Customer Reviews

Rebels at the Gate

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This is an excellent book. Detailed enough to be useful and interesting but not dry, fast paced, it is a well written chronological account of an early period of the war and the many interesting people involved. The author clearly draws the links between actions taken during this period and later in the war. This is more than just another book on the Civil War. Mr. Lesser explains clearly, without bogging down in minutiae, how the political and military circumstances influenced West Virginia's formation.

A long time resident of West Virginia and western Virginia (the Shenandoah valley) and a sometime student of the American Civil War, I happily learned much that I didn't know about some of my favorite places and historical figures. Intrigued, I read this book straight through.

Written by an archaeologist and historical interpreter of twenty years' experience, Rebels At The Gate: Lee And Mcclellan On The Front Line Of A Nation Divided is a study and evocative presentation of the earliest days of the American Civil War. Presenting a portrait of the fundamental issues and charasmatic personalities so strong that the result was a nation polarized. When Virginia Unionists formed the new state of West Virginia to sustain President Lincoln's war effort and block Confederate control of the territory and a key point of access to the North, Union and Confederate troops led by George McClellan and Robert E. Lee respectively were pit in a severe campaign that set the stage for the long years of bloodshed to come. A gripping and involving narrative of a turbulent time in American history.

Clayton R. Newell covered the same ground as Mr. Lesser some years ago in his classic "Lee vs. McClellan" but what Mr. Lesser has done in "Rebels at the Gate" is take a fine portrait of the bitter, brother versus brother fighting in the hills of West Virginia and turned it into a landscape. He writes movingly of the Rebel General Garnett, who upon taking the West Virginia assignment to stop the Union forces knew he would die there; of little Josie Gordon, the 18 year son of a Union major, who enlisted in the Union Army much against the wishes of his father, and would be found dead on the battlefield by his heartbroken father.

He also writes of spies, of bushwackers like the deadly Nancy Hart, a little spitfire who killed a Union jailer taking her photo, of the various West Virginia politicians who clamored to 'secede' themselves from the Confederacy, and the figures of history, - Stonewall Jackson, George McClellan, Robert E. Lee, and the sarcastic "bitter" (Ambrose) Bierce, whose Civil War experience, which began in West Virginia, had a profound impact on his future writings.

As a previous reviewer has noted, Lesser has a storyteller's gift, but he also knows his history. A worthy work to place alongside the Newell book, if you can still get a copy.

The author's bio says he's had a 20-year career as an archaeologist and historical interpreter. It should also say he's an extraordinary storyteller.

This book is just terrific: brisk narrative pace, interesting characters, colorful anecdotes. It deals simultaneously with the Civil War's initial clash of arms in the mountains of western Virginia, and the political machinations that surrounded the birth of West Virginia and its entry into the Union as the 35th state.

Western Virginia is the place where Generals McClellan and Lee make their Civil War debuts. It is from these mountains that McClellen emerges as the Young Napoleon, hailed as the Union's savior. McClellen's prodigious organizational skills are clearly evident; for example, he pioneers the use of the telegraph in battlefield communications -- one of a dozen Civil War "firsts" the author cites. But the tendencies that would later cost McClellen his command and sully his reputation in military history already begin to rear their heads: exaggeration of enemy troop strength; battlefield timidity ("he sat there with indecision stamped on every line of his countenance"); a haughty, supercilious manner.

In contrast to McClellan, Lee limps out of western Virginia with his reputation greatly diminished -- undermined by uncooperative mountain weather, poor timing and internecine fueds between political generals that precluded battlefield coordination. It was during the bleak days in western Virginia that Lee grew a white beard, and earned the derisive sobriquet, "Granny Lee."

The western Virginia campaign often receives short shrift in Civil War histories, overshadowed by the larger, bloodier engagements that followed. "Rebels at the Gate" fills the void and does so with an engaging, well-paced narrative. This book is sure to delight anyone interested in the American Civil War.

As a Civil War buff, I have read most of the classic works, and several off-beat tomes as well. "Rebels at the Gate" falls in between these two categories, and does its job very well. I was completely unfamiliar with the circumstances surrounding the division of Virginia at the start of the Civil War. I also had no clue about the initial campaigns and battles fought in that part of the country, and their impact on the overall outcome of the conflict. Mr. Lesser is a very adept author, and brought the diverse personalities to life, yet without dramatizing his work a la "The Killer Angels". (Although I am a huge fan of Michael Shaara's superb book, very few authors can successfully pull off writing historical novels. I'm just glad that Mr. Lesser didn't imitate that style.)

The author's style is clear, engaging, and kept my interest even when serious competition arose. (I did stop reading to watch the end of the Women's World Cup soccer match between Team USA and Team Brazil, which if you were lucky enough to see it live, you'll no doubt understand!)

You don't have to be a Civil War or military history geek to enjoy this book...and with this being the Sesquicentennial of the start of the Civil War, it makes for timely reading!

This book traces the beginning of the Civil War in western virginia (now West Virginia)when both Union and Confederate forces were vying for control of the B&O railroads and the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike. With the use of diaries, Lesser brings the Civil War alive for contemporary readers, e.g. the frozen hell on Cheat Mountain when snow and ice struck in July. You see how George McClellan, with a victory at Rich Mountain, became an instant hero and was summoned back to Washington to lead the Army of the Potomac. You also see how his later, well-known deficiencies as a commander were apparent from the beginning. And you will see how Robert E. Lee left the area, defeated in his first combat and now called "Granny."
You will also learn about the first death in the Civil War, the first death of a general officer, the first battle-field amputation, the first use by the military of Western Union during combat and other "firsts."
And the beauty of this book is that it is well-written, engaging the reader from cover to cover.
This book is essential raading for anyone who wants to understand the Civil War and how it developed, leading to the creation of a new state along the way. The book is hard to find, because it is out of print. But Lessor advises that he is oontemplating another press run.

The title of the book promises a history of the 1861 Western Virginia Campaign. This little covered campaign propelled McClellan to command of the Union armies and pushed Robert E. Lee into obscurity. Only Jefferson Davis' faith in Lee rescued him from build fortifications along the Atlantic coast. Politically important, West Virginia succeeded from the Confederacy and became a state due to Union success. The infighting between Wise and Floyd provide a look into how poorly the CSA command functioned and how two petty people could bring everything to a halt.

The author attempts to cover all of this and provide unlimited human-interest stories too. He fails, as one part of the story elbows another out of the way, while tripping over a third part. This is not a poorly written book. The problem is origination and discipline. No story is completed and human-interest keeps interrupting. A major problem is maps! In the Illustrations section are three useless maps. First, they are in the wrong place, second the two dealing with battles have to little detail, lastly if you have not looked at the illustrations you will not know they are there.

This is the second book I have read on this campaign. I have not improved my knowledge or understanding by reading it.