General Lee: His Campaigns in Virginia, 1861-1865 [Paperback]

Walter H. Taylor (Author), Gary W. Gallagher (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 1994

The crucial Civil War battles in the East—from First Manassas to Antietam to Gettysburg—are described from the point of view of General Robert E. Lee’s staff officer, Walter Taylor. Originally published in 1906, General Lee: His Campaigns in Virginia, 1861–1865 is rich in reminiscences. Working closely with Lee, Taylor prepared reports, delivered messages, and saw the general every day. As postwar controversies swirled, he was often called on to set the record straight. This book is important not only for Taylor’s military knowledge but also for his perception of the character of Lee. Others shown under the stress of fire are Stonewall Jackson, James Longstreet, Jeb Stuart, and A. P. Hill. But the true heroes are the Confederate soldiers who fought doggedly, though outnumbered and often poorly provisioned. Well documented and carrying valuable maps of major battlefields, Taylor’s book reveals how participants in the Lost Cause chose to remember it.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

This Bison Books edition is introduced by Gary W. Gallagher, a professor of history at Pennsylvania State University and leading author of books about the Civil War, including Lee the Soldier (Nebraska).

Product Details

• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: Bison Books (November 28, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803294255
• ISBN-13: 978-0803294257
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #748,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( L ) > Lee, Robert E.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An exellent account of the ANV!, December 11, 1999

By 

A Reader (Greenville, North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: General Lee: His Campaigns in Virginia, 1861-1865 (Paperback)

Walter Taylor offers a great perspective into the charater of General Lee, the ability of his subordinates, and the fighting courage of the army itself. Taylor's book should be read by any Civil War buff since Taylor was actually there as Lee's adjutant general. While those critical of Lee may find Taylor to be too defensive and loyal to Lee, one can only continue to admire the Greatest General of the Civil War. I like to take in both sides of the issue concerning Lee, but I have found that Lee was an able, moral, and intelligent leader with weaknesses like every human. The only reason I didn't give this book a five is because of Taylor's subtle criticism of General Longstreet, while he does give him deserved credit.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars General Lee, May 11, 2005

By 

K. Freeman (Apple Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: General Lee: His Campaigns in Virginia, 1861-1865 (Paperback)

A memoir by Lee's aide Walter Herron Taylor.

Very similar to Taylor's other memoir, this is a history of the Army of Northern Virginia's war, with here and there a brief, stiff and cold personal reminiscence. Taylor's work does not exude the winning personality of a Porter Alexander or a Sam Watkins. Especially as Taylor paid considerable attention to the numerical strengths of the respective armies, this is an important primary source, but it's hard to imagine it capturing nonspecialist readers' attention.

Taylor owed his career to Lee both before and after the war and clearly felt an admiration amounting to worship for his chief; like all personal accounts, this one should be read with the author's perspectives and biases in mind.

5 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Historical interest, July 11, 2001

By 

Bill Haas (Herndon, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: General Lee: His Campaigns in Virginia, 1861-1865 (Paperback)

I am a bit new to the Civil War history ranks, but I have read several books over the last few years. I just completed Grant's memoirs, and decided I needed more information about Lee, hence this book. I could not rate it higher, due to the apparent inaccuracies (too many to detail, primarily with regard to numbers in the ranks and casualties), and the racist attitude that prevails. Taylor was clearly a loyal soldier, and true to his cause, but his mis-guided attack on General Longstreet became tiresome.