2 comments about Gray Cavalier: The Life and Wars of General William H. F. "Rooney" Lee.

1. This is a well-written biography of a reliable and capable cavalry officer. Rooney Lee was often over-shadowed by the flashier officers of the Army of Northern Virginia cavalry, including his cousin Fitzhugh Lee. However, as becomes evident from the facts of Rooney's career, he was probably a more consistent performer than Fitzhugh and was probably comparable in skill and courage under fire to Wade Hampton. His personal life is one of stoic handling of numerous tragedies. The book is pleasantly written and makes use of contemporary sources and letters, although few of those written by Rooney actually survive. Rooney Lee did not take advantage of his father's position and made his mark on the Confederacy by his ability and personality.



2. This is an excellent biography, carefully researched and documented, of a man of great character. This interesting book thoroughly explores the life of the favorite son of the South's most famous general, admired by all-- both North and South. Must reading by those interested in Southern History and American Cavalry.

4 comments about Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand (Civil War in the West).

1. I could not put this book down. Having family that fought on both sides in Southeast Missouri during the Civil War this book gave insights to the thinking on both sides.



2. A reprint of the original 1870 Autobiography, it has been reproduced in various formats the last couple decades. Ross has however, for the first time, edited the work that was written for Sam Hildebrand by boyhood friends, James W. Evans and A. Wendell Keith. For the most part, the 172 pages of text is as it was originally compiled. This is followed by endnotes of 90 pages with a bibliography and index. The true value of the book is in the endnotes.
   
   Ross has skillfully researched and compared Hildebrand's claimed exploits with actual military data to prove statements in the Autobigraphy. He has used many obscure sources and obviously contributed much thought into proving the bushwhacker's tales written five years after the War. Hildebrand was not shy in his statements regarding the men he killed and why they met such a fate. Credit is due the author for his research into Missouri's Enrolled Militia units, Hildebrand's most frequent foe, as most writers do not have the tenacity to tackle this very difficult research.
   
   A less researched area is the genealogy aspects of the story. Unfortunately, Hildebrand was not more candid about his family history while it has always held an interest to the genealogist
   and casual reader who may claim a kinship to him. The author could have explored Hildebrand and others' genealogy without too much trouble. Some errors exist in not thoroughly scouring local probate, census and land records. Another drawback is the criticism of others' research, which may be valid but takes away from the main theme of the book---that is editing Hildebrand's version of his Civil War.
   
   In conclusion, a very desirable book for the history on Southeast Missouri during the Civil War.



3. Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand: The Renowned Missouri Bushwhacker, deftly edited by journalist and historian Kirby Ross offers an insightful look into the conflicted life of the Civil War guerrilla fighter Samuel S. Hidebrand. As an informative and ably researched interpretation and competently editing of the original memoir, Kirby Ross variably adds key bits of information relevant to our understanding of a Civil War soldier's intricate life. The Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand is highly recommended reading for scholars, historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Civil War Studies.



4. Although figures such as William C. Quantrill and Bill Anderson are better known today, Sam Hildebrand was an equally notorious Missouri bushwhacker in the southeast region of the state. Operating with a small group of followers (and often by himself), Hildebrand and his rifle "Kill-Devil" were a terror to local Unionist civilians, Vigilance Committee members, and pro-Union Missouri militiamen. Interesingly, some of his ops seem more akin to a Marine scout sniper (albeit alone rather than with a spotter) than a CW bushwhacker. He often scouted alone far from friendly refuge, lying in the woods for days seeking an opportunity to bag his quarry. Hildebrand managed to survive the war only to be killed attempting to escape from court officers holding him on assault charges.
   
   Most 'authors' of edited memoirs simply add background information or short chapters intended to place the memoir in its proper historical context. Here, Kirby Ross has gone far beyond this and has created a book that should be a model for others to follow. It is really two books in one--the memoir and the notes. What makes this new edition important to the study of the Civil War in SE Missouri are the exhaustive notes researched and compiled by Ross. In his notes (which comprise nearly half the book) he takes the claims made by Hildebrand in his book and examines their validity using evidence from all available viewpoints. It is not unusual to see the author spend several pages on a single citation, providing extensive background context and excerpting articles, military reports, and letters from all sides that either support or contradict Hildebrand's story.
   
   It is an impressive effort and is an exceptional addition to the literature of the war in SE Missouri, a place that today carries the deserved reputation of being associated with a dearth of serious scholarship. Ross is certainly doing his part to reverse this unfortunate trend. Highly recommended.

2 comments about General William J. Hardee: Old Reliable (Southern Biography Series).

1. I feel that this biography was good, but not great. It could have been a bit longer and shed more light on Hardee after the Civil War for one thing. But overall I think the biography did a "reliable" job. Hardee's impressive Civil War career was handled very well I thought. Hughes focuses almost entirely on this and you can't help but wonder what might have happened if Hardee had been placed in command of the Army of Tennessee instead of Hood.........or if Hardee had accepted permanant command after Bragg resigned. When I think of Hardee I think of Longstreet, both seemed to be the good reliable corps commanders that could be counted on in their respected armies, but neither were able to reach the level of a Jackson, Thomas, or Hancock as corps commanders.



2. Hughes' biography of Hardee is not unlike its subject: competent, professional, and unspectacular. The focus is appropriately on Hardee's Civil War career. The post-war years receive especially light treatment. Hughes does an excellent job of assessing Hardee's performance during each campaign and battle. To his great credit, he is more inclined than most biographers to be critical of his subject when warranted. Hardee's personality emerges less vividly from the book than we might wish. Perhaps this is due to a lack of insightful source material, or to the fact that Hardee himself lacked the charisma to be an ideal subject. Whatever the reason, you won't find Hardee particularly likeable or loathesome, but you will learn a lot about his role in the Civil War.

3 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Legacy of Lincoln (The Complete Idiot's Guide).

1. This "Idiot's guide" seems random adn disjointed. Not worth while to purchase if Lincoln facts in context are your goal.



2. Even if you think you know all there is to know about Lincoln, this book will contain many revelations. It is way more than a history book. The author thoroughly examines Lincoln's life and analyzes his lasting legacy. I found it very intriguing to learn what a profound effect Lincoln had on the country (and the world) long after his death -- even up to our present times.
   
   This is definitely an engrossing story for readers of all ages.



3. Abraham Lincoln lived more than 100 years ago, but his story is still relevant in our modern world. Lincoln didn't have his success handed to him; he had to go out and earn it, and there were plenty of twists and turns along the way. This rags-to-riches story is something we can all learn from and incorporate into our own lives.
   
   The Legacy of Lincoln takes us from Lincoln's humble beginnings in a small cabin in Kentucky to his presidency and tragic end in 1865. So much of what he accomplished is still felt in our society today. All of these had their beginnings in the Lincoln administration: The Homestead Act, Land Grant Colleges, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the transcontinental railroad, the abolishment of slavery, and much more. Here is a man who truly had the best interest of the American people at heart, and he was willing to fight for the rights and freedoms of ALL people -- rights and freedoms we hold so dear today.
   
   The book also provides extra tidbits such as Lincoln quotes and speeches, trivia, anecdotes, and common misconceptions and myths.
   
   Many thanks to author Pamela Oldham for such an insightful look at both the public and private life of Abraham Lincoln. This book is very readable and gives us a wonderful overview of the man whose life still reverberates in our culture today. It's the perfect book for students first learning about Lincoln, as well as adults wishing to learn more.

3 comments about Lay My Burden Down: A Folk History of Slavery.

1. Editor and compiler B. A. Botkin wrote the first of its kind comiliaton of the over 3000 interviews of ex-enslaved African Americans done by the WPA in the 1930s. As the subtitle suggests, he provides "A Folk History of Slavery." Read excerpts from first hand accounts of the horrors of slavery and of the remarkable resilience of the enslaved. For a more detailed compilation (those contained here are brief snippets) consider Blassingame's "Slave Testimony").
   
   Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction." He has also authored "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and the forthcoming "Sacred Friendships: Listening to the Voices of Women Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors."



2. I read "Lay My Burden Down" by B.A. Botkin, almost forty years ago. Botkin's collection of these narrative is indeed a national resource. It's a great book for researches of American History. People of every ethnicity should read this book. These narratives so confirmed the slave stories passed down from my great grandparents when I was a child, that I was overwhelmed for a while. The ex-slaves spoke freely about what freedom meant to them. Moreover, they spoke about how the lack of freedom made thier lives a living hell. The first portion of narratives illustrate that nothing, not even slavery can blot out humor or the opportunity to find joy in some aspect of life. One felt like rejoicing when slaves excaped thier horrific exsistence. Then, there was lasting sorrow tinged with hope for the ones who were not freed until the end of slavery in 1965 or a few years after.



3. A friend of mine once described slave narratives as the equivalent of the library of a foreign culture. Reading one is embarrassingly simplistic. Consider Botkin's book a whirlwind tour. Although I believe every American should be exposed to these narratives (above and beyond the historical representations from textbooks), the stories in Lay My Burden Down are so powerful, so full of intensity, I gave the book 4 stars because it is almost brutal in its power. The humor of the first sections soon fades, and the grim truths of slavery become more and more difficult to face. Proceed, but with caution.

1 comments about From Rail-Splitter to Icon: Lincoln's Image in Illustrated Periodicals, 1860-1865.

1. From Rail-Splitter to Icon is a unique and fascinating contribution to our understanding of how Lincoln was judged by the press, both here, North and South, and abroad. Through dogged and meticulous research, Bunker has combed the country for magazines largely judged ephemeral at the time but that now loom large in our understanding of popular culture -- those that featured humor and political cartoons. In this handsome book, he assesses their content and pictures nearly 200 of the Lincoln images under discussion, most of which have never been reprinted. Bunker's book easily surpasses all of the other books devoted to Lincoln in caricature [Walsh. Lincoln and the London Punch (1909); Shaw. A Cartoon History of Abraham Lincoln (1930) (which ends inexplicably in 1861); and Rockwell. Lincoln in Caricature (1946) (which is a book of plates with extended captions)] because Bunker's survey of the field is comprehensive, when the others were selective, and his historical analysis is fully informed by several generations of important Lincoln scholarship. This groundbreaking book is surely a candidate for awards. Highly recommended.

2 comments about The Wartime Papers Of Robert E. Lee (Da Capo Paperback).

1. A great source for data reflecting the personal life and values of Lee. Interesting to see the differences in the way he addresses those close to him as opposed to a generally non supportive cast of characters above him.



2. What a thrill for students of the Confederacy! "Marse Robert's" own words come to life in his letters and dispatches of the war years! The editors do a masterful job of beginning each chapter/section with a framing sequence, followed by the respective text of key "papers" written by Genl Lee. From simplistic "love-letters" to his wife, to stratagems dispatched to Jackson, Johnston, Ewell, et. al., the reader is given first hand insights to the personality and thought-processes of the CSA's dominant figure.
   On a structural note, the book is set in somewhat small print. A handful of maps are offered. At 900-plus pages, I'd suggest this book for (obviously!) serious students of the war or Genl Lee. Perhaps one should first digest on of the many biographies of R. E. Lee before attacking this Bible-sized epic.

5 comments about Trailblazers: Twenty Amazing Western Women (The Great American Women Series).

1. These vibrant stories of such phenomenal women who Dared to be Different and accomplished such awesome feats against so much adversity will inspire you to reach higher goals, regardless of any obstacles of the times! These outstanding women are incredible to study and this book is an excellent volume of heroism and unique personalities! Kudos!



2. This is a great read about 20 remarkable western women of whom some you will know and others you will meet for the first time. From Sacagawea who accompanied Lewis & Clark, Georgia O'Keefe, a revolutionary in the art world to Sandra Day O'Conner, the first woman on the Supreme Court Justice, these snapshots demonstrate the tenacity and inspiration that guided these women to design their own lives. An excellent read that will inspire you to look deeper into the lives of these amazing women who helped shape the American West.



3. A great book for learning more about women who made a difference in the frontier and later days of the West. Some subjects were familiar to me while others were completely new.
   The author organizes her information in a easily read, informative manner. Each subject was well researched.
   A good read!!



4. Trailblazers-Twenty Amazing Western Women was a fantastic book which I have already given to several friends, who are or have gone through some "rough times" in their own lives, and have thanked me for this book as it is inspirational and a comfort.
   I hope it will be used in schools for teen-age girls, and in classes all over for women who seem to need stories of other women and what all they have been through and gotten through.

   I would highly recommend this book and plan to give it to others for Christmas presents too. It is nice to have a story to read every night before going to bed, or if you just have a few minutes to devote to a story.

   Highly enlightening. I loved it!




5. This is a terrific look at women who have shaped our country's growth and direction but are always left out of those mythical History classes we have in school. There are some familiar names as well as the names of aviation pioneers and other modern unsung heroines. Each chapter is a delightful short story that has obviously been well researched. Worth the read for women and men, a must for every young girl.

No comments about I Hope to Do My Country Service: The Civil War Letters of John Bennitt, M.D., Surgeon, 19th Michigan Infantry (Great Lakes Books).

5 comments about Lincoln's War: The Untold Story of America's Greatest President as Commander in Chief.

1. Written in a clean, clear style, Lincoln's War describes Abraham Lincoln from the perspective of Commander in Chief. Although most of the "big story" has been told numerous times, Perret keeps his narrative interesting by peppering his recounting with numerous factoids and quotes that I had never encountered previously. (After reading other Amazon reviews, I now question them.)
   
   Perret portrays Lincoln as someone who grew in office until he became an effective commander in chief. Lincoln did gain military knowledge and confidence as the war progressed, but the political skills that he brought to the office of the presidency gave him the wherewithal to be not just a good war president, but to be an exceptional civil war president. More than other wars, a civil war is a political conflict and with the capitol surrounded and embedded with Confederate sympathizers, it took great skill to hold things together until the generals could prosecute the war.
   
