Book Review: The Atlanta Campaign, Volume I, Dalton to Cassville, May 1-19, 1864

 

The Atlanta Campaign: Volume I: Dalton to Cassville, May 1-19, 1864
By David A. Powell
copyright 2024
Savas Beatie

I have not read David Powell’s highly regarded Chickamauga trilogy but online praise for it and h his writing is difficult to miss and I have seen much of it. After reading this volume, however,  I better understand how his books gained so many glowing reviews.

This is simply an outstanding work that I greatly enjoyed.

What struck me most about this work is that it is far more than just a recounting of events that happened 160+ years ago; it is a true history, going beyond the “what” happened and exploring the other basic questions of research - who, when, where, and why - in an enjoyable, easy-to-read narrative. This volume is a deeply-researched, organized, and detailed analysis of those basic questions, all formatted in a manner that adds to the book’s readability.

One early example of the analysis that I found noteworthy occurs on pages 238-240 with a discussion of what went wrong for the Federals during the action at Snake Creek Gap, which other options were available and how those other choices may have worked better than what took place. It moves into a discussion of similar issues with the Confederate forces as well, trying to explain Joe Johnston's thoughts and actions during this affair. Similar discussions occur throughout the book during each of the movements and engagements discussed here, pointing out mistakes, misunderstandings, and other questionable actions from both sides, as well as suggesting other ideas the armies could have adopted.  One example is the discussion of a Union organizational issue of coordination between units mentioned on page 256. 

This book, however, is not just a bunch of second-guessing and blame-laying; the author also acknowledges good decisions and performances when justified, such as on page 357 when he noted that an attack that John Logan's men made was successful "due to careful observations and preparations." 

Besides the analysis of the actions and decisions of the commanders and armies involved, one noticeable strength of the book is its organization. The use of footnotes on each page instead of endnotes, is particularly notable and certainly a plus. The Snake Creek discussion mentioned before is just one example where such notes add insight and information. They are much easier to follow than are endnotes that require flipping back and forth, sometimes between hundreds of pages.

This work starts off strongly, making a good first impression with an introductory section entitled Dramatist Personae, which introduces the primary actors in the play that follows. 

It then touches on some early military action in the region, weeks before the generally accepted campaign start date of early May and continues to examine the leaders who would make the decisions in the upcoming weeks, such as a review of the team of U.S. Grant and William Sherman as their roles and responsibilities changed in the months before this contest started, as well as the Army of Tennessee’s leadership change from Braxton Bragg to Joseph Johnston. The author then examines the morale and condition of the men and armies that would soon face each other. Overall, the initial eight chapters perform a valuable duty in setting the stage for the upcoming battlefield drama.

I also enjoyed the decision to include many short chapters instead of fewer long ones. This adds to the readability and helps the narrative to flow smoothly and match the battlefield events as they developed.

Starting with chapter nine, the text switches focus to the actual military happenings of the start of the campaign, including the choices, maneuvers, and fighting that made up the first three weeks of this long contest. It is within these chapters that this work perhaps shines brightest. The details of the events of the campaign combine with analysis of these stories and sources to weave a mountain of information into a functioning and readable book.

The author used many sources - period records, writings, articles, and publications, along with modern scholarly works and others - to uncover information, but finding those reports means little without an understanding of what they mean. To me, the analysis and interpretation of the sources is among the most impressive pieces of this work - how he combines so many sources, often containing conflicting or sometimes missing information (such as the attempts to calculate casualties of the engagements), with his interpretation, to create a cohesive narrative of the story of this campaign. Even when sources are not clear, he explains why he uses them or interprets them a certain way. What first grabbed my attention in this regard was footnote 3 on page 322, when he acknowledges the possibly questionable credibility of a journal, but chose to use it as he believed that section of the writing to be accurate. Similar situations take place later in this work as well. To me this was a bit like “seeing how the sausage is made” - the author did not just find a source and automatically accept it, but, instead, analyzed it while acknowledging that some uncertainty exists, showing the readers why he included that information instead of just letting it go unquestioned. That hints at the type of thought and effort that went into this project.

One part of this book that did catch me off guard was the unexpected appearance of chapter 27, "Supplying Sherman: "I Will Eat Your Mules." It is a noteworthy section of the book, full of important information about the logistics of Sherman's planned campaign and the potential challenges thereof. What surprised me was that it immediately followed eighteen chapters of military action and proceeded five other such sections. This placement in the midst of the discussion of the movements and clashes of the armies confused me. It would have been terrific, perhaps ideal, as chapter 9, between the talk of the men and the the fields where they met, as part of the setup to the campaign, or perhaps at the end of the book, after the talk of the fighting and right before the final chapter, but as I read the book it seemingly came out of nowhere and then disappeared again. Perhaps I am overlooking some painfully obvious reason for its placement, and I do not intend this as heavy criticism, more of an admission of my own confusion, a minor blip in a terrific work. That said, it is one of the better chapters of the book, so I am much more pleased that it is included than I am surprised by when and where it came. 

Chapter 33, “Assessment,” also deserves acknowledgement. As its name declares, it wraps up the military situation of the campaign as of May 19. It is the logical and ideal way to conclude a work like this. It includes a noteworthy wrap-up of the Confederate behavior at Cassville, “the most enigmatic incident” of the campaign to this point. The indecision at this town was “a quintessential Army of Tennessee moment: confusion among the army’s leadership, plans going awry, arguments, and in the end, another morale-destroying retreat.” (p.545). That type of description fills much of this book,

This chapter also looks at the Union performance to this point as well, though with a more positive outlook, reflecting the results of the confrontations up to this stage of the fight for Atlanta.

A helpful order of battle, always important in a battle or campaign study, then follows, as do the bibliography and the index. 

This book is long,  545 pages through the final chapter, before the order of battle, bibliography, and index, but I found it to be a quick read.  More importantly, though, it is an extremely good read, and I expect others will enjoy it as well. Even knowing there are four more volumes to follow, and the possible future commitment that implies, this is certainly a work that those who enjoy studying the Civil War should read.

Book Review: Hell by the Acre by Dan Masters

Hell by the Acre: A Narrative of the Stones River Campaign, November 1862 - January 1863

Daniel A. Masters
Savas Beatie
copyright 2025

Hell by the Acre is simply a terrific book.

And when I say book, I mean book. It is over 600 pages, hardcover, with a wonderful dust jacket. It is thick and heavy. It reminds me of the scene in Crocodile Dundee, when Mick Dundee says "That is not a knife. This is a knife" and whips out a large, intimidating blade. I'm just waiting for someone to show me the book they just read, so I can say "that is not a book, this is a book" and drop it down with a loud thud on the table. That may make little sense from a true perspective of a review, but it was the first impression I got and maintained. It's just a different tactile sensation than I get from most books I read. No e-book can match it.

Despite its size, this book should not be intimidating to prospective readers. Not at all. The narrative is so well-written and flows so well, that this book is not a difficult read. It actually moves fairly quickly, though the sheer number of pages on which this writing lands does, of course, require some time to finish, so I won’t go so far as to label it a quick read - just an enjoyable, informative one.  

From another perhaps selfish angle, this book let me see just how little I knew of this battle, and how bloody, tough, and downright nasty this contest was. I'm still no expert on it, but this volume gave me a much better appreciation of this fight. I expect to retain at least a more basic understanding than I had previously. In other words - it taught me something. Entertainment is good, but I suspect that most or all Civil War students read such works to gain knowledge and understanding, and this work hits a home run in that regard.

Additionally, the title reveals another important component of this work - it's not just about the actual battle from December 31 through January 2, but of the entire campaign. It starts with a terrific overview of the two army leaders, William Rosecrans, nearly arrived in what became the Army of the Cumberland, and Braxton Bragg of what he would redesignate the Army of Tennessee and how both arrived in their positions.

Masters then describes the campaign in the weeks before the actual fighting, setting the scene for the carnage that followed. The way each leader tried to improve their armies' discipline and the various skirmishes, marches, and weather-related challenges they faced before the actual all help address questions like "why at Murfreesboro" and "why at the end of December" This beginning is a logical, yet beautiful way to approach the battle and the bigger picture of the war in this region of the country in late 1862. It truly sets the scene for the end of December and beginning of January.

In a book focused on a battle, the description of the actual combat is an important, perhaps THE key part of the work, and Masters' ability to weave a sensible understanding out of the chaos of this engagement may be the strong point of this book. His writing makes it abundantly clear how tough, deadly, and fast-moving the fighting was all over the battlefield was, especially on December 31 when the Confederate attack began. 

At some points, I did find myself wondering where Rosecrans was and what was he doing. Was he panicking as his right side was broken into shambles? What was Bragg thinking? I then recalled that the introduction indicated that the reason the author wrote this was to “ensure that the men who did the actual fighting get their just due in the history of the Stones River campaign.” (p. xi) With that back in my mind, I found that this book achieved that goal. Masters used a vast number of sources, from both sides, that do show what this whirlwind of chaos looked and felt like from the perspectives of the men around the battleground as time passed.  Rosecrans and Bragg took a backseat during the book’s description of most of the fighting as they did during the actual battle. This was about the fighting men, and their strength, courage, and resiliency - as well as their humanity in recognizing when situations become hopeless, and retreat is necessary, even if in a panic - shine through on these pages. It's barely possible to imagine the conditions during the fight and even at night when the fighting napped, but the frigid air and the sounds of wounded and dying men in the darkness surrounded the survivors. For those able to drift off that night, what must their dreams have been like, still on the scene of such carnage?

Rosecrans and Bragg do show up again later in this narrative, at an appropriate time and place in both the battle's timeline and the book. This shows how well the book's organization was thought-out in meeting the dual plans of telling the story of the battle and of focusing on the combatants.

One cliche is that all stories have three sides. For Civil War studies, those might be the "Union side," the "Confederate side," and some mysterious "truth." The sources that Masters found and used tell the views of the Union and Confederate soldiers, and the author's analysis of the fighting, including decisions made, strategy and tactics employed, and overall performance of both leaders and the soldiers, try to determine that elusive truth, at least as much as it can be found 160+ years later. It is an important part of any study of a battle to discuss not only what happened, but why and how these events and decisions mattered or influenced other movements during it after the engagement. That comes through strongly in this volume.  

I enjoyed the maps and photographs in this book. At times, I found myself looking back a few pages to look again at the most recent map to help me visualize the ongoing action I was reading about. These maps were very clear to read and helped my comprehension of the fight and where the combatants were in relation to each other. 

The occasional photographs of battle participants spread throughout the text are also a nice addition. I think I like the pictures as placed in this book, where they fit in with the timeline of the narrative, sometimes near a quote from that soldier or where the text mentions his actions or even death, more than other works which often just include a "photographs" section in thru r middle sections, though maybe one or two photographs of parts of the remaining battlefield may have worked, especially in the last chapter with its focus on preservation.

One other nit to pick occurred in the latter part of the work, when both sides had units from Kentucky fighting on the same day, I sometimes had to stop and double check a bit to determine if it was a Union or Confederate Kentucky unit being mentioned. I wonder if that could have been made a bit clearer or if that was just my problem. (For instance, both sides had a 6th Kentucky Infantry present and fighting.)

As this story nears its end, a brief discussion of whether this was an actual Federal victory or not grabs the reader's attention. This section, including the comparison of the bloodshed at this battle to other large battles of the war, was a great addition, once again providing valuable context. Masters shows how the Union's viewpoint of this fight as a victory was a morale booster following recent bad defeats in Viriginia and Mississippi in the same month. Abraham Lincoln certainly appreciated the outcome of this fight as his final Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.

This book also explores the unsurprising disagreements between Bragg and his subordinates after the commander had made the decision to retreat and then asked them for their thoughts on him as commander. This analysis was just what a book such as this needs, and, again, meets the desires of people wanting to read such a book.

I also appreciate the use of footnotes instead of endnotes and that the index includes mentions of the regiments involved under their state names. That makes it easier to look up a specific unit, although I can barely fathom how much extra work and effort that took. The order of battle was very helpful as well. Using it and the various maps made the action easier for me to follow, at least in understanding the units involved and their placement on the landscape.

I certainly recommend this book highly to anyone wanting a good Civil War work to read. It is a must add to Civil War bookshelves. 

Book review: Kidnapped at Sea

Kidnapped at Sea: The Civil War Voyage of David Henry White

                                   By Andrew Sillen                                    

Copyright 2024

Johns Hopkins University Press

Reading this newly published book reminded me of how much important and interesting Civil War scholarship is taking place. I knew the basics of the story of the CSS Alabama and the name Raphael Semmes was a familiar one, but I knew nothing of the story of David Henry White, a young and free African American man who wound up on the Alabama through no fault of his own.

His tale deserves the attention that Andrew Sillen gives it in this work. 

Despite that introduction, this is not a true biography of White. There simply are not enough existing details of the everyday life of this man, who left no known written correspondence behind and whose presence in government records was minimal.

Nevertheless, Sillen uses the records that do exist, along with his exploration of the time and places in which White lived and worked, and the people and experiences involved in his life to describe the short life and sailing career the subject led. This required significant research, which the author clearly did, through the use of period records as well as other studies of Delaware (including its history, agriculture, relationship with slavery and proximity to Maryland), slavery, nineteenth century society, and the backgrounds and beliefs of the officers of the Alabama. He also studied other modern works on the Alabama’s story for other views on the matter and weaves these sources into a narrative that unwraps the world into which White was born and grew into a teenager, even when he finds misinterpretations in parts of these other accounts. It really is an effective approach to explore such an elusive subject who (may never have learned how to write or to otherwise tell his version of his life). In this work, Sillen finds a way to tell that story.

