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The Rashness of That Hour: Politics, Gettysburg, and the Downfall of Confederate Brigadier General Alfred Iverson
WINNER, 2010, DR. JAMES I. ROBERTSON LITERARY PRIZE FOR CONFEDERATE HISTORY AWARD
WINNER, 2011, THE BACHELDER-CODDINGTON LITERARY AWARD, GIVEN BY THE ROBERT E. LEE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE OF CENTRAL NEW JERSEY
No commander in the Army of Northern Virginia suffered more damage to his reputation at Gettysburg than did Brig. Gen. Alfred Holt Iverson. In little more than an hour during the early afternoon of July 1, 1863, much of his brigade (the 5th, 12th, 20th, and 23rd North Carolina regiments) was slaughtered in front of a stone wall on Oak Ridge. Amid rumors that he was a drunk, a coward, and had slandered his own troops, Iverson was stripped of his command less than a week after the battle and before the campaign had even ended. After months of internal feuding and behind-the-scenes political maneuvering, the survivors of Iverson's ill-fated brigade had no doubt about who to blame for their devastating losses. What remained unanswered was the lingering uncertainty of how such a disaster could have happened.
This and many other questions are explored for the first time in Robert J. Wynstra's The Rashness of That Hour: Politics, Gettysburg, and the Downfall of Confederate Brigadier General Alfred Iverson. Wynstra's decade-long investigation draws upon a wealth of newly discovered and previously unpublished sources to provide readers with fresh perspectives and satisfying insights. The result is an engrossing chronicle of how the brigade's politics, misadventures, and colorful personalities combined to bring about one of the Civil War s most notorious blunders.
As Wynstra s research makes clear, Iverson's was a brigade in fatal turmoil long before its rendezvous with destiny in Forney field on July 1. This richly detailed and thoughtfully written account is biographical, tactical, and brigade history at its finest. For the first time we have a complete picture of the flawed general and his brigade's bitter internecine feuds that made Iverson's downfall nearly inevitable and help us better understand the rashness of that hour.
About the Author: Robert J. Wynstra recently retired as a senior writer for the News and Public Affairs Office in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in history and a Master's degree in journalism, all from the University of Illinois. Rob has been researching Alfred Iverson's role in the Civil War for more than ten years. He is finishing work on a study of Robert Rodes Division in the Gettysburg Campaign.
REVIEWS
During the early afternoon of July 1, 1863, much of Iverson's brigade is killed, wounded or captured on Oak Ridge. Iverson loses his command less than a week after the battle. This book looks at this blunder, the feuds and politics involved in this incident and the aftermath.
CW Blog, 10/10/2010
Wynstra's exhaustive research has uncovered a gratifying flood of fresh evidence on Alfred Iverson. The primary material that he unearthed sheds important new light on the general's controversial career.
Robert K. Krick, author of The Smoothbore Volley that Doomed the Confederacy and Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain.
WINNER, 2011, THE BACHELDER-CODDINGTON LITERARY AWARD, GIVEN BY THE ROBERT E. LEE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE OF CENTRAL NEW JERSEY
No commander in the Army of Northern Virginia suffered more damage to his reputation at Gettysburg than did Brig. Gen. Alfred Holt Iverson. In little more than an hour during the early afternoon of July 1, 1863, much of his brigade (the 5th, 12th, 20th, and 23rd North Carolina regiments) was slaughtered in front of a stone wall on Oak Ridge. Amid rumors that he was a drunk, a coward, and had slandered his own troops, Iverson was stripped of his command less than a week after the battle and before the campaign had even ended. After months of internal feuding and behind-the-scenes political maneuvering, the survivors of Iverson's ill-fated brigade had no doubt about who to blame for their devastating losses. What remained unanswered was the lingering uncertainty of how such a disaster could have happened.
This and many other questions are explored for the first time in Robert J. Wynstra's The Rashness of That Hour: Politics, Gettysburg, and the Downfall of Confederate Brigadier General Alfred Iverson. Wynstra's decade-long investigation draws upon a wealth of newly discovered and previously unpublished sources to provide readers with fresh perspectives and satisfying insights. The result is an engrossing chronicle of how the brigade's politics, misadventures, and colorful personalities combined to bring about one of the Civil War s most notorious blunders.
As Wynstra s research makes clear, Iverson's was a brigade in fatal turmoil long before its rendezvous with destiny in Forney field on July 1. This richly detailed and thoughtfully written account is biographical, tactical, and brigade history at its finest. For the first time we have a complete picture of the flawed general and his brigade's bitter internecine feuds that made Iverson's downfall nearly inevitable and help us better understand the rashness of that hour.
About the Author: Robert J. Wynstra recently retired as a senior writer for the News and Public Affairs Office in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in history and a Master's degree in journalism, all from the University of Illinois. Rob has been researching Alfred Iverson's role in the Civil War for more than ten years. He is finishing work on a study of Robert Rodes Division in the Gettysburg Campaign.
