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Confederate Crackers and Cavaliers
This is Grady McWhiney at his finest. Confederate Crackers and Cavaliers is a collection of seventeen essays on a wide variety of topics relating to Confederate leadership and war-making.
The role of culture in the coming of the war is explored in depth as are the differences between Southern "Crackers" and "Cavaliers." Battlefield leadership is also discussed, including pieces on A. P. Hill, P. G. T. Beauregard, Braxton Bragg, and Leonidas Polk.
Other important essays include work on why the South fired the first shot of the war, how 1862 was actually the "doom year" of the Confederacy, and a treatment of the tactical revolution that occurred between the beginning of the Mexican War and the end of the Civil War. There are more than a few surprises. One chapter, entitled "Sex and Chivalry," investigates the role of West Point in shaping the deportment of America's class of military gentlemen.
Jefferson Davis, though, looms largest in this book. From his days along the banks of the Hudson, to his service in Mexico, to an analysis of his war leadership as president of the Confederacy, McWhiney investigates this tarnished American hero whom, the author claims, has been almost as vilified by Americans as Adolf Hitler.
McWhiney is known for his unconventional stances. While his work is sometimes controversial, often hotly debated, and nearly always provocative, it can never be ignored. After a long sabbatical from publishing, this astonishing author and historian is back at work.
The role of culture in the coming of the war is explored in depth as are the differences between Southern "Crackers" and "Cavaliers." Battlefield leadership is also discussed, including pieces on A. P. Hill, P. G. T. Beauregard, Braxton Bragg, and Leonidas Polk.
Other important essays include work on why the South fired the first shot of the war, how 1862 was actually the "doom year" of the Confederacy, and a treatment of the tactical revolution that occurred between the beginning of the Mexican War and the end of the Civil War. There are more than a few surprises. One chapter, entitled "Sex and Chivalry," investigates the role of West Point in shaping the deportment of America's class of military gentlemen.
Jefferson Davis, though, looms largest in this book. From his days along the banks of the Hudson, to his service in Mexico, to an analysis of his war leadership as president of the Confederacy, McWhiney investigates this tarnished American hero whom, the author claims, has been almost as vilified by Americans as Adolf Hitler.
McWhiney is known for his unconventional stances. While his work is sometimes controversial, often hotly debated, and nearly always provocative, it can never be ignored. After a long sabbatical from publishing, this astonishing author and historian is back at work.
- GenresAmerican History
340 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2002
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 11, 2013
Dr McWhiney taught my Civl War Directed Studies class in grad school at Wayne State University. He looked like Robt. E. Lee.
This is a collection of his essays. A a good collection it is.
There are several dealing with Confederate President Jeff Davis. Very insightful - presents some things I never had read before.
He tackles several Confederate Generals - Bragg, Beauregard, Polk.
The one thing that was stressed again and again: look at the evidence, what does it tell you? Don't disregard memoirs written years after the war ( the years will have colored the event, etc), but read them with a critical eye. Make sure to check those sources written closer to the time of the actual event for they the on the situation.
A delight to read and I'm sorry I only know him for part of that one year.
(My paper for that class was accepted for publication by The Civil War Illustrated Magazine in 1976 - the good Doctor helped me flesh it out and help rewrite some passages: "James Hewitt Ledlie: the Union's worst general")
This is a collection of his essays. A a good collection it is.
There are several dealing with Confederate President Jeff Davis. Very insightful - presents some things I never had read before.
He tackles several Confederate Generals - Bragg, Beauregard, Polk.
The one thing that was stressed again and again: look at the evidence, what does it tell you? Don't disregard memoirs written years after the war ( the years will have colored the event, etc), but read them with a critical eye. Make sure to check those sources written closer to the time of the actual event for they the on the situation.
A delight to read and I'm sorry I only know him for part of that one year.
(My paper for that class was accepted for publication by The Civil War Illustrated Magazine in 1976 - the good Doctor helped me flesh it out and help rewrite some passages: "James Hewitt Ledlie: the Union's worst general")
December 30, 2020
Suffers from being too shallow. Plus, Grady actually likes Braxton Bragg, which is a character flaw in a Civil War historian.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews