Customer Reviews

Seed Corn of the Confederacy: The Story of the Cadets of the Virginia Military Institute at the Battle of New Market

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4 star:		(1)
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This is a fascinating account of the battle at New Market. The author vividly portrays the people, emotions, conditions, and actions. I could not put this book down because the story is completly enthralling. Even if you are not a Civil War/military history buff, this book is an execellent read. You experience the hopes of the cadets and the realities of war. I highly recommend this book to anyone!

I am a Greatgrandson of Otis A. Glazebrook, New Market Cadet, Company-D and a Great-greatgranson of Francis H. Smith, a founder and first Superintendent of V.M.I. (for fifty years). I thought this book painted a realistic portrait of cadet life at V.M.I. and the events preceding "The Battle". The cadet's story provides good lessons, particularly for today's pampered adolecents, who think that their lives are tough. The description of the cadet's eighty mile march from Lexington to New Market in the rain, mud, in wool uniforms, leather shoes, etc. might be food for thought....I particularly liked Gindlesberger's protrayal of Cadet Stanard.
The difficult part of reading history for me is to remember that a day was just as long then, as it is now. It is written in the form of a historical "novel", this gives the cadet's story life, as oppossed to dry historical facts. "Seed Corn" is a quick read and does a great job telling of the great bravery of 257 Cadets, who became MEN, in the best sense of the word, in four hours, May 15th, 1864.
Otis A. Glazebrook, IV

I recently attended a symposium where the author spoke, and after it was over I purchased this book, along with Escape From Libby Prison. After I read Escape From Libby Prison I thought there was no way Mr. Gindelsberger could do any better, but I was wrong. I liked this one even more than his first. I can only guess how good his next one will be. Anyone who reads this should definitely get both his books. You won't be sorry. This story had humor, fear, compassion, and everything else a good story should have. I guarantee you'll be moved to tears as you read the account of the battle and the search for friends after it was over. What a story!

Mr. Gindlesperger has turned the story of the Battle Market from the cadets' points-of-view and succeeded terrificly. The research is apparent through the many details the suthor discloses and makes the text all the more enjoyable and real. The scenes are vivid and you can feel the horror of searching for a brother or friend on the field after the clash is over. The book is only lacking in two areas (the arrival of John Wise to the field hospital after the battle and through the first appendix with the list of the corps and some board information). Yet even there, the weaknesses come through with little strength. The text is extremely well-written with few gliches in storyline and information in the first appendix. All in all, a beautiful story and worth-while read.

The Battle of New Market, VA was an unusual event in the Civil War, because it was the only time in American history that active military school cadets participated in battle. So, I wanted to get more information on this battle, and when I got this book, I was excited to read it. Unfortunately, that excitement did not last long. The author chose to write this account of the battle in the style of a novel, even down to putting words in the characters' mouths in the form of running dialogue. I do not question Mr. Gindlesperger's sources, and the appendix was intersting to me. The book just read more like "The Killer Angels" than a factual account of a battle.