An intellectual dialogue of the highest plane achieved in America; the correspondence between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson spanned half a century and embraced government; philosophy; religion; quotidiana; and family griefs and joys. First meeting as delegates to the Continental Congress in 1775; they initiated correspondence in 1777; negotiated jointly as ministers in Europe in the 1780s; and served the early Republic--each; ultimately; in its highest office. At Jefferson's defeat of Adams for the presidency in 1800; they became estranged; and the correspondence lapses from 1801 to 1812; then is renewed until the death of both in 1826; fifty years to the day after the Declaration of Independence.Lester J. Cappon's edition; first published in 1959 in two volumes; provides the complete correspondence between these two men and includes the correspondence between Abigail Adams and Jefferson. Many of these letters have been published in no other modern edition; nor does any other edition devote itself exclusively to the exchange between Jefferson and the Adamses. Introduction; headnotes; and footnotes inform the reader without interrupting the speakers. This reissue of The Adams-Jefferson Letters in a one-volume unabridged edition brings to a broader audience one of the monuments of American scholarship and; to quote C. Vann Woodward; 'a major treasure of national literature.'
#985115 in Books The University of North Carolina Press 2009-07-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.50 x 6.40 x 9.20l; 1.75 #File Name: 0807832774456 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Academic; yet readableBy Thomas W. RobinsonThis is one of those rare history books that will be of importance and interest to both academics and Civil War "buffs". While many readers may not agree with Sutherland's thesis; it is hard to deny how well written and engaging this book is; while at the same time meticulously researched. An expert of guerilla warfare during the Civil War; Sutherland contends that the guerilla conflicts were not an afterthought or curiosity; but were actually decisive in the outcome of the Civil War. Much of his basis for this assertion rests on the idea that most Southern civilians; who were far removed from the battlefields; found the guerilla conflicts to be much more important on a personal level. Whether supporters of the Union or Confederacy; the civilians were impacted by guerilla warfare much more than they were by the battles in faraway places. In this way; Sutherland; although he does not explicitly say so; agrees with those who have argued the Confederacy was undone by conflicts from within--it was the constant guerilla fighting that eroded support for the Confederacy for many civilians. Attempting to cover the entire guerilla conflict; from Missouri to Virginia; Texas to Florida; Sutherland shows that there was often conflict between the Southern public and the Confederate government. From the start of the war; southerners often argued in favor of guerilla fighting as a way to defeat the north; likening themselves to the colonists who had defeated the British during the American Revolution. In fact; several Southern guerilla leaders were called "the Swamp Fox of the Confederacy"; thus comparing Civil War leaders to Revolutionary guerilla hero Francis Marion. The Confederate government; however; was not so sold and tried to reign in the partisans throughout the war. And even when the Confederacy raised official partisan outfits; they found many soldiers wanted to join units closer to home; thus diminishing the number of men in the main theaters of the war. The Union response helped in this respect. Unionists were just as vicious as their rebellious neighbors. Furthermore; Union generals and soldiers had no clue how to deal with the Confederate guerillas and struggled with fighting guerillas while also maintaining the goodwill of the people and protecting supply lines. Often times; Union generals and soldiers treated guerillas and civilians harshly; causing animosity among Confederates. So while some southerners became disaffected with the war due to the guerilla fighting; others used the Union response as a reason to keep fighting. There is much to like about Sutherland's book. Simply put; it is the best one volume history of guerilla fighting during the Civil War. Sutherland has managed to pack information about the guerilla conflict from the Eastern Theater to the Western Theater using a variety of sources; yet kept it highly readable and understandable. You would almost expect to get lost with all the names and details; but somehow Sutherland manages to keep it all coherent. Much of that is due to his writing style; but credit should also be given for breaking the book in to chronological sections. The only thing this reviewer can think to complain about is Sutherland's assertion that guerilla fighting was decisive in the outcome of the Civil War. While he does make a solid case for guerilla fighting as a factor in the eroding of support for the Confederacy; I was not convinced that guerilla warfare was decisive by any means. If the South wins the Battle of Gettysburg; I am not so sure guerilla fighting in Missouri has much of an effect on the outcome of the war. In this way; I think Sutherland falls in to the trap of writing knowing that the Confederacy has lost and is trying to figure out why they lost. In the end; though; this is really a small critique. This is a great achievement by Sutherland and is a book that all students of the Civil War should read. Going beyond Quantrill and Bloody Bill; Sutherland shows us that guerilla fighting was pervasive and affected many more people than we have previously thought. Highly recommended.15 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Excellent Scholarly Work -- The Definitive Book on Civil War PartisansBy David M. DoughertyThis is an excellent; scholarly book on the partisan warfare during the American Civil War. Author Sutherland contends that the Southern partisans or guerrillas ultimately exerted a negative effect of the Southern ability and resolve to wage war and thue helped bring about the South's defeat. Well; maybe; but after reading the book I tended to agree with the author. The Confederate guerrilla bands included units with some legitimate military status like Mosby's Rangers; citizen bushwackers; and outright criminal bands using the war as justification for their activities. The problem was that their activities steadily provoked harsher and harsher Federal responses; mostly against civilians and their property. Towards the end of the war; this created a war-weariness in the South as the suffering passed the point of civilian endurance. When the main Confederate armies surrendered; there was simply no will to go on when one's farm was destroyed and there was little prospect for economic recovery. The author vividly points out the breakdown in Confederate authorities and their ability to keep order; peace and security in Confederate territory as the war progressed. Citizens were reduced to defending themselves against Federals and Confederate partisans; taking the law into their own hands out of necessity. With impotent civil authorities; it was every man for himself; and the citizenry ultimately blamed the Confederate and state governments for their predicament. Everything became extremely localized; and sending men away to fight the Yankees was not an option with raiders and troublemakers on the prowl near one's own home. Desertions also increased in the main Confederate armies as soldiers returned home to defend their families and homes. Some states were worse than others; but the whole Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department was effectively paralyzed and Northern Texas; Northern Arkansas and Missouri were no mans' land. Tennessee was overrun and devastated; and the Appalachians from Northern Alabama through Eastern Tennessee; Virginia and West Virginia were brutal battlegrounds between murdering; burning and robbing bands of both sides. In fact; the author's detail recounting of all this brutality sometimes made for depressing reading. The author discussed most of the principal bands of Confederate partisans as well as some on the Federal side like the Red Legs. After the was was over most surrendered; but some simply disappeared. No doubt many met ignominious ends in the Western states under assumed names. All in all; this book is extremely valuable in depicting a war that is often overlooked. The author's thesis appears fully justified; once again proving that a soldier will not fight well hundreds of miles from home when he knows his family and home are subject to brutal predators and there is no one providing protection. In a sense; democracy became too local; and the Confederacy died as a result. Security is first and foremost the government's responsibility; and a government that cannot provide it is soon abandoned by its citizenry. Our current government should keep this lesson in mind; -- particularly as long as the 2nd Amendment continues in force. I recommend this book most heartily to all those interested in the American Civil War.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Must have for Civil War studentsBy Nick BurchettA must read if you are at all interested in the real fighting of the Civil War. Guerrilla warfare was a daily occurrence in every part of the nation during the Civil War; especially in Missouri; and played a key role in the entire scope of the war as well as during reconstruction. Well written and highly interesting read.
