What do you think?
Rate this book
Destruction and Reconstruction
Richard Taylor (1826-1879) was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. He was the son of United States President Zachary Taylor and First Lady Margaret Taylor. Although starting his college studies at Harvard University, he graduated from Yale in 1845. He received no scholastic honors, but spent the majority of his time reading books on classical and military history. During the Mexican-American War, Taylor served as the military secretary to his father. After Zachary Taylor's untimely death in July 1850, Taylor inherited Fashion. Steadily he increased its area, improved its sugar works and expanded its labor force to nearly 200 slaves. But the freeze of 1856 ruined his crop, forcing him into heavy debt with a large mortgage on the plantation. After the war, Richard Taylor wrote his memoirs, Destruction and Reconstruction (1879), which is one of the most credited reports of the Civil War. He was active in Democratic Party politics, interceded on behalf of Jefferson Davis with President Andrew Johnson, and was a leading political opponent of Northern Reconstruction policies.
361 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1879
29 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Richard Taylor
653 books19 followersRichard Taylor is a professor of English and currently serves as Kenan Visiting Writer at Transylvania University. A former Kentucky poet laureate, he is the author of six collections of poetry, two novels, and several books of non-fiction, mostly relating to Kentucky history. A former dean and teacher in the Governor's Scholars Program, he was selected as Distinguished Professor at Kentucky State University in 1992. He has won two creative writing fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and an Al Smith Creative Writing Award from the Kentucky Arts Council. He and his wife Lizz own Poor Richard's Books in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 17, 2020
The son of General and President Zachary Taylor shares his views and insights of his participation as a Confederate military and political leader in the Civil War and its aftermath.
December 21, 2010
As Clyde Wilson says in the introduction, this is the best of the Confederate memoirs. Richard Taylor, son of president Zachary Taylor and brother-in-law to Jefferson Davis, stands quite clearly above most of his contemporaries in taste and judgement. In other words, he had a European education, with all the refinement and breadth of mind it could provide, but none of the skepticism and social alienation.
An especially interesting aspect of the book, for me, is the picture of southern society that comes through incidentally in his narrative. Anyone associated with the South feels it necessary, at some point, to repel the idea that it was all "moonlight and magnolias" before the War--as, assuredly, it was not, any more than it resembles the stereotype of trailer trash in the present dark days. Nevertheless, it was certainly more Edenic than our soured products of academia, or jaded offpsring of industrialism, can quite appreciate. I would offer quotes, but they are lengthy, depend on context, and are no substitute for reading the full book.
On a final note, I'm really enjoying reading his account of the Trans-Mississippi operations. Not because I remotely comprehend the bewildering array of manoeuvres, politics, and personages, but because Louisiana has great names. Atchafalaya, Thibideaux, Opelousas, Mouton. They are as classic, in a different way, as the ancient place names of Virginia and North Carolina: Alamance, Roanoke, Chesapeake, Albemarle, Beaufort, Ocracoke.
An especially interesting aspect of the book, for me, is the picture of southern society that comes through incidentally in his narrative. Anyone associated with the South feels it necessary, at some point, to repel the idea that it was all "moonlight and magnolias" before the War--as, assuredly, it was not, any more than it resembles the stereotype of trailer trash in the present dark days. Nevertheless, it was certainly more Edenic than our soured products of academia, or jaded offpsring of industrialism, can quite appreciate. I would offer quotes, but they are lengthy, depend on context, and are no substitute for reading the full book.
On a final note, I'm really enjoying reading his account of the Trans-Mississippi operations. Not because I remotely comprehend the bewildering array of manoeuvres, politics, and personages, but because Louisiana has great names. Atchafalaya, Thibideaux, Opelousas, Mouton. They are as classic, in a different way, as the ancient place names of Virginia and North Carolina: Alamance, Roanoke, Chesapeake, Albemarle, Beaufort, Ocracoke.
February 12, 2014
The South's best take on the War between the States and its aftermath
The most interesting thing about this book is that you get to read a first-hand account of the War between the States, from one of the greatest military heads of either the North or South. And also a very cultured man. His knowledge comes out prominently, almost too much so. When one just wants to read about how it was, the War and the so-called Reconstruction, it becomes a little tiring to have to take in with it also all the references to European military history, ancient history et al. Those names of old generals and foreign politicians of by-gone eras are just a bother to the reader. And that brings me to -what I think is- the reason for the failing side of this book: It was meant for Taylor's contemporaries. It just feels from the start that the man is taking for granted that the reader knows much of the “story”, and he is just telling another side to it: his own side.
