Customer Reviews

Ploughshares into Swords: Josiah Gorgas and Confederate Ordnance (Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series)

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This is a classic of Civil War history, superbly researched and well-crafted by an author who has complete command of this crucial aspect of the Southern war effort. Not only is it well-written, the excellent research is immediately available to the reader due to the footnotes being located at the bottom of the page, rather than the inferior lay-out method of placing footnotes at the end of the book. In order for anyone to gain a full understand the Confederate war effort, Vandiver's PLOUGHSHARES INTO SWORDS is a must.

Simply a brilliant book on how the south managed to keep its armies in the field and almost fully supplied despite all the difficulties of the Northern blockade etc. A superb book on a forgotten area of warfare, Logistics.
Alan Lowe. B.A. MRes. Manchester Metropolitan University.

When the Confederacy began to arm, weapons were in such short supply that serious consideration was given to arming the troops with pikes. When Lee surrendered at Appomattox, four years later, the South was in ruins, and his men lacked shoes, uniforms, and food, but they had guns and ammunition. This book is the story of the man responsible for this miracle, Josiah Gorgas. It is a tale of invincible determination, boundless energy, and endless ingenuity, and is well worth reading regardless of your feelings about the war.