Susanah Shaw Romney locates the foundations of the early modern Dutch empire in interpersonal transactions among women and men. As West India Company ships began sailing westward in the early seventeenth century; soldiers; sailors; and settlers drew on kin and social relationships to function within an Atlantic economy and the nascent colony of New Netherland. In the greater Hudson Valley; Dutch newcomers; Native American residents; and enslaved Africans wove a series of intimate networks that reached from the West India Company slave house on Manhattan; to the Haudenosaunee longhouses along the Mohawk River; to the inns and alleys of maritime Amsterdam. Using vivid stories culled from Dutch-language archives; Romney brings to the fore the essential role of women in forming and securing these relationships; and she reveals how a dense web of these intimate networks created imperial structures from the ground up. These structures were equally dependent on male and female labor and rested on small- and large-scale economic exchanges between people from all backgrounds. This work pioneers a new understanding of the development of early modern empire as arising out of personal ties.
#428925 in Books Earl J Hess 2015-05-18Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.55 x 1.01 x 6.28l; .0 #File Name: 1469622416288 pagesThe Battle of Ezra Church and the Struggle for Atlanta Civil War America Hardcover
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Good Study of the 3rd Major Battle for AtlantaBy KJAGSYNOPSISThe book details the 3rd of four major battles for Atlanta; this one on 28 July 1864 just to the west of Atlanta that pitted two of Hood’s three infantry corps (Stephen Lee’s and Stewart’s) against O. Howard’s smaller Army of the Tennessee; which had held off Hood’s surprise attack six days earlier east of Atlanta.While Howard’s forces were in the process of moving south to cut off the last of Hood’s remaining railroads; Hood moved Lee’s Corps into a blocking position along the east-west Lick Skillet Road with the anticipation of moving Stewart’s Corp along the road the following day to flank the Federal forces and deliver a devastating blow while it was separated from Sherman’s other two Armies. Contrary to Hood’s orders to act as a blocking force and secure the roadway; Lee—who had just arrived the previous day to Atlanta to take over Polk’s old Corps—decided to go on the offensive instead; and sent his brigades forward in piecemeal fashion.Howard; who had been directed by Sherman to face his army east toward the Atlanta defenses while bivouacking overnight; guarded against a potential attack on his right flank and refused his line facing south with Logan’s XV Corp; who built rudimentary breastworks along a ridge; with pickets and skirmishers posted to its front. Instead of a surprise attack on Howard’s Army caught out in the open; Lee found Union troops ready and waiting for them the following morning behind an effective defensive line.Lee; sensing defeat after wearing out his corps in repeated and uncoordinated brigade-level attacks along Logan’s front; and hoping to salvage his reputation; convinced Stewart (whose corps was arriving on the field that afternoon) that Howard’s Army was ready to break and needed his troops to secure the victory. Stewart then sent in his brigades in similar piecemeal fashion as they arrived on the field. While Logan’s troops were beginning to fatigue and experience weapon overheating and fouling issues; Howard brought up fresh regiments from his other two Corp; and Stewart’s attacks were also repulsed with heavy losses.That night; the Confederate troops moved back to Atlanta’s established defensive works; extending the defensive line southward to stay between the railroad and Sherman’s forces; leaving hundreds of their dead and wounded on the field in front of Logan’s line. Confederate casualties totaled at least 3;000; with Federal casualties totaling 642. Stewart and one of his division commanders (Loring) were wounded; joining many other Confederate officers including multiple brigade and regimental commanders who were killed or wounded. Ironically; because of heavy Confederate casualties—which Hood considered as a measure of a successful engagement—and because the railway remained out of Union hands for the time being; Hood defended Lee’s initiative. Incredibly; in his memoirs; Hood blames Johnston for this loss and all his losses around Atlanta; stating that the troops had become too timid from fighting behind breastworks earlier in the campaign. If they were too timid; then why such high casualties near; at; and behind Union defensive lines?The author does a very good job following up the battle with details on the carnage of the battlefield; burials; and the suffering and care of the wounded; as well as an analysis of the casualties and the impact the battle had on both armies and the campaign; why the battle was won or lost; and the futile efforts to preserve the battlefield.The book includes an Order of Battle (OOB) listing commanders down to the regimental level; with notations indicating who was killed or wounded.READABILITY AND STORYTELLINGThis book is relatively easy to read and comprehend; and flows rather well chronologically. The grammar; word choice; organization; and editing is good. The book is relatively free of typos; misspellings; missing words; etc.The author does a good job of providing an overview of the current political situation on both sides; the Atlanta campaign; and the lead up to the battle. He also provides what I felt to be even-handed descriptions of the leaders’ personalities and decision-making. I would have liked more on the actual communications between officers; and their activities and demeanor during the battle; that I have read in other battle studies. I detected no bias regarding leaders or sides. Hero worshipers may disagree. The author identifies mistakes and unflattering behavior on both sides; as well as instances of heroism and outstanding leadership where it is due.The battle narrative is adequate but not the most engaging. I would not consider it to be the most lively or engrossing material compared to some other battle studies I’ve read; although first person observations by participants do give readers a sense of the horror; chaos; futility; courage; and carnage of the battle. The narrative reads more like “this is what happened†vs. “you are there experiencing the battle;†which some authors are very good at (as long as the drama and dynamics of battle are based on credible source material; and not manufactured or based on sources that are often not credible; e.g.; period newspaper articles).ILLUSTRATIONSMaps of unit (brigade and regiment) movements and alignments facing off are rudimentary but adequate. The black and white maps are relatively easy to understand; appropriately titled; but do not show vegetation; open areas; or elevated features other than a crudely outlined ridge depicting the Federal defensive line; and do not include the time or period of day. Major roads; waterways; railways; and key features; e.g.; buildings are included. A map of the area of operations is also included.Photographs are limited to portraits of key leaders. There are a handful of period drawings of the battle and of federal troops near or on their defensive line.HARDBACK BOOK QUALITYThe hardback book is of average size; with a fairly good quality dust cover. The binding is good and page quality OK. The text is dark; clean; and easy to read; although the font is relatively small.CONCLUSIONS AND AFTERTHOUGHTSThis is a good book overall; and I recommend it. It is particularly significant given the absence of books dedicated to this particular battle; although a number of “campaign†books provide summarized descriptions.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy CustomerGreat book. Great author.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy The Inside FAA Mangreat
