Free Downloads The Cause Lost: Myths And Realities Of The Confederacy (Modern War Studies (Paperback))
For nearly a quarter of a century, Pulitzer Prize nominee William C. Davis has been one of our best writers on the Civil War. His books—including Breckinridge: Statesman, Soldier, Symbol; Jefferson Davis: The Man and His Hour; and "A Government of Our Own": The Making of the Confederacy—have garnered numerous awards and enlightened and entertained an avid readership. The Cause Lost extends that tradition of excellence with provocative new insights into the myths and realities of an endlessly fascinating subject.In these pages, Davis brings into sharp focus the facts and fictions of the South's victories and defeats, its tenacious struggle to legitimize its cause and defeat an overpowering enemy, and its ultimate loss of will. He debunks long-standing legends, offers irrefutable evidence explaining Confederate actions, and contemplates the idealism, naiveté, folly, and courage of the military leadership and would-be founding fathers.Among the most misunderstood, Davis contends, was Jefferson Davis. Often branded as enigmatic and incompetent, the Confederate president was simply a decent and committed leader whose mistakes were magnified by the war's extraordinary demands. Davis scrutinizes Jefferson Davis' relationship with his generals-most of whom were unproved talents or cronies with proven deficiencies-and reveals why only Robert E. Lee succeeded in winning Davis' confidence through flattery, persuasion, and a sense of responsibility. He also examines the myths and memories of the nearly deified Stonewall Jackson and John C. Breckinridge, the only effective Confederate secretary of war.Davis also illustrates why the cause of the war—a subject of long-standing controversy—boils down to the single issue of slavery; why Southerners, ninety percent of whom didn't own slaves, were willing to join in the battle to defend their homeland; how the personalities, tactics, and styles of the armies in the turbulent West differed greatly from those in the East; what real or perceived turning points influenced Southern decision making; and how mythology and misinterpretations have been perpetuated through biography, history, literature, and film.Revealing the Confederacy's myths for what they really are, Davis nevertheless illustrates how much those myths inform our understanding of the Civil War and its place in Southern and American culture.
Series: Modern War Studies (Paperback)
Paperback: 236 pages
Publisher: University Press of Kansas (October 30, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0700612548
ISBN-13: 978-0700612543
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #660,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #345 in Books > History > Americas > United States > Civil War > Confederacy #1195 in Books > History > Military > Strategy #6491 in Books > History > Military > United States
Mr. Davis writes for popular history in that he does not go too deep into any single issue but that he does reduce issues to the point that most readers can understand them. In this book he takes on several of the most enduring "histories" of The Lost Cause of the Southern view of the Civil War and for the most part effectively refutes them. He has done popular history a service by entering into this particular fray.Most Americans recall of the Civil War revolves around what can loosely be called history, much of which is either partiallly or deeply wrong. Not all states for instance that left the US did so explictly mentioning slavery, here Alabama comes to mind (the majority of the CS did name it the first or chief reason for secession). The Lincoln pre war tax impost was a reason but outside of SC is seldom mentioned in any other state paper and at best is a minor reason or excuse for the war that resulted. Slavery and Federal interference (or threat of interference) with it, constituted the chief reason for secession. Of course the majority of Southern men fought to defend their homes, one can argue here poor men were manipulated into fighting for the rich slave holders if you take the view of poor always fighting rich men's fights.However, this and the failure of the CSA government, other then the military, to acomplish much in the course of the War is today only now being noticed or studied.Reading several of the previous reviewers it is obvious that no amount of scholarship will change their minds regarding the War, its causes, or lasting effects. Here is proof positive of Mr. Davis' points regarding The Lost Cause; yes history was rewritten, but by the losers.
The Cause Lost: Myths and Realities of the Confederacy (Modern War Studies (Paperback)) The Confederacy's Greatest Cavalryman: Nathan Bedford Forest (Modern War Studies) (Modern War Studies (Paperback)) In Deadly Combat: A German Soldier's Memoir of the Eastern Front (Modern War Studies) (Modern War Studies (Paperback)) The Wise Wound: Myths, Realities, & Meanings of Menstruation Autoimmune: The Cause and The Cure (This book identifies the cause & the cure for: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Raynaud's, Rosacea, Myasthenia Gravis, Hashimoto's, Type 2 Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Sjogren's, and more) Lifeline of the Confederacy: Blockade Running During the Civil War (Studies in Maritime History) The Myth of the Lost Cause: Why the South Fought the Civil War and Why the North Won To the Bitter End: Appomattox, Bennett Place, and the Surrenders of the Confederacy (Emerging Civil War Series) Ships of the Civil War 1861-1865: An Illustrated Guide to the Fighting Vessels of the Union and the Confederacy War Songs and Poems of the Southern Confederacy Braxton Bragg: The Most Hated Man of the Confederacy (Civil War America) The Rebel Raiders: The Astonishing History of the Confederacy's Secret Navy (American Civil War) Understanding Greek Myths (Myths Understood (Crabtree)) In Deadly Combat: A German Soldier's Memoir of the Eastern Front (Modern War Studies (Paperback)) Queen Bees and Wannabes, 3rd Edition: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boys, and the New Realities of Girl World Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World The Court and the World: American Law and the New Global Realities Me and My Mate Jeffrey: A story of big dreams, tough realities and facing my demons head on Black Identities: West Indian Immigrant Dreams and American Realities CJ: Realities and Challenges
