No comments about Lincoln the Inventor.

1 comments about Reminiscences of Confederate Service, 1861-1865 (Library of Southern Civilization).

1. A personable memoir of a young Londoner who ran the blockade in order to fight for the Confederacy. Dawson's account of sailing as an utter landlubber (but a fan of Marryat's novels) is among the best parts of the book, amusing and anecdotal. Learning quickly, Dawson joined the CS Navy but quickly transferred to the artillery as an ordnance officer for first Longstreet and then Fitz Lee. His book includes Pickett's Charge, a not very vivid account of Longstreet's Burnside impersonation (versus Burnside!) at Fort Sanders, and the friendly-fire incident at the Wilderness that killed the brilliant young Micah Jenkins and badly wounded Longstreet. Not a deeply informative memoir, but a well-written and appealing one.

3 comments about From First to Last: The Life of William B. Franklin (The North's Civil War, 19).

1. Franklin's life reads like an action-adventure story! Using previously undiscovered letters and meticulous research of the period, Mark Snell has brought to light a man whose life parallels the development of the United States through the 19th century. As an infant, William B. Franklin had been kissed by Lafayette and given, as were the fledgling United States, the blessing of that great proponent of American independence. Graduating first in his class at West Point, Franklin pursued an Army career in the Corps of Topographical Engineers, deeply involved in building the infrastructure which would support and define America's burgeoning industrial economy . . . mapping western territories and surveying Great Lake shorelines, building innovative coastal lighthouses, and serving as project manager for the DC capitol dome. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Franklin advised the Lincoln administration on how to expand the Regular Army, just the beggining of his interaction with many of the "big dogs" in that political and military struggle. He rose in rank and was a principal player in some of the war's most renown campaigns: First Bull Run, the Peninsula Campaign, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, the Red River Campaign. He was even captured by Confederates and made a daring escape!

   Of most interest to Civil War aficionados, Snell disputes Franklin's alleged "failure" at Fredericksburg and presents a solid argument for his true failure during the Maryland Campaign. Had Franklin been more aggressive following his success at Crampton's Gap on September 14, 1862, McClellan might have trounced Lee thoroughly at Sharpsburg, surely shortening the war. New information on Franklin's participation in the Red River Campaign is also fascinating. Following the war, Franklin ventured into a life of public service and business -- such as overseeing The National Home for Disabled Veterans and managing the Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company -- and finally bowed out gracefully with the beginning of the new century.

   This is a fair and objective biography of a truly selfless patriot, whose life teaches us about the century during which America defined itself as a nation, a man whose vigor, enthusiasm, and accomplishment matched that of the dynamic era during which he lived.




2. Before I read this book, the name William Buell Franklin meant little. All I knew was that he was a Union commander at Fredericksburg. The rest of Franklin's war service was a mystery to me. Thank God I read this book.
   
   Franklin's reputation before this book can be compared to other Union generals such as George McClellan. Unfairly criticized for the Union losses in the eastern theater, McClellan has been the focal blame for the Union's lack of success in the early part of the war. In comparison, Franklin's inability to break through Jackson's lines at Fredericksburg has scarred his name until recently. Taking unjustifiable blame for this defeat, the Pennsylvanian never regained full respect for his illustrious war service.
   
   What's even more impressive about this book is its commitment to the truth. Snell's study illustrates Franklin's strengths and failures throughout the war. Surely, the Maryland Campaign was not Franklin's finest hour as a commander, but Snell refuses to put entire blame on the general for his inability to rescue Harpers Ferry, unlike other historians of the campaign.
   
   One can admire the entire life of this Union general. His service to his home and country has finely been noticed. Though still seen as the "scapegoat" of Fredericksburg, Franklin now has a fair biography that will certainly be the best out there for years to come.



3. 
   It appears William Buel Franklin, as a battle commander, had all the faults of George B. McClellan (very conservative, overly cautious, slow to action) and not a thread of his one finest quality (self-promotion). Mark Snell's excellent biography explores the man in all his controversy, but also making clear his positive qualities too, especially his role as a surveyor and engineer. Perhaps, as Snell points out, the qualities that Franklin fostered that made him an excellent engineer (studiousness, meticulousness) became liabilities when he was commanding troops on the field in the heat of battle.
   
   Franklin was born in Pennsylvania in 1823. After graduating from West Point in 1843 (first in his class), he was with Kearny as a surveyor during the Mexican War. He was involved with a number of engineering projects around Washington, DC, including being in charge of construction of the Capitol dome. After the war broke out he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and saw action at First Bull Run and in the Peninsular Campaign. He was promoted to Major General in July 1862. At Fredericksburg in December of that year, Franklin led 50,000 men across the Rappahannock on the Union left, but made little headway against the fierce fighting; later Burnside charged Franklin with disobedience and blamed him (both unfairly) for the Union disaster that resulted there. The charge, later upheld by the Committee on the Conduct of the War, ruined his military reputation. Wounded at Sabine Cross Roads in April 1864, Franklin saw little action for the rest of the war. After the war he became vice-president and general manager of the Colt Firearms Company in Hartford and engineered the building of the Connecticut state capitol. He died in 1903.
   
   It's probably fair to say that Franklin was a mediocre general. Snell believes that he was good at following orders, but not in acting independently when a situation called for it. The disaster at Fredericksburg seems to be an instance when Franklin followed orders TOO closely (Burnside's orders were not very clear to start with). Snell's account of Franklin's life is scholarly (it's based on his doctoral dissertation), but interesting and written with style. There are lots of photos included. Not much has been written about Franklin (I think this might be the only book-length study), and it's a worthy addition to anyone's Civil War library.

5 comments about Robert E. Lee's Civil War.

1. This book is a mixed bag of stuff that's largely not worth bothering with.
   
   First, Alexander points out that Lee made far too many frontal assaults, from his first battle to his last. This is quite true, and we can justly point out that what Nathan Bedford Forrest figured out in his first action ('Never make a frontal attack if there's a half-way decent alternative'), R. E. Lee may still not quite grasped in '65. But a one-sentence idea does not make a book.
   
   Second, Alexander rehashes his 1996 volume "Lost Victories: The Military Genius of Stonewall Jackson." If only Davis and Lee and _listened_ to Jackson, we're told, and implemented his strategies, the South would have won in 1862 or '63. But war is the realm of uncertainty: the one time Jackson's ideas were followed to the letter, Chancellorsville, things didn't go as planned, Jackson died, and it's arguable that Hooker would have won the battle if he hadn't been wounded.
   
   Thirdly, there's fantasy masquerading as analysis. For instance, during the Gettysburg campaign, Lee should have attacked Philadelphia! That would have taken the Army of Northern Virginia 80 or so miles further into Northern territory, cut Lee's line of retreat, and enabled Lincoln to move troops there first via Philadelphia's concentration of rail lines, the thickest in the United States, but what the heck, it was certain to work because . . . well, that's where I lose the thread.
   
   And then there's random inconsistency. Lee was a menace to the Confederacy because he constantly made frontal assaults on superior numbers in strong positions. Braxton Bragg, otoh, invaded KY in the summer of '62, and had a chance to take Lexington -- by making a frontal assault against superior numbers in a strong position. Ah, but Bragg also had an entire separate Union force on his tail, one that ALSO outnumbered him. Besides, Bragg's troops were badly worn out by marching and short rations, and Bragg's subordinates frequently disobeyed orders without even telling Bragg what they were doing. So obviously Bragg's failure to attack Lexington reflects a loss of nerve, because a Confederate attack would have inevitably won. "RIGHT!", as Noah said to the Lord.
   
   There are many good books on the Civil War. This isn't one of them. Skip it.



2. As someone who greatly dislikes the deification of Lee, I was looking forward to seeing him taken down a few pegs. Alexander certainly does that, but he sacrifices truth to do it. Lee can do no right is just as bad as Lee can do no wrong. In effect, Alexander deifies Jackson in place of Lee. People who want truth instead of fantasy should avoid this book.
   
   In my opinion, Bonekemper (How Robert E. Lee Lost the Civil War) does a much better and much more historically accurate job of bringing Lee down to earth. (But for a really excellent comparison of Lee and Grant's generalship, read Gordon Rhea's superb, fair, and detailed 4 volumes on Wilderness to Cold Harbor.)
   
   The only reason I give Alexander's ax-grinder of a book even 2 stars is that it is well written.



3. Robert E Lees Civil War by Bevin Alexander is a decent read. The Civil War was basically a war of Attrition and the North outnumbered the South. Admittedly the South had more courageous Generals at first. Then came Antietam where Union General Mcclellan captured General Lees plan of march and joined battle with him. Antietam was the bloodiest day of fighting in American history especially when you think that both sides were American. The Southern Army retreated from the field of battle leaving the Union Army to survey the destruction. General McClellan said to one wounded Southerner "You men fought bravely today" and the Southerner replied "Yes and here we lie." The flanking moves of Southern General Stonewall Jackson are mentioned but he usually failed to exploit his successes sometimes stopped by nightfall. This book says that General Lee liked frontal assaults which were bloody in the days of the minie ball ammunition which was large and accurately fired. At the battle of Gettysburg Lee appeared to throw the battle and the war with Picketts charge. Some of my cousin President Lincolns advisors wanted General Grant replaced but Lincoln said "He fights." General Lee was a Christian and that may help explain his graceful surrender a Appotomax. Civil War buffs will like this book.



4. I am not a military historian nor a civil war specialist, but am an avid reader, have read Foote's books recently and have read many more books on the Civil War ove the years. This book goes into great detail discussing the military and strategy mistakes Lee made, crucial to the war's final outcome. It is not a Lee-bashing book, but puts him in perspective, contradicting the traditional "he can do no wrong" or "he can do no right" viewpoints, in my opinion. It is dry in tone and style in many parts--it is, after all, not a fictional novel but a scholarly, well researched and well-written nonfiction book.
   
   But, through letters and personal reminiscences, Lee becomes human. He is not deified or vilified. He was after all, just a man--educated, well trained, with great courage and dignity, but still--just a man. We should remember that and judge him and his place in history accordingly.



5. This book is another in a set of critiques of Robert E. Lee's generalship during the Civil War. It also notes that he may have done far more for all concerned at the close of the war.
   
   This is competently written and rather simplistically argued.
   
   As many others, Alexander argues that Lee was far too aggressive and took offensive action too reflexively. He notes the bloodletting during the Seven Days and at Gettysburg as examples. His basic point (page ix):
   
   "The key to understanding Lee as a commander is that he sought from first to last to fight an offensive war. . . . This offensive war, though it produced many spectacular clashes and campaigns which arouse fascination to this day, ultimately failed because Lee's methods and his strategy were insufficient to overcome the South's weakness in arms and manpower."
   
   He juxtaposes Lee with Stonewall Jackson, who preferred defensive action--with rapid flank attacks and so on as preferable to frontal attacks. The examples in the book suggest that there may be something to this argument, but--again--the final analysis appears a bit simplistic.
   
   However, the author also pays tribute to Lee at his surrender at Appomattox. Here, Lee urged his countrymen to return peacefully and give up the fight. In that sense, he was a strong voice for ending the war and binding the wounds of disunion.
   
   This is worth taking a look at, but the argument is rather simplistic.

No comments about Eyewitness to Gettysburg: The Story of Gettysburg As Told by the Leading Correspondent of His Day.

No comments about Jacksonian Jew: The Two Worlds of Mordecai Noah.

1 comments about Devil's Game: The Civil War Intrigues of Charles A. Dunham.

1. Cumming's book on Charles Dunham -- known to many by his most prominent alias, Sanford Conover -- fills a gap in Civil War research in the most delightful manner. Dunham's various ploys, scams, and intrigues, under a dozen different alias', are fascinating and dizzying, and Cumming's clever tracking of this ellusive fellow is very satisfying. Better by far than fiction, the outlandish story of Dunham -- including his employment by the gov't to perjure at the trial of the "conspirators" to murder Lincoln -- is quite a ride.
   
   Certainly a must-read for those who've read the Trial, and want to understand Conover's frustratingly confusing testimony.

1 comments about Diary of a Contraband: The Civil War Passage of a Black Sailor.