REVIEWS
During the early afternoon of July 1, 1863, much of Iverson's brigade is killed, wounded or captured on Oak Ridge. Iverson loses his command less than a week after the battle. This book looks at this blunder, the feuds and politics involved in this incident and the aftermath.
CW Blog, 10/10/2010
Wynstra's exhaustive research has uncovered a gratifying flood of fresh evidence on Alfred Iverson. The primary material that he unearthed sheds important new light on the general's controversial career.
Robert K. Krick, author of The Smoothbore Volley that Doomed the Confederacy and Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain.
- GenresCivil War
408 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 27, 2025
This is a great book on politics of NC troops overall and specifically in the brigade led by General Alfred Iverson.
Great descriptions of the fight for Oak Ridge/ Hill at Gettysburg. The book also relates the actions of the division of General Rodes as it influences the fight of that mentioned above and rest of Gettysburg.
Plenty of photos and maps are included.
Great descriptions of the fight for Oak Ridge/ Hill at Gettysburg. The book also relates the actions of the division of General Rodes as it influences the fight of that mentioned above and rest of Gettysburg.
Plenty of photos and maps are included.
January 15, 2020
I somewhat stumbled across this book in my search to learn more about my great, great grandfather, Private Robert Devinney of Company G in the 12th North Carolina Regiment during the Civil War. My great, great grandfather enlisted in Feb 1863, fought in multiple battles including Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Courthouse where he and 47 others in the 12th were captured. He was sent to Camp Elmira, NY — better known as “Hellmira” where he died on pneumonia Dec 4, 1864. He left behind a wife and 3 little children, including my great grandfather William who was then 5. Pvt Robert Devinney was the first of 5 Roberts in our family to carry that name, including my grandfather’s oldest brother, then my dad, and now by my oldest brother, and my youngest brother’s son.
Wynstra’s book was the best, and to date, only means for me to learn something about what my great, great grandfather Robert went through as a member of the 12th North Carolina Regiment. I don’t know if he could even write, and if he did, those letters are long since gone. Wynstra’s book is wonderfully researched and well written. I particularly appreciated the many hundreds of quotes from letters written by others in General Iverson’s Brigade. A great sadness at the terrible loss by our nation in this Civil War now 160 years past.
Wynstra’s book was the best, and to date, only means for me to learn something about what my great, great grandfather Robert went through as a member of the 12th North Carolina Regiment. I don’t know if he could even write, and if he did, those letters are long since gone. Wynstra’s book is wonderfully researched and well written. I particularly appreciated the many hundreds of quotes from letters written by others in General Iverson’s Brigade. A great sadness at the terrible loss by our nation in this Civil War now 160 years past.
April 4, 2011
One of the most fascinating stories of the entire Civil War is told brilliantly by Mr. Wynstra. He has hit a home run in this brigade history which covers the doomed saga of Brigadier General Alfred Iverson's rise and fall during the Civil War, but mostly his tremendous stumble at Gettysburg on July 1st.
The story is legendary and many of the modern day legends and ghost stories of todays Gettysburg Battlefield have spawned from this historical event. Marching as if on dress parade across the fields of the Forney Farm on the afternoon of July 1st, Iverson sent his men into the teeth of the beast, which happened to be General Henry Baxter's I Corps Brigade hiding behind a stone wall south of the Mummasburg Road. The casualties are unbelievable and hard to imagine. The trying minutes of one of the greatest and costliest debacles in the entire Civil War is covered in stirring detail. Iverson lost over 800 of his 1200 men at Gettysburg and never recovered.
I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in this little covered story of course, but to anyone who has a passion for Gettysburg's history and Civil War history. Simply fantastic is this book and I am greatly thankful to Mr. Wynstra for finally covering this little known amazing story.
The story is legendary and many of the modern day legends and ghost stories of todays Gettysburg Battlefield have spawned from this historical event. Marching as if on dress parade across the fields of the Forney Farm on the afternoon of July 1st, Iverson sent his men into the teeth of the beast, which happened to be General Henry Baxter's I Corps Brigade hiding behind a stone wall south of the Mummasburg Road. The casualties are unbelievable and hard to imagine. The trying minutes of one of the greatest and costliest debacles in the entire Civil War is covered in stirring detail. Iverson lost over 800 of his 1200 men at Gettysburg and never recovered.
I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in this little covered story of course, but to anyone who has a passion for Gettysburg's history and Civil War history. Simply fantastic is this book and I am greatly thankful to Mr. Wynstra for finally covering this little known amazing story.
November 10, 2011
Page turner about the unbelievable amount of political infighting over promotions in Iverson's doomed brigade, which was slaughtered on the first day at Gettysburg. Another typically high-quality book from publisher Savas-Beatie.
April 9, 2011
A good discussion of that fateful afternoon at Gettysburg, when Iverson's brigade went foward unwarned and unled.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews