No comments about The Civil War Memoirs of a Virginia Cavalryman: Lt. Robert T. Hubard Jr..

5 comments about With Love Stan: A Soldier's Letters from Vietnam to The World.

1. I teach at a mid-size school in Stan Ross's hometown of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. In our school's media center there is a plaque dedicated to Stanley Ross. As time passed, many students were unaware of this dedication and what an amazing young man Stanley was. Karen Ross Epp's book made this part of our history real. It allowed my students to know and understand how war can tear apart and unite an entire community all at the same time. Stan's letters capture the true Vietnam experience; one in which anyone could understand. This book is truly moving. It changed the way in which I teach my students about Vietnam and the experiences of the brave, young soldiers.



2. Karen Ross Epp has written and published an immensely touching, informative, and scholarly book dedicated to her brother, SGT Stanley D. Ross, and the rest of the men from Charlie Company of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade (Sep)(Lt) that served with him in-country from April 1969 until Stan's untimely death in a firefight in Long Khanh Province, north of Xuan Loc and FSB Blackhorse, on 20 October 1969.
   
   The book is 329 pages long and is filled with large numbers of quality photographs, poems, letters, and countless recollections written by not only her brother, but from the other infantrymen that gallantly served in C/2-3 during the same time.
   
   This is one of the best books that I have read in quite a while and I would highly recommend this valuable piece of history to all that served with the 199th Infantry Brigade in Vietnam and Cambodia. It is a genuine tribute to the men, both living and deceased, that once served in the best and most professional Light Infantry Brigade that fought in Vietnam and Cambodia.
   
   RJG



3. (Note: This review is written by my father, Robert Kreider, PhD; Retired historian.)
   
   Karen Ross Epp's book, With Love Stan--a Soldier's Letters from Vietnam to the World, is a captivating story of war at its raw, earthy, killing and being killed level of war--the story told by a 19-year old infantryman (a grunt), a fun-loving Iowa farm boy just out of high school. On October 20, 1969, Stan Ross was killed in action. Reading With Love Stan on the heals of watching Ken Burn's documentary on World War I, "The War," I was jolted by the striking parallelism of two wars at their elemental infantryman base. This, too, is an Ernie Pyle, Bill Mauldin kind of story.
   
   Stan's sister Karen in her editing deftly splices into the flow of Stan's letters also excerpts from writings of other soldiers in the killing fields of Vietnam. Here is not only a war journal, but a sensitive portrait of an Iowa farm family lovingly identified with their son and brother: a youth longing for home, letters serving as a "lifeline to sanity," photos in the wallet acquiring iconic value, home front flashbacks that give war a startling context. One also senses the alienation of the grunts toward generals with their inflated rhetoric and military dismissed as in soft jobs in the rear. Karen Ross is to be congratulated for giving voice to Vietnam War's voiceless. I have read dozens of books on Vietnam; I rank With Love Stan among ones at the top.
   
   --Robert Kreider, PhD; Retired historian



4. Sgt. Stanley Ross was one of more than 58,000 men killed in the Vietnam War.
   With Love Stan personalizes the story of this man and the effect of that war on his family.
   
   Karen Ross Epp, his sister, has compiled many of his letters home. In total, they show us a self-described "Iowa farm boy," from his first days in basic training, progressing from a "new guy" to a hardened, decorated soldier, Included are tributes and reminiscences from his comrades, as well as explanatory text to tell us what was going on in his family at the time. Epp has been candid enough to describe even the stresses due to her marriage to a conscientious objector (who served his obligation in a non-combat role), while conversely Stan was sent to Vietnam.
   
   Included are some letters speaking of the unwinding done on "stand downs," but these only add to the picture of a 19-year-old, lonely and far from home. As well, they show us that Epp has chosen to show us other sides of Stan, without any effort to expurgate these intimate communications with family and friends.
   
   Through it all, underneath he remains the Iowa farm boy; asking for an Instamatic camera, and his favorite chocolate chip cookies, sending his a mother custom-made bible, and tiny jacket for his younger brother Phill, all the while assuring them he was "ok" even when he wasn't.
   
   What comes across is the banality of much of the life in Vietnam; periods with nothing to do, bad food, limited equipment and terribly harsh living conditions interspersed with dangerous confrontations with a wily and often underestimated enemy. Over time, you feel his anger:
   
   "When I think of you back in the world [the States], everyone friendly, no one trying to kill you, or the constant worry of getting it next, it's almost hard to believe that there is such a wonderful land. The funny part of it is that 80% of the people over here don't even pack a weapon or even see action."
   
   Chafing under the unfairness of the situation, with Infantryman staying on the front lines for weeks with no break, he wrote: "I heard there were over 350 men killed here last week It makes me so damn mad, words can't express it. I wished to hell every one of those high-filluting (sic) government men would come over to this hell-hole one day. "
   
   And "Like I say, it's hard to explain the way it is. Just thank God you're in the wonderful U.S."
   
   He was only one man, but his letters speak to the feelings and experiences of many.
   
