Life and Campaigns of Stonewall Jackson (Battlefield Evangelism)

Book Description

Stonewall Jackson. His very name evokes the image of the solid, immovable Confederate general whose sobriquet, earned at the Battle of First Manassas, no longer requires quotation marks. In this volume, Stonewall's pious Christian character, service to the church, unwavering commitment to duty, affectionate role as husband and father, as well as his magnificent service to Virginia are carefully recorded by his close friend Robert Lewis Dabney.

Labeled by some a religious fanatic, General Jackson was simply a consistent biblical Christian who lived out his faith every day, seriously and without compromise. Dabney's account of military life in the field with General Jackson provides poignant insight into the character of the General as they discuss theology and military history, pray together, and gallop to the sound of the guns. In a day bereft of true heroes, Stonewall's gallant deeds and virtuous conduct still move our hearts with admiration. He shows us how a Christian soldier should live and die.

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"Be good, or Stonewall Jackson will get you".

Standing Like a Stone Wall: The Life of General Thomas J. Jackson
Jr., James I. Robertson
Manufacturer: Atheneum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Robert E. Lee: Virginian Soldier, American Citizen

Civil War Virginia: Battleground for a Nation

General A.P. Hill

Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend

ASIN: 068982419X
Release Date: 2001-04-03

Book Description

"YOU MAY BE WHAT EVER YOU WILL RESOLVE TO BE."

This was the credo that governed and defined the life of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, perhaps the most extraordinary figure in American military history. From his childhood as an unloved, poorly educated orphan, it was Jackson's pure determination that impelled him from his humble origins. A shy man, with some particularly odd habits, Jackson was an outcast by many standards. But it was his single-mindedness of purpose that landed him a position at West Point where he struggled but ultimately prevailed. It was his unflappable courage combined with an emerging and unshakeable faith in God that led him to distinguish himself in the Mexican-American War. Then, after serving as a professor at the Virginia Military Institute, Jackson rose to true glory during the Civil War where, during the first major battle, he received what is perhaps the most famous nickname in military history. Beloved by his men whom he drove to the limits of endurance, feared and yet admired greatly by his enemies whom he constantly surprised with his brilliant tactics, Jackson was a general who, in the heat of battle, was seemingly blind to his own personal danger. Victory after victory, he allowed himself no personal triumph but would often be seen astride his faithful horse, Sorrel, his hand thrust toward the sky, deep in prayer of thanks to the God who had allowed his cause to prevail.

James I. Robertson Jr., history professor at Virginia Tech and the recognized authority on the life of "Stonewall" Jackson, offers young readers a gripping biography of an extraordinary man.

Customer Reviews:

"Be good, or Stonewall Jackson will get you"........2006-12-04

This, according to a very enjoyable biography by James Robertson, is how Union mothers in the years of the Civil War tried to convince their unruly children to behave. It is one of many fascinating stories in the incredible life and military career of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

I have always heard Jackson described as "Lee's right hand" and "the Confederacy's greatest general". I have never studied exactly how he came to gain this reputation, nor considered how much it was deserved. While I was reading this book, I came across a military history magazine with the cover story (I think this is how they phrased it) "How Strange WAS Stonewall Jackson?" After finishing this biography, I'd have to say "pretty darn strange". He was a man of mediocre intellect but exceptional drive. He had a religious faith of childlike simplicity to which he was entirely devoted, and which left him utterly convinced that he was called to military service. He behaved with reckless courage in many battles, in part because he seems to have found it inconceivable that God would let him be injured. He fought for the South, and believed slavery was part of God's plan, but he was a devoted teacher of religion and literacy to slaves in his home church. He drove his men on such fast forced marches that they took to calling themselves "foot cavalry", yet they loved him like a father. He was a stern disciplinarian with students a Virginia Military Institute, yet a pushover with young children. The contradictions continue for most of the book.

I struggled to decide how to rate this. I think the reader most apt to enjoy this would be one with an interest in history , but enough unfamiliarity with the details of the key Civil War battles that this would not seem redundant. I think a avid fan of such histories would still get enough out of this to find it worthwhile. I think that a reader not in those two categories might be somewhat put off by Jackson's strangeness, but would still be rewarded with a fast-paced look at the details of a great American's life. I give it four stars, and I'd go to 4 and 1/2 if I could.

