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Memoirs of Robert E. Lee: His Military and Personal History
Antietam. Fredericksburg. Chancellorsville. Gettysburg. Appomattox. Great battles of the United States Civil War. And the man most associated with these fabled encounters is Robert E. Lee--the outstanding Confederate general during the War Between the States. A brilliant leader, Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Here in this remarkable volume are the memoirs of the legendary Southern statesman and soldier.
(from the dust jacket)
by A.L. (Armistead Lindsay) Long; together with incidents relating to his private life subsequent to the war, collected and edited with the assistance of Marcus J. Wright.
(from the dust jacket)
by A.L. (Armistead Lindsay) Long; together with incidents relating to his private life subsequent to the war, collected and edited with the assistance of Marcus J. Wright.
707 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1886
About the author
A.L. Long
53 books8 followersArmistead Lindsay Long was a brigadier general for the Confederate States of America, and the author of the 1886 book Memoirs of Robert E. Lee.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 19, 2026
Memoirs of Robert E. Lee: His Military and Personal History by A.L. Long and Marcus J. Wright is an essential read for anyone deeply interested in the Civil War, especially from the Southern perspective. This isn’t just a biography of Lee—it’s a window into the minds, values, and experiences of the people who served under him and those who lived through the Confederacy.
What makes this book so valuable is the depth and detail. It covers Lee’s military career, his strategies, and his personal character, but it also provides insight into the broader Southern worldview. Through letters, recollections, and careful narrative, the authors convey what motivated Lee and his contemporaries, what they valued, and how they understood honor, duty, and loyalty. For anyone trying to understand Lee as a man and a leader, this context is crucial.
I found myself agreeing with much of what the authors convey. Lee emerges not only as a brilliant strategist but also as a man guided by principle, duty, and a sense of morality that is rare in military figures. The book also highlights how those around him thought and felt, which adds a richness that standard military histories often miss. It’s as much about the Southern experience and mindset as it is about Lee himself, making it indispensable for understanding the era.
Five stars. Thoughtful, detailed, and deeply informative, this book is a must-read for anyone serious about Civil War history, Southern perspectives, or the life of Robert E. Lee.
What makes this book so valuable is the depth and detail. It covers Lee’s military career, his strategies, and his personal character, but it also provides insight into the broader Southern worldview. Through letters, recollections, and careful narrative, the authors convey what motivated Lee and his contemporaries, what they valued, and how they understood honor, duty, and loyalty. For anyone trying to understand Lee as a man and a leader, this context is crucial.
I found myself agreeing with much of what the authors convey. Lee emerges not only as a brilliant strategist but also as a man guided by principle, duty, and a sense of morality that is rare in military figures. The book also highlights how those around him thought and felt, which adds a richness that standard military histories often miss. It’s as much about the Southern experience and mindset as it is about Lee himself, making it indispensable for understanding the era.
Five stars. Thoughtful, detailed, and deeply informative, this book is a must-read for anyone serious about Civil War history, Southern perspectives, or the life of Robert E. Lee.
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October 23, 2015I finally finished this flowery account of Marse Robert's life written by his former military secretary and head of artillery for 2nd Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, A.L. Long. If you're looking for some insight into the thoughts of General Lee, this book is not for you. The author fawns and gushes and uses such admiring language when describing his commander that I turned it into a drinking game - taking a shot of For every laudatory adjective. By page three, I was drunk. By page six, I couldn't see the book any more. By page eight, I was out on the lawn wearing confederate flag underwear, firing my shotgun into the air and singing "Dixie."
It's not a bad book - you know, like the ones written by Bill O'Reilly (Killing the Confederacy! In bookstores now!). It does contain some fascinating first hand accounts, letters and anecdotes from primary sources. I would have liked to have heard from the man himself but he never got around to writing his story of the war and died five years after its conclusion. To me, the real Lee is somewhere behind the myths and marble - a brilliant engineer,
It's not a bad book - you know, like the ones written by Bill O'Reilly (Killing the Confederacy! In bookstores now!). It does contain some fascinating first hand accounts, letters and anecdotes from primary sources. I would have liked to have heard from the man himself but he never got around to writing his story of the war and died five years after its conclusion. To me, the real Lee is somewhere behind the myths and marble - a brilliant engineer,
December 24, 2022
I gave it 3 stars because I enjoyed most of it but I’m not sure how much of A. L. Long’s interpretation can be believed due to his “bromance” with Robert E. Lee.
James, the first review on this site, nailed it. His constant use of flowery adjectives and adverbs every time he describes Lee or the Confederacy could be used as a 19th century version thesaurus for the word “flawless” or “Godly”.
James, the first review on this site, nailed it. His constant use of flowery adjectives and adverbs every time he describes Lee or the Confederacy could be used as a 19th century version thesaurus for the word “flawless” or “Godly”.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2018
Terrible conversion to ebook.
Book is good. But the optical character recognition used to convert to an ebook is the worst I’ve seen. Almost unreadable. Lots of garbled text. Hard to decipher.
Book is good. But the optical character recognition used to convert to an ebook is the worst I’ve seen. Almost unreadable. Lots of garbled text. Hard to decipher.
February 5, 2014
Okay, but a bit too much hero worship and canonization of General Lee. Contrary to what the average Virginia history author believes, Robert E. Lee was actually human.
August 27, 2016
A beautiful memorial to Robert E. Lee
Long writes a beautiful narrative of the life of Lee. A good portion of the War accounts are firsthand. Recommended
Long writes a beautiful narrative of the life of Lee. A good portion of the War accounts are firsthand. Recommended
May 29, 2016
Hagiography best left until you've read a more neutral account.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews