Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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!!

In his personal narrative of his time spent with General JEB Stuart during the Civil War, Heros von Borcke gives the reader excellent insights into the war from the Cavalry rider's point of view. Additional background knowledge of certain battles does prove helpful has Heros does not always give a clear description of battle or the lay of the land. Maps would also aid greatly when he speaks of riding from town to town. Overall, the book was well worth the read. His vantage point enables him to faithfully detail to the reader an accurate picture of General JEB Stuart which makes the read quite intriguing. Borcke places the reader in middle of major battles and brings him along on his daring expeditions with Stuart. He gives his account of the war vividly and memorably, inserting those things that must have been mundane to him like the humor of others and the weather conditions.

This book is no doubt good, but it is scanned in, and is barely readable. Words like General Rodes, read Fenaral Eodes, and it is not interesting to read that way. Chapter titles are crammed in where they should not be. The table of contents is simarily unreadable.

If you're a civil war history buff as I am, this is a "must have". Heros von Borcke's story is over-blown and very self-serving, but it does give good insight into some of the operations of Jeb Stuart and for that, the rest may be forgiven. I liked it very much.

I only wish I had known this book was Volume II of the story to start with. Now the search for Volume I. He also has a slight flair for the dramatics. The basics are there. It still makes for a good read and some insight into the General.

A very interesting book describing the confederate battles from Heros's viewpoint serving under Jeb Stuart.
Even more so as he is a relative of mine.