John Bell Hood and the War for Southern Independence [Paperback]

Richard M. McMurry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1992

John Bell Hood, a native of Kentucky bred on romantic notions of the Old South and determined to model himself on Robert E. Lee, had a tragic military career, no less interesting for being calamitous. After conspicuous bravery in leading a Texas brigade, he rose in the ranks to become the youngest of the full generals of the Confederacy. The misfortune in store for Hood, a far better fighter than a strategist, illustrates the strain and risks of high command. One of the lasting images to come out of the Civil War is that of the one-legged General Hood strapped in his saddle, leading his men in a hopeless counter-offensive against Sherman's march on Atlanta. In this prize-winning book Richard M. McMurry spares no details of Hood's ultimate "complete and disastrous failure," but he is concerned to do justice to one of the most maligned and misunderstood figures in Civil War history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"McMurry presents a terse, sharply focused portrait of the controversial [Hood] that never wanders from his subject or smothers him with superfluous battlefront details... His treatment of key turning points in the Texan's career is reasoned and thorough in its analysis."--Journal of Southern History. "McMurry is a fine campaign historian and excellent researcher. He chronicles the events of Hood's life well."--American Historical Review.

About the Author

Richard M. McMurry is also the author of Two Great Rebel Armies: An Essay in Confederate Military History (l989).

Product Details

• Paperback: 239 pages
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press (August 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803281919
• ISBN-13: 978-0803281912
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #800,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Bio, April 14, 1999

By 

Lynn Robinson - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Bell Hood and the War for Southern Independence (Paperback)

McMurry writes a solid bio of Hood in this book. McMurry traces the key turning points,in his mind, of Hood's career. In doing this he delves into the battle of Chickamauga, the Seven Days' Battles, the Atlanta Campaign, and the Tennessee Campaign of 1864, and Hood's courtship of Buck Preston while hardly mentioning the battles of Antietam or Gettysburg, in which Hood played a key role. Even so, it is still a very good book with some new views of Hood. One thing I found annoying was when McMurry dealt with the Atlanta Campaign he was very harsh and critical of J.E. Johnston (who he obviously dislikes) while basically claiming Hood could do no wrong during this campaign. Still, it is a interesting and good book, while being an easy read and giving some new views on Hood the man and Hood the general.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Complete and Disastrous Failure - A Balanced Account, November 6, 2005

By 

Michael Wischmeyer (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: John Bell Hood and the War for Southern Independence (Hardcover)

John Bell Hood was blamed for the defeats at Franklin and Nashville of the Army of Tennessee in 1864. Hood expected, however, that history would eventually restore his reputation. He wrote, "I have never feared but that I would get justice, but expect it to be tardy." This well-researched, well-balanced, concise biography - John Bell Hood and the War for Southern Independence by Richard M. McMurry - attempts to offer fairness and justice, but unfortunately for John Hood, McMurry draws conclusions that are not entirely favorable.

John Bell Hood's early career was marked by good fortune and successes in battle, and ultimately he became the youngest of the eight full generals of the Confederacy. No one questioned Hood's courage nor his effectiveness as a brigade commander. Following his severe injuries at Gettysburg and Chickamauga, Southern newspapers compared the loss of Hood's service as second only to that of Stonewall Jackson.

McMurry attributes Hood's "complete and disastrous failure" as commander of the Army of Tennessee to his inability to plan thoroughly his operations and to his inadequate supervision of his subordinates. Instead, Hood displayed a romantic's happy assumption that, despite all evidence, matters would work out for the best. McMurry strengthens his argument by identifying in Hood's early war years traces of weaknesses that would later contribute to his ultimate failure.

John Bell Hood and the War for Southern Independence easily warrants four stars.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Selective., February 8, 2004

By 

Michael E. Fitzgerald (Kingwood, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: John Bell Hood and the War for Southern Independence (Paperback)

This biography of John Bell Hood is piecemeal; you will not find the whole story here. For example, it barely touches on Hood's contributions to the battles fought at Antietam and Gettysburg where Hood was openly critical of Robert E. Lee's battle plans. You have to wonder why, when focusing on an offensively minded General like John Bell Hood, the author chooses to really omit the first two Confederate invasions of the North! Surely his experiences there were the foundation for the attacks he subsequently led at Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee.

More importantly, the author does not take General Hood to task either for destroying the Army of Tennessee at Franklin and Nashville or for the continual politicking the General loved to engage in. John Bell was definitely not a loyal subordinate. He was quarrelsome, difficult and in reality, could not be trusted by his peers.

But he was a fighter. On any battlefield in which he was engaged he fought like a demon. It is quite likely that with the exception of Stonewall Jackson, John Bell Hood was the finest combat general the Confederacy possessed.

McMurry spends too much time trying to downplay the Peter Principal in John Bell's life, and, as a result, forgets to highlight those areas of this brilliant combat officer's contributions which should be thoroughly discussed in a book of this nature. As a result, he forgets to pay John Bell Hood the respect he is due.