Embattled Rebel: Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Civil WarFrom the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom, a powerful new reckoning with Jefferson Davis as military commander of the Confederacy “The best concise book we have on the subject… McPherson is… our most distinguished scholar of the Civil War era.” —The New York Times Book Review History has not been kind to Jefferson Davis. Many Americans of his own time and in later generations considered him an incompetent leader, not to mention a traitor. Not so, argues James M. McPherson. In Embattled Rebel, McPherson shows us that Davis might have been on the wrong side of history, but that it is too easy to diminish him because of his cause’s failure. Gravely ill throughout much of the Civil War, Davis nevertheless shaped and articulated the principal policy of the Confederacy—the quest for independent nationhood—with clarity and force. He exercised a tenacious hands-on influence in the shaping of military strategy, and his close relationship with Robert E. Lee was one of the most effective military-civilian partnerships in history. Lucid and concise, Embattled Rebel presents a fresh perspective on the Civil War as seen from the desk of the South’s commander in chief. |
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Embattled Rebel: Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Civil War James M. McPherson Limited preview - 2015 |
Embattled Rebel: Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Civil War James M. McPherson No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
appointed arms army Army of Tennessee asked Atlanta attack authority Battle Beauregard began believed Bragg Brown campaign capital cause Civil commander in chief Confederacy Confederate Congress continued Crist criticism Davis’s defeat defense Department Diary division effect effort enemy entry fall February fight force Georgia governor Grant Hill Hood hoped invasion issue James Jefferson Davis John Johnston Joseph July June Kentucky Kirby Lee’s letter Lincoln March meeting miles military Mississippi moved named North Carolina Northern offensive officers operations ordered peace Pemberton points political Polk position president proposed reinforcements remained retreat Richmond River Robert Rowland secretary seemed Senate sent Sept September Sherman slaves Smith soldiers South Southern Stephens strategy success supplies Tennessee thousand told troops turned Union United University Press urged Vicksburg victory Virginia wanted West wrote York