David Henry White was as far from a famous or influential figure in American history as possible, but his life and story were - and remain - important to study and to remember. His kidnapping (not impressment, as the author shows) was mentioned in the American media when it first happened, but his condition seemed of little concern to American consuls around the world, in countries where the Alabama stopped. When Britain made reparations to the U.S. for damages the British-made ship had cause, White’s family did not receive compensation. His story faded even more in the following years and decades and his name is unfamiliar even to many Civil War enthusiasts today. This book helps address that. 

Sillen’s emphasis on White’s prewar status as a free man, not a slave as other accounts have stated, is especially notable. His description of how a career in sailing provided opportunity for people like White, (though as free blacks became more populous, Delaware changed its laws to refuse such opportunity) stands out in the description if White’s blossoming life in his teenage years. Delaware was not a Derp South cotton state, but nor was it overly friendly to African Americans. 

The author perused the writings of Semmes and his officers to explore their attitudes towards naval service, the war, and slavery. Semmes and some of his officers came from slave-owning families, which naturally influenced their views. The culture of the navy, with its focus on glory since promotion was slow and difficult to achieve, certainly influenced Semmes. Also, the complete separation of the ship's officers and crew while not on daily duty symbolizes the important of class and hierarchy in American society. As a free black young man, David Henry White was another reminder of how customary such segregation was.

Sillen also notes how post-Civil War “Lost Cause” ideology affected Semmes’ thinking and writing, an astute observation. Semmes' training as a lawyer also influenced his written accounts of his service. 

One topic this book frequently discusses is the misbehavior of the Alabama’s crew and scenes that White may have witnessed. I especially noted the description of the ship’s roster as “entitled Confederate officers and undisciplined mercenaries” on page 101. The rest of the work supports that view of most of these men. 

I like how the book is organized. The chapters are short, which make them quick to read, but consist of appropriate topics and are in fine order, adding to the quality of the book. This work is not in pure chronological order. Sometimes that is a bit distracting, as there are a few mentions in parenthesis like “as discussed in chapter 8” or “see chapter 22” that appear in the text, but that’s a minor nit to pick. Adding such notes does give the reader opportunity to re-read a section or to know that more details will follow, a benefit that outweighs the occasional distraction, especially as the reader gets accustomed to it.

The additional details in the notes at the end of the story are another valuable addition that not all books provide, and the illustrations throughout the book also add a layer of understanding, especially the photographs taken on the Alabama.

Captain John Winslow, the leader of the Kearsarge in the final battle the Alabama fought, played a key role in this saga, or at least its end, so the mentions of his background and his Mexican-American War acquaintance with Semmes are helpful.

One noteworthy piece of Sillen’s work is the ending of chapter 22. After the Alabama had lost its final battle and sank to the bottom of the ocean, a list of the ship’s men who had perished in the contest was published in a British newspaper. It neglected to mention David Henry White. Sillen calls White “ever a ghost” and observes that the kidnapping victim “remained at the end, invisible." (p. 225)

Chapter 23, entitled Accounts, includes a discussion of how Semmes turned White into what Silken calls a “caricature.” (p. 232) He shows how the Confederate Captain used period stereotypes of “faithful” or “happy” servants. and uses the phrase “self-serving paternalism” to describe this attitude, while also giving examples of modern Confederate supporters adopting similar romanticized and false views of White.

Maybe the most fascinating chapter of the book is chapter 24, An Ocean of Lies, with its examination of false information Semmes and his comrades had written about White, his status, and his time on their ship. The author points out these lies and provides evidence that prove their inaccuracy. It is a very convincing chapter. 

David Henry White never enlisted in the military or agreed to risk his life for his country, but did end up giving his life in the conflict that kept the nation united and aided in freeing people of his race. Thankfully, Andrew Sillen shares his story, keeping White from becoming permanently invisible and just another anonymous member of the approximate 700,000 deaths of the Civil War. He was a human, and he was a young man. He was real and so is his story.

Overall, this a well-researched and written book. Andrew Sillen has produced an enjoyable and informative study of a lesser known yet important tale of a free black man kidnapped by Confederates during the Civil War. It is definitely a book that I happily recommend that others read. 

(I received a review copy of this book from the publisher, but all comments in this review are my true and honest opinions.)

Book Review: The Civil War in the Smokies

          

  The Civil War in the Smokies

By Noel Fisher

 Copyright 2005

Great Smoky Mountains Association 

This book is an older one I picked up at a gift shop during a quick vacation last fall but is a good work about an uncommon subject and certainly one that I enjoyed and that added to my understanding of the war. 

Comments about President Lincoln wanting to “free” East Tennessee from the Confederacy are relatively common in Civil War, at least on that high level, but more detailed explorations of the region are not such common topics. No major battles took place in the mountains, though the Siege of Knoxville, with famed Confederate General James Longstreet, was close by, so studies focused on military engagements find other geographic areas to explore and discuss.

This area, however, was the home to many people, Americans, who were split in their loyalties like the rest of the country. Slavery was not a large institution in these mountains, but it did exist, and a population of Native Americans also resided here. 

The start of this book gives a brief history of the settlement of the region, including Natives and then the influx of European Americans in the era of the American Revolutionary War. I thought this section was a bit of a slow read, but it provided good background information and once the story approached the Civil War years, my reading was much quicker, but that may be because of my preferences, not the author's writing.

Despite the importance of the social aspects of the war in this region, as frequently discussed herein the military was also involved here, via skirmishes, foraging, tracking deserters and spies, guarding or attacking targets such as bridges, seeking conscripts to fill regiments, helping others find their ways elsewhere, and in other important ways.

The numbers were not large, but people died. In some way, that type of war is more personal than the bigger, more famous, battles. Instead of casualty lists simply printed as “hundreds of men,” or lengthy lists of names, this book generally mentions a handful or so of specific names, as it does for men arrested as spies, deserters, or for being “loyalists” (Union supporters).

This area reminded me of the divided loyalties throughout Kentucky. That surprised me for some reason, and the idea of men "escaping" from the mountains to come to the Bluegrass State to enlist in Union regiments was another concept I did not remember hearing about previously. The geographic closeness of the two states means this idea makes sense, but I have often read of Kentuckians going south to join the Confederate army but not of men sneaking into Kentucky's southern border. 

An especially fascinating piece of this story was the examination of the letters between Confederate soldier Alfred Bell and his wife Mary. Mary was struggling at home and wanted to see her husband again, but he had his own troubles in the army, including an inability (or perhaps an unexpressed unwillingness) to leave the military to return home. Their story as told in this work was an outstanding piece of the bigger story, perhaps even symbolic of how other families fared during this time. It added a lot of context and detail to this work. This was the war seen from the family level, an everyday issue impossible to escape.

