4 comments about The Making of a Confederate: Walter Lenoir's Civil War (New Narratives in American History).

1. I'm astonished that a previous reviewer attacked the book because the author does not approve of slave owning. He doesn't. Who does? Neither did the Lenoir family members, who did own slaves. William Barney carefully shows how Walter Lenoir himself hated to punish his slaves but did it anyway to set an example for the other slaves, and how Lenoir like many other Southerners of his time, despised slavery but depended on it. To him, it was evil but necessary. The war itself and its aftermath is what turned Lenoir into a confederate, and Barney traces that change in thought and attitude subtly in clear,enjoyable prose. The book is a beautiful portrait to a troubled and in many ways admirable man and his times.



2. This small book intelligently uses the letters and records of Walter Lenoir to explain the impact of the Civil War and its aftermath in the western mountains of North Carolina. It also illustrates that support for slavery and secession wasn't universal even among slave-owning elites such as Lenoir, but that Lincoln's call for troops drove Lenoir and others like him into the position of defending their state and the South, while their experiences of the war itself made them confederates thereafter. The author's own values can sometimes intrude too much, but that aside this is a well-written and insightful biography. If, like me, you are interested in the civil war's impact on the southern population and/or interested in western North Carolina, you will enjoy this easy-to-read book



3. The Making of a Confederate: Walter Lenoir's Civil War (New Narratives in American History)
   
   Good Read, but upon finishing the Introduction I became fully aware that the author was very much against any Southern slave owner identified in his research. You have to watch or he sneaks in his little jabs of self righteous contempt regarding the punishments given to the slaves of the subject family so very long ago.
   
   Of course, being a Professor of History at the University of North Carolina it was to be expected!
   
   Research appeared excellent for the subject matter.



4. I really enjoyed this book.Although it teaches us much about history, it is well written and reads like a novel.
   I must admit that Walter Lenoir is an ancestor of mine but I still highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning and reading about the Civil war.
   It is a EXCELLENT book!!!
   Kudos to the author.

5 comments about Major Conflict: One Gay Man's Life in the Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell Military.

1. I really enjoyed reading this book and admire the author's courage and tenacity. Definitely highly recommend this book.



2. Well-written, engaging memoir of a dedicated soldier torn between love and service to country and the enormous obstacle to that service, known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). Mcgowan's inner turmoil over his commitment to military service and his awareness of homosexual desire is wrenching. Such existential dilemmas are often difficult to imagine, because sexual identity so easily trumps professional ones. But Mcgowan saw his military identity just as vividly as he saw his gay one to the point of suppressing the latter for the former. I think many of us perceive one's sexual persona as paramount, that it's often difficult to empathize with those who would compromise it for any reason, much less for a military career in which others' hostility to that persona can be virulent. That a dilemma could arise seems challenging enough, but clearly it did for Mcgowan, and the conflict is palpable throughout the book. (I have a new appreciation for gays in the priesthood.)
   
   Faced with the same situation, it's easy to dismiss this conflict as exaggerated. E.g., when I was in the Navy, I refused to compromise, told all, and pleasantly served until honorably discharged. But that was over thirty years ago. Clearly, DADT has placed a pall over military service that has become significantly more hostile and intense, and while my commitment to military service was always a waystation, clearly it was literally a way of life for Mcgowan. His service and sexuality tore equally at his dual core identities, and because of DADT, it became increasingly more painful year after year, grade increase after grade, love after love, until something had to give. The reader can't help but feel his pain. (cf., Sarte's "No Exit.")
   
   Most of us know the disasterous consequences of such a policy (e.g., terminations at Monterey of Arabic-speaking gays), but here we see vividly the human agony of such nonsense. And perhaps the most disturbing feature of Mcgowan's experience is why one's sexual orientation matters at all. Many scream "homophobia," but he endured it. I experienced nothing of the kind. My "loss" to the military didn't amount to a hill of beans, but here is a career officer with an exemplary skills and stellar performance in the upper echelons of the military hierarchy, and the only issue is over his same-sex attraction? We have retrogressed and become amazingly petty!
   
   Everyone will benefit from this book. Polity is often a prescription for unintended consequences, and DADT's consequences have been of an inordinate magnitude. Here's a perfect example of it. Conservatives, military personnel, moderates, liberals, policy-makers, and (maybe) the far-left can learn from Mcgowan's experience and his consequences. May his new life and this expose give him consolation. He's earned it!



3. Jeffrey McGowan's work is a well-written account of a gay soldier's precarious position in the US military. McGowan is a true officer and gentleman. This is no "kiss and tell" memoir filled with scenes of rampant sexual escapades; instead, it is a thoughtful description of one gay man's attempt to survive in an institution that routinely purges gay persons. His story should strike a chord with other persons who, for one reason or another, find themselves struggling with a similar double-life reality.



4. Jeff McGowan wrote this autobiography-critique directly from the heart. He is proud of his military service, but angered that he had to jump through so many hoops to conceal himself. When being fired upon, is their colleague's sex lives really a preoccupation of soldiers?
   
   McGowan openly says that the Army continued to hound soldiers who were suspected of being gay. His personal experiences match up with the statistical research done by Washington, D.C.-based advocacy groups. "Don't ask don't tell" actually encouraged the Pentagon to increase their witch hunts. This was time and energy which could have been spent guarding the country against attack.
   
   I've read other accounts about failures of the 'don't ask don't tell' policy, but appreciated his frank candor. McGowan describes how duplicity is much more damaging to the individual solider, and the entire armed forces. The climate of paranoia increases the intense stress which people are already feeling in a combat situation.
   
   Our country continues to have embarrassing contradictions between `support the troops' and this long-outdated policy. It only increases the psychological stress which people are under in battle and removes the potentially best solider from the battlefield, only because of sexuality.
   
   I feel that his participation in the Persian Gulf and then a marriage ceremony makes this account especially realistic for contemporary audiences. McGowan's book isn't the first and it's not likely to be the last, but the intensely personal writing about very current events makes it so much more powerful.



5. This book is a very heartfelt account of the life of one gay US soldier. It spans roughly two decades: it starts with McGowan's time in the ROTC and goes up to his promotion to Major and his choice to leave the army (with a short epilogue on McGowan's life after the military and his marriage in New Paltz).
   I think the book portrays very well the enormous difficulties and the psychological tolls that gay soldiers have to go through in order to continue to serve. Part of the McGowan's service was under the so-called "don't ask, don't tell", part of it was under the previous regime. The book led me to conclude that from a practical point of view there is hardly any difference between the "don't ask, don't tell" and the regime in which gay people were simply excluded: both regimes require gay US soldiers not have a life. It is amazing how pervasive the effects of "don't ask, don't tell" are, how intrusive they are in the everyday life of the soldiers. The book exemplifies how gay soldiers are forced by the policy to lie: they are forced to lie to straight soldier and they are forced to lie to one another because they have no way of being sure whether the other is gay. They can't go to gay bars because if they are seen they are discharged. They can't communicate with their partner openly, even via letter, because it is too risky. McGowan's book shows how "don't ask, don't tell" makes it almost impossible for gay US soldiers to have a life.
   
   The book is moving in many parts; I really came to empathize with Major McGowan. I was also surprised by how full of events his life was.
   
   I also want to note that the book is quite well written. The book would benefit from more editing, but the narrative is really compelling and heartfelt.
   I read the book twice in a row.

5 comments about The Victors: Eisenhower and His Boys The Men of World War II.

1. A point of view seldom seen: the kids in the field who had to grow up very quickly. With a strong sense of duty and honor they lived up to their moniker, The Greatest Generation.



