ebooks Joseph E. Johnston: A Civil War Biography by Craig L. Symonds in History

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. sheds great light on how the smothering micromanagement and unrealistic expectations ...By Faustus RexPulls no punches on his hesitation to commit to battle and the sometimes lack of assertiveness in command style. However; sheds great light on how the smothering micromanagement and unrealistic expectations by Davis were culpable to his "failures" and how his nature was not up to overcoming backstabbing manipulations by Hood; Bragg and other Davis sycophants.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Joseph E; Johnston: A Civil War BiographyBy Manray9"Joseph E; Johnston: A Civil War Biography" is another worthwhile effort by Craig Symonds. It is a straightforward; even-handed; and well-researched volume assessing Joseph E. Johnston's storied military career. Symonds does not gloss over Johnston's numerous shortcomings; his bad judgment or lack of political sensitivity; and he examines well his successes as a battlefield tactician; a leader of men and a builder of armies. Symonds exposes Johnston's crucial failure to grasp that war is politics by other means. His purely tactical approach to campaigning on the Virginia peninsula and across Northern Georgia prevented his coming to appreciate the limitations imposed by geo-political realities upon the prickly Jefferson Davis. Couple this failure with his unwillingness to placate Davis' delicate ego; and Johnston's tenure in command was shaky from the start.The peak of Joseph E. Johnston's career was his Fabian campaign across Northern Georgia in 1864. It was brilliantly executed in the face of enormous odds. Sherman's forces dominated the field in manpower; war materiel; provisions; and livestock. Johnston adroitly maneuvered his inferior army so as to avoid pitched battles; minimize losses; and maintain his army in the field as a force in being. This is not at all dissimilar to the contemporaneous Overland Campaign conducted by R. E. Lee in Northern Virginia. The major difference was Lee's willingness to engage in preemptive assaults (Battle of the Wilderness) in vain attempts to forestall Grant's offensives. Lee was unsuccessful and; like Johnston; was eventually pushed back into his defensive works and inevitable defeat -- but Lee suffered considerable casualties en route to the same end. The campaigns were comparable; but Lee was hailed as a hero and Johnston was castigated for failing to fight.With "Joseph E. Johnston: A Civil War Biography;" Craig Symonds makes a valuable contribution to Civil War history by providing a comprehensive portrait of a consequential; but often neglected; figure. "Old Joe" was flawed; but history has not allotted him the credit he deserves. Craig Symonds does.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The First General of the South.By CustomerGen. Joe E. Johnston; along with Gen. Beauregard; fought the Batle of Bull Run; and won it. But gen. Johnston was not to enjoy continued success. He was wounded in the battles of the Peninsula Campaign. He was replaced by Gen. Robert E. Lee. He did not get along with Presidet Davis; feeling that the President had slighted him with regard to promotions. He regained command in the western theater; but could not stop Gen. Sherman from marching to the sea. He took command in North Carolina at the wars end; and he and Gen. Sherman reached amicable surrender terms. But the federal government rejected the surrender terms. He lived to attend Gen. Sherman's funeral; and died not long after that event. I don't think he can be considered one of the souths great commanders. But I think he was an able and competent leader of his men. JRV