It is a readable book though, and entertaining, if you discount the argument mentioned above. And it sure is a definite contribution to the South's take on the whole conflict and the times. Elegant, sad, and full of Southern sentiment.
The most interesting thing about this book is that you get to read a first-hand account of the War between the States, from one of the greatest military heads of either the North or South. And also a very cultured man. His knowledge comes out prominently, almost too much so. When one just wants to read about how it was, the War and the so-called Reconstruction, it becomes a little tiring to have to take in with it also all the references to European military history, ancient history et al. Those names of old generals and foreign politicians of by-gone eras are just a bother to the reader. And that brings me to -what I think is- the reason for the failing side of this book: It was meant for Taylor's contemporaries. It just feels from the start that the man is taking for granted that the reader knows much of the “story”, and he is just telling another side to it: his own side.
It is a readable book though, and entertaining, if you discount the argument mentioned above. And it sure is a definite contribution to the South's take on the whole conflict and the times. Elegant, sad, and full of Southern sentiment.
January 29, 2012
Good details on the Trans Mississippi department and shows how dire Banks' situation really was. Taylor is obviously a very well educated man, but at some points, especially in the post-war narration, he loses track of his objective and spends more time talking about historical comparisons instead of the actual Reconstruction Period. Despite being in the title, he spends very little time actually talking about Reconstruction.
December 28, 2018
Civil War memoirs by Confederate general Richard Taylor, son of former president Zachary Taylor. Taylor served with Stonewall Jackson in the valley campaign and joined Lee's forces for the Seven Days battle at the end of McClellan's Peninsula Campaign. After recovering from a wound, Taylor was re-assigned to his home state of Louisiana and spent much of the remainder of the war in the Bayous fighting off General Banks and Admiral Porter. Taylor's account of the actions is often very exciting and well written. Where the book strays is in his personal observations of men and events. Taylor has a favorable view of Generals Bragg, McDowell, and McClellan, three commanders not typically accorded high marks by historians, and a very negative view of Generals Grant and Sherman, who are regarded as among our nation's most gifted soldiers. Even more oddly, Taylor argues that the war was not about slavery, but about tariffs and economic dominance. Finally, he is very defensive of President Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction policies (another facet in which he stands diametrically opposed to the view of modern historians).
April 5, 2024
Fascinating first-person account of the Civil War by the son of Zachary Taylor who rose to be a general in the Confederate army. It was helpful to read a decidedly different take on many issues. It was a challenge to follow some because Taylor assumes his reader is familiar with the geography of Louisiana and a number of other places in the South. He also uses numerous historical and literary allusions of which I was ignorant. His insights into the character of more well-known Civil War figures such as Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant from personal knowledge was one of my favorite parts of the book.
November 24, 2013
Richard Taylor was the embodiment of the Southern patrician planter. He was the son of wealth and privilege (literally, his father was President Zachary Taylor), and this comes through in his relation of his experiences and opinions.
Taylor's coverage of the campaigns in which he participated is pretty good. As the Confederate commander during the Red River Campaign, he offers great insight and information on this lesser known but important campaign. His coverage of Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign is also often referenced in other works, and is a worthwhile read. I also found Taylor's criticism of the formation and use of Confederate cavalry particularly insightful.
While Taylor doesn't spare anyone criticism where he sees error (and his criticisms often smack of hindsight), he is also surprisingly generous to many. General Benjamin Butler receives kind words, as do many other Union generals mentioned in the work. Taylor also goes out of his way to laud the character of people such as Generals John Pemberton, Braxton Bragg, and Ulysses S. Grant before criticizing their military conduct. The likes of Generals William T. Sherman and Phillip Sheridan, of course, receive the normal treatment to be expected from the memoir of a notable Confederate.
The value of the book's narrative goes distinctly downhill when it moves along to Reconstruction. Taylor's anti-democratic political views and his racial views all get to be a but hard to swallow. Still, there is some value to be gained from insight into the views of Taylor and his planter set.
Lastly, Taylor's writing style is very heavy on referencing historical events and figures. Classical Greek and Roman subjects, the Thirty Years War, the Seven Years War, the Napoleonic Wars and the Franco-Prussian War all work their way into the narrative. It isn't absolutely necessary to be familiar with these things to understand Taylor, but it will help, and be more enjoyable if you have at least a passing knowledge of those subjects. Alternatively, you might want to have Wikipedia open while reading this book (especially if your copy is unannotated, like this free e-book).
Taylor's coverage of the campaigns in which he participated is pretty good. As the Confederate commander during the Red River Campaign, he offers great insight and information on this lesser known but important campaign. His coverage of Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign is also often referenced in other works, and is a worthwhile read. I also found Taylor's criticism of the formation and use of Confederate cavalry particularly insightful.