2. Unlike his other works, DDay, Band of Brothers and Citizen Soldiers, which cover specific elements of the European theater, The Victors tries to cover the period from DDay through the fall of Germany. As always, Ambrose demonstrated why he was one of the best story tellers. Unfortunately, as his preface pointed out, this was put together from the research he had done on his other books.
   
   If you are familiar with the three books mentioned in above, you will find a lot of overlap. I am sure he did some more original research for this, but the overall premise is very similar.
   
   The over-arching theme of the Victors is that the allied success was due to the flexibility of the US troops, in particular the LTs and other NCO's, and the regular soldiers. Their determination and ability to adapt to the changing situations on the ground, the antithesis of the Germans, was what helped carry the war in the favor of the allies. He also spends the beginning of the book on Eisenhower. Ike is the other piece of the puzzle that, despite some mistakes and flaws, he credits with putting together the largest military campaign in history - Operation Overlord.
   
   The only real criticism I would have is that the story line was somewhat disjointed. Stories are told seemingly for the sake of telling them, rather than having a real purpose. But I can overlook that since there is a lot of first person accounts that give the war a very human touch. And the stories you read about, make it very worthwhile.
   
   Aside from that, it was an entertaining read, just like all of his other books. His admiration for the courage of that generation is clear. And his talent for telling a story certainly shines through. If you are interested in more detail, I would recommend reading DDay, Citizen Soldiers and Band of Brothers first. If you are simply looking to pass the time on the train, as I was, you will find the time passing along much more quickly.
   
   I purchased the book at the Newark Penn Station Bookstore. I recommend the bookstore and the book.



3. From the very beginning of the book I was enticed. I thought it was very well written and an enjoyable read. It includes stories and things I would have never expected. I thought the relationship between Marshall and Eisenhower was most interesting. I had not learned much about Marshall and Eisenhower's personalities. They were opposites yet worked very well together. Their relationship was based on trust. It is inspirational to hear of all that our soldiers went through during World War II. As someone looking back it helped me to better understand what went on and what the soldiers experienced first hand. I thought "The Victors" was a wonderful book and spanned over a good period of time. I would highly recommend it to others as a World War II informative book.



4. This covers the European theater from D day to the end.
   The futile battles of the Hurtgen forest are documented. A waste of men for nothing. We gave up our advantages of air power and tanks to fight in an impenatrable forest.
   What struck me over and over, was what the men fighting endured.
   The supply situation was what is was always in the military. Those in the rear get the gear. Those doing the fighting get the remains.
   In the battle of the Hurtgen forest, during a visit by Ike, a company of Rangers complained to Ike about the lack of cold weather gear. He got the Rangers cold weather gear, but not the other thousands of men doing the fighting.
   The same applied in the battle of the Bulge. The people in the rear out of the line of fire had waterproof, warm boots, and huge overcoats to keep warm. Those doing the fighting had summer uniforms, leather boots, and had to fight without benefit of fire to keep them warm, or get their food warm. The result was thousands of men with trench foot. The men went hungry a lot of the time due to impassible roads, so food supplies could not be brought up.
   The men who endured this were heros.
   Ike was the first to realize what Hitler was up to when the Battle of the Bulge started, and got Patton moving on a counterattack plan immediately, which succeeded.
   Thanks to Steve Ambrose, the suffering of the men who did the fighting is documented.



5. I have read most of the books by Ambrose and the material in The Victors is covered better in his other works. It isn;t bad, but the only reader who might find it interesting is someone who was looking to get into Ambrose's WWII works. Anyone else but the completists will probably not enjoy this book.

No comments about South Pacific at Seventeen : USS Cofer (APD-62) World War II.

5 comments about The Age of Napoleon (Modern Library Chronicles).

1. This is a good book about Napoleon the man. Alistair Horne is a supreme writer. He covers the good in Napoleon, but balances it with his shortcommings. He illustrates the influence Napoleon had back then and the impact he has on our lives today. This is an excellent book about the complex life of one of history outstanding figures.



