Lost Victories: The Military Genius of Stonewall Jackson

by Bevin Alexander

Book Overview

While studies of the American Civil War generally credit Robert E Lee with military expertise, this account argues that Stonewall Jackson was superior strategist who could have won the war for the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805018301
• ISBN13: 9780805018301
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 350 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Lee Worshippers Avoid

I find it downright amusing reading those who say this book unfairly criticizes the sacred Robert E. Lee. While Lee could inspire men, time after time he used the wrong strategy for what he had to work with. As it is brought out in the book, the Union had more than three times (4.6 million) possible soldiers than the South (just over a million). The best strategy would have been to avoid losses and offensive operations except when carefully chosen and destroy the union army as soon as possible. As shown in the book, time after time Lee wasted his soldiers in frontal assaults. Let's look a few of General Lee's disasters: Malvern Hill D.H. Hill wrote afterwards, "It wasn't war; it was murder." Lee's army suffered 5,355 casualties with a frontal assault versus 3,214 Union and nothing was accomplished. Gettysburg - Lee attacked a well-fortified and larger Union army again. He let Stewart leave him blind in enemy territory. Confederate Losses about 23,000 out of 72,000; Federal 23,000 out of 94,000. This includes the disastrous Pickett's Charge. From Wikipedia: Approximately 12,500 men in nine infantry brigades advanced over open fields for three quarters of a mile... with over 50% casualties.

Superb

This book clearly and accurately details the genius of Stonewall Jackson. Alexander's conclusions are not really all that mind-bending, and quite resonable when further examination is done. He is hard on Lee, but only as pertaining to Jackson. All-in-all, a book that is anything but conventional, but remarkable in it's logic.

My Review

This is a great book from a different perspective on the Civil War on a little known general whom made big news and is in my opion the greatest tactician of his time. Alexander did a great job with this book.This is one of my favorite books, too.

A compelling work

Alexander's conclusion about the strategic value of Stonewall Jackson is notable, and worthy of study. It also fits with the portrait of Jackson painted by Burke Davis in his biography "They Called Him Stonewall." Jackson, had he been allowed to, and properly equipped, could very well have won the war before 1863. Had he taken the war to the North, and had Lee's disastrous and bloody Seven Days been averted, there might be two American nations on the continent.

This is a very enthraling book that recals history perfect!!

This novel encorperates the battles and history os the men and weapons that were used to fight then. He lists the strengths and weaknesses of both the Confederates and the Federals. He points out the mistakes and opportunities of both sides as well as makes it dramatic. It may be alittle confusing with all the charactes being brought in and out and skipping from side to side and brigade to brigade. I loved this book and just couldn't put it down ! ! !