1 comments about Rutherford B. Hayes: One of the Good Colonels (Civil War Campaigns & Commanders).

1. This book is another well done look at Rutherford B. Hayes by Dr. Ari Hoogenboom. In this volume the author tells the story of Hayes' Civil War experiences.

   Before joining up Hayes was not enthused about the War. But as a soldier he quickly became convinced of the value of his mission. By the end of 1861 he had come to see the war as "a crusade against slavery."

   Hayes started out as a major in the 23rd Regiment of Ohio Volunteers. He soon rose to colonel. By the end of the war he was a general. He served four years in all (1861-1865). Hayes last battle was in October, 1864. While still on active duty the voters of Cincinnati elected him to Congress.

   Hayes' war action was mostly in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. William McKinley stated that when Hayes was in battle he was "intense and ferocious." He was wounded five times in action but maintained his enthusiasm for being a soldier. He proved himself a capable officer who earned the respect of his men. He often defeated the enemy and helped achieve ultimate Union victory.

   Hayes had the luxury of seeing his family several times during the War. He wrote numerous letters home and kept a diary. These writings proved invaluable sources for this book.

   This book provides numerous detailed maps of the battles which Hayes fought in. There are also several bios given of the various generals Hayes served under or against.

   Dr. Hoogenboom clearly understood Rutherford B. Hayes and described him accurately. The reader gets a clear picture of the 19th President before he attained that office.

2 comments about Whatever You Resolve to Be: Essays on Stonewall Jackson.

1. Beware the publication date!
   These essays are really from 1992, not 2005, and they have not been revised to take into account recent scholarship.



2. A. Wilson Greene has had a long professional association
   with Stonewall Jackson with his many years as a historian with the national park service in Fredericksburg. His 2005 book is an updated version of his 1992 book by the same name. His book is broken into five essays discussing Jackson the mortal man, Jackson's controversial role during the seven days, his defense against Meade at Fredericksburg, his greatest moment (author's opinion)at 2nd Manasas and a final evaluation of Jackson as a general. Greene is very much an admirer of Jackson but he is reasonably objective. Greene writes fluidly and is noted for his scholarsahip and research abilities. The most fascinating essay is Jackson's role at the Seven Days battles where he seemed often late or lethargic. Greene offers insight to Jackson's confusing directions issued to him, confouding maps and guides and orders. At Savage Station, Greene notes that Jackson did not aid Magruder's attack because Lee ordered Jackson to stay in position expecting a Union retreat to White House not realizing that McClellan changed base. Jackson's inaction at Glendale is still hard to fathom but may be due to exhaustion or being ill as Greene indicates. A real bonus in this book is Greene's review of all the literature written on Jackson and his own summaries appraising their content. In addition, his exhaustive detailed notes on his own essays in this section provides interesting bits of fact sometimes correcting minor details of his earlier work. A highly readable and interestong look at 'Old Jack". Greene currently is Executive Director of Pamplin Park: The Musuem of The Civil War Soldier, which is the preserved site of the Petersburg union breakthrough. The park features a great musuem, fantastic spring tours and great symposiums featuring the best CW historians.

1 comments about A Rebel's Recollections.

1. Eggleston writes in an amusing, subtly ironic style; the editor of the edition I read completely missed the irony but it's there. He describes pre-war Virginia society, not without some affectionate mockery, and gives sketches of people he knew during the war, from generals to the conscripts in his unit who enlisted out of a Richmond prison. His portrayal of General Stuart is quite good and his portrayal of General Jackson isn't so good. The ex-prisoner Baltimore Irishmen in the battery of which Eggleston was sergeant major are very humorously described. He was present at the siege of Petersburg and talks a little about that as well as about the retreat to Appomattox and the post-war state of lawlessness in the countryside. This doesn't contain much in the way of gory battle scenes but is an amusing and interesting read.

No comments about To Battle for God and the Right: The Civil War Letterbooks of Emerson Opdycke.

2 comments about An Irishman in the Iron Brigade: The Civil War Memoirs of James P. Sullivan (Irish in the Civil War Ser. 3).

1. I must say I was thrilled to come across this book here. James Patrick Sullivan was my great-great grandfather and I knew little about my ancestors before. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a glimpse of a soldier's recollections of the War Between the States.



2. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book for me, as I am the great-granddaughter of Mickey Sullivan, or "JP" as we Sullivans call him. I read this book before visiting Gettysburg and so was able to retrace his steps. Gettysburg has an surreal quality about it and still seems alive with the spirits of those who fought there. JP was fortunate to come home from that war. Books such as these that speak with the actual words of the soldiers help you to understand the times and the feelings of those who fought there.

   Lance Herdegen brought my great-grandfather to life for me - an opportunity I would never have experienced if this book had not been written. I have also listened to Mr. Herdegen speak, telling stories about the Civil War, about the "Western" soldiers from Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Native Americans, who enlisted as "French-Canadians" since as native americans they were considered at that time to be "foreign" peoples...how incredible that seems to us now.

   The Civil War will long hold interest and mystery. I think you will enjoy this book, as well as the others written by Lance Herdegen. He is a great authority on the Civil War

2 comments about Bound to Be a Soldier: The Letters of Private James T. Miller, 111th Pennsylvania Infantry, 1861-1864 (Voices of the Civil War Series.).

1. In this era of media hype and historical revisionism for political correctness it is a relief to review orginal sources for an insight to history. Our understanding of events like the Civil War is sharpened by the observations of participants. Though lacking in formal education James T. Miller of Pennsylvania joined the Union Army and through his letters the reader is thrust into the Civil War from the vantage point not of generals but the ordinary soldier caught up in the events of his time offering honest reflections of his fellow soldiers, officers, and the members of his own family. His opinions expressed in the rough hewn and stilted language of the period gives the reader an authentic taste of a time in our history often blurred in romanticism. Those who seek to understand the why and significance of events should begin with the words of its participants and there is no better place to begin this civil war journey than with the words of Private James Miller augmented by the excellent footnoting of the editors.



2. This amazing book puts you right into the thick of the Civil War from the standpoint of real letters written by a 31-year old Pennsylvania Union Army soldier named James T. Miller. His thoughts and strong feelings come alive as you read these letters, and you get the feeling that you are with him, listening to him tell you personally what he is experiencing and thinking.

   He not only tells of his personal war experiences but also of how he felt about being away from his family and how other young men from his home town found ways to avoid serving in the Union cause.

   Do keep your fingers located at the footnote explanations for each chapter, for the footnotes are almost a book in themselves. They add tremendously to the information in each letter and give the reader a complete picture of what was going on in the context of the letter.

   Other Civil War books discuss strategies, tactics, weaponry, etc., but this book is about how one Union soldier gets through each day and what he is thinking about.

   This is a must-read for anyone who is looking for the personal side of the Civil War. I suggest that you read this book slowly as you would read a personal letter out loud to members of your family. You won't be able to put it down.

No comments about Benjamin Harrison: Centennial President (First Men America's Presidents Series).

No comments about A Yankee Spy in Richmond: The Civil War Diary of "Crazy Bet" Van Lew.

No comments about Wartime Washington: The Civil War Letters of Elizabeth Blair Lee.

No comments about Stonewall Jackson: Spirit of the South (Cobblestone the Civil War).