12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb account of Confederacy's high point..., December 8, 2002
This review is from: Chancellorsville 1863: The Souls of the Brave (Paperback)
Contemporary Civil War readers today are extremely fortunate to have an abundance of truly gifted writers who have contributed a wealth of modern studies. Writers such as Stephen Sears, James McPherson, Wiley Sword, Noah Trudeau, Gordon Rhea and (a recent addition to the club) Jay Winik have joined the "masters" Bruce Catton and Shelby Foote in writing recent comprehensive narratives while maintaining readability.
Now, having read "Chancellorsville 1863: The Souls of the Brave", I must include Ernest Furguson as a new addition to my list. This extraordinary account of the complex battle at Chancellorsville ranks right up there with these other pantheons of Civil War history. Furgurson manages to convey both the personal side of the struggle as well as an in-depth analysis of the many tactical maneauvers that make Chancellorsville one of the most studied and debated Civil War battles.
Furgurson's story takes us from the bewildering post Fredericksburg period through Lee's monumental decision to again invade the North...a decision that led to the battle at Gettysburg and ultimate defeat for the Confederate army. The book starts at the failed "Mud March" and the Abraham Lincoln decision to remove Ambrose Burnside from command of the Federal army.
Enter "Fighting" Joe Hooker.
Furgurson delivers a compelling biography of the outwardly confident, but morally weak General and goes a long way in explaining his future actions. At this point we also get insightful, pre-battle studies of R.E. Lee and (Furgurson's obvious hero) T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson.
Hooker takes the demoralized "Army of the Potomac" and rebuilds it into a confident, offensive machine in his own image in only 4 months. His plan to flank attack Lee's entrenched troops at Fredericksburg is explained as near "brilliance" and gives Hooker the start that he needs. Lee then divides his army as he learns of Hooker's plans and sends most of his forces Westward to meet the on-coming Federals. The initial battle is immediately bloody and shows that the Union army is, in fact, newly confident as it drives the Confederates back towards Fredericksburg. Hooker then, mysteriously, pulls his troops back into a defensive position around the Chancellor house and "dares" Lee to attack him.
Lee, of course, takes this dare and battles the Federals at Catherine's Furnace before allowing Jackson to start his flanking maneauver. Furgurson deftly describes Jackson's march and troop setup in the Wilderness at the extreme right flank of the Union army (with all the accounts of ignored intelligence by Union commanders) and the ensuing battle is wonderfully accounted as wave after wave of Rebel forces drive the Federals back to entrenched positions around Chancellorsville. Jackson's frustration at failing to completely destroy the Union army is ultimately to blame for his overly agressive "reconnoitering" ride to the edge of the Federal lines and shooting by his own confused troops. Furgurson then goes on to explain the unfathomable Union decision to vacate Hazel Grove and the Rebel surprise at obtaining this key strategic position.
The taking of Fredericksburg by Sedgwick's Federal forces and their march towards Chancellorsville ends up in the battle at Salem Church which shows a completely motivated Confederate army repulsing the Union advance...Furgurson is able to take all this complex tactical action and make picturesque detail for the reader, while also keeping the human drama at the fore-front of the story with many first-hand anecdotes of these battles.
The story ends with Hooker retreating across the Rappahannock River, camping again at Falmouth (from where he started his flanking attack) and Lee as the hero of the Southern cause. Jackson's post shooting journey to Guiney Station and death at Chandler House gives a touching alternative to the sometimes gruesome battle descriptions. In the end, Furgurson convinces the reader that the war would have been very different had Jackson lived. In fact, this is my only critique of this magnificent book...Furgurson's obvious idolization of Jackson seems to have momentarily forgotten his lethargy and in-actions at the Peninsula Seven Days battles and his almost mortal mistakes at Cedar Mountain.
This "hero-worship" notwithstanding, this book is an important, colorful and moving human story as well as an extensive military history and should be read by all who have even a faint interest in the Civil War. Very highly recommended!
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Account of Lee's Masterpiece, May 27, 2004
This review is from: Chancellorsville 1863: The Souls of the Brave (Paperback)
Furgurson's account of Chancellorsville is one of the best Civil War books I have read recently. His summary of the battle actions are crisp without being overly technical and dry, and he is able to maintain a fine balance of accounts from North and South, officer and enlisted. Although a descendant of Southern soldiers, he fairly criticizes both Northern and Southern leaders when appropriate.
The book flows smoothly - on more than more occasion I was so engrossed in the book that I did not realize just how pages I had read! As other reviewers have noted, the book flows like a novel and maintains your interest.
While everyone may not agree with Furgurson's analysis that Jackson's death in essence was the death knell of the Confederacy or the tactics of both sides, the book is a fine read.
The only reason I did not give the book 5 stars was because of the maps. While the maps were adequate (clearly showed terrain features and roads), in my humble opinion, they were too few and did not go to the regimental level. While Furgurson repeatedly refers to a particular regiment during the battle, only a few times was the regiment clearly labeled on a map. Unfortunately, the maps went down to only the brigade level. I am a big fan of Civil War books having ample maps with plenty of detail - doing so makes the battle and troop movements much easier to understand.
Complaint aside, I highly recommend the book as an interesting and moving account of Lee and Jackson's finest moment! Admittingly, I have yet to read Stephen Sears' book on Chancellorsville. Therefore, the jury is still out on which book is the definitive account of the battle.
Read and enjoy!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well written, moving book, December 3, 1999
This review is from: Chancellorsville 1863: The Souls of the Brave (Paperback)
Reading about Chancellorsville can often be tangled and confusing due to all the differing leaders involved, but this book is extremely well written and clear. The book is crisply written and the chapters on Jackson's flanking maneuver and the 2nd battle of Fredericksburg were extremely good. Furguson writes in a way that makes one feel as if they are there along with the soldiers. Furguson captures both the human side and the tactics well. He uses first-hand accounts of the battle at good times and it really makes the book better. Simply put this is a terrific book and easy to read. I highly recommend it.
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