For nearly 150 years; William Lloyd Garrison; founder of the famed antislavery newspaper The Liberator; has been represented by scholars; educators; politicians and authors as the founder of the American abolitionist movement. Yet the idea that Garrison was the leader of a coherent movement was strongly contested during his lifetime. Drawing on private letters; diaries; newspapers; novels; memoirs; eulogies; late 19th century textbooks; poetry and monuments; this study reveals the dramatic social and political forces of the postwar period which transformed our perceptions of Garrison; the abolitionist movement and the first histories of the Civil War.
#2463354 in Books 2012-05-31Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.90 x .90 x 6.90l; 1.25 #File Name: 0786470852328 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A GemBy J. G. AckenThis book is a gem. I am researching Union cavalry operations in the East/Northern Virginia area; and this volume is chock full of detail the author has meticulously assembled and portrays in a pleasing; easily readable style. Highly recommended.7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A Great ReadBy John BufordIn Chasing Jeb Stuart and John Mosby; Robert F. O'Neill introduces the reader to the classroom where the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac learned on the job training prior to the Gettysburg Campaign. It was in Virginia; between John Pope's failure at Second Manassas and Gettysburg; that ambushes; bushwacking; and numerous small unit actions; although mostly not successful for Union forces; that the Union cavalry arm gradually gained in stature. The reader learns of the formation and evolution of the Michigan cavalry brigade prior to Custer assuming command. Little known; or neglected encounters; such as Stuart's 1862 Chrustmas raid or the role played by Union general Julius Stahl's cavalry division along with the formation of Mosby's partisan rangers are chronicled in detail.O'Neill's text is a blend of previously unpublished records and a variety of other sources. The author relied upon the National Archives; a source often not used by other historians. This is why his study excells. O'Neill"s accounts are engrossing and insightful. O"Neill skillfully displays a first hand knowledge of the areas of Virginia about which he writes so well. His description of terrain and his over ten maps makes his book very compelling. Although Eric Wittenburg's Union Cavalry Comes of Age (2003)covers the six month period between Hartwood Church and Brandy Station; however O'Neill explores a longer time frame from Pope at Second Manassas to Gettysburg in greater detail.O'Neill's book is a fine companion to Robert Trout's recent publication on the Union cavalry in After Gettysburg. Chasing Jeb Stuart and John Mosby will long remain the definitve study of the Army of the Potomas cavalry from the fall of 1862 to July 1863. In great detail O'Neill chronicles the myriad of clashes between the Union and Confederate horsemen along with an overview of notable leaders of the mounted arm.O'Neill; a retired law enforcement officer; previously published The Cavalry Battles of Aldie; Middleburg; and Upperville (1993) in the HE Howard series. Chasing Jeb Stuart and John Mosby is a must read for all interested in Civil War history. O'Neill provides a penetrating perspective into a part of history often ignored. it will long be the best treatment of this subject.John Buford0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Outstanding Research and Writing Focusing on Lesser-Known Battles and Skirmishes!By Clark B. HallThere is not a finer; more meticulous Union cavalry historian than Robert O'Neill; and the world's ranking authority on the cavalry battles of "Aldie; Middleburg and Upperville" has now again demonstrated his impeccable research skills to produce a badly-needed book that covers major gaps in Eastern Theatre Cavalry and Partisan warfare. This marvelous study takes the reader from the fall of 1862 to late June 1863 and covers the almost-inevitable rise of Col. John Mosby and his Partisan Rangers. Why inevitable?Most of the war in the East during this central period was of course being fought in Virginia--and much of it by Virginians.. And; it was Mosby's parochial (?) idea to launch a behind-the-scenes command that would take advantage of Confederate home-front contacts to gather intelligence; and then wage intelligently-planned operations against Northern invaders. But even though the Gray Ghost conceived the command concept; it took the insightful leadership acumen of Jeb Stuart to anoint the plan; and to help task its worthy mission.But on the other side; the smarting (and smart) Federals saw (and experienced) this painful; dagger-in-the-heart for what it was; and their aggressively terrific response to this Partisan threat nicely sums up the larger purpose of this meritoriously successful work.I would also stress a point Mr. O'Neill eloquently offers in his "Preface:" Bob hopes his book will uncover the "trail of the men who pursued (Mosby) and who; unfortunately; have been forgotten." To his everlasting credit; Bob has accomplished that noble goal in this fine book. They all now ride again; Yankee and Rebel horsemen!So; if you care about Civil War Cavalry and Partisan operations; this is a book for you. Highly recommended!
