie, Crook, Upton, and Wilson were young, gifted, and tough officers who contributed to Union victory. Custer is remembered today because he blundered at the Little Bighorn. The others are seldom discussed because they died in bed after distinguished military careers both during and after the Civil War. The author does a nice job of educating us about their backgrounds and contributions. Pleasantly written, one finishes the book wanting to know more about this Band of Brothers that Sheridan drew around him in the Shenandoah and at Appomattox.

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.