The final chapter, entitled After the End, may have been the most interesting section of the book, discussing the difficulties of life even after the war ended, as bitter feelings and distrust remained. Union supporters attempted to capitalize on victory by punishing their former opponents, while residents who had favored the Confederate side did not just sit back and accept such treatment, giving as good they got. Bushwhackers, lawsuits, and an even more difficult economic situation increased the struggles of residents, as well as institutions such as schools and churches. Educational facilities shut down for good, and some churches went years or even a decade without meeting during and immediately after the war.

Despite the lack of major battles or campaigns in the mountains, the war took a major toll on the area. In the best of times, life in the Smokies was tough, especially economically, and this work shows how much the war only exacerbated this and other issues, as the author notes about the area’s residents: "They simply could not escape the cruel logic of the war, and large-scale suffering was inevitable.” (p. 150) Militaries on both sides did scour this area for food and supplies, taking them from civilians who depended on these items.

One quote from this chapter sums up the situation in the mountains - and perhaps in the nation as a whole - quite well: "The Civil War threw Smokies residents into a situation for which they were wholly unprepared,” (p.150) with so much chaos, economic suffering, and mistrust of neighbors, as well as Confederate conscription policy, and other factors making life even harder.

As the war dragged on, difficulties surmounted, leading much of the populace to reconsider life’s priorities. Mere survival became more important than the political ideologies of the war, an issue the southern leaders could not really address.  "The Confederate government had little time to nurture the kind of loyalties and bonds needed" to create and maintain the faithfulness of residents. (p.151) This had natural consequences: "Indeed, it might be said that by 1863 these residents, while pro-Southern and pro-slavery, were no longer pro-Confederate.” (p. 151)

Overall, this is a fine book. It tells an interesting story of a people and region which struggled through many difficulties during the Civil War, a tale perhaps needing more attention.

I’m glad I read it and am happy to recommend it.

Book Review: We Shall Conquer or Die: Partisan Warfare in 1862 Western Kentucky

We Shall Conquer or Die: Partisan Warfare in 1862 Western Kentucky 

By Derrick Lindow 

Copyright 2024

Savas Beatie

The Civil War provides many avenues for discussion and study - battles, generals, politics, technology, and social issues, among numerous topics frequently explored.

One which I have never particularly thought of often was partisan warfare, particularly in western Kentucky.

Oops.

In this fine book, still hot off the press, Derrick Lindow weaves a fascinating tale of this lesser-discussed style of war in an area not widely known for its role in the war. He describes this type of fighting and what a "partisan ranger" is, comparing it to the more well-known and popular term (especially among Union officials at the time), "guerilla.” He also introduces the readers to some of the Confederate irregular warriors, including a man with one of the more unusual nicknames of the war, Adam "Stovepipe" Johnson, as well as his partner-in-war Robert Martin, and some of their opponents, such as John Crooks and Gabriel Netter.

This type of fighting was much smaller in scope than the most famous battles associated with the Civil War, but even these smaller fights and skirmishes resulted in a number of deaths, men whose demise did make the news back home and affected their comrades-in-arms and families. This fighting and its effects were just as real as any “major battle,” as this book so ably shows.

As Lindow describes how this type of fighting in this area played out, it became reminiscent of ow cavalry usage and fighting in the war overall developed. The partisan war began with the Confederates having a significant advantage at first, as their forces attacked the enemy in ways (and places) the Federals did not expect or fully understand, and the Federals struggled to adapt to this style of war, to have enough men in the right places to meet the enemy, and even, at times, to find leadership courageous and skillful enough to combat the Confederates. As time went by, however, Union leadership and strategy improved, more troops were employed, and the understanding of both this style of fighting and the enemy progressed, all of which naturally led to better fighting by the bluecoats. Confederate victory was no longer as certain a result as it had been earlier in 1862.

This is simply a terrific book. 

More specifically, it is a terrific book for those who enjoy reading about the Civil War or this style of fighting, but especially so for people studying Kentucky’s role in the war. In a state in which politics and the general sentiments of the people were often divided, unclear, confusing, and frequently changing, this style of warfare - fairly described with similar adjectives - symbolized the state’s situation, and the author addresses that, showing how such uncertainty filtered through that region of the Commonwealth, especially for Union leaders trying to defend Union loyalists in a  state that included so many Confederate supporters who were more than willing to help the Confederate fighters. Which people in which towns or counties were on which side, and even on which day? Those were not easy questions to answer, yet the Union leaders (and even the southern forces) needed to understand the people they were dealing with and could or could not trust. 

The writing style is clear, easy to read and understand, and the length of both the book and the several chapters is suitable. It is a quick read, is based on research from many primary and secondary sources and uses well-thought-out analysis of those sources to bring this story together. The several maps and photographs are also helpful and appropriate. 

I gladly recommend this book.

Book Review: Tar Heels in Gray: Life in the 30th North Carolina Infantry in the Civil War

Tar Heels in Gray: Life in the 30th North Carolina Infantry in the Civil War 

By John B. Cameron

McFarland & Company, Inc.

Copyright 2021

As the back cover of this book states, “The 30th North Carolina was involved in most of the major battles in Virginia from the Seven Days through the surrender at Appomattox.” Most of its men joined early in the war, but others were drafted and served unwillingly. 

“What was the war actually like for these men?”

 

It is that question, and others like it, that this book explores and discusses in a deeply-researched text that those interested in the men of the Civil War armies should read. 

 

Tar Heels in Gray is a good book, an enjoyable and detailed biography of a regiment’s time in the war, focusing on non-combst-specific challenges the unit and its men faced, including recruitment, motivation, disease, desertion, hunger and others.

 

It is not intended as a military study of campaigns and battles like most regimental histories are, but focuses its attention on other important details about daily soldier life that contributed to the regiment’s ability to arrive at and perform in battle. This is a good approach by the author and produces a valuable look at the challenges the unit faced just to have enough able-bodied men to fight.

 

This book is generally well-written and easy to read, but I admit that some of the statistical discussions, and the descriptions of how the author decided what fit in which category and how he assembled the statistics, were not as enjoyable as other parts, though the graphs and charts were helpful. That may just be me - I often don’t enjoy the deeply analytical and statistically-based articles about sports I follow either - but I do understand why he included these sections in the book to show his methodology. I do wonder, however, if some of the discussion of the methods could have been included in an appendix.

 

My personal taste on that one issue aside, I especially enjoyed the letters to and from the home front and the descriptions of camp life and relationships between soldiers were outstanding and valuable. (The discussion about Louis McLeod and Francis Moore was especially interesting. I wish their friendship had lasted longer do that their story would have been longer and provided more material for the author. That was a perfect discussuon for this type of book and showed the humanity of these men in terms of the appreciation of friendships and the feelings of loss or betrayal.)