1. This scholarly study paints a portrait of an unsung patriot and black American patriarch. How many Americans escaped slavery, survived Civil War Naval duty and then raised sons who all fought in U.S. wars themselves?
   
   The author, a Stanford law professor, is pretty accomplished himself: the first black man to head the National Labor Relations Board under President Clinton. Bill Gould has written a clear and sweet study of his great-grandfather. After taking in the panoramic sweep of this inspirational life, we are left to mull over the mystery of it. Who taught young William Gould to read and write well enough to produce a Civil War diary aboard a Union warship?

No comments about The Fiery Trail: A Union Officer's Account of Sherman's Last Campaigns.

4 comments about After Chancellorsville, Letters from the Heart: The Civil War Letters of Private Walter G. Dunn & Emma Randolph.

1. Among the thousands of Civil War books, only a few show us what life was like back home and the human longings and feelings of women at home and their men who were away for indeterminate time. Walter Dunn and Emily Randolph had corresponded from the war's beginning, but her letters to Walter were lost to a Rebel scavenger as Walter lay wounded on the field at Chancellorsville. Walter, gravely injured but healing, is transferred to duty as a medical orderly in Baltimore hospitals, just in time to help receive the flood of wounded from Gettysburg. The correspondence with Emma is renewed. We see Emma's community in wartime and the war from Walter's vantage point--including the rumors that swirled around Baltimore. Lincoln's reelection campaign, ice cream socials, church picnics, and the like fill Emma's days as she comes to love Walter. Emma is one of the most charming and intriguing characters of Civil War literature. Walter, the perfect Victorian gentleman, is overcome with love for Emma; together they plan a life after the war. This is a remarkable story of the war in terms of people who lived it.



2. Among all the hundreds of books about the Civil war, very few show the human dimension of men away on duty and the folks back home. Here Private Walter Dunn of New Jersey, wounded at Chancellorsville and with a minie ball still in his shoulder, is sent to a hospital in Baltimore. He works as a medical orderly as the wounded stream in from Gettysburg. And he renews his correspondence with Emily Randolph back home in Plainfield, New Jersey ( he lost her letters to a Rebel scavenger on the battlefield) Emily is an unforgettable young woman, playful, optimistic, dutiful, and serious, a fine observer of the people and the activities at home (among them the Lincoln reelection campaign). Walter, in turn, is in a vantage point for interpreting the events of the war, particularly as Baltimore lies vulnerable to Confederate attack. There is an interesting love story here, but more than that, the book is outstanding in reaching daily life and customs during the war. A fine addition to Civil War literature.



3. After Chancellorsville: Letters From The Heart is a collection of the Civil War correspondences between Emma Randolph and Private Walter G. Gunn of the 11th New Jersey Infantry as Dunn. They began their exchange of letters when Walter went off to war and Emma was a young girl not yet twenty years of age. Water was carried from the bloody battlefield of Chancellorsville to a hospital in Baltimore. And it was their that he relayed to her the everyday events that comprise an intimate, eye-witness account representing a compelling and informative account of the hardships he endured while in the service of his country. Emma's letters were of the familiar things of home that Walter so badly needed to counter the horror that he lived through -- and almost died from. In time, the grew to love one another and planed a life together after the carnage and slaughter of war was ended. After Chancellorsville is an engaging and much appreciated contribution to the growing body of Civil War literature left in legacy for the benefit of future generations.



4. After Chancellorsville: Letters From The Heart is a collection of the Civil War correspondences between Emma Randolph and Private Walter G. Gunn of the 11th New Jersey Infantry as Dunn. They began their exchange of letters when Walter went off to war and Emma was a young girl not yet twenty years of age. Water was carried from the bloody battlefield of Chancellorsville to a hospital in Baltimore. And it was their that he relayed to her the everyday events that comprise an intimate, eye-witness account representing a compelling and informative account of the hardships he endured while in the service of his country. Emma's letters were of the familiar things of home that Walter so badly needed to counter the horror that he lived through -- and almost died from. In time, the grew to love one another and planed a life together after the carnage and slaughter of war was ended. After Chancellorsville is an engaging and much appreciated contribution to the growing body of Civil War literature left in legacy for the benefit of future generations.