Early life and letters of General Thomas J. Jackson, "Stonewall" Jackson,

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Early life and letters of General Thomas J. Jackson, "Stonewall" Jackson,
Thomas Jackson Arnold
Manufacturer: The Dietz Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007DR7H4

Richard S. Ewell: A Soldier's Life (Civil War America)

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A Complete Look At Ewell: Modest but Dutiful Soldier
Are you sure Robert K. Krick read this?
Ewell gets his turn in the spotlight...
An Excellent Read!
This is a fine biography of confederate Gen. Richard S.Ewell

Richard S. Ewell: A Soldier's Life (Civil War America)
Donald C. Pfanz
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 080785817X

Amazon.com

Confederate general Richard Ewell has never received the attention he deserves, according to his biographer Donald C. Pfanz. Ewell's many impressive military achievements have gone largely unnoticed, and his few failures--among them arguably blowing an opportunity to turn Gettysburg into a Southern victory--have often served as reasons to blame Confederate losses on anybody but its more revered generals, such as Robert E. Lee. Ewell's greatest accomplishment, suggests Pfanz, was leading third-rate troops in defense of Petersburg when Federal soldiers broke through at Fort Harrison. "Had [Stonewall] Jackson been in charge rather than Ewell, historians would have touted the battle as a military masterpiece. But ... the episode was forgotten. Historians have all but ignored it since." Despite such assessments, Richard S. Ewell: A Soldier's Life is no hagiography; Pfanz cites shortcomings in both Ewell's personality (bad temper) and judgment (at Spotsylvania, for instance). Still, this book is mainly a robust defense of a second-tier general who deserves better than what he's received from other historians.

Book Description

General Richard Stoddert Ewell holds a unique place in the history of the Army of Northern Virginia. For four months Ewell was Stonewall Jackson's most trusted subordinate; when Jackson died, Ewell took command of the Second Corps, leading it at Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House.

In this biography, Donald Pfanz presents the most detailed portrait yet of the man sometimes referred to as Stonewall Jackson's right arm. Drawing on a rich array of previously untapped original source materials, Pfanz concludes that Ewell was a highly competent general, whose successes on the battlefield far outweighed his failures.

Customer Reviews:

A Complete Look At Ewell: Modest but Dutiful Soldier .......2006-07-07

This is a refreshing and informative look at Richard Ewell, before, after and of course during the Civil War. Often described as a failure after succeeding Jackson and becoming leader of the Lee's new 2nd Corp, Ewell has suffered severe criticism for the first day of Gettysburg and for his emotional response to the breach at Spotsylvania. Pfanz provides a fair and colorful look at the dependable soldier that fought the second half of the war with a wooden leg and overall served much better than superficial history would lead you to believe. Pfanz profiles Ewell's early life efficiently noting that Ewell's family as a whole were eccentric and Ewell himself a very thin and balding man who spoke with a lisp. Although lacking in military forbearance, Ewell completes West Point and serves gallantly as a dragoon officer in the west occasionally fighting Indians with high praise. Pfanz provides a full perspective of Ewell as a brave soldier who initially though Jackson crazy and in a rather amusing historical telling, Pfanz describes how at one point several generals in Jackson's command think each other unbalanced. As Pfanz describes, Ewell fights extremely well for Jackson particularly at Cross Keys and at Winchester. Although literally pegged as an officer that follows explicit orders, Pfanz clarifies that Ewell fought extraordinary well particularly in the initial stages of the Gettysburg campaign in capturing Winchester and marching virtually to Harrisonburg. He also fought brilliantly at the Wilderness and for the most part at Spotsylvania. As Pfanz notes, Ewell saved Richmond during Butler's great onslaught attack in the fall of 1864, which is a little appreciated fact. After Butler captured Fort Harrison his attack is stymied by Ewell who masks his small force by using the woods to limit the view of his small defiant band. Richard Sommer's writes of this wonderfully in his book "Richmond Reeemed". Pfanz notes Ewell's one quality that may have not worked in his favor; he frequently asked the opinions of others in contrast to Jubal Early who frequently gave opinions. At Gettysburg, Lee's directives were not precise to Ewell who contended with his July 1 victory with rounding up 5,000 union prisoners, waiting for Johnson's division along with a report of union troops appearing on his left flank. On top of that, Early would not support an attack on Cemetery or Culp's Hill. Nor would Early support shifting Ewell's corps to the right to pull the lines together as Lee wished. Pfanz notes that communication failures appear to be the biggest command problem at Gettysburg along with a lack of forceful leadership from Lee along with the union's will to fight. Ewell also suffers a slight from Gordon, whose self serving personal history make him a questionable source, stung Ewell in Lee's eyes as Gordon relates how Ewell virtually squandered a surprise attack on the union right. Acting judiciously, Ewell orders the attack but may have looked inept to Lee after his brilliant attack and defense in the Wilderness. The almost humorous episode of Ewell trying to stop retreating soldiers at Spotsylvania, cussing at them and slapping them on the back with his sword appears too much for Lee and Ewell's ill advised attack that was suppose to be more reconnaissance in nature virtually keys Lee's decision to replace Ewell with Early when Ewell is momentarily ill. Unfortunately, Ewell's romance with his old flame and new bride caused a huge negative reaction with his staff particularly when she intervened with staff activities and her husband's time raising doubts about his focus. Pfanz provides fascinating detail on the correspondence between Ewell and Lee where Ewell sadly tries to return to command while Lee gently tries to tell him he is not needed at the front. Ewell finishes his confederate career in charge of the Richmond defenses finishing the war on the road to Appomattox at Saylers Creek when he is cut off and alone with Anderson's division. Pretty amazing story after the war that the man missing a leg, with several horses shot out from under him, and two horses roll over him, survives to live a life as a vigorous business man. Ewell was a modest man who, unlike Longstreet, died before Jubal Early rewrote his version of confederate history.