2. Horne's pithy little book is certainly not a good introduction to Napoleon the man, general, or emperor, nor a comprehensive history text on France. It is, however, a valuable collection of his most lasting and significant policies, ambitions, whims, excesses, successes, and failures.
   
   Horne writes with the facile hand of an expert in his element, yet this book will certainly prove most valuable to the casual rather than novice or advanced scholar of Napoleonic France. It covers his rise to fame, deceptively humble power-grab, impressive reformist tendencies and initiatives, his staid morality contrasting personal hypocrisy, as well as Napoleon's creation of a new and (at least in theory) merit-based aristocracy, as well as the advent of modern French culture. Colorful episodes featuring his beloved Josephine as well as other flames and vixens are recounted.
   
   This will be a nice addition to a Francophile shelf, but only a sketchy entry text for the curious.



3. For those seeking a biography of the man or his military accomplishments, this book does not fit the bill. Horne focuses on the political, economic, artistic, and scientific accomplishments of Napoleon and the Napoleonic Regime. So this book focuses on an area not covered by most authors. Since Napoleon is a topic that many authors have attempted, Horne focuses on an area not usually written about. Napoleon changed a lot in France, and Horne outlines both his accomplishments (Code of Napoleon for law, and scientific research) and his failures (theater, opera, and literature).
   This is not an easy read, despite its brevity. It is a read that will enlighten a Napoleonic historian. However, the subjects and concepts are more difficult to understand than the
   military victories.



4. Engaging and informative, Horne manages to present his vast knowledge of Napoleon and his age in an almost conversational tone that-while full of rich historical detail-manages to be scholarly, riveting and often quite humorous. For example, in addition to learn about the numerous ways Napoleon's two decade rule transformed Europe, we learn that his wife and Empress Josephine's wardrobe contained 666 winter dresses, 230 summer ones and only two pair of knickers. If one wishes for a direct introduction to Napoleon and his influence, The Age of Napoleon is an excellent place to start.



5. This newest addition to the Modern Library Chronicles series is not a history of Napoleon but a snapshot into this time in France, although by his very nature the man defines the times. For a short biography of Napoleon, take a look at Paul Johnson's slim volume and for a fuller context of Parisian history read Alistair Horne's The Seven Ages of Paris. This book, the Age of Napoleon, is Alistair Horne's examination of one of those particular ages and the man at the centre of it. The book is arranged by topics as opposed to a chronological history so basic familiarty with European history will be an advantage. The author also repeats himself, at times, as the story moves back and forth. But this book will give the reader an idea of these tumultous times and either lead them to further reading about Napoleon the man or work as a refresher to a previously read biography.

No comments about The December Ship: A Story of Lt. Colonel Ardem R. Boellner's Capture in the Philippines, Imprisonment, and Death on a World War II Japanese Hellshi.

5 comments about Lawrence: The Uncrowned King of Arabia.

1. Having read a few books about T.E.Lawrence and his own tome I found Michael Asher's book easily the most enjoyable of the lot. Any man who took the time to physically visit the routes Lawrence (claims) to have made, has something to say. A very worthwhile book.
   
   Damien in Dublin.
   
   Sands of Death: An Epic Tale of Massacre, Cannibalism, and Survival in the Sahara
   Two Against the Sahara: On Camelback from Nouakchott to the Nile



2. Whether or not you truly want to delve into the life of Lawrence of Arabia and this particular biography depends, I think, on whether you want to preserve the dynamic image of him as portrayed in the movie Lawrence of Arabia by David Lean or want to dig deeper into the eccentric world of the real T.E. Lawrence. I myself am no Lawrence scholar and have something akin to a passing interest in him as a sort of mythological figure like Wyatt Earp or Daniel Boone. This particular book was picked up randomly at a library book sale for a quarter to supplement my knowledge of T.E. Lawrence beyond the movie and to help me prepare to read his memoir Seven Pillars of Wisdom, which I've heard is quite literary and even difficult without a bit of background on Lawrence and the Arab revolt.
   
