Saturday, January 24, 2015

Essential Reading for the Battle of Chancellorsville

Here's a list of some of my favorite books on the campaign. I've also included a brief review of each source. This is by no means a comprehensive list---there are plenty of Chancellorsville sources that I can't wait to read.

Chancellorsville 1863: The Souls of the Brave - Ernest B. Furguson

This is one of my favorite CW books. Although not as detailed as other studies, Furguson's book is gracefully-written and still provides a lot of historical detail. He presents a traditional analysis of the campaign by arguing that Lee's genius and sheer audacity, complimented by the tactical prowess of Stonewall Jackson, were the primary factors of this remarkable Confederate victory. Highly recommended.

Chancellorsville - Stephen W. Sears

I'm actually currently in the process of re-reading this book. Sears' study of the campaign is slightly more thorough than Furguson's book and is also very well written. While some reviewers have suggested that it takes more of a Union perspective, so far it seems to be fairly balanced. My only reservations about this book is that the author is a zealous Hooker-supporter and seems to go to great lengths to defend his reputation---which I find to border on the ludicrous at times. However, if the reader is mindful of the author's position, this remains an excellent study of the campaign.

Chancellorsville: The Battle and Its Aftermath - Gary Gallagher (editor)

This book is a fine collection of essays from leading scholars who address a wide range of topics, such as the Union high command, an analysis of Stoneman's raid, Jackson's mortal wounding, the excellent performances by subordinates such as Early and Hancock, as well as other aspects of the battle. After reading a broad study of the campaign, this book will sharpen your focus on specific aspects of the campaign. My favorite essays are Robert K. Krick's definitive analysis of Jackson's tragic wounding and James Robertson, Jr.'s study of the medical treatment at Chancellorsville (an often ignored topic in CW studies).

Fighting for the Confederacy: The Personal Recollections of General Edward Porter Alexander - Gary Gallagher (editor)

Alexander's book includes an entire chapter devoted to his experience and analysis of the Chancellorsville campaign. It includes numerous interesting personal stories from the vantage point of an astute artillery officer who witnessed first-hand the carnage and tragedy of the battle. Alexander also wasn't afraid to critique his superior and fellow officers in the Army of Northern Virginia and gives his honest perspective (this book was written for his family and wasn't intended to be published). This chapter undoubtedly provides very interesting and valuable perspective of the campaign.

Chancellorsville's Forgotten Front: The Battles of Second Fredericksburg and Salem Church May 3, 1863 - Chris Mackowski and Kristopher D. White

Cast under the shadow of the larger battle fought in the Wilderness, the action on the Fredericksburg front as long been viewed as a mere sideshow. This book has done the huge service of giving these battles the attention they desperately needed. It also does an excellent job of placing these battles in the greater context of the campaign and demonstrating their importance to securing Lee's greatest victory at Chancellorsville. Cadmus Wilcox and Jubal Early would certainly be proud!

*Titles for down the (plank) road:
Chancellorsville - John Bigelow, Jr.
Calamity at Chancellorsville: The Wounding and Death of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson - Mathew Lively
The Battle of Chancellorsville - Augustus H. Hamlin
Chancellorsville and the Germans: Nativism, Ethnicity, and Civil War Memory - Christian B. Keller

Next up: some pics of the Stonewall Brigade



Thursday, January 8, 2015

Introductions

Hello,
This is a new experience for me---I'm not the most computer-savvy, so please bear with me. I'm planning on using this site to post pictures and comments about the collection of 28mm ACW miniatures that I'm working on. In particular, I have focused on the brigades of Jackson's old division, sometimes referred to as the Stonewall division, in the 1863 Chancellorsville campaign. The division was composed of Elisha Paxton's famous Stonewall Brigade, John R. Jones' brigade of Virginians, Edward Warren's mixed brigade of North Carolina and Virginia regiments, and Francis Nicholl's Louisiana brigade. It's quite the project (especially since I'm not the quickest painter), but I'm currently finishing up the Stonewall Brigade and plan on starting Warren's regiments in the near future---hopefully! In addition to my miniatures, I will also comment on books, journals, and other websites that interest me.

I hope to have more soon!

Thanks,
Ar