Lone Star Generals in Gray

by Ralph A. Wooster

Although still a frontier state during the Civil War, Texas played a significant role in the war. More than 70,000 Texans served in the military during the war, the majority in the Confederate army. Thirty-seven of those who served as generals in the Confederacy had rights to claim a Texas background, either through birth or residential adoption. Several of these men, notably Albert Sidney Johnson, John Bell Hood, Ben McCulloch, Samuel Bell Maxey, and Tom Green, have been studied in separate biographies, but in this work, the author has provided additional insight into their careers and set them within the contest of Texan involvement in the conflict. Ralph Wooster has done extensive research on the Civil War and now magnifies the specific actions of Texans who led or, in some cases, misled their troops. Individual photos complement the detailed profiles of each general. The result is an in-depth and interesting focus on Texans in gray who each commanded their troops in a unique way. Ralph Wooster Bio A graduate of the University of Houston and the University of Texas, Ralph A. Wooster spent his academic career at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. After completion of military service with the Historical Division of the U. S. Army, Europe, he joined the Lamar faculty in 1955. He served in various capacities at Lamar prior to his retirement from full-time teaching in 1991. His positions included Chairman of the History Department, Dean of Graduate Studies, Dean of Faculties, and Associate Vice-President for Academic and Student Affairs. Wooster is the author of dozens of articles in historical journals and books including Eakin Press titles, Texas and Texans in the Civil War, Lone Star Regiments in Gray, Texas and Texans in World War II, and Lone Star Generals in Gray.

330 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2000

Reviews

[Joe Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'Lone Star Generals In Gray" by Ralph A. Wooster is the biographies of Confederate Generals who were either native Texans or residents of Texas when the Civil War began in 1861 and joined the Confederate Army. Mr. Wooster did an excellent job of telling the brief but thorough biographies of these generals and their history before, during, and after the war.
From famous Confederate Generals such as Albert Sidney Johnston, John Bell Hood, Jerome Robertson to lesser known generals such as William Steele, Thomas Neville Waul, the author tells the biography of 37 of the Confederate Generals from the Lone Star State. This fascinating book is much like the great book "Generals In Gray" by Ezra Warner. However, Mr. Wooster goes more in depth in the biographies of the generals. He reviews their life before the war and many of them had military service in such wars as the Texas Revolution, the Mexican War, and other conflicts. Most of the generals from Texas had great military experience.
Mr. Wooster also does not shy of giving criticism of the actions of the Texas generals when necessary. Giving the balanced and impartial view, some of these generals had major flaws in character, military strategy, and inexperience. The controversial generals from Texas such as Albert Sidney Johnston and John Bell Hood are reviewed and Mr. Wooster tells about General Johnston's albeit brief service in the Confederate Army and the opportunities General Johnston could of taken advantage of in some of the battles before his death at the Battle of Shiloh are reviewed. Also, the controversy of John Bell Hood at Franklin is told as well.
This is a fascinating read of the Generals of Texas, all 37 of them. Most of the Generals were appointed by the Confederate Congress and President Jefferson Davis, while some of the generals were appointed but never confirmed by the Confederate Congress and President Davis for various reasons, some unknown to this day.
This should be considered a "companion book" to Ezra Warner's "Generals In Gray". It is a valuable book that can assist research into various campaigns and battles of the Civil War by the generals in the campaigns and battles. The generals from Texas contributed to the Confederacy for the four years of the war, many of the generals are still admired for their bravery and tenacity in battle, in which more than a few died in battle. Hiram Granbury and Tom Green just to name a few of the Texas Generals who did die in battle. This is a HIGHLY recommended book for anyone interested in Texas history, Texas Confederate History, Civil War history and pre-Civil War history and post-Civil War history in Texas. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biographical sketches of the 34 Texans who served is generals in the Confederate army. Includes woulds, profession prior to the war, number of slaves owned if any,college attended, and date of final demise.