Monthly Archives: May 2011

History is so intriguing to me. My favorite historical topic is the Civil War. Understanding the Civil War is the best way to avoid another one. I’m also a huge fan of George Washington, as evidenced when I named him as one of my top generals along with with General Petraeus. But, before Washington became a hero General he was a normal person.

Simon & Schuster sent me a copy of the recently published book “George Washington’s First War: His Early Military Adventures” by David A. Clary. I actually finished it a few weeks ago, but while I was reading this one they sent me “A Glorious Army: Robert E. Lee’s Triumph, 1862-1863.” Lee was also mentioned in my “greatest generals” blog from Friday. Since I have gotten WAY behind in my reviews thanks for a combination of military and family obligations, I decided that I would combine the reviews, so stay with me.

Before George Washington was a general, he was a Colonel in the colonial Army. Clary did a good job making what I think is frankly a boring and stuffy part of our history. In the 1700s, the country was still young and had a major European influence. Many of the nation’s customs and courtesies were dictated by one’s status. Status was dictated largely by land ownership. Being major landowners, Washington’s family set out to turn George into a member of Virginia’s ruling class.

Clary flushes out how Washington’s life was altered and the steps that he took to become the founder of a nation that would take his name as its capital. Washington’s first job was as a surveyor, a dangerous job at the time. In the 1700s, there was a lot of tension between the early Americans and the Indian nation as a whole. In addition, many of the Indian tribes were also at war with each other. Expansion was becoming inevitable and the tribes were beginning to realize the advantage to being on our good side. To Washington, venturing out into this world represented what Clary called a “grand adventure.”

“George Washington’s First War” is about a lot more than just Washington’s battles, trials and tribulations. Clary gives the ready an early indication into what kind of person Washington was. Recently discovered letters showed him to be quite the ladies man. He was shaving by the time her turned 16 and a teenage growth spurt catapulted him to a final height of six foot three.

Clary does a great job telling the story of a man that a lot of people feel to be quite stodgy and untouchable. He tells the story of Washington’s human side, including some of his early failures. Everyone knows the story of George Washington’s successful life as a military general whose success led to the founding of greatest experiment in democracy. Clary tells the story of Washington during a crucial, formative period of his life, and an indispensable back story to the making of a great man.

If you want to learn what made the man, you have to pick up David A. Clary’s book, “GEORGE WASHINGTON’S FIRST WAR: His Early Military Adventures.” A great read for any history buff that won’t bore you to sleep.

In “A GLORIOUS ARMY: ROBERT E. LEE’S TRIUMPH 1862-1863″, acclaimed Civil War historian Jeffry D. Wert masterfully deconstructs thirteen months of unparalleled military triumph, examining every element of Lee’s success while simultaneously dissecting the innate organizational flaws and battlefield tendencies that virtually guaranteed eventual disaster. Laudatory without hero worship, critical without carping, Wert employs narrative history and analysis to reward readers with a completely objective account of not only what happened, but why.

When most people think of Robert E. Lee, they think of the man that commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War…and lost. Even when all the odds were against him, Lee was adamant in his beliefs and support of the South. To this day, Lee is a hero to much of the south for taking it to the Union and at least making them understand his point of view.

Prior to being selected to lead the Confederate Army Lee’s predecessor, Joseph Johnston, was doing a great job of losing the war. Lee was chosen by President Davis to lead the Army with the northerners literally knocking at the front door of the Confederate capital. Morale was low, troop discipline was non-existent, and defeat seemed inevitable at any moment. Lee turned that around and had a remarkable string of successful offenses that shifted the momentum of the North.

Much of this history is lost in the overarching story of the story of the Civil War that ended up as a loss for the Confederates. Though Lee’s ultimate defeat was based in part of his own miscalculations, Wert concludes that “a singular fact stands foremost: Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia recast the war’s direction. By maneuver and daring, Lee led his army on what must be regarded as the Confederacy’s best route to a victory against formidable odds. No American army, against such odds…compiled such a record as that of the Army of Northern Virginia, and none altered the direction of a conflict more.”

Wert proves why he is fast becoming, if not already, the country’s preeminent subject matter expert on Civil War history, especially from a southern perspective (I also highly recommend his book “Cavalryman of the Lost Cause: A Biography of J.E.B. Stuart”). Wert’s skillful and competent writing virtually creates a mental motion picture as he takes you through the battles leading up to Ghettysburg. Some of these battles are accidental successes while others are tragic miscalculations.

The thing I think that most people will like about “A Glorious Army” is that Wert doesn’t talk about the Lee’s four major victories – the Seven Days, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville – as a monotone textbook history. In his own words, Wert’s intent “is not to offer detailed tactical studies of each battle, for there are excellent works on all of the engagement, but to offer a narrative and analysis of the fighting, with a focus on leadership and on the experiences of men on the firing lines.”

Wert draws his information from first hand accounts written in letters to loved ones, diaries, and military journals. These writings are culled from every level within the military of the time, from the most simple of privates to the official transcripts of Jefferson Davis himself.

The leadership lessons in “A Glorious Army” should be taught in every military classroom, enlisted and officer. Lee was not only a brilliant tactician, he was prepared to take risks to ultimately save the lives of the troops he so dearly loved. Lee understood that success on the battlefield requires discipline and respect in the rear. A fellow blogger noted recently when I complained about the dire appearance of one of my unit’s motor pools that “how the motor pool looks is a direct indicator of unit combat readiness?”

This is exactly what Lee thought when he first surveyed his new Army. There was no discipline. Because the troops chose their leaders, there was a lot of fraternization that affected morale since they were chosen on popularity, not necessarily by their ability to lead. Through “do as I do” leadership, Lee turned a ragtag bunch of independent men into a force to be feared.

Because the book isn’t so centered on tactics and techniques, virtually anyone wanting to study and learn something about why the South was engaged in the Civil War and how it was fought can pick up this book and understand its lessons. In the same light, even tacticians and military leaders will gain valuable insight into what makes a truly great leader. It’s written in a way that grips the reader and pulls him back 1862 to fight alongside Lee and his subordinate Generals. Before you know it, the movie is over and you find yourself turning the last page.

I recommend you pick up both books and read them side by side as I did. It actually worked out great that I was slow to start Clary’s book because Wert’s book deals with perhaps the most important event in American history following the founding of our great nation. A GLORIOUS ARMY definitely stands as Jeffry D. Wert’s finest achievement in a writing career that was already among the most distinguished of all Civil War historians. Simon & Schuster are really hitting on all cylinders lately!