The American Civil War: An English View, The Writings of Field Marshal Viscount Wolseley

by Garnet Wolseley, James A. Rawley (Editor)

Field Marshal Viscount Garnet Joseph Wolseley, born to a well-heeled Dublin family, was assigned in 1861 to service with the British army in Canada. Here he became engrossed by the mounting conflict in the United States and eventually decided to take two months' leave in order to observe the situation firsthand. His writings on the Civil War provide a fascinating and little-presented perspective on America's bloodiest conflict. Editor James Rawley's introductions to each of the book's four pieces (as well as his lengthy one at the beginning of the book) provide the necessary context for a modern reading of Wolseley's essays. Rawley's new preface to this edition revisits Wolseley's writings in the light of the past thirty-five years of Civil War scholarship.

Genres: American Civil War, Civil War

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Field Marshal Sir Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley, KP, GCB, OM, GCMG, VD, PC

Reviews

[Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a tantalizing prospect for those interested in the history of the American Civil War. British Army officer Garnet Wolseley was the "very model of a modern major general" who helped to inspire Gilbert and Sullivan's song. Early in his career, he took a detour from Canada to observe the American Civil War, specifically the Army of Northern Virginia, with which he seems to have felt some kinship. He wrote an article about his observations from this time. Later he penned a biographical sketch of Robert E. Lee. Finally, when the "Century" magazine compiled its Battles and Leaders of the Civil War books in the 1880s, Wolseley wrote a series of articles reviewing the four volumes. All of these articles are collected in this book.

Wolseley offers many valuable observations as a military man. Particularly striking to me was his perspective on the negative effect of public opinion on the operations of the Union Army during the war. For instance, public pressure for action forced generals who knew better, such as Irwin McDowell, to initiate the First Battle of Bull Run before their forces were ready. Wolseley is also more sympathetic to George B. McClellan than most modern readers will probably be.

The biggest disappointment and problem with the book is Wolseley's bias towards the Confederacy. In his earliest article, he makes a passing comment (paraphrasing) about how the Northern armies are full of the offscourings of the lowest class of European society. He came to the war with an aristocratic perspective and felt right at home among Robert E. Lee's circle.

There are golden nuggets to be gleaned from The American Civil War: An English View, but you must dig through significant muck to get there.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a reprint of a publication from 1864 by British Field Marshall Wolseley on the American Civil War based on his personal observations made during a trip made to the Confederacy in 1863. He writes briefs about military and civil leaders and in the beginning supported Confederate independence. This is a good addition for the Civil War buff's library