While Taylor doesn't spare anyone criticism where he sees error (and his criticisms often smack of hindsight), he is also surprisingly generous to many. General Benjamin Butler receives kind words, as do many other Union generals mentioned in the work. Taylor also goes out of his way to laud the character of people such as Generals John Pemberton, Braxton Bragg, and Ulysses S. Grant before criticizing their military conduct. The likes of Generals William T. Sherman and Phillip Sheridan, of course, receive the normal treatment to be expected from the memoir of a notable Confederate.
The value of the book's narrative goes distinctly downhill when it moves along to Reconstruction. Taylor's anti-democratic political views and his racial views all get to be a but hard to swallow. Still, there is some value to be gained from insight into the views of Taylor and his planter set.
Lastly, Taylor's writing style is very heavy on referencing historical events and figures. Classical Greek and Roman subjects, the Thirty Years War, the Seven Years War, the Napoleonic Wars and the Franco-Prussian War all work their way into the narrative. It isn't absolutely necessary to be familiar with these things to understand Taylor, but it will help, and be more enjoyable if you have at least a passing knowledge of those subjects. Alternatively, you might want to have Wikipedia open while reading this book (especially if your copy is unannotated, like this free e-book).
May 1, 2012
Can you like a book, even if you find its ideas repulsive? Certainly. After all, Taylor is an aristocrat who espoused the usual myths (war was not over slavery, slaves loved their masters) mixed with a Burkean conservatism that never ceases to underwhelm me. Taylor though is a fine writer and his descriptions of people, even when I think those descriptions are off, are first rate.
This quotations perfectly captures Taylor at his best/worst:
"The wonderful vote received by McClellan in 1864 showed the vast numbers of the Northern minority; yet, so far from modifying in the smallest degree the will and conduct of the majority, this multitude of men dared not give utterance to their real sentiments; and the same was true of the South at the time of secession. Reformers who have tried to improve the morals of humanity, discoverers who have striven to alleviate its physical conditions, have suffered martyrdom at its hands. Years upon years have been found necessary to induce the masses to consider, much less adopt, schemes for their own advantage. A government of numbers, then, is not one of virtue or intelligence, but of force, intangible, irresistible, irresponsible - resembling that of Caesar depicted by the great historian, which, covering the earth as a pall, reduced all to a common level of abject servitude. For many years scarce a descendant of the colonial gentry in the Eastern States has been elected to public office. To-day they have no existence even as a social force and example. Under the baleful influence of negro suffrage it is impossible to foretell the destiny of the South. Small wonder that pure democracies have ever proved ready to exchange "Demos" for some other tyrant."
This quotations perfectly captures Taylor at his best/worst:
"The wonderful vote received by McClellan in 1864 showed the vast numbers of the Northern minority; yet, so far from modifying in the smallest degree the will and conduct of the majority, this multitude of men dared not give utterance to their real sentiments; and the same was true of the South at the time of secession. Reformers who have tried to improve the morals of humanity, discoverers who have striven to alleviate its physical conditions, have suffered martyrdom at its hands. Years upon years have been found necessary to induce the masses to consider, much less adopt, schemes for their own advantage. A government of numbers, then, is not one of virtue or intelligence, but of force, intangible, irresistible, irresponsible - resembling that of Caesar depicted by the great historian, which, covering the earth as a pall, reduced all to a common level of abject servitude. For many years scarce a descendant of the colonial gentry in the Eastern States has been elected to public office. To-day they have no existence even as a social force and example. Under the baleful influence of negro suffrage it is impossible to foretell the destiny of the South. Small wonder that pure democracies have ever proved ready to exchange "Demos" for some other tyrant."
March 13, 2011
The son of President Zachary Taylor, Richard Taylor was a Lt.General in the Confederate Army. The book was written in a heavy 19th Century style with many references to classical events that made some of the book difficult to read. His opinions on Reconstruction are very biased and of little value. Having said that the detail was good and his opinions on many of the people are very interesting. The descriptions on Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and U.S. Grant are particularly interesting. He shared the good and bad on each.
February 5, 2017
Pretty entertaining book. Taylor has a flowery writing style, and he pulls no punches when discussing people such as Edmund Kirby Smith. For people interested in the Red River Campaign of 1864, you'll find some perspective on Taylor's views. As a son of a US President and someone active in Whig politics, Taylor also offers some interesting perspective on the politics and reconstruction.
March 21, 2021
Available at Project Gutenberg:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23747
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23747
July 17, 2016
One of the best memoirs I've encountered, very well written.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews