Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
Overview
Historical images of Robert E. Lee and his lieutenants have been shaped to a remarkable degree by former Confederates, who in reminiscences and other writings constructed the Lost Cause interpretation of the conflict. They portrayed Lee as a perfect Christian warrior, Stonewall Jackson as his peerless right arm, and the Army of Northern Virginia as the backbone of Confederate resistance. In his collection of thirteen essays, Gallagher explores the effect of Lost Cause arguments on popular perceptions of Lee and his most famous subordinates, astutely examining the ways in which historical memory is created and perpetuated.Synopsis
Historical images of Robert E. Lee and his lieutenants have been shaped to a remarkable degree by former Confederates, who in reminiscences and other writings constructed the Lost Cause interpretation of the conflict. They portrayed Lee as a perfect Christian warrior, Stonewall Jackson as his peerless right arm, and the Army of Northern Virginia as the backbone of Confederate resistance. In his collection of thirteen essays, Gallagher explores the effect of Lost Cause arguments on popular perceptions of Lee and his most famous subordinates, astutely examining the ways in which historical memory is created and perpetuated.
Library Journal
This volume samples the writings of one of the leading scholars of Confederate military history. Gallagher (American history, Univ. of Virginia) has written extensively about the Army of Northern Virginia and its generals, including its commander, Robert E. Lee. Although properly appreciative of the military skill of the army and its generals, he also offers critical analysis and assessment, and he is well aware of how postwar writings romanticized the Lost Cause and distorted our understanding of events. All but one of these essays have appeared before in print in periodicals, scholarly journals, or as a chapter in a book of essays; the new chapter is a loosely focused discussion of the debate over Confederate symbols and images joined to a defense or battlefield preservation. Readers who enjoy Gallagher's work will welcome the convenience offered by having many of his essays gathered in one place; it is best read in conjunction with the author's compilation Lee the Soldier (LJ 4/15/96).--Brooks D. Simpson, Arizona State Univ., Tempe