Are you sure Robert K. Krick read this?.......2005-10-31

I disagree with a line written by Mr. Pfanz in his biography of Ewell.
On page 326 of the book he discusses the failure of General Robert Rodes to attack Cemetery Hill the evening of July 2.This has been discussed in every book I have read on Gettysburg. However, Mr Pfanz has decided to put his own spin on an old subject. He states "he(Rodes) tried to deflect his failure onto his subordinate Stephen D. Ramseur." This is the first accusation of disloyalty and pettiness that I have ever read of General Rodes.
I would ask the reader to check Rode's Official Report on the battle and try to discern how Mr. Pfanz could have come to the conclusion that the General was guilty of something so dishonorable.
Too bad Rodes is not here to defend himself. It is easy to malign the dead.

Pleasant reading but nothing really new on Ewell- a kind,brave and generous man who was very good at being a general until he was so severely wounded at Groveton.

Ewell gets his turn in the spotlight..........2002-04-13

Pfanz offers a most credible account of the life and times of one of the "lesser" lights of the Confederate pantheon. While indeed "Baldy Dick" lacks the nobility of Genl Lee or the exciting eccentricity of Thom Jackson, this offering serves the good general well. I found the author pretty balanced in his recitation of Ewell's trials and tribulation, be it in the realm of military action or his personal life. While this text is 500+ pages of small print, those with a particular interest in Confederate military lore will appreciate author Pfanz's efforts to bring Richard Stoddert Ewell to life...

An Excellent Read!.......2001-11-09

Gen. Richard Ewell. A figure from history that has been all but ignored until now. While many blame Ewell for the loss at Gettysburg, One finds a different side of the story. The reading flows smoothly. I have really enjoyed reading this book and getting to know Gen.Richard Ewell. The author expolores his background as a Dragoon, fighting Indians and his faithful service to the Confederacy. Also mentioned is his conversion to Christainity as a result of his rubbing elbows with Stonewall Jackson. I suggest you add this book to your library!

This is a fine biography of confederate Gen. Richard S.Ewell.......1998-07-18

There are three impressive aspects of this work. First, it is quite readable. The battle scenes and other events are as lively as a full color film. The historic characters are full dimensional figures who inhabit the book rather than being referred to. Even minor Ewell family members are brought to life realistically.

Second, the terrain is imaginatively and graphically depicted. The author has a real sense of the places and the climate of the times. This is also supported by good made-to-order maps of important locales.

Third, practically every assertion in the book is backed up by solid primary and secondary historical sources. This is done with no intrusion on the readability of the text. No judgment is made without balancing all extant points of view. A real work of moderm scholarship.

