Advance And Retreat: Personal Experiences In The United States And Confederate States Armies [Paperback]

General John Bell Hood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 1993

When John Bell Hood entered into the services of the Confederate Army, he was 29 years old, a handsome man and courageous soldier, loyal to the ideal of Confederate Independence and eager to fight for it. He led his men bravely into the battles of Second Manassas, Gaines’s Mill, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and Chickamauga. He rose fast, attaining the temporary rank of full general, only to fall faster. Hood emerged from the war with his left arm shattered and uselss, his right leg missing, his face aged far beyond his 33 years, and with his military reputation in disgrace. Blamed by contemporaries for contributing to the defeat of his beloved Confederacy, Hood struggled to refute their accusations. His most vehement critic, General Johnston, charged Hood with insubordination while serving under him and, after succeeding him in command, of recklessly leading Confederate troops to their “slaughter” and “useless butchery.” Sherman, too, in his Memoirs,took a harsh view of Hood. Born of controversy, Advance and Retreat is of course a highly controversial book. It is also full of invaluable information and insights into the retreat from Dalton in early 1864, the fighting around Atlanta, and the disastrous Tennessee Campaign in winter of that year. Far from being a careful, sober, objective account, this book is the passionate, bitter attempt of a soldier to rebut history’s judgment of himself as general and man.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

These remembrances by a Confederate officer were published posthumously in 1880. Though only a colonel, Hood managed to wrestle command of the army of Tennessee away from Gen. Joe Johnston (mentioned in Mary Johnston's novels, above) but paid for his cavalier actions by losing both an arm and a leg in battle.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Bruce J. Dinges is director of publications at the Arizona Historical Society. His articles on the history of the West and on the Civil War have appeared in numerous journals.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (August 22, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306805340
• ISBN-13: 978-0306805349
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,073,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hood's Turn, December 18, 1999

By 

Steve Smith (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Advance And Retreat: Personal Experiences In The United States And Confederate States Armies (Paperback)

The controversial defender of Atlanta gives his side of the story. Did he inherit a demoralized shell of an army and vainly attempt to restore its fighting spirit after the timid leadership of General Joseph E. Johnston or did he squander the lives of thousands against the fixed defenses of the Yankees? This book is best read in conjunction with Johnston's "Narrative" which it attempts to refute. Whether you agree with Hood's story or not, you will appreciate his passion for the subject.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Verrrry Interesting, June 29, 1999

By 

Michael A. Parkes - See all my reviews

This review is from: Advance and Retreat: Personal Experiences in the United States and Confederate States Armies (Paperback)

You had better have a good knowledge of the subject before reading this book. I found it informative but in some cases he makes his point the hard way. I was particularly interested in his reprinting of letters he had received from otherwise unknown officers et al in both the Southern and Northern armies. Be advised that Advance and Retreat as stated in the preface is Hoods answer to Joe Johnstons book in which he throws a lot of mud Hoods way. This is probably the 50th book I have read on the Civil War.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hood, the Gallant Confederate, February 26, 2005

By 

L. Colotto "Bridy" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Advance And Retreat: Personal Experiences In The United States And Confederate States Armies (Paperback)

John Bell Hood has been called everything from a gallant hero to a drug-addicted fool. The truth lies somewhere in between. MANY false truths have been all too easily accepted as fact by historians and Civil War enthusiaths alike, and I personally think he doesn't deserve such a negative stigma.
Most all would agree that hood was a better Brigade and Division commander than he was a commander of the Army of Tennessee (his stint as a Corps commander during the early stages of the Atlanta campaign do not show him to be one way or the other, due to the fact that any General can direct his men to fall back, erect Breastworks, and fall back again). However, part of this is due to the fact that as Hood rose in rank, time passed, and the hopes of a Confederate victory waned. Even Robert E. Lee himself would have been hard pressed to turn the 1864 Tennessee campaign into a sucess.
Hood loved his troops. It is an absolute lie to say that he did not care about his men's lives. After nearly every battle in which he fought, Franklin included, he was seen to be weeping uncontrollably, grieving over the loss of his men. The men of his famed Texas "Brigade" held a special place in his heart.
The book is not a straightforeward telling of John Bell Hood's career; the book is written from a point of view. Therefore, it tends to lean towards that point of view. What do you expect a man to say, "I was a horrible commander"? It is still a good read, worth any Civil War buff's time and money. It is especially usefull if you are looking to better understand the thought process of John Bell Hood.
To me, John Bell Hood is a unique Civil War soldier. He gave body and soul (especially body) for his cause, and whether you agree with the cause, or his descisions as a soldier, you have to respect him for that.