   As a writer and a scholar, Asher is reasonably capable and has adequate credentials to tell his tale. What has been mentioned in other reviews and which I'll echo here is that he unfortunately wants to interrupt the flow of Lawrence's biography by interjecting his first-person accounts of his travels around the same areas Lawrence traveled. Although this story-telling technique doesn't ruin the book, it slows down the pace and adds little if anything the reader needs or wants to know. To me, it serves as an annoying distraction. It's typical also for Asher to want to pick apart the mind of T.E. Lawrence and give some debatable theories about the motives behind Lawrence's actions. Certainly, Asher appears to do his homework and his assumptions about Lawrence seem well supported, but what is hard to take is the unequivocal nature of Asher's assertions. He himself never doubts his assumptions.
   
   However, if the reader can accept that Asher's views are valid, then the reader should also be prepared to discover that Lawrence was more than a little eccentric, something bound to undermine the beautiful myth around the man. Aside from the details given about Lawrence's truly weird need for self-debasement in the form of flagellation as well as his decision to spend his adult life after Arabia as an enlisted man in the military, what bothered me most about Lawrence as discussed by Asher was his tendency to play with facts, an inclination apparently noted by other biographers. Given the reality that reality is often subjective, I do like to know the facts as accurately as they can be reported. Apparently, Lawrence seems to have appreciated the value of propaganda and chose to exploit it to achieve his ends, which are not terribly clear. Therefore, it's hard to know the whole truth about what happened during the Arab revolt, and Asher finds numerous holes in Lawrence's story. I'm happy to report that Asher does make clear that Lawrence accomplished much of what he claims to have accomplished, so Lawrence was indeed a dynamic fellow and the right person at the right time to do what he did, but he also makes clear that there are bizarre, masochistic motives that drive Lawrence. Therefore, if you want to truly know the man behind the myth, read on. If you want to preserve a myth, watch the movie, and then read an encyclopedia for broad details about Lawrence's life and the Arab revolt.



3. I am by no means a Lawrence scholar. I picked the book up at a discount because at the time I was preparing for a deployment to Iraq and was reading everything I could on the recent history of the Middle East. I found the book well written and fascinating. Historicaly accurate? Who knows? But it was a great introduction to a Western icon closely tied with the rise of the Saudi kingdom and the current map of the Middle East. After reading this I read Lawrence's own "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" and who knows what the absolute truth was regarding Lawrence and his exploits. All I know is that this book made for a good reading. I appreciated Asher's insights into Arabic culture and customs. Certainly as we struggle to win the "hearts and minds" of the people in Iraq, any scholarship that helps us to understand how a Westerner can succesfully interact with the Arab peaple is a welcome read.



4. This is a large and invovled biography of T E Lawrence, written by an author who starts out as an admirer, and remains so to the end, though to a much lesser degree.

   Though there is a lot of information about the battles in the desert, i found this book most interesting when the author explores Lawrence's psyche and personality, and attempts (not always successfully or believably) at the truth behind the myth. He tests a lot of the claims about the great man, and mainly finds them wanting. This book is especially strong when it admits that it comes to no definate conclusion - rather, the author presents the facts as he sees them and lets the reader decide.

   This book is probably one of the better Lawrence biographies out there at the moment (though i would not say nearly the best) as it delves into the contradictions of the man and the myuth, and isn't afraid to 'pull punches' and not make excuses for the more troubling aspects of Lawrence's personality.

   I finished this book wondering why such a genius felt compelled to fabricate so much about his life, but also seeing him as more ' three-dimensional' than the common myth.




5. This book fails in many ways. The reason it gets 2 stars instead of one is that it's hard to discuss Lawrence without some fascinating things coming through.

   First, Asher makes himelf part of the biography. He discusses his own personal travels in a manner that add absolutely nothing to the reader's understanding. The final paragraph of the book begins with "I." Further, the frequency and manner in which he interjects himself in the book is highly annoying.

