During 1862; a pivotal year in the War Between the States; Southern cavalry leaders Brig. Gen. Frank C. Armstrong; Brig. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest; and Brig. Gen. John H. Morgan conducted cavalry raids that had both an immediate tactical effect and a long-term strategic impact upon Federal offensive operations in the Mississippi Valley; central Kentucky; and western Tennessee. The Raiders of 1862 examines the tactics that made each raid more or less successful; as well as how the leadership style of each commander impacted the mission. Using detailed map studies; diary accounts; official records; memoirs; and even battlefield relic recoveries; this book presents new information―never before published―on each commander and how he executed his particular mission. By getting into the mind of the commanders; this book examines their decisions and actions in light of current and past operational terms; for example; decisive engagement; the approach march; and so forth.No other book covers the important battles and consequences of Armstrong's raid into west Tennessee; the Battle of Parker's Crossroads as it affected Forrest's first West Tennessee Raid; or the story of Morgan's Christmas Raid. Brewer has established that Armstrong fought to avoid defeat rather than to win; that Forrest used artillery well forward in his assault―a technique unheard of at the time; and that Morgan employed one of the first effective uses of electronic warfare. By examining the correspondence of Federal commanders; Brewer also demonstrates how the Confederate cavalry leaders were able to get into the decision cycle of their enemies; and thus influence the outcome on the batlefield. But the individual soldier's view of the war also comes through clearly as diary accounts and regimental histories describe the attitudes of privates and sergeants; both North and South; in the midst of these three history-making cavalry raids. Grant's offensive against Vicksburg was derailed; Federal garrisons in west Tennessee learned their very real vulnerability; and Rosecrans' supply lines were laid to waste―all during 1862―all by the daring Confederate Raiders described in this book.
#2691554 in Books Penn State University Press 2008-10-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.64 x 6.00l; 1.90 #File Name: 0271034351592 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Fascinating Work of Religious Dialogue / Modern Readers May Both Profit and SmileBy DonL2507I've always enjoyed writing that presents multiple points of view; and varied arguments; in the form of a dialogue; particularly when all points of view; especially those viewpoints to which you may be inherently opposed; are compellingly argued. When I recently became aware of Jean Boden's "Colloquium of the Seven"; written in 1588; where seven intelligent and erudite representatives of seven points of view concerning religion debate various religious and theological issues; I had to purchase this new translation. We have a Catholic (the genial host); a Jew; a "Mohammedan" (representing the "Ishmaelites"); a "natural philosopher"; a skeptic; a Lutheran; and a Calvinist extolling doctrines and aspects of their own religions; and criticizing aspects of the others; sometimes quite strongly; but all amid a generally congenial and respectful atmosphere. Bodin's dialogue is a remarkable effort in promoting religious toleration for its time; an era that had recently witnessed wars between Catholics and Calvinists in France and the infamous St. Bartholomew's Massacre; as well as the Turkish invasion into the heart of Europe.Boden's "Colloquium of the Seven" warrants five stars for its scholarship and its exploration into 16th century intellectual and religious history; as well as for Marion Kuntz's excellent translation. The book was never published until the 19th century having circulated in select circles in previous centuries in its original Latin. Professor Kuntz and the Penn State Press deserve much commendation for "rescuing" this classic from seeming obscurity and allowing a wider circulation for today's readers. The scholarship is evident by my count of 2;481 footnotes which might seem excessive but many are interesting and the flow of reading is not too impaired. (Maybe it's my imagination; but be aware that "The Catholic Encyclopedia" seemed to be the source of much of her explanatory notes.) Unfortunately; for a work of such historical significance; I've lowered the rating to four stars for today's readers interested in religious differences for several reasons. For the first 100- 150 pages the disputants seemed to be too agreeable so that conflicts and disagreements seemed to be muted. Of course; after many pages we have concurrences on somebody's "proof" that "demons are corporeal" to which modern readers will smile. In addition; much of the disputation is pedantic where translations of significant theological works are challenged and references to obscure works of "history" from ancient authors of the classical period are disputed. Many of the examples cited to support a position come from myths and fables (or so it seemed to me). The "Jew" (Salomon) seemed to get about 25% of the dialogue; which might be fair since there's three Christians (A Catholic; Lutheran; and Calvinist) arrayed against him. Salomon might be both the most erudite of the participants; and the most pedantic (can we tell the difference?). My disappointment is that Bodin excluded atheists from his dialogue and any representatives from non-Abrahamic (e.g.; Eastern) religions; so the range of religious debate is somewhat narrowed. Presumably; the "natural philosopher" is suppose to represent science but he sounds more like a philosophical "logic-chopper" (Bodin wrote before the true age of science began) and the role of the "skeptic" was not well articulated. Of course; Bodin had to maintain theistic views in the 16th century.Despite this quibbling at what is a historical work; it was fascinating to hear the Jewish representative and the Mohammedan gang up on the Christians for worshipping a "dead man"; for almost all of them ganging up on the Catholic for the veneration of; and prayers to; a multitude of saints; for all of them ganging up on the Calvinist on the doctrine of predestination; for the Catholic defending free will; and for the Jew and Mohammedan defending the "one; true God." But again; no insults were exchanged; and the dialogue ended on a note of harmony and a basic agreement to foster toleration.Since the historian Will Durant's "The Story of Civilization" recently; and accidentally (upon a re-reading); acquainted me with Bodin's "The Colloquium of the Seven"; I think it's only fair to suggest to readers that Durant's own religious dialogue in his "The Adventures of Philosophy" (not his more popular "The Story of Philosophy") seems to me to be the most wide-ranging and accessible dialogue of different religious points of view. He also includes an atheist; an agnostic; a Hindu; and an adherent of ancient Chinese religion; as well as a historian and an anthropologist; and the discussion seems to be focused more on the basic religious impulse and on religious values; rather than on some of the arcane theological issues that man died over in the 16th century and that Bodin's Colloquium features.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Tom W.Great book