   I also found the Table of Contents to be expertly compiled. Whenever I wanted to look ahead or behind, I was able to quickly find the material I was looking for.
   
   The Shut Mouth Society
   The Shopkeeper



2. Historian and author Geoffrey Perret has succeeded in writing yet another brilliant book!
   
   This work brings together one of my favorite military historians and my favorite President. Perret can always be counted on to write great history. His works are always well written, researched and compelling.
   
   In "Lincoln's War" Perret shows how Lincoln seized war powers, reserved for Congress by the Constituation, and made them his own. By the end of the war, the President evolved into an effective Commander and Chief who controlled all aspects of national strategy - political, economic, military and even informational - in his hands. The President was driven, as no other American politician was, to first preserve the Union and then to abolish Slavery throughout the United States.
   
   Lincoln succeeded in both, due mostly to his talents as Commander and Chief and the backing of the Union Army. As a result, the modern Presidency owes its war powers to Abraham Lincoln.
   
   This is truly a great read!



3. Despite some of the previous reviews. My husband is thoroughly enjoying this book. He is a Civil War buff and says that this book is tying together much of what he has read in the past regarding the Civil War.



4. I found this a very moving account of Lincoln's presidency which focused
   on his wartime decisions and his relationships with his cabinet, generals, soldiers in the field, and more. For a longtime reader of books on Lincoln and the Civil War it brought several new insights and anecdotes. The author obviously did a great amount of research into correspondence of the time, newspapers, diaries, etc. He is obviously well read in his subject because he doesn't repeat the accounts offered so often in other works.
   
   I don't understand the many uncharitable reviews here of this book, and the poor rating. It sounds like part professional jealousy from other historians, part just plain churlishness. It may be that the title has attracted statistical students of troop movements, constitutional law analysts, who may well find some factual mistakes. Certainly there are NOT errors on every page, poor man!
   
   A very astute, even astonishing work from a learned writer (who sent me quite often to my dictionary) who has not forgotten how to feel.



5. Geoffrey Perret's _Lincoln's War: The Untold Story of America's Greatest President as Commander in Chief_ tells the story of Lincoln's presidency in a readable, entertaining style. As a prelude to Lincoln's presidency, the early chapters describe Lincoln's formative experiences first as a volunteer soldier during the Black Hawk War, then as a successful country lawyer, and finally as a Illinois Congressman. Establishing this background, the biography develops the following thesis: Lincoln's presidency defined our understanding of the scope of the modern executive branch, extending executive power and, to some extent, inventing the role of Commander in Chief in order to defeat the South's insurrection.
   
   Perret portrays Lincoln's humanity and, in particular, his deep affection for the Union soldiers, who looked upon him with reverence even during the most troubled days in the Civil War. Perret also focuses on Lincoln's day-to-day involvement with the military campaign itself, including battlefield visits when Lincoln placed his own safety in risk. Lincoln's studious, perspicacious interest in the new technologies of warfare is a major theme. Perret argues, for example, that Lincoln's personal requisition of multi-loading carbines for a sharp-shooter brigade may have saved Washington, DC, at Fort Matthews, during a Confederate assault in the middle of the war. Throughout the book, Perret chronicles Lincoln's vexations with the commanding generals in the Army of the Potomac prior to Ullyses Grant's accession.
   
   While concentrating on these themes, Perret conveys a sense of the desperation that Lincoln felt during the war and the precariousness of the Union's preservation, especially in the early years. Far from idealizing Lincoln, as the title of Perret's biography might suggest, we see his flaws as well, which make him an ever more impressive historical figure. For instance, Winfield Scott, the aging Commander of U.S. forces at the outset of the war, argued for a strategy of slowly dividing the Confederacy--cutting off supply and communication lines--rather than the quick capture of Richmond. Scott's plan was, in fact, how the Confederacy was ultimately defeated despite the fact that much of Lincoln's attention, from 1861 onward, remained on the Northern Virginia campaign and rapidly seizing Richmond.
   
   A number of reviewers have pointed out the historical inaccuracies in this account and allude to James McPherson's critical review of the biography. I can imagine how for a reader with a detailed knowledge of the Civil War these errors could be quite distracting and/or exasperating. Because I am not an expert on the Civil War or the specifics of military history, much of the book refreshed my memory of the U.S. history that I learned in high school. This was quite enjoyable. My own belief is that a general reader, like myself, still can profit from this book, despite its faults, and likely will not be seriously mislead about the broad historical picture.