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Inside the Confederate Government;: The diary of Robert Garlick Hill Kean, head of the Bureau of War
Originally published in 1957, 'Inside the Confederate Government' is a brilliant, detailed chronicle of the Civil War years from the perspective of a man close to the center of the South's war effort.
241 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1957
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February 10, 2011
Ironically, I ran across this while in Boston, and it's published by my University (LSU) Press, so I couldn't resist. A few things that I found intriguing about the book:
1) One, the author is absolutely a true believer. Many of the accounts of Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson showed hesitation, a torn soul, a consternation between their patriotic duty to the Country they love (the U.S.) and the State they felt forced to defend (Virginia). RGH Kean felt NO love for the U.S. and had undying loyalty to his "country" the C.S.A.
2) The author CONSTANTLY throughout the diary showed an absolute and total disdain for not only the Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, but his rather aggravating penchant for promoting and supporting West Point graduates. This was especially true of General Braxton Bragg, who Kean portrays as not only feckless, but scheming and of a low moral character.
3) It's a very comprehensive account from the Confederate Government's point of view. The author gives a great and complete account of not only the wranglings within the War Department of the C.S.A., but also the Cabinet in general, the state of the war throughout the South, the overtures of peace, the Hampton Roads accords, and the first year or so of Reconstruction.
4) In the end, he points out in detail how every Article and every Amendment of the United States Constitution is violated by the Reconstruction Government.
Overall an intriguing account, even if you have to cringe at some of his thoughts toward an entire race and their role in the world; for anyone who is a student of the Civil War (which I believe everyone should be if they want to understand the Republic in which they are a citizen), it's a must read.
1) One, the author is absolutely a true believer. Many of the accounts of Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson showed hesitation, a torn soul, a consternation between their patriotic duty to the Country they love (the U.S.) and the State they felt forced to defend (Virginia). RGH Kean felt NO love for the U.S. and had undying loyalty to his "country" the C.S.A.
2) The author CONSTANTLY throughout the diary showed an absolute and total disdain for not only the Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, but his rather aggravating penchant for promoting and supporting West Point graduates. This was especially true of General Braxton Bragg, who Kean portrays as not only feckless, but scheming and of a low moral character.
3) It's a very comprehensive account from the Confederate Government's point of view. The author gives a great and complete account of not only the wranglings within the War Department of the C.S.A., but also the Cabinet in general, the state of the war throughout the South, the overtures of peace, the Hampton Roads accords, and the first year or so of Reconstruction.
4) In the end, he points out in detail how every Article and every Amendment of the United States Constitution is violated by the Reconstruction Government.
Overall an intriguing account, even if you have to cringe at some of his thoughts toward an entire race and their role in the world; for anyone who is a student of the Civil War (which I believe everyone should be if they want to understand the Republic in which they are a citizen), it's a must read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review