5 comments about Caesar's Commentaries: On The Gallic War and On The Civil War.

1. This classic is well worth the time of any buff on Roman History. If you are a true buff you already own it! There are eight "books" comprising about 15-25 pages apiece. Each book a reflection on the previous year's effort in Gaul. The style is plain and to the point. Written in order to curry favor in Rome and document his campaigns, Caeser is guilty of inflating enemy numbers according to some historians. Never the less he painstakingly records the relations between the tribes of the time, the Gauls,Celts, and Germanic peoples are all referenced. The final three books regarding the Civil War are longer. Ramon L. Jimenez's "Caesar against the Celts" is a great companion for this one. He has a good bibliography as well since this translation of the "Commentaries" is lacking of one. For fans of HBO's Rome television show, check out Book V chapter XLIV.



2. I would strongly recommend getting a higher quality, clearer translation. This version of the classic is near incomprehensible compared to the Penguin or Oxford versions.



3. It is a very interesting read, but can be hard to follow if you are not a history buff or a fan of Roman History + Ceasar. For the time, the thought process and lucid writing techniques are above average. If you want to get a real sense of history with first hand knowledge, then this is a great read for history buffs, and non-history buffs as well.



4. Caesar might have been a good general but he's a uniquely boring writer with leaden descriptions of intensely exciting campaigns. The other problem is that it's best to read Roman writers in the original Latin as that way the "otherness" of ancient Romans comes across better. Ergo taedet me istius libris. Dabit deus his quoque finem.



5. Mostly written by Caesar, this book provides an insightful view of ancient warfare from a general's perspective, including such topics as the siege, infantry/calvary interaction, the value of enemy awareness, military engineering, intelligence, moral building, calculated risk, and so on. It also describes such topics as the ancient use of the defeated providing hostages, the temperament of the Celtic tribes, the competition for the areas west of the Rhine (Gaul), the lifestyles and state of civilization of the Germanic tribes (this may be the first recorded account of the Germans), and political strategies.
   
   Note that Caesar writes in the third person, which almost makes it seem like it was written by an impartial historian (which is obviously not the case... Hence, its accuracy must be questioned to some degree).
   
   The only downside of this book is its translation, which I compare to reading an old version of the bible. Sentences run very long, paragraphs cover entire pages, verbs are placed in odd parts of sentences,.. etc. It takes a while to get through it. It is, however, worth the effort, and is a interesting window into the past.

5 comments about Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife.

1. This is a wonderful little book and shows, believe it or not, the "tender" side of General Jackson. While the mere mention of Jackson's immortal sobriquet, "Stonewall," would strike fear in the hearts of Union Army commanders, his wife would one day write of, "...that tender and exquisite phase of his inner life." This book reveals Jackson as a "humble Christian and loving husband father" and bolsters the contention that Jackson is a worthy hero for men and boys today. Buy the book. (Rick Williams, author of "The Maxims of Robert E. Lee for Young Gentlemen.")



2. This book shows how kind and loving Stonewall Jackson was. It is quick reading and easy to understand. It shows you his devotion and shows you the true Stonewall and not the mean and tough person history books portray.



3. ~Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife~ is a compilation of love letters written by the great Confederate general to his beloved wife. Bill Potter and the Vision Forum have put together a remarkable compilation of letters of the great southern General Thomas Jonathan Jackson better known posthomously after the war as 'Stonewall' Jackson. These letters chronicle Jackson's courtship leading to his marriage with his beloved wife Anna Morrison Jackson as well as the turbulent wartorn years that follow. You really get a feel for the anguish of the soldier on the field-who longs to be at home with wife and child-but realizes he has a duty to country to fulfill. Stonewall stands out not only as a man of brilliant military genius, but as a man of dignity, honor and integrity. He was an accomplished West Point graduate and a renowned professor at VMI. Though he remained a humble and pious man with a deep abiding faith in the Gospel of Christ and a firm steadfast belief in the sovereignty of God. The editor Bill Potter does a remarkable job at offering a cursory background on Jackson and his character. He was an exemplary man of character who loved his wife Anna and his child very deeply. Sadly, he was accidently shot by his own men. But Jackson knew that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to God's purposes (Romans 8:28). (FYI This was one of Jackson's favorite passages of Scripture.) The cover art features a photo shot from the recent blockbuster Gods and Generals of Stephen Lang who played Jackson. I also recommend _Christ in the Camp_, which is a story of religious revival and proclamation of the Gospel during the war between the states by the same publisher.



4. In Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife, Bill Potter presents some of Stonewall's letters to his wife, Anna, written during the war. These letters give a beautiful insight into the mind of the military hero. They show his deep love and respect for his wife, his country and his God.

   There are glimpses into their everyday life, as he discusses gardening, tithes, and his consent for one of their slaves to marry. He referrs to Anna as his "dove" or "beloved" or "esposa" and makes it clear that he dearly loves her.

   Very little is ever mentioned of the hardships of camplife or war. My guess is that he wished to shield her from that as much as possible. He continually encouraged her to put her faith in God for his protection and reminded her that his life was in God's hands.

   His letters show him as a gentle, though strong and steadfast, man, with great respect for others trying hard to live the Christian life. If he treated the troops under his command with the same respect that he seemed to show in all the other aspects of his life, it is no wonder they cheered when they saw him.

   Over all, this is a warm, uplifting read that gave me an even greater respect and admiration for Stonewall. It is a nice change to see the private life of a hero match his public life.




5. For fans of Stonewall Jackson, this is an essential read. It presents Jackson as a warm family man with a deep faith in God--something that doesn't come across in books focused on his military exploits. Jackson was a man of character aside from his accomplishments on the battlefield and this book helps bring that out. For those who are not Civil War buffs or fans of Jackson, you will probably not find this book interesting.

1 comments about Soldier Stories: True Tales of Courage, Honor, and Sacrifice from the Frontlines.

1. Soldier Stories, compiled and edited by Joe L. Wheeler, has been a very difficult book to review, primarily because every time I set it down, someone else made off with it. My son has cited some of the quotations on war that Wheeler included. My daughter-in-law kept one eye on the little ones and one on the book, as she told me, "This is a good book."
   
   Wheeler compiled accounts from World War I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the War on Terror. Subjects vary from a World War I ace, to homing pigeons, to the Rickenbacker party lost in the ocean on life rafts, to escorting home the body of a dead soldier from the Gulf War, to Pat Tillman's death in Afghanistan. Wheeler includes sixteen moving accounts and an equal number of quotations.
   
   Styles vary with the writer. Ernie Pyle's "The Lost Fortress" is direct and straightforward while William Slavens McNutt's "The Yanks Go Through" is highly descriptive, almost poetic. Some are deeply personal, such as Lt. Eric Lomax's "Beyond the River Kwai" and Sergeant Sidney Stewart's (with Joe Wheeler) "Give Us This Day."
   
   Each account tells of courage in war, though "The Dresden Inferno" is by a victim of the fire bombings rather than a soldier. Whether a victim, a soldier, a prisoner of war, or a writer, each account exemplifies courage and honor. Some of the accounts encourage, others sadden, and others inspire.
   
   The book was not what I had expected. I had expected stories like Sergeant Alvin York's taking a battalion single-handedly in battle. Wheeler includes some of that but it is less of a "hero" book than a "human" book, as the reader experiences almost every human emotion while reading it. The people in the accounts come alive as they confront fear, courage, challenge, victory, and sorrow.
   
   A couple of things stood out to me. One is the difference in attitude of these writers from today's journalists. Ernie Pyle holds his breath hoping the lost bomber can make it to base across the African desert, while McNutt cheers and prays for the safety of Red Cross workers trying to evade machine gunners in World War I. These writers were unabashedly pro-American. I can't say that of some of today's journalists.
   
   The second is that this book will appeal to both men and women. I can picture my seventy-something father enjoying it as well as my twenty-something daughter-in-law. It would also be useful for history classes in public, private, and home schools. Not all of the accounts are overtly Christian, but they all are good. Would students understand the Betaan death march better from a textbook or by reading a first-person account here? There's no question.
   
   You can approach the book in several ways. You can read straight through it as I did or skip around to the accounts that interest. Whichever you do, Soldier Stories is worth reading. - Debbie W. Wilson, Christian Book Previews.com

5 comments about Home Before Morning: The Story of an Army Nurse in Vietnam.

1. Based on my personal observations, Lynda was the laughing stock of the 71st Evac Hospital. And, she was also almost universally disliked. You had to tolerate her. But, you didn't have to like her. I heard alot from her other "friends" there in 1971. And, I was unfortunate enough to have to spend an afternoon, sitting in a jeep in downtown Pleiku, while she and a friend were wined and dined, so I observed her interactions firsthand. She was laughed at constantly because she was always trying to get out of doing something. But, that was Vietnam's fault. Not hers.
   
   The book is not even good fiction. About 95% of the happenings she claimed never occurred. If they occurred they occurred to someone else, someplace else. The majority of the book is nothing but flights of fancy from a woman that wouldn't know the truth if it bit her. Every problem she ever had, since 1969, was blamed on Vietnam, the people she worked with, the war, the weather, whatever. Not one time in her book did she ever take responsibility for her actions and the repercussions she got from bad decisions.
   
   My review of this book is not as fluent as others. But, my statements are based on personal experience with the subject matter of her and this book firsthand. I was there, I know.



2. I had read this book years ago and lost it after many moves. I wanted to read it again, with everything happening in Iran.
   This book helps one to really understand what our soldiers and medical staff go through during a war and for the rest of their lives. I recommend it as a must read book.



3. This is such a beautiful story; and one that needs to be told more often. It will give so much understanding to the generation born to those who came "of age" in the 1960's of what the VietNam war was all about. And, not many people knew anything about the role of the Army Nurse until now. This book is a must read!



4. Had to read it for History class. Decent book if you are a nurse or had any experience with post traumatic stress, divorce, or Vietnam. Very interesting book, check it out



5. I was a Navy Nurse, not Army. Same, same. This was the first book about the Viet Nam experience I was actually able to read through without throwing it against the wall. The first time I read this I sat up all night finishing it. It was that real. I laughed in some places and I wept in others. It felt incredibly good to finally read another woman saying and thinking many of the things I had felt and experienced. That morning
   I felt like at last I was home from Hell because for the first time I felt like there was another living, breathing human being who understood.
   
   This account is real. It's believable unlike some more heavily advertised publications which have come across as either blatent attempts to make money selling books crammed full of cheapo sex and psycho-drama, or frankly embarrassing tear-jerkers filled with comments no self respecting RN would EVER say. Hopefully, you will put down this book with a pretty accurate sense of what it was like being young, female, and a Nurse in the middle of the most insane reality on this planet: War. I keep my copy in my nightstand drawer for those times when sleep is impossible. It's my third one, the others fell apart. Worth reading. Worth owning. 'Nuff said.

5 comments about Give Us This Day.

1. Stewart's memoir of the appalling horrors of the Bataan Death March are a testimony to the heights and depths of humanity. His gripping description of the battle and experiences of captivity continue to inspire and shock sixty years later. Every student of World War II and history should read this story. I've often wondered what became of Mr. Stewart after the war and what the families of his comrades who did not survive their ordeal thought of their loved ones' heroism. Father Cummings should have been canonized or beatified. A must read.



2. I first read this book about 35 years ago when I found in my summer camp's library. Turns out my father, who survived Bataan and spent the rest of the war as a POW, knew the author while imprisoned. He said it was as accurate a portrayal as he had seen.



3. I cannot recommend this book more highly if, for no other reason, than to help us value freedom and recognize what has been..and is being...lost to preserve it. This is an astounding story.
   
   Mr. Stewart describes his experiences after the fall of Bataan in prose that I could not. He was...calm, objective, fair. The torture, starvation, suffering, and gross and endless inhumanity were beyond my capacity for such rational treatment.
   
   When you read a chapter, you go, "My God, that was unbelievable." Then the next chapter exceeds the previous. This goes on throughout the book and that is why I could not put it down.
   
   I didn't get the sense Mr. Stewart had any agenda in writing this book, but there are very powerful lessons to be learned. First, de-emphasize your problems and consider yourself very blessed - it's a matter of perspective and if you don't get it from this book, you never will. Second, freedom is not free and the price becomes infinite if you wait for the bad guys to act first.



4. In this picture of the Bataan Death march, you will see it from a totally unique point of view. The atrocities, pain and suffering remain the same as in all accounts, but the element of faith stands alone as the catalyst for survival. The faith of a Godly priest and the faith of those men around him. Sidney Stewart didn't hate his captors in spite of their brutality. He had faith in God and his fellow man. That faith was laced by a tenacity and will to live that is seldom seen. No matter how many books you have read on this subject, you MUST read this one. it will humble you.



5. Yes it sounds oxymoronic but it is so! Sidney Stewart manages to make us share the most awful condtions human beings can be submitted to but never get desperate about a possible change.A lesson of humility and courage.

5 comments about The Flying Greek: An Immigrant Fighter Ace's WWII Odyssey with the RAF, USAAF, and French Resistance.

1. A great book full of examples of determination and patriotism. He certainly puts alot of people born in the United States to shame when it comes to his patriotism. We are fortunate to have him as a citizen of the U.S. The book is well written and tells of his desire to be an American and a pilot!



2. Col. Steve Pasanos is a true American hero. His book is a must read for young people that have doubts about what the word "Patriotism" means. This is an exciting story of a man who survived the best of the German Luftwaffe in the air, the wicked Gestapo on the ground, and perilous adventures at sea. Eight years in the making, Steve Pasanos writes in a style that is wonderfully fascinating. If there is one book you buy this year this is it!
   
   Scott Graham
   Escondido, Ca



3. Colonel Steve Pisanos is a true hero and an inspiration. His autobiography captures, not only his flying expertise and experiences, but also his driving desire to become an American Citizen. He has a pride in America, and a humbleness about his World War II service. His writing is from the heart, is extremely readable, and is very accurately told. His story is absolutely gripping!
   By the end of the book, you consider him a friend and realize just how honored we are that he is a part of our history.



4. FLYING GREEK is the autobiography of Steve Pisanos, a WWII double ace and career Air Force officer. In many ways, this book reads like a Hollywood adventure movie - young, impressionable 19-year old Greek jumps ship in America, two years later enlists in the RAF to defeat Hitler, subsequently flies Spits with 71 Squadron and P-47s and -51s with the 4th FG, downed over France, joins the Resistance, etc. Yet it's all true, this fascinating story being told in fine fashion by Colonel Pisanos - no ghostwriter employed! - in this 2008 volume from Potomac Books.
   
   The bulk of FLYING GREEK details Pisanos' wartime service in England. Initially he flew with 71 Squadron, one of three 'Eagle Squadrons' manned by Americans. In September 1942 all three were transferred to the USAAF, becoming the 4th FG. By war's end the 4th was credited with the most kills of any 8th AF Fighter Group. Pisanos' share of that total was an even 10 kills although his most memorable moment may have come on May 3, 1943 when he became a U.S. citizen. On March 5, 1944 Pisanos was downed over France and survived an almost unbelievable crash-landing as depicted in the book's cover art. He chose to join Resistance units in attacks on German troops, later linking up with U.S. troops and returning to England. Postwar he held a number of Air Force commands and positions before retiring in December 1973.
   
   FLYING GREEK has much to recommend it. It's a truly inspiring story and well-told by Pisanos. He is a gifted writer, relating events in a straightforward yet compelling style. The section on his WWII service, which takes up about 200 of the book's 315 pages of text, has vivid descriptions of combat that put the reader right in the cockpit.
   
   In one respect though, I feel a golden opportunity was missed. The 4th FG was made up of talented fighter pilots who were also, judging from what I've previously read, a wonderful collection of characters, starting with Blakeslee himself. Pisanos knew all of them - Gentile, Godfrey, 'Deacon' Hively, 'Kid' Hofer, Pierce McKennon, 'Cowboy' Megura, 'Goody' Goodson, etc. It's a shame he didn't share more memories of those people in his book. Perhaps there were publisher-imposed page limitations. In any case, I'd like to suggest to Colonel Pisanos that he write a sequel to FLYING GREEK sharing some of his memories of these hot-rock fighter jocks.
   
   In summary, FLYING GREEK is a marvelous book, a great read and an inspiring account of one man's efforts to achieve his dreams. Highly recommended.



5. "The Flying Greek" by Steve Pisanos is a welcome addition to WWII aerial memoirs, written by a member of the celebrated Fourth Figther Group of the Eighth Air Force, and Pisanos, with 10 aerial victories, was no small contributor to their fame. Reading the cover copy gives one a broad idea of what the book contains as subject matter. Having said that, probably Pisanos' gutsiest, bravest exploit was heading off to New York by way of Baltimore as a lone, 18-year-old in pursuit of fulfilling his dream of being a pilot. His most nail-biting exploits were performed in occupied France where he tagged along with cells of the Maquis, the French resistance, sabotaging the infrastructure of the occupying Nazi forces.
   
   The rest of the book is absorbing if not engrossing, I wish he had written to greater length about the fabulous Fourth Fighter Group and the personalities/characters which populated this fine group of pilots. Perhaps there is a sequel waiting in the wings? One hopes so!
   
   One also hopes that after such tireless service pimping the F-4 Phantom II to the Hellenic Air Force that McDonnell-Douglas gave him a fitting commission for services rendered.
   
   In short, get acquainted with Steve Pisanos, "The Flying Greek", you'll be glad you did!

5 comments about Secrets Of A Gay Marine Porn Star.

1. I had the honor of meeting Rich Merritt back in April 2007 when I attended a conference in New York and found him to be so honest as he is in this book. I had the pleasure of talking with him for my podcast as well - Ramble Redhead and he talked about his family, his experience in the Marines, his porn career and so much more. The interview showed a man who was willing to face his demons and be able to move on in a positive manner.
   
   This book is so amazing and I am so honored to have been able to meet this great author and hope you will read the book!



2. I was spell-bound. To be from the same city, with much of the same background, it was like looking in the mirror. The first 125 pages or so are my story too. When I meet someone, I always want to know things like "when did you KNOW" and "how did you come out." This book answers those questions and many more, so by the time you hit the back cover, you really feel like you are a comfortable old friend of Rich Merritt! Cudos, Rich!



3. This is the book that psycho stalker "jonahcruise" wishes he had the talent to write. Except that his porn star aspirations went limp & according to the men he "served" with, he wasn't a real Marine, either. Even outted himself to keep from being deployed... how patriotic. All he's left with now is selling his aging bod to strangers & selling his fan fiction to tabloids. Pathetic sod. Unlike Merritt, whose story makes a good read & is actually true & verifiable by many.



4. Secrets of a Gay Marine Porn Star delved deeply into the heart, soul and mind of a young man who was a student at Bob Jones University, which rejected anything remotely known to have homosexual overtones. Mr. Merritt tells of his stint as a U.S. Marine, his times as a gay porn star, and how he came to reconicle himself in this crazy world of ours. It doesn't matter what you do, but who you are that counts.



5. Having grown up in the south s a gay man myself, this book hit closer to home than any other I had read on the subject in years. Rich's descriptions of family life, church life, mindsets, and beliefs is dead on. And unless a person has grown up in the Bible Belt, it's almost impossible to really describe it to them in full detail and help them understand the feelings a gay man can develop in that region. It's refreshing to see someone be so honest and real, even about his own denial and gut-wrenching struggles with sexuality, drug use, promiscuity, and faith.

5 comments about 800 Days on the Eastern Front: A Russian Soldier Remembers World War II (Modern War Studies).

1. The author tries to present a coherent depiction of activities - but the result is difficult to follow and requires additional materiel to track the flow of battle.



2. Although the negative reviewers might of had valid points, I am not sure the critism is really relevant. I knew two WWII veterans very well, one of whom wrote a brief memoir. Using them as a reference, I do not believe the author was trying to create an exciting, flowing, historically, geographically precise docudrama (if it was I would be very suspect of the motivations and validity of the document and would not have found it near as valuable). I am not sure the author was even trying to educate us although I certainly was. I believe the author was trying to set down in print a brief personal history of WWII obviously, largely from his point of view. What was added by the tranlator was an aid which allowed us to go back in time and perspective without disturbing the author's account. What the author (and the other veterans I know) think is important based on his experiences obviously doesn't always match readers expectations. With this in mind and in response to specific criticism, I found the author's references to various vehicles he encountered interesting and important. Maybe not exciting but, again, that wasn't the point. I thought the historical and geographical descriptions to be adequate in and of themselves. The author's accounts and stories flowed well enough with help from the translator's added descriptions and foot notes.
   
   I bought the book based on a recent description in the WSJ. I had read a book some time ago called "The Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier." I thought it would be interesting to compare what sounded like a similar story told by two men of similar rank who fought wars in the same basic geographic area a century apart. The similarities were remarkable and reading both books contributed much to my persective of war and this region. Beyond the obvious basics of survival, what was important to these two men is very much the same. And I think what was important to these two men from their personal perspective in these two "histories" is what the authors and their "helpers" were trying to convey. Both documents succeeded in this respect and did so well enough to, dare I say it, be entertaining. I would give "The Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier" 5 stars however. I thought it was a better read. If you must be constantly thrilled and excited by a book to enjoy or be informed by it, subtract one star from each rating. And if you are looking for graphic descriptions of blood, sex and gore, don't bother with either of these reads. A rating of two stars however misses both the point and the mark in my opinion. And thus ends my critique of the critics.



3. In recent years we have witnessed the publication of a multitude of military memoirs by Red Army soldiers. These memoirs are important in that they provide new insights into World War II on the Eastern Front.
   
   Nikolai Litvin's remembrances are witness to the versatility, endurance, and patience of the Red Army soldier. A Siberian by birth, Litvin served in artillery, anti-tank, and penal formations and also as a driver to various Soviet commanders. This alone makes his experiences during the war exceptional. Litvin fought at the epic battle of Kursk in July 1943 and remained with the Red Army as it attacked relentlessly westward from the Soviet Union to Nazi Germany.
   
   But Litvin was also unique in that he was officially trained and qualified to drive U.S. Army lend lease vehicles. Hundreds of thousands of these were provided to the Red Army during the war. It is clear that he had a love affair with the various "Willy" jeeps he drove throughout the conflict and his memoirs highlight the mobility American jeeps and trucks provided to the Soviet military. Those vehicles were much appreciated by Red Army soldiers like Litvin. Without them Stalin's legions would have been unable to advance to Berlin as quickly as they did.
   
   Having served his country faithfully through almost three years of brutal combat, Litvin was arrested at the end of the war for possessing a German pistol and sentenced to four years imprisonment in the Soviet Far East.
   
   His memoirs are a testament to the greatness of the Red Army soldier and the brutality of the Soviet system they served.



4. Nikolai Litvin's memoir is very low key and honest. For the most part he was a driver, either as a commanders' chauffeur or with a transport battalion. There are also some hair raising parts as well and sad stories. Litvin comes across as a man doing his duty for his country and never tries to claim credit for extraordinary deeds even if he did a few. Starting out as an anti tank gunner in a Airborne Division he was wounded early during the battle of Kursk. From there he was transfered to a transportation battalion and later he was sentenced to a penal battalion for desertion, something that wasn't really his fault. Then he got reassigned to his transport unit and got drafted from the rear units to the front replace combat losses. All through the story there are accounts of Litvin's personal experience and some very horrible incidents. Many readers will also find interesting how Litvin is fighting the infantryman' s war, since very few tanks are metioned at all. In fact with 2/3 of all Germans fighting on the Eastern Front and the majority of both Germans and Russians were infantry business, even if it wasn't the most glamorous part. Special mention should also go to Stuart Britton who completed the memoir by adding introductions and explanations to fit Litvin's experience into context and big picture. The fine team of Kansas University Press, headed by David Glantz (the current preemninent authority on the Eastern Front), did a tremendous job on this matter and these inroductions and explanations are extremely interesting. In many occasions Litvin would have been blissfully ignorant of what was really going on but as a reader it is good to be helped along by Britton. Very few mistakes are made in the text and the five b&W maps included are very good and detailed. There is also a 6-pages section of b&w photographs.



5. Considering the amount of memoirs available form WW2 it is amazing how few are from a Soviet perspective, at least in English. So in this context the book is a gem and in content it shines.
   
   Nikolai Litvin's memoir is very low key and honest. For the most part he is a driver, either as a commanders chauffeur or with a transport battalion and you get interesting small details as how dirty his one uniform becomes when he served as a mechanic. Don't worry there are hair raising parts as well and sad stories. Litvin comes across as a man doing his duty for his country and never tries to claim credit for extraordinary deeds even if he did a few.
   
   Starting out as an anti tank gunner in a Airborne Division he is wounded early during the battle of Kursk, from there he is transfered to a transportation battalion and is bombed by artillery and planes, he lives when others, even his friends die. At one point he has difficulties in disposing of a friends body. Then he is sentanced to a penal company for desertion when all he does is following a command that turns out to be a suggestion and not a proper command. His time with the penal company is very interesting. Then he gets reassigned to his transport unit and gets drafted from the rear units to the front replace combat losses. All through the story there are accounts of Litvin's personal experience and some very horrible incidents.
   
   Many readers will also find interesting how Litvin is fighting the infantry mans war, very few tanks are metioned at all. In fact with 2/3 of all Germans fighting on the Eastern Front and the majority of both Germans and Russians fighting as infantry this tells how the war was for most, even if it isn't the most glamorous part.
   
   Special mention should also go to Stuart Britton who completes the memoir by adding introductions or adds explanations to fit Litvin's experience into contex and big picture. They summarise the unfolding events and explain strategic and tactical events and I found these parts very useful and informative without casting a shade on Litvin's story. In many occasions Litvin would have been blissfully ignorant of what was really going on but as a reader it is good to be helped along by Britton.
   
   Through Litvin one gets a very diverse view of the Soviet Army and not always its most glamorous side but the toil of the every day soldier. I heartly recommend it for anyone interested in WW2 memoirs and would like read about the experience from the Russian side.

5 comments about From Manassas to Appomattox: General James Longstreet.

1. General James Longstreet, who has been unjustly accused and slandered for over a century, gives a factual account of the war and its effect on the South. He also gives invaluable biographical information on his early life and career, particularly the Mexican War, which has been overlooked by historians. A must-read for serious students of the War and for anyone else looking for accounts of a soldiering life in the nineteenth century.



2. General James Longstreet, who has been unjustly accused and slandered for over a century, gives a factual account of the war and its effect on the South. He also gives invaluable biographical information on his early life and career, particularly the Mexican War, which has been overlooked by historians. A must-read for serious students of the War and for anyone else looking for accounts of a soldiering life in the nineteenth century. Also recommend Jeffrey Werts' James Longstreet: Lee's Most Controversial Soldier



3. Longstreet was subjected to criticism for his performance at Gettysburg as well as Lee, Longstreet survived and wrote his memoirs to be read and he made it a focus of the book to justify his actions and put the blame on others. Lee never wrote his memoirs, probably to his credit. At the end of the war Lee was of the opinion that it is over and needs to be put in the past. That is not to say that he did not blame Longstreet and others for the mishap at Gettysburg, he just never voiced his opinion. It was not in the man's nature. The character of his main critic also has to be questioned, Jubal Early was renowned for being hotheaded and alienating other people. he was referred to by Lee as "My bad old man."
   
   It cannot be criticized of his work that the piece centers on himself, they are his memoirs about the war. It also cannot be critisized that he did not cover extensively his post-war years because the book is not called Manassas to Reconstruction. It has to be taken as what it is, a valuable insight into a man who was there when it all happened and a study into the man who understood trench warfare before its true advent.



4. From Manassas to Appomattox by James Longstreet is an excellent example of a Post-bellum memoir, and it is written in clear and dignified voice. The memoir is of course the account of the actions of General James Longstreet, CSA during the American Civil War, his thoughts on various events, and recollections of his command and various individuals whose names are household words to the Civil War historian. As a person with only a passing interest in the American Civil War, I read this book for its purely biographical information, in other words, to get a feel for James Longstreet, who appears to be the underdog of Confederate commanders. I found the book easy to read, though at times I felt mired down in the military minutiae that fills most of the pages, but quickly recovered by small personal tidbits interspersed therein. I also enjoyed reading about his relationship with Robert E. Lee, and the way Longstreet handled himself in a very blunt, upfront manner. I would recommend this book to anyone who wanted to read a fine example of memoir writing from the period, Civil War buffs (who of course have undoubtedly already enjoyed this book), and to researchers wanting insight to the major battles of the American Civil War.



5. and much else. However I found Longstreet's style dry bordering on the mind-numbing. That said, I have always been in the camp that didn't hold Longstreet to blame for the problems of the second and even the third day at Gettysburg. Lee delegated too much authority and seemed lazy during those few crucial days to survey the ground (if he had I believe he would have concured with JL). Also Gettysburg was one of those times when a great army had a few bad days starting with the location of the battle, the quality of the ANV commanders first on the scene (poor), lack of intelligence, overconfidence etc... If JL had been in Ewell's position on the first day there wouldn't have been a second or a third day. Finally, if JL had been allowed to take over for the disaster that was Braxton Bragg, the battle for Tennesse may have ended very differently.

5 comments about The Class of 1846: From West Point to Appomattox: Stonewall Jackson, George McClellan, and Their Br others.

1. This book is a MUST READ for any serious student of the Civil War. It lets us see how the West Pointers were trained and how they bonded. It gives us the insight To the meaning "an Officer and Gentleman". You find many times over the gallantry and foolishness of men. You also find the depth of friendships that led to the healing of wounds so a young nation could move forward.
   It is hard to see these young men's dreams fall to battle. Without their leadership it would have been so much worse on the average citizen. Read it, then cry for all our nation lost.



2. This book is at its best in the first 200 pages, when all of the classmates get fairly equal coverage at West Point and the Mexican/frontier Wars.
   
   The book is extremely entertaining and well researched throughout, and the author is not attempting to challenge any aspect of Civil War history, so the narrative on the soldiers as we know them in that War does not change.
   
   As mentioned in other reviews, the Civil War portion of the book is discombobulated almost out of necessity, since the soldiers were no longer equally important. Doing so would make the book incredibly long, and the simple truth is that people will inherently be more interested in Jackson than Stoneman.
   
