DOC Prince of Edisto: Brigadier General Micah Jenkins; CSA by James K Swisher in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Interesting. Does a fair job of telling his life ...By HInteresting. Does a fair job of telling his life story; and the situations he found himself in. Missed that it didn't go in more depth of the 7 pines; and Glendale battles; as it did in Tenn.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. One of the South's youngest and most ambitious generals during the warBy Jonathan WellerPrince of Edisto: Brigadier General Micah Jenkins by James Swisher is detailed account of one of the South’s most promising young officers. Jenkins; like many young and ambitious Southern generals; rose quickly through attrition of the Army’s ranks during the war to become one of its youngest brigadier generals. Jenkins star shone brightest when; during the battle of the Wilderness; in 1864; he was shot down by friendly fire.Micah Jenkins was born into a wealthy South Carolina plantation family in 1835; on Edisto Island. Jenkins lived his early life like most young planter elite of the time; eventually enrolling in military school when he came of age. After he finished school in Charleston; South Carolina; he began his own military school at Yorkville; South Carolina; appropriately titled King’s Mountain Military Academy.When war came calling Jenkins enlisted with the yearning for fame; fortune; and all the glory that a “short” war with the Yankees would bring. This; of course; was no short war and Jenkins found out quickly how bloody war was. Young Micah honed his skills on the Peninsula and subsequent Seven Days’ battlefields of 1862; and was ascending quickly when a wound at Second Manassas sidelined him for several months.Jenkins missed Sharpsburg with the wound; but was back and ready for action at Fredericksburg in December of 1862. Perhaps Jenkins greatest regret; however; was that he was left behind while the rest of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia moved north to engage the Federals at Gettysburg. Jenkins tried everything imaginable to bring his brigade north with Lee; but alas; Jefferson Davis overrode the young general and made him stay to guard the capital in Richmond.Jenkins went west with Longstreet’s First Corps in September; and remained in the west during the ill-fated relief attempt of East Tennessee that fall. When Longstreet moved back to join Lee in early 1864; Jenkins was still a star on the rise; but as Swisher makes known to the reader; he was tarnished from infighting and petty jealousies. These issues would follow Jenkins until his death at the Wilderness in May of 1864.By the end of Swisher’s story; I found myself disliking Jenkins more than I found myself respecting or admiring the man. Jenkins was ambitious and impetuous; which seems like qualities that you would want in a leader; but all too often these qualities were exuded to a fault. Also; the petty and vindictive nature of Jenkins; at times; seemed to cry spoiled brat when he did not get promoted over others. This is most notable with his engagements with Evander Law during the Tennessee Campaign of 1863-64; causing many to look at Jenkins as a Longstreet favorite who advanced more out of favoritism than ability.Swisher’s book is the best book I have seen or read on the life and career of Micah Jenkins. The book is not a long read; clocking in at roughly 160 pages; but it packs a lot for that tiny amount of page space. The book will keep the reader’s attention; while also providing critical details to a rather interesting life’s story. The book weaves its way around the various campaigns Jenkins fought in and through; but at times I felt like I was reading just a Civil War narrative instead of a biography. That alone would be my one gripe with the book. I know there must not be that much on Jenkins career; as he died so young; but often when reading I forgot that I was reading specifically about Jenkins and not the war in general.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Jenkins' Palmetto Sharpshooters which gained an excellent reputation in the opening battles of the Peninsula Campaign ...By Robert A. LynnPRINCE OF EDISTO: BRIGADIER GENERAL MICAH JENKINS; CSAJAMES K. SWISHERWHITE MANE BOOKS; 1996QUALITY SOFTOVER; $19.95; 248 PAGES; MAPS; NOTES; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEXBorn on Edisto Island; South Carolina in 1835; future Brigadier General Micah Jenkins came from the plantation aristocracy and attended and graduated first in his class from the South Carolina Military Academy. Within a few years; he had opened the King's Mountain Military School which he ran until the outbreak of The War Between The States in April; 1861. Upon the start of the war; he was commissioned a colonel in the 5th South Carolina Regiment which saw action in the 1st Battle of Bull Run. It was after this battle that he raised a new regiment; Jenkins' Palmetto Sharpshooters which gained an excellent reputation in the opening battles of the Peninsula Campaign in 1862.After commanding a brigade at Williamsburg; Seven Pines; and Frayser's Farm (the Palmetto Sharpshooters were one of the brigade's regiments); he was promoted to brigadier general in July; 1862. At the Second Battle of Bull Run at the end of August; 1862; he sustained a severe wound but recovered in time for Fredericksburg in December; 1862. He did fight at Gettysburg and then was transferred to Bragg's Army of Tennessee and participated in Chickamauga and Knoxville before transferring back to the Army of Northern Virginia in early 1864. It was while leading his brigade in the Wilderness that he was fatally shot by a Confederate soldier on 6 May 1864 near the place where Stonewall Jackson was shot.PRINCE OF EDISTO: BRIGADIER GENERAL MICAH JENKINS; CSA is a welcome addition to the growing literature of The War Between The States. While memoirs and biographies of some of the leading individuals of that conflict-Grant; Sherman; Lee; and Jackson tend to dominate the market; there are very few regimental; brigade; and divisional commanders that have been written about. Author James K. Swisher brings to light one of those men-Micah Jenkins. He points out that the Army of Northern Virginia suffered a staggering 37% loss of its general officers from the Wilderness to Appomattox. As manpower became more scant and supplies and equipment more scarce; officers became more inclined to lead from the front; seeking to install courage into their own men. Brigadier General Micah Jenkins was in that category. The result is an in depth and insightful account of one of the Confederacy's largely unknown and truly outstanding officers who finally receives the much overlooked recognition he truly deserves.Colonel Robert A. Lynn; Florida GuardOrlando; Florida