Memoirs of the Confederate War for Independence (Southern Classics Series) [Paperback]

Heros von Borcke (Author)

Book Description

Series: Southern Classics Series | Publication Date: April 23, 1999

A stirring account of von Borcke’s service in the cavalry of the army of Northern Virginia. “Von Borcke’s book is one that no student of Confederate history will forget.”—Douglas Southall Freeman.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"von Borcke's book is one that no student of Confederate history will forget. Swords clash and bugles blow on every page of it." -- Douglas Southall Freeman

About the Author

Heros von Borcke (1836-1895) served in the Confederate army and participated in numerous battles before being wounded at the beginning of the Gettysburg Campaign. Prevented by injury from continuing in active service, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and sent by the Confederate Congress on a diplomatic mission to England. When the war ended in 1865 he remained abroad and returned to his native Prussia, where he later served with distinction in the Franco-Prussian War.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: J.S. Sanders Books; 1st J.S. Sanders ed edition (April 23, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879941317
• ISBN-13: 978-1879941311
• Product Dimensions: 12.5 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #527,383 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to put down once you start to read it., December 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Memoirs of the Confederate War for Independence (Southern Classics Series) (Paperback)

This book was written in 1866, while the memories of the War Between the States were still fresh in Von Borcke's mind. A lot of the personal accounts I have read were written years after the war and were not as accurate as they could have been had they been written sooner. But, most of the veteran's had a lot more to contend with, than writing a book. Von Borcke,sometime lieutenant of the 3rd Regiment of Dragoon Guards, came to Virginia from Prussia at the beginning of the war to offer his services to the Confederacy. Seeking adventure in the new land, he fell in with Jeb Stuart and found all he needed. Jeb Stuart made Von Borke one of his aides. Von Borcke writes about a lot of small details of Virginia at that time, that someone who was a native Virginian, would not have made note of because of already being familiar with these. He also has written of many humorous events that took place in camp and on the battlefield. Gives a good account of Stuart from someone who was close to Stuart in the good times and bad times. You will not regrett taking the time to read this to read this book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly great memoir, June 17, 2001

By 

Mead P, Miller (Mobile, AL. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Memoirs of the Confederate War for Independence (Southern Classics Series) (Paperback)

This is a wonderful memoir of the author's year and half of active service on the staff of the legendary Confederate cavalry General, J. E. B. Stuart. Von Borcke was an aristocratic twenty-six year old former Lieutenant in the Prussian Army when, in 1862, he took passage on a blockcade runner to Charleston. With little command of English, and having burned all of his letters of introduction just prior to his vessel's inspection by Yankee blockaders, Von Borcke presented himself at Richmond unknown and friendless. He was eventually placed as a civilian adviser to Stuart, and soon became a commissioned officer on the staff, and one of Stuart's closest confidants. A giant of a man--he weighed 220, and must have been very tall--he was a gallant and chivalrous fighter. He seems to have been in the thick of every melee, and was often entrusted with special courier assignments by Stuart. Through this, we get wonderful glimpses of many of the great heros of the Southern side, including Lee, and especially of Stonewall Jackson, who shows a wonderful sensitive side to Von Borcke, not often seen by others. The author lyrical prose is delightful, especially when describing the beautiful Northern Virginia countryside, and the many fine families than dwelt in the area. The brilliant, and wonderfully-readable prose is more the remarkable due to fact that this book is in translation from the original German. No where did I find the translator's name, but whoever did it deserves high praise indeed. I have never read a Civil War memoir that was better, though Henry Kyd Douglas' "I Rode with Stonewall" deserves mention for its merit also. This is a wonderful must-read, and would be an excellent book for even those who are but casually interested in the history of the Civil War.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent personal memoir., August 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Memoirs of the Confederate War for Independence (Southern Classics Series) (Paperback)

Heros Van Borcke brings alive life in the Confederate Calvary. From battle to battle, the personal emotions and the devotion to a cause of a country that he was not native to. Van Borcke is able to capture the intimate details of living day to day in the army, his relations with commanders and emotions the people of the South and the death of the gallent people around him. If you appreciate the sacrifices of those who fought and died in this conflict, this book is a MUST!!