   Unfortunately there is no happy ending to this story. Stan never got to ride the Harley his father bought for him, or see his little brother again. Stanley Ross died October 20, 1969.
   
   But he left behind a story we should all read, all the more relevant in light of our current "adventure" in Iraq, because those who ignore history are bound to repeat it.
   
   Jeff Lowenthal



5. This is not just a book about loss in war, but is also about loss to family, and how in the end family's pay the greatest price for all our wars. The story of this young man, and how rapidly he matured into a leader in battle, yet retained his humanity, will be moving to anyone whether they were alive during the Vietnam War or not. The legacy of that was is still with us, as it will be for decades--what it did to our nation, what it did to Vietnam, the things we learned from it, the things we failed to learn. This book is an essential contribution to the documenting, and understanding, of that time--but with a personal touch that Karen Epp expertly renders without sentimentality, yet with considerable knowledge and warmth.

5 comments about Nathan Augustus Monroe Dudley, 1825 - 1910: Rogue, Hero, or Both?.

1. While reasonably only rating a footnote in the history of our Civil War and various Indian campaigns, Nathan Augustus Monroe Dudley, ultimately a Brigidier General in retirement, was a very interesting fellow. Donald Keay well captures Dudley's complex and diverse traits: courage in battle, numerous conflicts with fellow officers, appreciation shown by enlisted men serving under him, a considerable tendency to exaggerate his own importance and perhaps too much pleasure from the bottle. Noted primarily for his partisan and highly criticized role in New Mexico's famed Lincoln County War, Dudley in fact served honorably (sometimes) in numerous other situations. Keay spells all this out in his well written and detailed book - the only significant text on this largely overlooked 19th Century army officer. Each reader will have to decide personally the answer to Keay's sub-title question: "Rogue, Hero, or Both?"



2. As a New Mexico history buff, I found this book fascinating and very entertaining. The profile that the author draws of this often maligned historical figure is intriguing. Dudley was a complex soldier and man, and Donald Kaye does a wonderful job of laying out facts and anecdotes that contribute to this nuanced profile without rendering any judgments about Dudley's actions or motives, leaving conclusions to the reader. Dudley is not just a caricature of the Old West; he becomes a living, breathing person who was flawed but often heroic. He managed to ingratiate himself with superiors, endear himself to subordinates and infuriate his peers. The author brings him to life with humor and an engaging writing style. I highly recommend this book.



3. "The General" was an always present but shadowy figure of my childhood. He was my great great grandfather, long gone by the time of my birth but often mentioned. Whenever he was spoken of, he was "The General" or "Nathan Augustus Monroe Dudley". For the most part, what I knew of him was pre-Civil War because he had written a brief autobiography about that period. Now, Donald Kaye has written a book fleshing out The General's life and career. This is an even-handed account, covering the good, the bad and the not so beautiful. He writes about things the General never mentioned. The result is a splendid biography covering The General's life before, during and after the Civil War. It covers the Lincoln County War (Billy the Kid and all that), the "Indian Fighting Army", fighting Sioux, Apaches and finally, the Crow. The book focuses on one figure during a tumultuous part of our country's history leaving to others to cover events that surrounded his life. I wish the book had been longer. I loved it - and not just because Kaye is writing about MY General. It will be of interest to anyone interested in the human condition. An enthusiastic five stars from this reader!



4. N. A. M. Dudley had a long and distinguished military career, beginning at age 15 in the Massachusetts militia and ending with the rank of Colonel of the First U.S. Cavalry when he retired in 1889 (advanced to brigadier general in retirement), that was filled with occasional discord and sometimes retribution by those who opposed him. As Kaye makes clear, Dudley "was a complicated character with many friends and some bitter enemies." Dudley is best known for his partisan military decisions during the Lincoln County War in New Mexico, but his long and sometimes controversial career in the U.S. Army deserves further scrutiny (now available in this intriguing account). His persona is more fascinating than that of George A. Custer. Dudley compiled an admirable record in combat. He also faced hearings before courts-martial and a board of inquiry for some controversial decisions and actions. He was apparently fond of alcohol.
   Donald Kaye provides keen insight into the actions and character of the enigmatic Dudley in this carefully researched and finely-crafted life history. Was Dudley a hero, rogue, or both? Read this colorful biography and decide for yourself.



5. Afficionados of the Old West, especially of Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War, have known of Nathan Dudley as a marginal but controversial figure in the War and especially in the Battle of Lincoln which brought the conflict to its ultimate, bloody culmination. Dudley, Commanding Officer of the 9th Cavalry units stationed at Fort Stanton, marched his command into Lincoln and went into camp. The interposition of the Cavalry resulted in the disruption of the McSween defenses and brought battle to a quick end. Was he improperly taking sides with "The House?" Or was he responding to requests from law-abiding citizens to bring the chaos to an end? The debate has, essentially, been a side issue to historians of the Lincoln County War, most of whom come down strongly against Dudley. (In part, perhaps, because it was the losing side that filed the affidavits and produced the charges that come down to us today.)
   
   Kaye does no more than summarize the Battle of Lincoln, stating properly that those events have been written on extensively by others.
   
   What this book does is put Dudley's entire career before us, giving us a context within which to evaluate his actions at Lincoln. The sources on Dudley are limited, but Kaye marshals what there are to show us a competent, not over powering, frontier officer, concerned for the welfare of his troops, conscientious in his duty, sometimes abrupt and opinionated, perhaps a man likely to be frustrated by inaction when neutral citizens appealed to him for help.
   
   Those interested in the Lincoln County War will find this book illuminates one of the minor personaolities and may give greater perspective into his motoivations during the critical Battle of Lincoln.

No comments about A Horseman for the Emperor: a Cavalryman of Napoleon's Army on Campaign Throughout the Napoleonic Wars.

No comments about Log Book: A Pilot's Life.

2 comments about Lee the Soldier.

1. You can't hope to understand the U.S. Civil War without coming to some kind of an understanding of Robert E. Lee. The South's preeminent commander was a larger-than-life figure in his own time, and continues to occupy a very prominent place in the American imagination. He is seen as the personification of the Southern aristocrat, the Christian gentleman, and the brilliant military commander. To some extent, all those characterizations are true; but they hardly tell the full story. The essays in this volume serve as a fine introduction to the ongoing debate about the true meaning of Robert E. Lee to us as Americans. Contributors like Douglas S. Freeman portray him as a godlike, awesome figure; revisionists like Alan T. Nolan brilliantly reexamine the traditional view, suggesting that Lee had flaws, both as a man and a commander. The most recent essays, such as Gary Gallagher's contribution, suggest that although the revisionists are to some extent correct, Lee was nevertheless a source of strength, not weakness, to the Confederacy. The debate will doubtless continue to rage, and if you want to get brought up to speed, this is the place to start.



2. It took my a long time to make it through this book, but it is well worth the time and effort. Gary Gallagher has consolidated several essays (to include his own) that describe Lee's abililty as a military commander. This approach really provides the reader with a comprehensive view of Lee on the battlefield.
   
   Two interesting things about the book. First, the authors vary greatly and include subordinates of Lee, noted Civil War historians, and modern Civil War scholars. Secondly, and not surprisingly, the opinions of these distinguished authors about Lee also vary greatly. Some view him as the true hero of the South, while others argue that he is the main reason the Confederacy lost. The result is that the reader can analyze the positions and decide for himself whether or not Lee was a good, bad, or mediocre General.
   
   If you are interested in gaining insight into Lee's role in the Civil War, then I highly recommend this book. It is worth noting that it helps if you have a fundamental understanding of the War and the sequence of battles in the East before tackling this book. Otherwise, some of the articles may be hard to follow.

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.

3 comments about Alias Paine: Lewis Thornton Powell, the Mystery Man of the Lincoln Conspiracy.

1. Without question this is the best researched study of one of John Wilkes Booth's main co-conspirators ever written.



2. Lewis Paine was a dashing young man in the 19th Century. Why would Booth tempt Lewis Paine into kidnapping Mr. Lincoln? I liked Lewis Paine since I was little. Now that I'm 20 yrs old now, I still dream of him. I know he's dead already. (Don't think I'm insane for this guy.) If Lewis Paine was like he was in the 1860's today, I'll freak out. My husband's name is Lewis but not Powell. I have collected several pics of Powell since I was 12 to 13. I drove my mom & dad crazy about Lewis Paine when I was 9. Hope you like my thoughts about Lewis Paine.

   Love, Carmen




3. I purchased this book for my husband whose great great great Uncle was Lewis Thornton Powell. It has a lot of family history that we did not really know about. His mother signed the inside of book for her grandchildren. We love history!!!!!!!!!!!

No comments about Running the Blockade: A Personal Narrative of Adventures, Risks, and Escapes During the American Civil War (Classics of Naval Literature).

1 comments about Quest for a Star: The Civil War Letters and Diaries of Colonel Francis T. Sherman of the 88th Illinois (Voices of the Civil War Series,).

1. Quest For A Star is a collection of the Civil War letters and diary entries of Colonel Francis T. Sherman of the 88th Illinois, ably edited and with commentary by Knight Aldrich, Sherman's great-grandson. Thanks to his father's political influence, Sherman won an officers commission and commanded a brigade for much of his early service. He saw action at Perryville, Stones River, Missionary Ridge, and other battlefields. He was captured near Atlanta and endured three months in a Confederate prison before being released in a prisoner exchange. During the last months of the war, he served with General Philip Sheridan in the Appomattox campaign. His letters to his father and his diary entries reveal vivid descriptions of wartime experiences, insights into the volatile politics of the times, criticism of the incompetence of superior officers (especially General Don Carlos Buell), and more. Aldrich's commentaries give Sherman's observations an historical perspective, and draws upon his years as a professor of psychiatry and family medicine to offer fascinating speculation about inner conflicts that may have served to fuel Sherman's ambitions and political beliefs. Quest For A Star is an invaluable and much appreciated contribution to the growing body of Civil War era biographical literature.