From the author of the prize-winning New York Times bestseller Empire of the Summer Moon comes a thrilling account of how Civil War general Thomas “Stonewall†Jackson became a great and tragic American hero.Stonewall Jackson has long been a figure of legend and romance. As much as any person in the Confederate pantheon; even Robert E. Lee; he embodies the romantic Southern notion of the virtuous lost cause. Jackson is also considered; without argument; one of our country’s greatest military figures. His brilliance at the art of war tied Abraham Lincoln and the Union high command in knots and threatened the ultimate success of the Union armies. Jackson’s strategic innovations shattered the conventional wisdom of how war was waged; he was so far ahead of his time that his techniques would be studied generations into the future. In April 1862 Jackson was merely another Confederate general in an army fighting what seemed to be a losing cause. By June he had engineered perhaps the greatest military campaign in American history and was one of the most famous men in the Western world. He had; moreover; given the Confederate cause what it had recently lacked—hope—and struck fear into the hearts of the Union. Rebel Yell is written with the swiftly vivid narrative that is Gwynne’s hallmark and is rich with battle lore; biographical detail; and intense conflict between historical figures. Gwynne delves deep into Jackson’s private life; including the loss of his young beloved first wife and his regimented personal habits. It traces Jackson’s brilliant twenty-four-month career in the Civil War; the period that encompasses his rise from obscurity to fame and legend; his stunning effect on the course of the war itself; and his tragic death; which caused both North and South to grieve the loss of a remarkable American hero.
2010-03-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .42 x 5.51l; .53 #File Name: 1444668897184 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A nice biography of an interesting manBy Falco del FiumeMost Rev John Hughes (aka Dagger John) was the Catholic archbishop of NYC during the influx of Catholic emigrants during the potato famine. He had a very practical approach to the many problems he faced. When he found out that many of the "nymphs of the pav" were Irish Catholics women trying to support themselves he had nuns/sisters teach them skills so they could find employment as nannies as cooks as maids in the homes of the well-to do and then guarantee their behavior and stated he would personally make up any losses. I ask you what Irish Catholic would be willing to risk a face to face with Dagger John. When discussing prostitution from the pulpit he called them the "Daughters of Mary" rather than any deregatory term (this would increase their self esteem and remind them of the need for and value of virtue). When he found out that much of the violence was committed by Irish men (paddy wagon) during those early years; he again found training for them and then employment. This approach was reviewed in the Wall Steet Journal many years ago in a very long editorial about his approach and its application to modern problems of our society. He sought out the root causes and tried his best to eliminate them. No weeping and gnashing of teeth at the pulpit; no telling others from an office what to do; he always lead from the front line. When No-Knowing gang came to burn down a Catholic Church he was at the head of a group of Irish men that he had armed with diocesan funds.No Catholic Church in NYC was torched during those years.He was personaly thanked by President Lincoln for stopping the draft rebellion of NYC during the Civil War with no bloodshed after Bishop John Highes began his efforts. He was held in such high regard by the Catholic faithful that upon his request; they simply went home.He did not suffer unwarranted criticism lightly. In a debate he pointed out that at his birth he enjoyed all the privileges and rights of a citizen of England but when baptised he could no longer be taught to read and write;his right to own property was greatly limited; when his sister died a Catholic priest could not bless her body or even enter the cemetary. He was a fierce debater pointing out that during a cholera epidemic while he was personally performing the last rites for the sick and dying; that Catholic sisters and nuns were attending and comforting the sick and dying; many of the clergy of other faiths had fled to the country.This is a small well writen and accurate book about an interesting man. Another editorial about him is titled The man who saved New York City. A nice part of the book is a chapter about the actual laws discrimatory to Irish Catholics.A good read for those interested in Irish Catholicism in the US; in a history of NYC or the Civil War. By the way I am not Irish.