Book Description

Davis approaches the subjects with the zest of an author who has a richly interesting human being to write about.--Bruce Catton

Customer Reviews:

Pretty good.......2006-12-22

I enjoyed this, but can't say I learned a lot that I didn't already know from other readings. Still, its interesting subject matter about an interesting person. If you're interested in blow-by-blow of the battles, this isn't the book for you.

Historical Background.......2005-05-26

Where can I find a historical Background of this book?

Mighty Stonewall........2004-01-08

This book has come in for some criticism from other reviewers and many of their points are well taken. One has to remember however that this book was first published in 1954, a time when the cult of the lost cause was still very much alive and kicking. This is a prime example of civil war literature of that era. Davis actually shows a good deal of courage in that he did criticize the mighty Stonewall at all. No, this book does not compare favorably with some of the civil war studies that are available today, but it still has a place. In fact this would be an excellent book for someone with no background in civil war studies. For someone who has never heard of A.P. Hill or Richard Ewell this book offers an excellent introduction to the campaigns in Virginia.

Davis has a pleasant writing style, which makes this an easy book to read. He sprinkles his narrative with amusing antidotes which add greatly to the book and he does not get bogged down in battle the battle details that derail so many books of this sort. The map of the valley campaign does allow the reader to get an idea of the relation of the significant points to each other but a few more maps sprinkled here and there would be of a great deal of help. Jackson of course wore his religion on his sleeve and Davis deals with that extensively. Calvin's influence is obvious although I found it interesting that while in Mexico the General flirted with the Roman Catholic Church. Some of Jackson's habits however cannot be explained by his religious beliefs and some of his behavior is frankly quite odd. Davis gets points for pointing out that Jackson absolutely refused to take any responsibility for failure, always looking for a scapegoat. This of course explains the long running feuds he had with some of his generals. In 1954 circles that criticism of the much revered Stonewall must have raised some eyebrows for as every southerner who is over 40 knows, Stonewall was always right and we would have won easily at Gettysburg if he had only been there. Every time we go to Gettysburg my wife points that out to me and thinks I am crazy because I don't necessarily agree with her.

I do have a problem with the fact that Davis does not have the courage to take on the Jackson legend so far as to point out his failures during the Seven Days Battles. I realize that it would have been a hard sell in 1954 but Davis fails to do much more than point out that Jackson was unusually slow during this period and does not really even attempt to answer the questions raised by the General's behavior. In fact, had Jackson not failed so badly during this campaign the Union army might have been almost destroyed. After Jackson's failure below Richmond it is indeed almost a miracle that Lee would later have enough confidence in Jackson to give him command of a corps. A lot more detail would have helped in this area.

Overall though, I found this to be an excellent biography. There is to be found here what was new information in 1954. This book in fact has been the foundation for many of the later and yes, better studies of Stonewall Jackson. This book has remained in print now for fifty years. That in itself should be a clear indicator that this is one of the all time classic studies of the civil war.

Excellent and Easy To Understand!.......2003-07-23

This is a well written and easy to follow book on the life of "Stonewall" Jackson. The book not only covers Jackson's military genius, but probes into the mind of the man himself. You come away from this book with a deeper understanding of Jackson, his strong religious convictions, his military fierceness, his strict discipline and his gentle side as well.
Upon reading this book, one realizes that Jackson was a complex man. Highly recommended reading for all Civil War buffs!

A capable, though not outstanding, work on Jackson.......2002-12-14

Certainly one of the most ingenious commanders of the Civil War, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson provides an interesting profile for a biographer. He was a brilliant commander, and led his troops on grinding marches for days at a time in order to secure gallant victories in the face of insurmountable odds. When he died Robert E. Lee lamented that he had lost his right arm, and indeed Jackson's loss was deeply felt by the Confederacy.

There was more to this man, however, than just the brilliant military strategist. He was also a devout man of God, humble and ever-willing to submit to the Divine will and give Him all the glory for his many victories. Behind General Jackson there was Jackson the believer, and the latter is just as much a part of Stonewall's history as the former.

Burke Davis does a decent job of narrating Jackson's life, though not extraordinary. The battle sequences are vague and difficult to follow, and the maps provide no assistance whatsoever. Davis frequently assumes he knows what Jackson was thinking, and often tells us just how Jackson felt about something. Sources are not cited, and we are left to wonder how much of the story is actually based on fact, and how much on speculation.

Davis's biography is satisfactory, but it does not do Stonewall's military actions justice. Some of the maneuvers he made and the victories he had were downright brilliant, and Davis leaves much to be desired in this respect. Still, the biography gives a decent portrait of Jackson's life. There are many biographies on Stonewall Jackson out there, and I would recommend this one only if one better is not available (as in my city's library).

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Excellent insight of one of the greatest generals in American history
SOLDIER OF THE CROSS
Great Short Read
the source of Stonewall's maxims
An inspiring look at a man 100% determined to overcome his limitations

Stonewall Jackson's Book of Maxims
Stonewall Jackson
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1581822960

Book Description

Few men have ever started from humbler beginnings and risen to greater heights. Thomas J. Jackson never sought fame, but he could not escape its light when opportunity came. At the same time, the louder people cheered, the more embarrassed he became. Fatally wounded by friendly fire on May 2, 1863, Jackson has continued to live in the American memory. His sobriquet "Stonewall" remains the most famous nickname in American military history. The manner in which Jackson lived his life was heavily influenced by the writings of Lord Chesterfield, whose published letters to his son on self-improvement were popular in polite society. No single work—save the Bible—more influenced Jackson in his evolution as a polished gentleman. As a cadet at West Point, he felt compelled to compose his own book of maxims. Jackson's maxims are reproduced here as he wrote them. Accompanying each are insights into the man by today's foremost authority on the general, James I. Robertson Jr.!

This information includes the origin of the adage, one or more quotations paralleling the maxim, how Jackson may have applied the idea in his own life, and how certain maxims offer insights into the mind of the man. Following Jackson's death in 1863, this book of maxims disappeared. Subsequent generations could only assume that it was a casualty of time. When Robertson began to research his landmark biography of Jackson in the late 1980s, he came across the original notebook of maxims in a collection of papers that had been given to Tulane University at the turn of the twentieth century. The contents are reproduced here in full.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent insight of one of the greatest generals in American history.......2007-09-13

Not only does this book provide the maxims written by Stonewall but it also provides insight into those maxims. Fantastic book and I highly recommend it to anybody who wants to better understand the man they called "Stonewall".

SOLDIER OF THE CROSS.......2007-05-28

Regardless of who actually originated the maxims that Stonewall collected, what is amazing to me is how steadfastly he followed every single one of these sayings incorporating them into his own character. Each of these sayings was a command, which he seemed to take to his soldier's heart, as if it had come from G-d Himself. I'm sure he wasn't thinking of publication when he collected these, nor was he submitting it for an academic grade, lying that every single phrase had originated from his gray (intensely) matter. He was an amazing gentleman, and please don't ever get rid of West Point. Some fine people come out of that institution.

Great Short Read.......2007-01-03

I loved reading this book! Anecdotes were used from a multiple of sources to describe the marvelous character of General Jackson. The material presented here can readily be applied to your own life today. It is the kind of book you can read and walk away refreshed in not only learning what it takes to be a great man and American hero, but a true man of God. It will be a stretch for most readers just to reach up and touch General Stonewall Jackson's shoelaces.

the source of Stonewall's maxims.......2006-11-15

James I. Robertson, Jr. is an indefatigable researcher, and no one knows more about Jackson than he does. But this book is not his best work.

Unbeknownst to Robertson, Stonewall's maxims come almost exclusively from William Alcott's _Young Man's Guide_ and Franklin's Autobiography. Ironically, Alcott was the uncle of Louisa May Alcott and the brother of transcendentalist Bronson Alcott.

Please forgive my self-promotion, as this article focuses on the maxim book: see Wallace Hettle, "The Minister, the Martyr, and the Maxim: Robert Lewis Dabney and Stonewall Jackson Biography," Civil War History, Dec. 2003.

An inspiring look at a man 100% determined to overcome his limitations.......2006-06-11

Jackson is a fascinating man who had some really serious problems and issues but who was determined to apply his faith in God and his absolute best efforts towards being the very best man he could be. The commentary in this book draws that point out very well.

The maxims are Jackson's self help book or memory aide to his efforts to overcoming his painful social awkwardness. In other words these are the things that Jackson felt he needed to work on badly enough to write down for future reference. As a piece of self revelation it is pretty profound.

