127 of 136 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Man, Talk about Bad Timing!, June 6, 2001
One of the aspects about the Civil War that usually goes unnoticed is that it is unlike almost all civil wars in human history. Such conflicts are usually, inter-communal, not sectional and protracted, lasting for decades and leaving behind old grudges to be nursed until fighting resumes. Think Lebanon, Northern Ireland, and the former Yugoslavia and you get the idea. By comparison, the end of the Civil War was quick and final. No wholesale execution of political and military leaders, not even confiscation of property. The issue of secession never seriously raised thereafter. For all the controversy over confederate symbols, we shouldn't wonder why there is so much bitterness over the war, we should wonder why there is so little.
Two books have appeared this year, within one month of one another that address this very aspect: APRIL 1865 by Jay Winik and AN HONORABLE PEACE by William Davis. Winik is a senior scholar at University of Maryland's School of Public Policy and frequent columnist in the Wall Street Journal. This is his first venture into Civil War history. (His previous book ON THE BRINK is a popular account of the end of the cold war.) Davis on the other hand, is program director of the Virginia Center for Civil War studies and a veteran Civil War historian with literally dozens of books on the subject to his credit.
Winik takes a big picture approach and paints with broad strokes on a broad canvas. The picture that emerges is that of disaster overcome with high-mindedness and commitment to the common good on the part of virtually all major participants. To begin with, Winik describes several probable (to him, at least) scenarios with the South continuing the war, chiefly the use of partisans like Mosby's Rangers who could (supposedly) live off the land and harass Federal troops at will. This together with the possibilties of foreign intervention render the Confederacy defeat less than certain, according to Winik. But providentially, Lee, who could not bear the sword against his native state, would not prolong the fight by letting it degenerate into guerilla warfare. Grant, in turn, refuses Lee's sword and let's his men keep their horses. It's almost all too good to be true.
Davis, by contrast, focuses on two individuals, both members of the confederate government: Jefferson Davis, the president, and John C. Breckinridge, his Secretary of War. Davis is uniquely qualified to write this story as the author of the standard biography of Breckinridge (BRECKINRIDGE: STATESMAN, SOLDIER, SYMBOL) and an authoritative biography of Davis (JEFFERSON DAVIS: THE MAN AND HIS HOUR), not to mention the definitive history of the confederate government A GOVERNMENT OF OUR OWN.
Davis, a man of great experience and ability, insisted on micro-managing the war, would listen only to yes men, and was scuttled all talk of peace negotiations unless independence was accepted. With the evacuation from Richmond, his grip on the government (and indeed with reality) begins to slip. Overwhelmed by circumstances he issues proclamations to continue the fight that don't get outside of Danville VA. He calls meetings of cabinet officials, but when gathered has nothing to tell them. The similarity with Hitler in the bunker is striking.
All the while power shifts to Breckinridge, made Secretary of War less than four months prior. Breckinridge, realizes from the outset that the situation is hopeless, yet he sets about his task of supporting the war effort. Within weeks, Lee says that his men were never so well supplied in months. As events unfold, Breckinridge, takes the initiative (unlike Davis, he's come up with contingency plans), oversees the evacution of Richmond (including the confederate archives, thus putting himself in every Civil War historian's debt), makes contact with Lee when succesive scouts fail to return.
Davis builds a compelling case that Breckinridge was instrumental in Lee's decision to surrender, they had been of one mind as to the hopelessness since January. His overriding concern during his all too brief tenure as Secretary of War was that "this has been a magnificent epic, let it not end in a farce." As a result of his efforts the confederacy surrenders as a defeated, but sovereign nation, not piecemeal like a fail revolt. It mantains a sense of honor.
Unlike Winik, Davis gives little credence to the possibility of continuing the war by adopting guerilla tactics. As Davis points out, no guerrilla effort has ever succeeded without outside help and the confederacy had none. As for "living off the land" that would have meant withdrawing into Appalachia, which was a hotbed of unionism. It could have prolonged the conflict, but defeat would have been no less sure and partisans would regress into banditry as they had in Missouri (with the James boys and the Younger brothers being only the most notable example).
Furthermore there is more ambiguity in Davis's book. Whereas, Winik concludes with an anecdote concerning Lee taking communion next to a black man as the true end of the civil war. Davis gives an account of a people "bloodied, but unbowed", one that is determined to reclaim as much of what they have lost as possible. There is no facile happy ending, but one can not help but admire these men and their sense of honor.
To date, Winik's book is exceedingly well publicized (his connections to WSJ are no doubt standing him in good stead) and is garnering praise from all quarters. Davis book while well recieved is not getting the notice it might have had it not been swamped in the wake of Winik's book.
Let this not suggest that Davis's book is "academic". It reads with the drama and movement of a novel. The story is a noble and tragic one, rather like Antigone seeking a decent burial for her father.
In sum, if you want a warm, fuzzy picture, stick with Winik. If you really want to understand why and how it happened, read Davis.
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Statesmanship vs stubbornness, November 12, 2001
John Breckenridge was the youngest Vice President in United States history having been inaugerated in James Buchanan's administration at the age of 35 years and four months. When the southern states succeeded, Breckenridge, a Kentuckian, sided with the South. He served as a general in both the eastern and western theaters and was one of the most trusted of Jefferson Davis' inner circle. In fact, Breckenridge was the only one who could stand up to Davis, virtually all other's closer to Davis being toadies.
Before Lee's surrender, Breckenridge attempted to get Davis to realize the futility of continuing. However, the only peace agreement that Davis would make with the North had to recognize the Conferderacy as independent. Obviously, that was not a point the North would negotiate. After Lee's army fell, Richmond was evacuated and Davis, his cabinet and an accompanying military party fled as they moved south. Some wanted to escape to a Carribean nation but Davis wanted to join with troops still in the field and continue the cause. Breckenridge had recently become the Confederate Secretary of War and he futily tried to get Davis to understand that it was over.
Davis never gave up the cause and, perhaps he could have escaped but, his ideations that he could somehow hook up with troops in the field west of the Mississippi kept him from following the fastest, safest route to safety. This book captures, in great detail, the last days of the Confederate government as Davis tried to keep up the cause as the remaining armies (most significantly Joseph Johnston's) surrendered, making the cause even more impossible. Appomattox may have for practical purposes been the end of the war but, it was not truly over until all remaining armies in the field surrrendered and this period, between Appomattox and Davis' capture were the true last days of the lost cause. Breckenridge was a true hero in recognizing the inevitable and trying to get the bloodshed to cease. In a perverse way, however, Davis too emerged as a hero since his capture and imprisonment made him into a martyr in the eyes of many.
William C. Davis, a noted historian who is famous as a commentator on The History Channel's "Civil War Journal" has captured these final days and the personalities of the cabinet members who constituted the party seeking to escape capture. Civil War buffs will enjoy this account of the fall of the Conferderacy.
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