Virginia at War, 1862 [Hardcover]

William C. Davis (Editor), James I. Robertson Jr. (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 081312428X | ISBN-13: 978-0813124285 | Publication Date: April 6, 2007

As the Civil War entered its first full calendar year for the Old Dominion, Virginians began to experience the full ramifications of the conflict. Their expectations for the coming year did not prepare them for what was about to happen; in 1862 the war became earnest and real, and the state became then and thereafter the major battleground of the war in the East. Virginia emerged from the year 1861 in much the same state of uncertainty and confusion as the rest of the Confederacy. While the North was known to be rebuilding its army, no one could be sure if the northern people and government were willing to continue the war. The landscape and the people of Virginia were a part of the battlefield. Virginia at War, 1862 demonstrates how no aspect of life in the Commonwealth escaped the war's impact. The collection of essays examines topics as diverse as daily civilian life and the effects of military occupation, the massive influx of tens of thousands of wounded and sick into Richmond, and the wartime expansion of Virginia's industrial base, the largest in the Confederacy. Out on the field, Robert E. Lee's army was devastated by the Battle of Antietam, and Lee strove to rebuild the army with recruits from the interior of the state. Many Virginians, however, were far behind the front lines. A growing illustrated press brought the war into the homes of civilians and allowed them to see what was happening in their state and in the larger war beyond their borders. To round out this volume, indefatigable Richmond diarist Judith McGuire continues her day-by-day reflections on life during wartime. The second in a five-volume series examining each year of the war, Virginia at War, 1862 illuminates the happenings on both homefront and battlefield in the state that served as the crucible of America's greatest internal conflict.

Editorial Reviews

Review

""Virginia at War, 1862 offers insightful essays by outstanding scholars about topics deservedly current in the literature. Historians here ask crucial questions and pose important answers. A bonus, worth the price of the book, is James I. Robertson Jr.'s well-edited portion of Judith Brockenbrough McGuire's diary."" -- Emory M. Thomas, Regents Professor of History Emeritus, University of Georgia

""Civil War aficionados who profited from the first volume in the series on wartime Virginia edited by Davis and Robertson will welcome this second installment. Once again the contributors approach the subject from a variety of analytical angles, creating a text that highlights the complexity of the war's impact on the most important Confederate state. Whether interested in politics, military affairs, the home front, or other topics, readers will find something here to engage their interest."" -- Gary W. Gallagher, author of The Confederate War

""The second volume in this series, sponsored by the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies at Virginia Tech, is just as good as the first. This is a series of excellent essays by distinguished historians... that treat such disparate subjects as the military hospitals of Richmond, how Robert E. Lee rebuilt his army, and the plight of Virginia's civilians."" -- The Weekly Standard

""Like its predecessor, this latest volume in the Virginia at War series is a wonderful contribution to the understanding of the effects of the Civil War on Virginia and Virginians. It is not a true military history, and readers who are interested in 'nuts and bolts' war studies will be sorely disappointed. Yet it is a work of War and Society, and the editors have put together a masterful team who have created a superb book that should be a lasting contribution to the Civil War studies far into the future."" -- Ryan S. Walters, The American Graduate

""From federal occupation and the civilian experience to Confederate industry and medical care, the authors present a nuanced portrait of Virginia's social, cultural, and military history."" -- Journal of America's Military Past

""An excellent volume.... The essays are well written and insightful.... They create a mosaic of personalities and events in the most significant Confederate state at the point when the war began to transform the social, economic, and political fabric of its soldiers and civilians' lives."" -- North Carolina Historical Review

""This compilation assembles a good look into what was happening in Virginia during a particular year of the Civil War."" -- www.curledup.com

""Virginia at War, 1862 provides the reader a valuable insight into Virginia life as the reality of full war unfolded on the citizenry.... Brings under the cover of one volume a wide variety of wartime topics. Not getting caught up in too much detail, it enables the reader to understand the wide variety of circumstances a citizen of that state would have found themselves in. As a collection of essays covering a wide variety of topics, this volume makes a nice contribution to early war literature."" -- War and Game

""This fine work belongs on the bookshelves of every knowledgeable student of the war, right next to the first volume in this excellent series."" -- The Free Lance-Star

""The essays, which tend to take a reasonable "Southern" view of the events, are well written and of considerable value for anyone interested in the war as a whole, not merely for the events in Virginia."" -- The NYMAS Review

""Virginia at War provides a valuable entry into the world at war beyond the battlefield. Would that we could have such collections for every state in the former Confederacy."" -- Lisa Larkin, Virginia Magazine of History and Biography

""This book is highly recommended to Civil War enthusiasts especially interested in Virginia."" -- Benet Exton, Oklahoman, www.newsok.com

""For those seeking a broader portrait of the conflict in the Confederacy's most vital state in a year of bloody fighting, mounting scarcities, and dying hopes, [Virginia At War] has much to offer." -- Blue and Gray Magazine" --

About the Author

William C. Davis is director of programs at the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including The Pirates Laffite: The Treacherous World of the Corsairs of the Gulf. He was also the chief consultant for The History Channel's Civil War Journal and is professor of history at Virginia Tech. James I. Robertson Jr. is Alumni Distinguished Professor of History at Virginia Tech. He is the author or editor of more than two dozen books, including the award-winning Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend. He was the chief historical consultant for the movie Gods and Generals.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky (April 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081312428X
• ISBN-13: 978-0813124285
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,324,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a good quick overview of that little unpleasantness, August 14, 2009

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R. M. Buhrman (Richmond, VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Virginia at War, 1862 (Hardcover)

with the size of the book, I didn't expect another Freeman's history of Lee, in fact, I could just about finish this book in one or two sittings....however, it's a pretty good assembly of perspectives, and easy reading. I was impressed by the chapter taken from the diary of a woman experiencing the war.... she's in the previous book as well....I don't believe I've ever read about anyone affected by the war other than soldiers....very interesting....would I recommend this book for someone else to read....yes...but, it may not be as much depth as you would like...but, I would like all the series on my bookshelf where you could hand a young person 1861 etc. and say, "Here, read these...this was the Wah" (the way my granddad used to pronounce it!)