The quotes in the book from Jackson's wife and associates show just how far he got in his quest to improve. He never totally overcame a lot of his problems (after all, who does?), but the effort he put into the attempt is breathtaking and, as I found, very inspiring. This is a short book and well worth reading and re-reading.

General Lee's Warrior General Bee's Stonewall Volume II: A Biography of Lt. General Thomas J. Jackson, His Life and Combat

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General Lee's Warrior General Bee's Stonewall Volume II: A Biography of Lt. General Thomas J. Jackson, His Life and Combat
William W. Means
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 141202756X
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Product Description

The life and combat of Lt. Gen. Jackson: an exciting story of courage and determination to become educated (West Point grad), and defend his beloved state against the Yankee invaders!

Decoying the Yanks: Jackson's Valley Campaign (Civil War (Time-Life Books))

Average customer rating:

Surprisingly bad, the worst in the Time-Life series

Decoying the Yanks: Jackson's Valley Campaign (Civil War (Time-Life Books))
Champ Clark , and Time-Life Books
Manufacturer: Time-Life Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0809447258

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly bad, the worst in the Time-Life series.......2001-06-05

I've found the Time-Life series to be generally well done, presenting mostly introductory and basic material, but at least accurate. This volume is an exception. Despite conferring with Robertson, Jackson's main biographer, the author still repeats the myths about lemons, Jackson standing sole guard for his army, etc. etc. Overall the analysis seems light and the maps, which are very good in some other volumes, are too few. This book seems to me to only be worth reading for the illustrations. Skip it, and get Tanner's book instead.

May I Quote You, Stonewall Jackson: Observations and Utterances of the South's Great Generals (May I Quote You--?,)

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Great book of quotes
"Charge, men, and yell like furies!"
Really shows who Stonewall Jackson really is

May I Quote You, Stonewall Jackson: Observations and Utterances of the South's Great Generals (May I Quote You--?,)

Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1888952369

Customer Reviews:

Great book of quotes.......2003-07-25

If you like StoneWall Jackson, You'll love this book. There are so many famous quotes here. Many the Civil War buffs know, many they may not be aware of. From his most quoted lines to some very obscure ones.

You can't go wrong with this book

"Charge, men, and yell like furies!".......2000-07-17

So much has been written about Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson that at times it become hard to separate the reality from the myths. This isn't a criticism but rather just a fact - history is interpreted in so many ways and this applies to Stonewall as it can to any other historical figure.

This little book of quotes, both by Jackson and by those who knew him give us a better understanding of Jackson - the man and the soldier. There are quotes by Lee and McClellan, Garnett and Ewell, but it is the words of Jackson himself, which come across with power and passion. Indeed, at times you can almost feel the piercing blueness of his gaze as he moved into battle.

This is a good little book, it gives a depth of insight into Jackson without having to read longer biographies. I recommend it to you.

Really shows who Stonewall Jackson really is.......2000-01-10

I love learning about the Stonewall Jackson. By reading this book you found out that everytime Jackson won a battle he did not take credit for the victory he would give it to God. Stonewall Jackson would do anything for his contury and God. When reading this you found out how religous he is. My favorite quote would be, "Our God was my shield. His protecting care is an additional cause for gratitude." This book really shows the true Stonewall Jackson. I learend a lot about how even his enemys love him. This is a great book for anyone to read that loves the Civil War or Stonewall Jackson.

Average customer rating:

A Great Read!
Is This Memoir a Hoax?
Classic Memoir of the Civil War
A Great Memoir and A Fun Read!

I Rode with Stonewall
Henry Kyd Douglas
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0807803375

Book Description

Stonewall Jackson depended on him; General Lee complimented him; Union soldiers admired him; and women in Maryland, Virginia, and even Pennsylvania adored him—the young, dashing, handsome Henry Kyd Douglas. He rode with Stonewall; he fought by the model of the incomparable Ashby; he lived, joked, and courted with Jeb Stuart.

From his meeting with John Brown, alias Isaac Smith, shortly before the Brown Raid, through the long, bitter years of the Civil War, he clung to the Southern cause, fought its battles, and endured its defeats. During and shortly after the war he set down his experiences of great men and great days. In a resonant prose almost unique among soldiers and rare among writers, he wrote as simply and intimately of history as though it were a jovial anecdote, spun out after dinner for the entertainment of his friends.