   Second, there are numerous factual problems with the book. At one point Asher refers to Turks shooting their rifles at Bedu who are over two miles away. Even a trained sniper with modern equipment wouldn't take that shot. Further, his description of Lt. Junor's plane crash is at odds with other accounts. Asher says the plane erupted in flames even though there are published photos of the crashed plane that show otherwise. Lastly on this point, Asher doesn't use Tunbridge's writings on Lawrence's days in the RAF as reference material. It's a surprising omission.

   Third, as other reviewers noted, Asher writes extensively about Lawrence's psyche. This would be sensible if Asher was either trained in psychology or referenced studies by those who are; unfortunately, neither is the case. Instead there are a few bibliographical references to works on psychology, but none specific to Lawrence. Asher's vehement discussion of Lawrence's mother makes the reader wonder whether the author or the subject had the greater maternal relationship issues.

   Fourth, is Asher's style, or more accurately, styles. At times he uses the contemporary jargon of British soldiers, whereas at other points he writes in a very stilted manner adding unnecessary Latin phrases to the text. His best writing is when he's providing background or contextual material such as the discussion of British military actions elsewhere in WWI.

   Lawrence was one of the most fascinating personalities of the 20th century. He deserves a much better biography.

3 comments about Through Blood & Fire: Selected Civil War Papers of Major General Joshua Chamberlain.

1. This book depicts a true American soldier. Joshua Chamberlain's letters and the narrative given by Mark Nesbitt give great insight into JLC's political, personal and military thought. It is a well organized work.



2. Mark Nesbitt does a wonderful job of organizing the personal letters of Joshua Chamberlain into an informative and enjoyable read. Through the letters, Chamberlain's motives to join the army, his accounts of battles and day-to-day affairs of a soldier's life, and his personal insights bring a new perspective on a man usually know only for his role at Gettysburg. This book allows the reader to get to know many of Chamberlain's other accomplishments in life: his family, his career, and his achievements throughout the war.



3. I am a great fan of Chamberlain, but found this book hard to digest. It is a compilation of his civil war letters strung together with a little back- ground information (that is mostly confusing, occasionally helpful). Most of the letters are quite boring and tactical in nature (If you find that interesting---sorry---you'll love it!) There are a few really good ones, however that can stand on their own and speak to the true character of the man. I cried twice while reading these, but at other times found myself dreading picking up the book. I'm glad I finished it---and it was worthwhile reading. Trulock is much better!

5 comments about First Seal.

1. A very interesting story. If you have read Rogue Warrior by Marcinko, then you should follow-up with this book. It provides insight into the mindset, at least in the early days, of the SEAL teams.
   
   Boehm was rough around the edges, to put it mildly, but was still able to get his ideas accepted. The military, as ususal, resisted the changes as they still do today.
   
   Another common element with today, is the resistance from those who have difficulty distinguishing friend from foe; "...do-gooders back in the States sent the fertilizer, along with outboard engines and other supplies to the "poor peasants" of Vietnam. The outboards became "shrimp tails" pushing sampans delivering VC supplies in the Delta. The bags of fertilizer containing sodium nitrate and sodium potassium were turned into explosives."(p. 249)
   
   Boehm was a "rogue" warrior. Amazing man, but clearly one who operated outside the norms of the military. The best parts of this book, in my opinion, were those about the Cuban missile crisis and Boehm's excursion into Cuba. Daring stuff.



2. Great book, insight into what it took to build the teams and how stupid the bureaucrats and politically minded military officers can be (not a surprise to any veteran).
   
   A must read for those who follow the Navy SEALS exploits through the years.
   
   It is also one source, all such memoirs are best understood in the context of one of many views and opinions.from the dozens of SEAL memoirs I have read, Boehm is revered by real SEAL warriors.
   
   The negative review of this book is obviously someone who served with him but was a bean counter not a warrior.



