Synopses & Reviews
Was Robert E. Lee a gifted soldier whose only weaknesses lay in the depth of his loyalty to his troops, affection for his lieutenants, and dedication to the cause of the Confederacy? Or was he an ineffective leader and poor tactician whose reputation was drastically inflated by early biographers and Lost Cause apologists? These divergent characterizations represent the poles between which scholarly and popular opinion on Lee has swung over time. Now, in eight essays, Gary Gallagher offers his own refined thinking on Lee, exploring the relationship between Lee's operations and Confederate morale, the quality of his generalship, and the question of how best to handle his legacy in light of the many distortions that grew out of Lost Cause historiography.
Using a host of contemporary sources, Gallagher demonstrates the remarkable faith that soldiers and citizens maintained in Lee's leadership even after his army's fortunes had begun to erode. Gallagher also engages aspects of the Lee myth with an eye toward how admirers have insisted that their hero's faults as a general represented exaggerations of his personal virtues. Finally, Gallagher considers whether it is usefulor desirableto separate legitimate Lost Cause arguments from the transparently false ones relating to slavery and secession.
Review
"Gallagher's work, both in
Lee and His Army and elsewhere. . . sets a high standard for the history profession.
Civil War Book Review"
Review
Gallagher and the University of North Carolina Press have performed a valuable service for current and future students of Lee and the Lost Cause.
Civil War News
Review
Gallagher has reinforced his position as one of the nation's leading Civil War historians.
Florida Historical Quarterly
Review
"A very valuable work."
Nymas Review
Review
Gallagher demonstrates in his latest book that he is . . . the foremost historian of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia today.
Journal of Military History
Synopsis
A leading Civil War historian examines Robert E. Lee, his leadership, and his place in Confederate history. In eight essays, Gallagher explores Lee's operations, his role in maintaining Confederate national morale, and the quality of his generalship and considers how best to consider Lee's legacy in light of the many distortions that grew out of Lost Cause historiography.
Synopsis
"This paperback reprint of one of his collections of essays provides another welcome look at Gallagher's perspectives on compelling aspects of Confederate historiography."
Military History of the West "A very valuable work."
Nymas Review Gallagher demonstrates in his latest book that he is . . . the foremost historian of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia today.
Journal of Military History "Gallagher's work, both in Lee and His Army and elsewhere. . . sets a high standard for the history profession.
Civil War Book Review" Gallagher and the University of North Carolina Press have performed a valuable service for current and future students of Lee and the Lost Cause.
Civil War News A stimulating and thought-provoking book.
Journal of Southern History Gallagher has reinforced his position as one of the nation's leading Civil War historians.
Florida Historical Quarterly