The Confederacy's only national naval academy was anchored in Virginia's James River aboard the CSS Patrick Henry. While their Union counterparts at the U.S. Naval Academy studied at a safe distance from the war; the midshipmen of the Confederate States Naval Academy were sent on active duty to defend the South's waterways. Using original Confederate documents and many previously unpublished letters and diaries; James Lee Conrad has compiled a fresh and scholarly study of a neglected subject.
#279393 in Books Joseph E Persico 1996-03-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .67 x 5.00l; .72 #File Name: 0306806924288 pagesISBN13: 9780306806926Condition: NewNotes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Read this book.By BobI have read many books and accounts of Gettysburg; from Bruce Catton to Shelby Foote to Michael Shaara to James McPherson to Frank Haskell and more; but; in my opinion; this is the best of them all. I couldn't put this book down. Many books about the battle become academic and too detailed; but Persico pieces together what the people who were there went through on those 3 days; and it made me re-read sentences and paragraphs that were so well written that I got tears in my eyes. If you want to read about Gettysburg; read this book.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A Great Gettysburg BookBy G. PattonOf some 20 books on Gettysburg I've read; this is by far the best. Joseph Persico takes you on grueling marches where soldiers with bleeding; bare feet raced toward this critical battle. Joseph Persico is a brilliant writer and impeccable researcher. He has used original sources such as diaries and other first hand accounts of the Gettysburg Battle to tell what is often heartbreaking stories of courage. There are moments of comic relief in these compelling stories. I wrote Mr. Persico an e mail and received a very nice reply; he is still writing books; I was glad to learn.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Outstanding; realistic account. One of the best books on Gettysburg I've readBy George WilliamsThere are so many interesting; revealing; poignant and gut-wrenching treasures within this stellar book that I will refrain from repeating what the other positive reviews have said and simply say I concur. What really needs to be specifically lauded now are the times that; true to the title; the enemy became the brother once the fighting died down. Time and again Persico outlines examples of humanity found within the inhumanity as wounded enemies bond on the bloody battlefield; or as one combatant offers comfort to their enemy in their dying moments. Readers will often feel their eyes moisten as Persico offers so much more than another recital of whose division did this or whose brigade didn't do that. The author makes Gettysburg a human story. It's true; as the single negative review observed; the author stumbled when making a reference to General Armistead's supposed dying comments. But give the author a Mulligan here- Persico states clearly in his notes that he's reproducing stories based on real notes; diaries and recollections...imperfect by definition so necessarily imperfect in their accuracy. Nothing can take away from the overall outstanding story that is told here. There is great humor here; too. I won't spoil the ending of one particularly funny moment- but I will say there is a story about a single diminutive Union soldier who leads four captured Confederates to camp. The punchline as his astonished comrades look on is certainly among the funniest ever in the body of Civil War literature. This book stands alongside of Ralph Peters' Cain at Gettysburg as possibly the two best human aspect novels about the Battle of Gettysburg.