3. Having met Mr. Boehm on a personal level, he is one of the United States greatest heros.



4. This book is incredible. This seal is one of a kind and anyone who does not like this book probably needs to find a different genre to read, b.c it is one of the best out there. Truly a great book to read.



5. If you've read any of Dick Marcinko's books, you owe it to yourself to read Roy Boehm. I've read all of Dick's books. My only regret was that I was into about my third when I "discovered" Boehm thru Dick's writings. Don't make the same mistake. Start with Boehm, then read all of Dick's books. The style is different, as Boehm's is a pretty straight bio.
   I disagree with the reviewer who dismissed this as a book filled with vulgarity and historical mis-information. If you want to read about SEALs, this will give you the perspective of one of the best.

5 comments about Stonewall of the West: Patrick Cleburne and the Civil War (Modern War Studies).

1. This book focuses on one of the great division commanders in the Confederate forces in the West during the Civil War--Irish born Pat Cleburne. The book's title gives a sense of his virtues--"Stonewall of the West." His division was one of the hardest hitting units in the Army of Tennessee. This book does a nice job of exploring his life and his work during the Civil War. It is competently written and well researched.
   
   Born in Ireland, he led a hard scrabble life after the death of his father. Just short of his 18th birthday, he joined the 41st "Regiment of Foot" in the English Army. His tour of duty was not rewarding; after his departure from the military, he traveled to the United States, to settle in Helena, Arkansas.
   
   In 1860, with Abraham Lincoln's election, he chose to go with the South, the newly born Confederate States of America. He had helped organize a militia company, the "Yell Rifles." Before long, he was a brigade commander and led his brigade at Shiloh. It is clear from his experience there that he had much to learn. His performance was uneven (as was that of many other officers as they learned from experience). But he continued to grow and learn; he assumed division command and the rank of major general after the bloody battle of Murfreesboro (or Stone's River), with heavyweights such as Lt. General William Hardee advocating on his behalf (Cleburne was less senior than other candidates for division command).
   
   The book continues with a depiction of his role as division commander from there until his death at Franklin. His unit, at Chattanooga, was one of the stalwarts of the Confederate army even as other units crumbled as Thomas' forces assaulted Missionary Ridge in an almost unimaginable Union victory; he also played a critical role in organizing rear guard defenses as Bragg's dispirited army retreated from the debacle at Chattanooga.
   
   The story continues with his service under Joseph Johnson and, finally, John Bell Hood. The book does a fine job of describing his role in the Army of the Tennessee until the butchery at Franklin. The book does a good job of describing what happened at Spring Hill, when a major union force escaped a trap set by Hood. Cleburne probably could have served well as corps commander, but he was destined never to rise above division command (his advocacy of arming slaves in the Confederate army did not help his cause).
   
   All in all, a strong biography of one of the more interesting figures in the Confederate army--and one of its best fighting commanders. For those interested in Cleburne, this is a must read.



2. 
   Craig Symonds has written an excellent, full biography of Confederate general Patrick Cleburne. He opens the biography with a very dramatic account of Cleburne's last engagement, at the battle of Franklin in November 1864, where he was killed. This really sets the mood for lively chronicle that follows.
   
   Cleburne was born in Ireland in 1828 and came to the US in 1849. Although he had failed the apothecary course at Trinity College, Dublin, he began working as a druggist's clerk in Helena, AR. He also studied for the law. Appointed brigadier general after seizing the Little Rock Arsenal with his self-formed unit, the Yell Rifles, he saw action at Shiloh, Richmond, KY (where he was wounded), and Perryville. Promoted to major general, his military abilities and leadership qualities received high notice: for his brilliant and dogged defense of Ringgold Gap at Chattanooga against persistent Union attack he was formally thanked by the Confederate Congress. It was after this that he committed what is probably the most controversial act of his life: signing a petition (with 13 other officers) expressing the belief that blacks should be used as fighting men in the Southern army. Symonds discusses this incident at length, of course, and whether it was an act of bravery and foresight or one of naivete, it hurt Cleburne's reputation (he never got another promotion). Fighting under Hood, he was killed at Franklin.
   
   Symonds is an excellent writer and presents his subject with verve and great narrative skill. It's a scholarly biography, but written with the general (though interested and informed) public in mind, and not just other scholars. Worth a spot on anyone's Civil War shelf. Highly recommended.



3. Had Patrick Cleburne fought in the Army of Northern Virginia instead of the Army of Tennessee, we surely would be overwhelmed with biographies of his greatness as a general. Because he was a general officer in the Army of Tennessee - the army most Southern writers have traditionally ignored and treated as the red headed step child of the Confederacy, there are far fewer books on him than his accomplishments would seem to warrant. Fortunately, Mr. Symonds has written an excellent biography of the general which puts his impressive accomplishments into perspective and begins to give this extraordinary fighting general his due.
   The main focus of Symonds' work is on Cleburne the general, but he gives enough background of his youth in Ireland and his migration to and adoption of America as his new home to sketch what shaped his character and what motivated him to fight in the Southern cause. Cleburne emerges as an immigrant eager to assimilate and make the customs and mores of his new home his own; a man grateful for the opportunities and acceptance he received in Arkansas, and genuinely, if uncritically, committed to fighting for the cause of his adopted home.
   Symonds also addresses Cleburne's role within the morass of intrigue that plagued the command structure of the Army of Tennessee. He shows Cleburne to have been one of the anti Bragg cartel, not as a primary mover, but because of his loyalty to his friend and mentor General Hardee (a principle Bragg opponent), and perhaps even more so because of his habit of candor that showed little regard for political expediency. This was damaging to his career, and perhaps among the principle reasons why he was never promoted above division commander, despite the fact that he was the brightest shining star in the army. He likewise touches on Cleburne's remarkable plan to enlist slaves in the Confederate army - offering freedom to any man and his family who would fight for the South. While Cleburne's reasoning showed clarity and logic, his judgment in presenting the plan to his fellow Southern officers showed amazing naiveté and foolhardiness, and further damaged his hopes for promotion.
   But the reason there is a biography of Cleburne is the battles. Symonds traces them from his first minor engagements, through Shiloh, his first major battle, all the way to the final tragic, futile charge at Franklin. He shows how Cleburne's skills as a general developed; from simply a brave and bold leader without any great military skill at Shiloh, to an outstanding commander of men who creatively defended against overwhelming odds at Chattanooga, and became the armies designated rearguard, repeatedly saving it from destruction..
   Symonds biography of Cleburne is well written and engaging. It makes a good beginning in putting General Patrick Cleburne back into his rightful place in the pantheon of Southern heroes. If you are a serious student of the Civil War, you should not consider your library complete without a copy. I highly recommend it.
   
   Theo Logos



4. This is a very good book. Patrick Cleburne is my favorite civil war general, and this volume gives a very even-handed discussion of his life, from Ireland to Franklin, Tenn. In particular, it gives considerable space to his growth as a leader. The discussions of Shiloh and Franklin are very good, and understandable. The book gives attention to the General's private life, especially his tragic engagement to Miss Tarleton. In depth but not dry or overwhelming, STONEWALL OF THE WESTis a great introduction to this Commander of the often overlooked western theater!



5. This biography of Patrick Cleburne proves to be very readable and insightful. The book appears to be well researched and its obviously that the author favored his subject.

   Cleburne appears to be a very controversial even while he was alive. Perhaps because of his foreign birth, he was more sympathic about the conditions of the blacks and made proposals that didn't go well with his fellow southerners. The book revealed that he was a superb leader and intelligent commander. His superiors definitely didn't aid their cause by keeping him just as a divison commander when he could have been an excellent corps commander - in an army where corps commanders were not well regraded.

   The author painted a vivid and complete picture of this general whose reputation have grown considerably since the Civil War among all Civil War readers.