He tells of the persimmon tree that the General climbed but could not descend; the irate farmer who upbraided Jackson for crossing his field; the lemon that Stonewall sucked all during the battle at Cold Harbor. Here is one of the finest and most remarkable stories to come out of any war, written wholly firsthand from notes and diaries made on the battlefield.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Read! .......2007-08-20

Written by a man who was close to Jackson, but published over 75 years after the fact, this account may or may not be totally factual. Nevertheless, even if it contains a modicum of BS, it is still first-hand BS, and to me this is so much more interesting than accepting someone's perhaps biased "interpretation" of the same events well over a century later.

Is This Memoir a Hoax? .......2006-02-20

I read this book in 1979, and would rate it highly as a good read.
However, I was disappointed a few years ago to learn that the entire thing is a fabrication, a string of lies from beginning to end.
A lot of men lie about their military service. Apparently Douglas was one of the more flagrant exemplers.

Unfortunately, I can't back up what I'm saying. I have no source. I forget where I read it.

While re-reading a passage in Shelby Foote's narrative history, I came across the account of Stonewall sitting on the fence, eating the lemon. Douglas is, I believe, the main, if not the only source for the "Lemon Legend."
I wondered to myself, "Now where did I read that Douglas's memoir was an utter fabrication? I'll check the Amazon reviews; surely someone will have debunked this book."

So here I am. My only point is, don't believe me or Douglas.
Let the Reader Beware.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

Classic Memoir of the Civil War.......2004-10-02

"I Rode with Stonewall" is one of the finest personal narratives of the Civil War, America's most decisive and costly conflict. The author, Henry Kyd Douglas, began writing this memoir soon after the conclusion of the war, but put it aside for more than thirty years while he practiced law and raised a family. At his death, his book about the war had not been edited and it wasn't until a descendent discovered the transcript and found a publisher that it was finally released in 1940, on the even of another great martial struggle. I purchased my first copy on a visit to the Fredericksburg battlefield more than twenty years ago and after reading most of it on a flight back from Washington D.C. to California, left it on the plane and in the days before the Internet, it was hard to secure another. Fortunately, on another tour of Civil War battlefields and museums, I managed to bring a copy back for my library - it's that memorable a book. Henry Kyd Douglas was a native of Maryland and a dashing young officer who served on Stonewall Jackson's staff in the early stages of the Civil War. And, like many other Confederate officers and enlisted men, he was devoted to the stern, brilliant artilleryman. Douglas later had a field command and despite being wounded no less than six times, he survived four years of brutal war. Unfortunately, other young heroes of the Confederacy, friends of Douglas like John Pegram, Sandy Pendleton and John Pelham did not. Douglas was handsome, dashing, brave and outgoing and because of these qualities, he was popular with officers on both sides in the war and a favorite of the Southern belles. His account is peppered with fond encounters, but always chivalrous, he abbreviates the names of the women he flirted with. Although the book is full of death, of lives lost in the ill-fated cause of the Confederacy and the abominable institution of slavery, it also shows that there was an idealistic and romantic side to the war. Even in the service of a bad cause, the terrible conflict between North and South brought out the deeper qualities of the men that served. Jeffrey Morseburg

A Great Memoir and A Fun Read!.......1998-05-29

This book, first published in 1940 - long after Douglas' death - is based on Douglas' war-time journal and personal papers. Douglas began to assemble them into book form several times, but never had them published; his relatives did......What emerges are wonderful portraits of Douglas, Jackson (for whom Douglas was a staff officer) and many other well-known (and not so well-known) soldiers and civilians caught in the Civil War. Douglas is decidedly pro-Jackson, but Douglas also shows us the real Jackson: a man who could be cruel to the extreme and then gentle and kind a few moments later. The book is fill with humorous anecdotes, which make it a "fun read" - I could not put it down. Yet there is an underlying sadness in the book, as one watches Douglas' many friends being killed off, sees the homes of his family and civilian friends burned or otherwise destroyed. Douglas never explicitly states it, but the reader can feel the anguish that Douglas - and many others - experienced....... One thing Douglas did not do was go into great detail about each battle. He reasoned that later historians, with a better overall view of things, would do a much better job. What he does do is "put you there" - whether in battle, in camp, or on some small adventure. This is one fantastic book! Along with the memoirs of Gen. E.P. Alexander, these memoirs are about the best I have ever read. Simply a great book!

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