   Regardless, it's still a more than worthy book to pick up, if only to see how opinions and relationships were molded over a 15 year period of time among all these brothers turned enemies.



3. This is a standard rendition of two primary Civil War generals: Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and George McClelland. In this portion of the book Waugh tells us what we already know about George, that while he was always at the head of the class moving up the ranks, he failed miserably once at the top. Similarly, Stonewall, no doubt as crazy as a loon, became the Civil War's finest and best tactician produced by either side.
   
   Focusing as he does on the West Point graduating class of 1846, the year the War with Mexico was initiated, we meet numerous men who studied together and fight together in the Mexican War, the Indian Wars, the Mormon War and, in the climax of their military lives, against each other, in the Civil War.
   
   Having gone through school together for 4 years, these men competed against each other for most of their adult lives. But as the competitions were intense, the personal relationships were even closer. Cadmus Wilcox was Sam Grant's best man; James Longstreet was also in the wedding party. George McClelland and Robert E. Lee served together on Winfield Scott's staff. Gideon Pillow and John B. Magruder brevet a youthful Tom Jackson at Chapultepec. Clarendon Williams, Jackson's graduation day dancing partner, dies in the Navaho war. Lee, George Thomas, George Stoneman, John Bell Hood and Albert Sidney Johnson serve for 6 years together in Texas in the US Second Cavalry. Lewis Armistead, William T. Sherman and Winfield Hancock serve together in California.
   
   John Waugh has produced a unique view of the Civil War, through the eyes of men who, while they fought against each other with all the skill they possessed, fought against comrades, close friends and former classmates who at times, just couldn't have seemed like the enemy.



4. Having read a number of Civil War books lately, I was surprised at how many officers were friends and colleagues from their days at West Point. The Class of 1846 From West Point to Appomattox: Stonewall Jackson, George McClellan and Their Brothers by John C. Waugh is a good place to start to learn some of this background.
   
   The class of 1846 at West Point was an illustrious class in many ways. This was the biggest class in academy history up until that time, and included such luminaries as George McClellan, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, George Pickett and Ambrose "A.P." Hill. At the time, West Point was one of the best colleges in the nation and certainly the best engineering school. Waugh provides a glimpse of what it was like to be a cadet, and I can't even imagine spending ten hours a day in the classroom as a freshman with seven hours of math and three hours of French (most military manuals were written in French at the time). Of the 122 plebes who began in 1842, 59 graduated four years later.
   
   Timing is everything and soon after this class graduated, the Mexican War started heating up and the president doubled the size of the regular army. This put the class of '46 on the fast track for promotions. Fifty-three served in the Mexican War, and it was here that they met many other West Point graduates and future Civil War leaders including Robert E. Lee, P.G.T. Beauregard, Ulysses S. Grant, James Longstreet and Winfield Scott Hancock.
   
   The majority of this book deals with the Civil War. Twenty-two members of this class became Union or Confederate generals. Waugh focuses on how these men contributed to the battles and events of the war. The handsome, dashing and intelligent George McClellan graduated number two in his class and great things were expected of him. After a promising start in the Mexican War, the vain and pompous McClellan proved to be a big disappointment. The true star turned out to be quiet, unassuming Stonewall Jackson. Jackson barely met the entrance requirements and started off at the bottom of his class. Through hard work and perseverance, he graduated number seventeen. "Nobody saw in him any suggestion of genius or gift for command." When Jackson died after Chancellorsville, it truly was a blow to the Confederacy. Prior to reading Waugh, I thought Stonewall was just plain crazy. After, I've gained a new respect for this eccentric general.
   
   The Class of 1846 has a section of photos and drawings, as well as a list of the many classmates that are mentioned in the book. This helps to keep the lesser-known characters straight. However, Waugh should have included some maps to help the reader with battle locations. Otherwise, I found this book to be very interesting.



5. I initially heard of this book after reading a review in the Wall Street Journal. I was very impressed with the way Waugh weaved this story together. We bond with the characters as they struggle through their years at West Point. The friendships started in the Academy are then forged on various battlefields in Mexico (a war about which most Americans know next to nothing... including me!). Then, these life-long friends turn into enemies during the Civil War.
   
   I have to admit that when reading Waugh's description of the surrender at Appomattox, I was moved to tears... while deadheading in an airplane full of passengers! I was totally caught up in Waugh's storytelling. Masterful job and a great read.