 

 The 30th North Carolina was just one regiment, but this is a look at it likely shows similar experiences as men in other units, especially Confederate ones, faced. 

 

I also enjoyed the discussions of the various diseases men in the men of the 30th faced. Some medical terms are technical and/or in Latin, but the overview of the diseases, how common they were, and, especially, how some were likely misdiagnosed was enlightening, and might help me on my current project. 

 

This note might be another quite picky one, but the author’s style of writing dates - the day, followed by the month, then the year (e.g. 23 June 1865) - is a bit distracting at least for me as I am accustomed to the more traditional style (e.g. June 23, 1865).

 

This is a relatively short book, 161 pages including the endnotes (which are worth reading, as many include additional information other than sources), plus a six page bibliography, but is well-researched, with the use of many soldier letters, census records, tax records and more. It is clearly the product of much work (such as the analysis of how to classify the economic and occupational statuses of the more than 1,000 soldiers in the regiment, and the discussion of the wounds and diseases these men suffered). It is an impressive effort, with a fine result that provides good insight into how a regiment and its men joined the army, lived, survived, were motivated, deserted and/or died in the dangerous and deadly years of the Civil War.

 

*Please note that I received a copy from the publisher for no charge. I have published my honest comments herein without allowing how I acquired it to affect my opinions.  

Book Review: Murder on the Ohio Belle

 

Murder on the Ohio Belle 

Stuart W. Sanders 

Copyright 2020

University Press of Kentucky

Murder on the Ohio Belle is not a Civil War book, but covers the war era including the generation of people who brought on and fought the war, thus making it a worthwhile read for those focused on the fighting years. Mid-nineteenth century culture is the main theme of this work, as seen through the experiences of one steamboat, its crew and passengers.

 

As its title implies, Murder tells the story about a killing (actually two) that took place on the steamboat Ohio Belle, but it goes well beyond that, serving as sort of a biography of mid-nineteenth century steamboat and American culture, or at least many aspects thereof.

This book starts with a strong introduction. Many works use such a start to explain the author’s goals for the book, but few are as straight-forward and effective as the this one.

The hope of this book is to “help us better understand nineteenth century riverine culture.” (page 2) It explores the relationship northern owned boats and their crews had with slavery and slave culture along the Ohio River.The phrase “fluid border” between free states and slave states was literally true, since the waters of the Ohio formed much of that border. The author shows that these boats profited from, and thus supported, slavery with the business they conducted in the south.

Sanders further pledges to explore“how Americans contended with violence” (page 3) such as murder, lynching, and warfare, and argues “the history of the Ohio Belle also presents a portrait of how western antebellum society embraced retribution.” (page 4)

This work considers a variety of period cultural issues, such as “interpersonal violence, slavery, honor culture, and retribution.” (page 4)

The introduction comes to a definitive conclusion: “A single event…can illuminate a more important, broader narrative about our past.” The plan is to show readers “important themes from the nineteenth century that are still relevant today” (page 5), such as vigilantes, injustices, and others.

“History, including the tale of a murder on a steamboat, still matters” is an apt final sentence to this introduction.

The book lives up to the promises and goals listed in its beginning. It does so mostly in a chronological fashion, but does jump ahead and back at appropriate times to tell the story fully. 

This is not a long book. It has an introduction, eight chapters and a conclusion which combine to take up 111 pages, including the acknowledgements, but does also feature 30 pages of notes, some of which include information beyond the citations. This length, and the writing style of the author, make it a quick and easy read, so anyone worried about finding enough time to read an entire book should still consider this one.

Besides the telling of the story of the actual murders, and how it parallels mid-nineteenth century American behavior, this book also details the career of John Sebastian, the captain of the Ohio Belle, and how he dealt with those issues on his boat.

Another interesting aspect of this work is the story of Margaret Garner. Many people have heard or read  of her escape from slavery in Boone County, Kentucky, across the Ohio River to Cincinnati, where she killed her young daughter instead of letting slave catchers capture her. This book details more of her story after that incident, as she was sent downriver aboard a steamboat.This part of her story is not as famous as her attempted escape, but does include more heartbreak. Her tale was an unexpected but valuable addition to the study of the region's culture at the time. Few stories illustrate the nature of slave-state Kentucky’s proximity to the free state of Ohio as clearly as hers does.

Violence, revenge, honor, and the definition of a “gentleman” (and expectations of such a man’s behavior and interactions with others) are concepts that appear throughout the book, and are familiar to Civil War students. The use of alcohol, mixed with gambling and traits like pride, honor, and the tradition of carrying concealed weapons was a common contributor to problems, including occasional mob violence. This behavior on “the Ohio Belle, and other vessels was simply a reflection of behavior on land during this period.” (pages 58-9) This book provides examples of this, including in the river city of Louisville.

Class distinctions – particularly between wealthy planters and “lower” economic classes, but also between races – were ever present in how people behaved on land and water.

Of course, the defining event during the steamboat era of the mid-nineteenth century was the Civil War, and chapter seven dives into it, how it affected the Ohio Belle  (captured by the Confederacy) and John Sebastian (he lost his left arm during the conflict.) It was the ultimate example of violence during the era, but these years also continued to demonstrate the dangerous desire and search for vengeance, much like during peace time.

 

Overall, this is a fine book for anybody who enjoys history, but it also covers topics that should interest those focused on the Civil War, river history or social/cultural history in mid-1800s America. This book is a pleasure to read. I happily recommend it.

Book Review: Cincinnati in the Civil War: The Union’s Queen City

Cincinnati in the Civil War: The Union’s Queen City

David L. Mowery

Copyright 2021

The History Press

I admit my reading of books has been too slow in the past year or two, but I did just finish an enjoyable and informative book, one about a local topic.

David Mowery’s most  recent book, Cincinnati in the Civil War,seems like a fairly short book, 279 slightly undersized pages before the end-notes and index in the hardback copy I have, but is full of information and details about Cincinnati and even the northern parts of Kenton and Campbell Counties in Northern Kentucky. (Campbell County is my lifelong home.)

As I first heard of and purchased this book, I thought I had a good grasp on the basics of this subject, and though perhaps there was some accuracy to that egotistic belief, this work showed me just how basic that understanding was no how much more there is to Cincinnati’s Civil War story, far beyond the “Siege of Cincinnati” which was the subject most familiar to me. 

This book is quite readable, with a nice flow to it, and the various photographs and illustrations add more perspective to how Civil War Cincinnati appeared. The pictures of buildings long gone are especially intriguing (though perhaps additional illustrations of the forts and batteries constructed for the late 1862 panic may have contributed more to this work.)

 

The seven main chapters of the narrative do a terrific job of covering just what the title says, starting with the coming of the war, to concerns about Cincinnati's location near slave-state Kentucky, the importance of defending the city, then an apt description of the "Siege," followed by discussions of other southern support or threats north of the Ohio River and finally the ending of the war. It is not a review of the entire Civil War - it is a detailed look at one area's experiences in the war, the war's effects on that area, and, most of all, Cincinnati's impact upon the war. This book is exactly what its title says it is.

The seven chapters of the main text are followed by five separate appendices, touching on topics such as ship-building in Cincinnati, regional war-time fortifications, a very educational (at least to  me) look at the locations of Civil War sites in the area (even noting the locations of buildings, camps, etc. that no longer exist), a history of Spring Grove Cemetery and listing of notable period figures interred therein, and a table listing Civil War units in which men from Cincinnati (and its home of Hamilton County) served, noting which companies, regiments or other units were composed mostly of these men. The inclusion of so many people snd -laces in this section really adds a lot of value to the entire book. 

 

The book’s organization - the narrative description of the subject as included in the book's title, followed by the appendices, more focused on specific subjects that had contributed to the bigger story of the city's part in the war - works wonderfully.

Overall, I enjoyed this book because of the information it provides (and, perhaps selfishly, because of ideas it gives me for my project that I have discussed here.) It is, practically, a must read for those interested specifically in Cincinnati Civil War history, but is also a valuable work for other Civil War and local history enthusiasts. I certainly recommend this book.

Quick Book Review: The Battle Rages Higher: The Union’s Fifteenth Kentucky Infantry

The Battle Rages Higher: The Union’s Fifteenth Kentucky Infantry

By Kirk C. Jenkins

Copyright 2003

The University Press of Kentucky

I finally have finished another book, as my reading continues to be slower than it should, so I thought I’d post a few thoughts about it. It has been a while since I did a book review. 

The Battle Rages Higher is a fine book,well-written with a readable and enjoyable narrative. Jenkins’ writing style is a good fit for this subject.

I had heard about the 15th Kentucky during my trips to Perryville, where I stood on and near the hallowed ground where they fought near the Bottom House. I have been there several times but that was about all I had heard of this unit. Once I saw this book, it was only natural for me to read it, though I wish I had done so years ago. Still, it is better late than never - I am glad to have read thus work.

This book is a basic regimental history, tracing the unit from its formation and following it into the many battles and campaigns in which it fought, including Perryville, Stone’s River,  Chickamauga, the Atlanta Campaign and more. A few of its  men were even sent to in Andersonville and though three of them survived that prison, two of the survivors ended up on the doomed ship Sultana. Private Milton Davis somehow lived through that disaster after years of war then Andersonville. That fascinates me.

Jenkins discusses the various battles and campaigns in good detail, using letters, official records and other sources for information and details to discuss the men, their leaders and their army.  It comes across as a well-researched book that provides an in-depth review of the regiment.

This book is from 2003, so plenty of  other scholarship has taken place in the years since then. I’m admittedly not expert enough to know what newer studies might add to Jenkins’ work, but this is an enjoyable and informative book that I do recommend others read. I knew of the 15th Kentucky’s fight at Perryville, but that is only a small part of this unit’s story, a tale like that of many regiments - marching, camping, fighting and various hardships in the field, away from home and family.

One surprise I received from this book was that several members of it were from, lived in, died in or are buried in my home of Campbell County, with a couple others from neighboring counties. I had never heard or expected that. At least one of these soldiers lies at rest in the same cemetery as my paternal grandparents. This entire section with the biographies of the unit’s soldiers is a terrific piece of this book, even for the many men with no connection so local to me.

The discovery of these men (most in Companies H or I) will likely lead me to a future project looking into their lives more deeply. Jenkins does include a sentence or two about each and perhaps his work will form the majority of my idea, but maybe I can find more information about at least a few of these men, or even pictures of headstones. This is something I will work on, though I am not yet sure of the format. Perhaps I will do a separate post for each name, finishing each one as I can or maybe I will do one or two longer posts focusing n several men at a time, or all at once. I have no clue on the timing of this, but I started a draft with a list of the names from the book, so that is at least a start. 

Another piece that might only interest me was that this unit mustered into the army in the small town of New Haven, Kentucky. This meant little to me, except for referring to that town  in a fairly recent post I made, but, more unexpectedly, during my recent trip to Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace, I passed through New Haven just before arriving in Hodgenville. Had I read the early part of the book more recently or planned m6 trip more in advance, I might have realized how near those towns are to each other, but I did not and seeing the “Welcome to New Haven” sign did catch me off-guard. That is just another small connection th3 book made to my life.

The Battle Rages Higher is a very good book about a Kentucky unit full of Kentucky men, and their many war-time experiences. It certainly belongs on Civil War bookshelves and in the hands of readers.

Book Review: Fortune’s Fool: The Life of John Wilkes Booth

Fortune’s Fool: The Life of John Wilkes Booth

(C) 2015

By Terry Alford

Oxford University Press

John Wilkes Booth was human. He had friends, he had hopes, he had love, fears, ambitions, dreams. 

He also had flaws and his share of struggles, from family issues to establishing a career, to finding the perfect love to, money problems.

That might be a surprise to those who know him only through the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, but this book, by Terry Alford, rescues Booth’s humanity from the shadows of infamy and demonstrates that Booth was a man, a mere mortal whose short life was more than one night in April of 1865. That is the heart and the strength of this biography - the life, career and evolution of John Wilkes Booth in the eyes of people who knew him and in history.

Alford’s book is a fine addition to a Civil War or even Abraham Lincoln library. He obviously researched Booth’s life deeply, using a wide selection of letters, diaries, books, and newspapers to uncover aspects of the young actor’s life, career, and the memories that his friends, colleagues, and associates held of him. It includes endnotes and a wonderful section of photographs and illustrations. The writing is very readable, a fine style that makes this book a quick read and that lacks typographical or editing errors.

This book explores Booth’s entire life, including his family history. It describes his father’s successful career, which three of his sons followed, but also addresses flaws that Junius Booth displayed, and how those imperfections affected his reputation and his family, particularly John. The discussion of how John wanted to make his own name and succeed on his own ability, not his father’s reputation, was enlightening, especially as the author showed how John frequently used stage names like J.B. Wilkes to show he was his own man, though some theater goers still knew he was Junius’ son. This is not something often associated with Booth, and definitely adds a sense of the reality of Booth’s life. He was not simply born a monstrous killer; he grew up as people do, and had challenges to face, obstacles to overcome, again just like people generally do.

Booth was physically gifted, quite fit, strong and athletic, good at riding horses and using guns and swords, which came in handy in his chosen career. He was ambitious, competitive, handsome, a ladies’ man, and, according to the author “loved being in love.”  He made friends with his  personality, displaying a good sense of humor, enjoying playing jokes and pranks on colleagues. Many people considered him a gentleman.

He was also well-liked by many fellow actors and was willing to offer advice to younger thespians once he had started to establish himself as a star.

In other words, in his early adulthood, John Wilkes Booth was quite a people person and comes across as even likeable in this work, though every now and then small examples of erratic behavior - reminders of his father’s troubles and, in hindsight, possible foreshadowing of his own future - made themselves evident.

One flaw he did possess was explained in a line from page 151: “Booth never had a new thought after his core opinions were formed in his teenage years.” It contrasts his close-mindedness and tendency to hold grudges to the abilities to grow and forgive of his nemesis, Abraham Lincoln. 

The exploration of Booth’s career, from being one of many players in a stock company, to his days as a star and his decision to end his stage work is another helpful theme of this work. He was born with great physical gifts and was not a person naturally inclined to study, but he loved his profession and as he matured, he did work harder at his craft, though he never quite arrived at the point where he strived to be the very best technician. The brief section about whether he was truly great and what defines acting greatness was enjoyable, and the mention of Booth’s ambition and love of applause, showed another human sign of this man.

Real life, of course, could not avoid interfering even with the make-believe life of the world of acting. As sectional tensions began to bubble across the country, Booth’s political preferences started becoming evident as well, specifically his support of the Southern cause, though he hated extremists on both sides, both those favoring secession, and, especially, abolitionists. His love of the union as one whole nation was a surprising revelation of this book.

As much as this book reveals the normal challenges Booth faced, it also describes his evolution into the bitter, angry man who committed the assassination. Booth favored the South, supported slavery, and felt the North was badly mistreating his beloved region. He usually tried to avoid having political discussions and hearing news about the war, but that was impossible in such times and his anger grew and became more well-known. A bitterly heated argument with his brother Edwin was one example of his political beliefs affecting his life.

Booth began drinking more frequently as life and the war continued, though alcohol apparently energized him more than it made him drunk. It almost was like his version of Red Bull. His behavior became more erratic, as he sometimes surprisingly ignored or rudely treated old friends.

The book’s description of this slow change in Booth is a real strong point of this work, but it also shows that Booth still retained his full mind until near the end. His planning of the plot to kidnap Lincoln and recruitment of the associates whose assistance he wanted shows that he was not completely mad, and that he still maintained the capacity of logical thinking, at least in planning the kidnapping plot, even if focusing on such a deed was not logical to most people.

This changed, however, when the kidnapping plan failed and Northern victory in the war became a reality. Booth then became significantly more angry and bitter, almost a Mr. Hyde-type monster in terms of his red-hot hatred towards Lincoln. While the early parts of this book showed a gentlemen and a likeable person, perhaps a Dr. Jekyl, the later pages describe the Booth that most people think of when recalling the assassination. 

The book ends with a discussion of Booth’s attempt to avoid capture, including discussions of how several people  assisted him, especially David Herold. Booth was surprised that the nation, or at least the South, did not regard him as a hero, expressing frustrstion and disappointment over how people perceived his deed.

The author also includes an overview of the myths involving Booth’s rumored escape from capture, the supposed misidentification of his body by Federal authorities, and his continued life in many cities around the world. Arnold debunks these stories, sometimes with harsh and/or sarcastic language, and shows how authorities identified the corpse and secured it in the days after Booth’s death.

I have tried to highlight the main points of this terrific book, but others also populate the pages, describing how John Wilkes Booth was all-too-human, how he evolved into the man who committed a nearly unspeakable action that has come to define him. As I think about it more, a comparison to Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, over a period of years, seems appropriate. 

This is a wonderful biography and exploration of a subject who somehow remains both infamous, yet not well-known. I gladly and highly recommend this book.

I thank Oxford University Press for a review copy of this book. I have given my completely honest thoughts on it.

Book Review: Mrs. Lincoln by Catherine Clinton

Mrs. Lincoln: A Life

By Catherine Clinton

  (c) 2009

Harper

Before reading this book, one I have wanted to read for quite a while, I expected to feel much pity for Mary Lincoln after reading it, like I did after watching the movie Lincoln, and while I do feel some of the sentiment, I am in a quandary, as I also feel a different, unsympathetic feeling, perhaps as harsh as derision, or at least frustration, towards her.  This book describes a complicated, confusing, sad, tragic, ambitious, successful woman and life. She was strong, yet weak, intelligent, yet naïve, independent, yet self-identified with her husband and his career.  I realize that some of those descriptions are redundant or contrasting, but I find that an appropriate way to describe the subject of this book.  She was simply human, but not a simple hunan, and this book does a terrific job of exploring the many competing facets of her life.

These various aspects of Mary Lincoln form a main topic of this book, which serves as a biography of both the former Mary Todd and of her marriage. Though her life certainly takes priority, telling the story of Mary Lincoln simply requires a discussion of her husband and marriage. It is inescapable, even after the assassination, as Clinton notes: Her identity was wholly bound up with remaining Mrs. Lincoln (page 287).

That line is an accurate summary of Mary’s post-1865 life, but this book starts much earlier, thoroughly discussing her early life, including the tragic loss of her mother, the coming of her step-mother and the ever increasing size of her nuclear family, with so many siblings and half-siblings.

I must admit that when I think of the tragedies in Mary’s life, the loss of her mother often escapes my mind, but this book illustrates how great a loss this was for her, as well as the difficulty of having a step-mother and so many half-siblings. The tension in this large family is evident in this book and the author shows that this situation hurt Mary, the first major loss of her life, but certainly not the last. 

Mary grew up in a well-to-do Southern household, a lifestyle that influenced her expectations of life going forward. To paraphrase a popular saying, you can take the girl out of the South, but you can’t take the South out of the girl. This was largely true of Mary, who constantly expected the same type of life and socializing she witnessed in her youth. She did, to her credit, grow to disapprove of slavery, an institution with which she grew up, but otherwise saw herself as a Southern belle, with the expectations of being treated as such. Clinton describes this dominant part of Mary’s personality throughout the book. 

One word used more than once in this work was “entitled,” a fair description of Mary’s attitude. She liked being the center of attention and expected to receive attention, respect, and even admiration due to her position of First Lady and, later, in a term she coined, “First Widow.”  She did make some attempts to help herself, one time resulting in the embarrassing “Old Clothes” scandal, but also expected gratitude from the government and from people who she believed benefited greatly from her husband’s Presidency. This is another theme explored throughout the book, but especially in the discussion of the post-1865 years.

Page 329 offered up another memorable line describing Mary’s attitude, this time in reference to the assassination of James Garfield: when she discovered there was a movement afoot to offer government funds to provide for Gardield’s widow and five fatherless children, Mary, not uncharacteristically, thought of herself (my emphasis added.). She had adored her husband and children and spent much time and energy visiting wounded troops in the hospitals, but  could often be much less unselfish.

