The Sequel of Appomattox: A Chronicle of the Reunion of the States

Chronicles of America #32

by Walter Lynwood Fleming

The Sequel of Appomattox: a chronicle of the reunion of the states by Walter Lynwood Fleming When the armies of the Union and of the Confederacy were disbanded in 1865, two matters had been settled beyond further dispute: the Negro was to be free, and the Union was to be perpetuated. But, though slavery and state sovereignty were no longer at issue, there were still many problems which pressed for solution. The huge task of reconstruction must be faced. The nature of the situation required that the measures of reconstruction be first formulated in Washington by the victors and then worked out in the conquered South. Since the success of these policies would depend in a large measure upon their acceptability to both sections of the country, it was expected that the North would be influenced to some extent by the attitude of the Southern people, which in turn would be determined largely by local conditions in the South. The situation in the South at the close of the Civil War is, therefore, the point at which this narrative of the reconstruction naturally takes its beginning. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.

Genres: History, Civil War

376 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1921

About the author

Walter Lynwood Fleming (1874–1932) was an American historian of the South and Reconstruction.

(wikipedia)

Reviews

[Miles Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've rated this book 4 stars, largely because Fleming wrote incredibly well, and the book is considered an important historiographic marker in the study of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Its an influential work, and the fact that it is referenced at all is a testament to its durability.

With that caveat, the book is nonetheless weighted heavily towards the South, and includes description of African Americans that our time designates, understandably, as racist or at least tainted by observable racial bias. The treatment of the Klan is mild, almost sympathetic, and Fleming glosses entirely over political violence that typified the experience of African Americans during the era. Some of Fleming's analysis deserves interaction, but historians obviously and rightly treat this source with caution. Fleming was in his own time a respected member of the Dunning School, which framed the debate over Reconstruction largely around perceived excesses.

Historians and young scholars should read Fleming, as much for what is says about late nineteen and early twentieth century historiography, than what it says about Reconstruction.

[Jason Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent generalized overview of the Reconstruction-era South, and the harsh, vindictive mis-rule of the Radical politicians who filled the power vacuum left by Lincoln's tragic death to impose an unjust and (often by their own private admissions) unconstitutional peace on the vanquished states.

Highly recommended.