One of Lee's Best Men: The Civil War Letters of General William Dorsey Pender

by William Woods Hassler (Editor), William Dorsey Pender

On the day that Lincoln was inaugurated in 1861, twenty-seven-year-old William Dorsey Pender, en route to the provisional Confederate capital in Montgomery, Alabama, hurriedly scribbled a note to his wife, Fanny. So began a prolific correspondence between a rising Confederate officer and his cherished wife that would last until Pender was mortally wounded at Gettysburg.

First published by UNC Press in 1965, Pender's letters are filled with personal details, colorful descriptions, and candid opinions of such important figures as Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, J. E. B. Stuart, and A. P. Hill. His comments on his military activities and aspirations and the challenges of command, combined with his husbandly advice and affection, sketch an intimate and unvarnished portrait of the man who was perhaps the most distinguished North Carolina commander.

289 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 1999

About the author

William Woods Hassler was President of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the author of A. P. Hill: Lee’s Forgotten General; Confederate Heroes and Heroines and other books. In 1993, inspired by Dr. Hassler’s special example, the Hassler Award was inaugurated to honor individuals who make especially meritorious contributions to the field of Civil War education. He died in 1997 at the age of 80.

Reviews

[LaDene Mayville]

I loved this book, especially with the inside look into his personal life, marriage and family life. How awesome it is to see the entire picture of not only a great Soldier, who was brilliant on the battlefield, but also to see the loving husband and father he was. He got himself scolded good by his wife by flirting with the Southern ladies and then bragging about it to his wife. Big mistake!
I loved this book on all levels and couldn't put it down. It is a gem in my collection!