Last Full Measure of Devotion [Illustrated] [Paperback]

J. Doby (Author), John Edwards (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Ivy House Pub Group; illustrated edition edition (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571970134
• ISBN-13: 978-1571970138
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,085,584 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

4.0 out of 5 stars Irishman from Michigan in ACW, August 28, 2006

By 

DJ "Donncadhf" (Sterling Heights, MI, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Last Full Measure of Devotion (Paperback)

This is a history of the author's immigrant ancestors, focusing on his gg-uncle John Edwards, who was born in Co Westmeath in 1826, came to the US in 1849, winding up in Hudson, Michigan in 1851, where he prospered as a bootmaker. In October 1861, he took a commission as 2nd Lieutenant of Company I, 15th Michigan Infantry Regiment, taking part in the battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, and the battles of Iuka and Corinth. By the time of his resignation in April 1863, he had been promoted to 1st Lt and was in command of Co I. After some months at home, in August 1863 he became 1st Lieutenant of Company D, 11th Michigan Cavalry Regiment; late in 1864, he was promoted to captain and Company D's commander. The 11th MI fought bushwhackers and Confederate cavalry in Kentucky, and took part in raids into Tennessee, western Virginia (including both battles of Saltville), and North Carolina. It was during Stoneman's raid into North Carolina and attack at Salisbury 12 April 1865 when Capt. Edwards was wounded, dying in hospital 4 days later. Initially buried by the local Masons in the Lutheran church yard in Salisbury, his body was reinterred in the National Cemetery.

Doby's vehicle in telling the story is having Edwards slowly dying in a Salisbury hospital telling his life story to a Confederate POW - a Freemason like Edwards - who has volunteered to nurse him. Edwards starts with his childhood in Co. Westmeath, early adulthood and marriage, the Hunger, emigration to NY, life in Hudson, and his war experiences. While a good chunk of Doby's narrative is based on factual material such as letters, newspapers, military records, etc., family folklore also played a role and plain old literary license was used to flesh out the story. Unless something is quoted, no citations are given, so no, this is not a scholarly history (which is why I give it a 4), but it was a fun read, and appears accurate regarding the 15th and 11th MI. When Doby treads off into sidebar issues, though, there are some surprising historical gaffs, such as:
* Doby's attempt at explaining US Army organization during the ACW has 3 star generals commanding corps and 4 star generals commanding armies. In actuality, Grant was the only one to get a 3rd star during the war, and there wasn't a single 4 star general until Grant in 1866 - after the war.
* Most of the major Union armies were named for rivers, not for States as the book says.
* Ft Wagner is in South (not North) Carolina.
* Discussing 1863 events, mention is made of Jeff Davis' proposing to enlist slaves into the CS Army (well over a year before it happened).

Several of Edwards' letters and family papers are reproduced both within the text and an appendix. While there are photos of officers associated with Edwards, there are none of him - only a drawing - or of his family.