Soldier of Tennessee: General Alexander P. Stewart and the Civil War in the West

by Sam Davis Elliott

General Alexander P. Stewart (1821-1908) has garnered little attention from historians. In this biography, Sam Davis Elliott removes Stewart from the shadows of history by tracing the life of this influential general, providing the first in-depth analysis of his critical role in the Civil War's western theater. A West Point graduate, Stewart served in the Army of Tennessee from its days as the Tennessee Provisional Army in 1861 to its final surrender in April 1865. He participated in nearly all the battles the army fought - including those at Belmont, Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, New Hope Church, and Spring Hill, and during the Atlanta campaign - rising from the rank of major to lieutenant general. Always a gallant fighter and a calm, confident leader, "Old Straight" - as he was soon known for his steadfastness in battle - took over General Leonidas Polk's command when Polk was killed near Marietta, Georgia, and eventually led the Army of Tennessee's battered remnant in its final stand against William Tecumseh Sherman at Bentonville. At the war's end, Stewart was the ranking Confederate officer from Tennessee, and at the time of his death in 1908 he was the ranking Confederate survivor. More than the story of one man, Soldier of Tennessee conveys the triumphs and failures of the Confederate effort in the West and a divided nation's efforts at reconciliation. As Elliott demonstrates, both the Volunteer State and the Army of Tennessee may have had more flamboyant soldiers fight under their banners, but none was more constant than "Old Straight."

Genres: Civil War, Biography, American Civil War, Civil War History

339 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1999

Reviews

[Dennis Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's about time General Stewart gets some press. As stated in this wonderful book there are Colonels in Lee's army that are better known than this man who was one of the ranking generals in the Confederate army. At Franklin Stewart helped lead a far larger and more deadly charge than the famous July 3th, 1863 charge at Gettysburg, yet very few people know of him. As the campaigns of the Army of Tennessee begin to gain further study maybe this will change. This book should help a great deal.

From his birth in Rogersville, Tennessee until his death in St. Louis Stewart always remained at heart a Tennessean and his dedication to his state led him into all of the major battles of the Army of Tennessee. Nobody who studies that army can do so without a study of "Old Straight". This book does a wonderful job of exploring the life, war experences,and post-war work of this deeply religious man.

Mr. Elliott has made a major contribution to the study of the Army of Tennessee and I thank him.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid biography of AP Stewart, a Confederate general who fought in the West and fought in major battles such as Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro (Stones River), Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge. Stewart was subsequently promoted to Corps command and led a Corps in the battles around Atlanta, Spring Hill, Nashville, and led the remnants of the Confederate Army of Tennessee at Bentonville. Stewart was a prominent leader at the brigade, division, and corps levels, seeing action in many of the most important battles and campaigns in the western theater, becoming the highest ranking Confederate officer from the state of Tennessee.
Elliott also discusses Stewart's roles pre and post-war as an educator, cotton broker, and extensive time as park commissioner for the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Elliott discusses Stewart's role in Confederate veterans associations and discusses his views on the war and Reconstruction.

[Avis Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stewart's an interesting subject, but this is an unexciting, average biography. He needs a better biography than this.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the introduction of a biography practically oozes admiration for its subject, it's often a bad sign. Uncritical hero-worship is just as bad as vengeful vilification in biography. Thankfully, although the author is unabashed in his admiration of A. P. Stewart, Sam Elliot doesn't let his personal feelings get in the way of writing a good book.

Elliots book is thoroughly researched and fair. Not only are common sources, such as the Official Records of the War of Rebellion (widely known in Civil War circles simply as "the O.R."), but more obscure memoirs and letters of men who served alongside "Old Straight" (as Stewart was known) are cited to help build as complete an account as possible of Stewarts life and military service. Mentioning citation, this book is also extremely well cited! If you want to know what sources the author used for certain facts or assertions, it's right there at the bottle of the page. Most similar books would have you refer back to a "notes" section at the end of the book for the same information. Elliots method of citation, though it can somewhat crowd the pages, is a lot more accessible.

Besides being a sound academic work, Soldier of Tennessee is also an enjoyable read. The authors prose is easy and entertaining, the narrative is separated into easily digestible chapters, and Elliot does a good job of bringing out Stewarts many admirable qualities and traits. The reader is given a great narrative of a modest, able man, who should be more well known than he generally is today.