Clinton discusses many aspects and incidents of Mary’s life including her love of youngest son Tad and the devastation his death caused her. Of course, her commitment to an insane asylum by eldest son Robert receives much attention, including discussion of the unfairness of the trial and the grudge Mary understandably held against Robert for years. Her behavior during these years, especially concerning issues of money is examined and the author points out possible legitimate mental health issues Mary may have suffered, while also giving examples of times when Mary’s faculties were working very well. The complexity of the questions of her mental health apply to the complexity of her whole life as well. 

This is a riveting book about a complex woman who led a fascinating, sad, complicated life. To keep this review to a reasonable length, I will not attempt to mention all the specific incidents it covers, but the author does an outstanding job of presenting evidence and then analyzing it. An especially noteworthy example of this is the description of Mary’s temper, jealousy, and behavior towards Julia Grant and other women during a late war trip to Virginia. 

At the end of the work, Clinton adds a few paragraphs about Mary’s reputation both in her time and in the modern era, including how scholars and writers have treated her. This was a wonderfully unexpected and interesting section and I wish it had been expanded to include more details, such as some found in the end notes. 

Biographies frequently develop into near hagiographical works for their subjects, as authors who spend so much time and effort studying people can start to like them and let this positive feeling seep into their work.  That did not happen in this book - Clinton certainly offers praise for Mary at times and defends her behavior more than once, but also provides frequent criticism and points out bad decisions Mary made and flaws she possessed. It is a balanced examination of Mary Lincoln, and the author deserves much credit for that fairness, perhaps the strength of this book. 

The book does include helpful end notes and a few photographs as well. I wish the pictures had been of higher quality (maybe that’s a function of the type of paper used in the book)  but that is picking nits. The text is well-written and makes for an easy, quick read. This is a fine book, a virtual must-have for any Lincoln scholar or those interested in women’s history, and a “should-have” for general Civil War libraries. I am happy to recommend it strongly.

Books about Kentucky Civil War Politics and Reputation

Over the years, I have read a few books on Kentucky in the Civil War and found that several of them focused on politics and social attitudes as much, or more than, pure military topics. This topic - Kentucky politics and the state’s Confederate image - has become a strong interest for me as I find it to be a complicated, confusing, and, yet, fascinating subject. It currently is one of my main interests in the Civil War.

I do not have any specific family or genealogical connections to the topic, but I had many ancestors in the state during this era, and I do wonder what their life was like or what their beliefs were. At least one of my Kentucky ancestors owned slaves but had a son and multiple grandsons fight for the Union. Did this family’s attitude shift like those of many other Kentuckians as the war progressed and Emancipation and the enlistment of African-American soldiers became realities? Did any of my other ancestors change views during this time? Questions like that help guide me in the direction of such studies. 

I figured I would compile this list in a post and perhaps soon on a separate page. This will help remind me of these books in case I want to look something up and might help others find some interesting reading as I truly enjoyed each of these works. This list is in no particular order, other than how I remembered or thought of them when compiling this post.

Pre-War: 

Kentucky Rising: Democracy, Slavery, and Culture From the Early Republic to the Civil War by James Ramage and Andrea Watkins. (I consider it to be a good “prequel” to the books listed below and wish I had read it before the others.)

War and Post-War:

Kentucky Rebel Town: The Civil War Battles of Cynthiana & Harrison County by William Penn

For Slavery and Union: Benjamin Buckner and Kentucky Loyalties in the Civil War by Patrick Lewis 

Wild Wolf: The Great Civil War Rivalry by Ronald Wolford Blair

Kentucky Confederates: Secession, Civil War and the Jackson Purchase by Berry Craig 

How Kentucky Became Southern: A Tale of Outlaws, Horse Thieves, Gamblers, and Breeders by Mary Jean Wall

Creating a Confederate Kentucky: The Lost Cause and Civil War Memory in a Border State by Anne Marshall

My Old Confederate Home: A Respectable Place for Civil War Veterans by Rusty Williams

Lincoln’s Forgotten Ally: Judge Advocate Joseph Holt of Kentucky by Elizabeth D. Leonard 

(Kentucky politics is not a main focus of Lincoln’s Forgotten Ally, but it does touch on the topic and Holt’s life story serve as a wonderful example of how this state’s mixed political identity, especially late in and after the war, affected individual lives and families. How many other books are like that - not primarily concentrating on the political climate of the state, but nonetheless discussing it in terms of how it relates to their main subjects?)

The links are all to my reviews, except for Kentucky Rising. I wrote a long review of it, but accidentally hit the delete button and lost it all and was too frustrated to redo it, so that link is simply to the book’s amazon.com page.

I do realize there are likely many books I have not read or even heard of on this subject, so I will appreciate any suggestions in the future.

Book Review: Reconstruction: A Concise History

Reconstruction: A Concise History

By Allen C. Guelzo

Copyright 2018

Oxford University Press

Over the years, I have read many books about the Civil War, but not nearly as many about Reconstruction. I acknowledge that I probably should learn more about the period after the war, so I have found and acquired a few books on this era. The first I decided to read is Allen Guelzo’s Reconstruction: A Concise History. 

This is a fine book, and certainly is concise, with only 130 pages, plus a timeline. Brevity, however, does not equate to quality, as this is an enjoyable and well-written introduction to the subject at hand.

This book has seven chapters and an epilogue, each almost like its own story, concentrating on a single main issue of Reconstruction. This organization is most appropriate for this book and adds to its effectiveness.

Some of the major discussions of this discussion include: Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction vs. Congressional Reconstruction, white supremacy groups resisting the federal government’s plans, U.S. Grant’s presidency, and the Supreme Court’s intrusion into Reconstruction. Infighting and political inexperience among the Republicans and even African-Americans were also factors that hindered Reconstruction from realizing its full potential.

Guelzo claims that saying “Reconstruction failed” is an oversimplification as it did have some successes, or at least half-successes, such as reuniting the nation and ending legalized slavery. He also claims it did not fail as much as it was overthrown by a combination of white Southerners and Northern Democrats. His description of this conspiracy reminded me of Abraham Lincoln’s pre-Civil War talk of a “slave power” that had conspired to spread the influence of that peculiar institution. How accurate that comparison is will be something I need to study and ponder a bit more, but I appreciate that this work brought such a question to my mind. Good books have such effects.

For anyone familiar with Reconstruction, this book can serve as a brief review of that period, but it would be more effective for those just starting to learn about the post-Civil War era and wanting to get a quick overview, perhaps with the hope of figuring out what aspects of Reconstruction might be of particular interest. It is not a long book, nor a detailed look at its subject, but those were not its purposes. It is meant as a concise look at Reconstruction and it certainly meets that goal in well-written, easy-to-read volume. I am glad to have read this book and now to recommend it to others who may want to brush up on their knowledge of this era in United States history. 

I thank Oxford University Press for providing a review copy of this book. I have done my best to be completely honest in this review