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R. E. Lee: A Biography #3
R. E. Lee: A Biography Volume III
Following the immediate critical success of Lee’s Dispatches, author Douglas Southall Freeman was approached by New York publisher Charles Scribner’s Sons and invited to write a biography of Robert E. Lee. He accepted, and his research of Lee was he evaluated and cataloged every item about Lee, and reviewed records at West Point, the War Department, and material in private collections. In narrating the general’s Civil War years, he used what came to be known as the “fog of war” technique—providing readers only the limited information that Lee himself had at a given moment. This helped convey the confusion of war that Lee experienced, as well as the processes by which Lee grappled with problems and made decisions.
R. E. A Biography was published in four volumes in 1934 and 1935. In its book review, The New York Times declared it “Lee complete for all time.” Historian Dumas Malone wrote, “Great as my personal expectations were, the realization far surpassed them.” In 1935, Freeman was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his four-volume biography.
Freeman’s R. E. A Biography remains the authoritative study on the Confederate general.
R. E. A Biography was published in four volumes in 1934 and 1935. In its book review, The New York Times declared it “Lee complete for all time.” Historian Dumas Malone wrote, “Great as my personal expectations were, the realization far surpassed them.” In 1935, Freeman was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his four-volume biography.
Freeman’s R. E. A Biography remains the authoritative study on the Confederate general.
First published January 1, 1935
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About the author
Douglas Southall Freeman
233 books91 followersThe son of a Confederate veteran, Douglas Southall Freeman was long interested in the Civil War. A man of intense work ethic, he earned his PhD at 22, then balanced a journalist's demanding schedule with a historian's, as he churned out Lee's Dispatches (1915), the Pulitzer-Prize-winning four-volume R. E. Lee: A Biography (1934-35), Lee's Lieutenants: A Study in Command (1942-44), and finally, the multi-volume George Washington (1948-54). A respected historian, renown for his research, he garnered fame in his native Virginia and the friendship of major military figures.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 3, 2022
The authorial quality is remarkable, and the subject's fortitude amongst a thousand challenges manly.
September 11, 2023
The third volume of Freeman's Pulitzer-prize winning biography of RE Lee was the easiest read of the first three covering the time period from just before Gettysburg in July 1863 through the waning days of the Confederacy in the winter of 1865. The second volume covered the zenith of the Confederacy and its most celebrated general as he out-fought every general and army the US could throw at him. Here we see the long, slow descent of the Army and Northern Virginia and its general through the tough years as the south collapsed under the weight of US industrial might.
Probably the most interesting thread in the book concerns Lee's relationships with his subordinate generals and the leadership of the Confederacy. While Lee was a master tactician and arguably an excellent strategist, his reluctance to fully accept the reins of command he was given becomes clear. After the death of Jackson at the end of the previous volume, Lee finds himself left with only Longstreet as his lieutenant and is forced to rebuild his corps structure right before the defining battle of Gettysburg. Longstreet, now viewing himself as the co-commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, promptly begins to noisily propound his views on how Gettysburg was to be fought. Lee hears him out, but forges ahead with his own plan, to which Longstreet pouts and drags his feet leading to wasteful troop loss and contributed directly to the loss of the battle. We see Lee accepting all of the blame, but never addressing the crisis in his command. While he maintains control of the army from the bottom up, his generals never really live up to expectations, and Lee refuses to remove them, or even call them out for their shortcomings...even privately.
Freeman's writing style is a delight to read, especially compared to many modern authors. Generally eschewing jargon and over-analysis of his subject, Freeman sticks to the facts and an objective (if slightly pro-Lee biased) telling of Lee's life. His mastery of the subject matter and the literature on Lee clearly shines through, especially with his inclusion of anecdotes from those around him reflecting Lee the man. His synthesis of a variety of sources fleshes out the man from the often hagiographic view of Lee historically, but also exposes the pimples and warts that perhaps modern scholarship over-emphasizes for the Confederacy's greatest general.
Probably the most interesting thread in the book concerns Lee's relationships with his subordinate generals and the leadership of the Confederacy. While Lee was a master tactician and arguably an excellent strategist, his reluctance to fully accept the reins of command he was given becomes clear. After the death of Jackson at the end of the previous volume, Lee finds himself left with only Longstreet as his lieutenant and is forced to rebuild his corps structure right before the defining battle of Gettysburg. Longstreet, now viewing himself as the co-commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, promptly begins to noisily propound his views on how Gettysburg was to be fought. Lee hears him out, but forges ahead with his own plan, to which Longstreet pouts and drags his feet leading to wasteful troop loss and contributed directly to the loss of the battle. We see Lee accepting all of the blame, but never addressing the crisis in his command. While he maintains control of the army from the bottom up, his generals never really live up to expectations, and Lee refuses to remove them, or even call them out for their shortcomings...even privately.
Freeman's writing style is a delight to read, especially compared to many modern authors. Generally eschewing jargon and over-analysis of his subject, Freeman sticks to the facts and an objective (if slightly pro-Lee biased) telling of Lee's life. His mastery of the subject matter and the literature on Lee clearly shines through, especially with his inclusion of anecdotes from those around him reflecting Lee the man. His synthesis of a variety of sources fleshes out the man from the often hagiographic view of Lee historically, but also exposes the pimples and warts that perhaps modern scholarship over-emphasizes for the Confederacy's greatest general.
December 21, 2019
Volume III of Douglas Southall Freeman's work examines the period of Lee's life from the reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia after the Battle of Chancellorsville through the end of 1864 and the siege at Petersburg. Freeman's admiration for his subject continues to grow in this volume and it made me wonder if he was out to simply prove the preconceived notion that Lee was a most admirable man. Yet, Freeman's conclusions regarding Lee's character are more than reasonable given the documentation that supports them. The author's research continues to astound.
Our modern age--and modern biographers--would lead us to believe that everyone is nuanced to a large degree. Indeed, the cynicism among many modern biographers and historians is nothing but the other side of the hero-worshipping of the past. Cynicism about Lee and other notable figures may reflect a disbelief that human beings can indeed be persons of great character; noble, even. So far, Freeman makes me believe this about Lee, and I am anxious to pick up Volume IV to see what overall conclusions, if any, the author will draw about one of the most revered figures in American history.
Our modern age--and modern biographers--would lead us to believe that everyone is nuanced to a large degree. Indeed, the cynicism among many modern biographers and historians is nothing but the other side of the hero-worshipping of the past. Cynicism about Lee and other notable figures may reflect a disbelief that human beings can indeed be persons of great character; noble, even. So far, Freeman makes me believe this about Lee, and I am anxious to pick up Volume IV to see what overall conclusions, if any, the author will draw about one of the most revered figures in American history.
August 12, 2023
Well written book about Lee's command of the Confederate State's army from just before the Battle of Gettysburg to just before the final battle or battles that would eventually lead to Appomattox during the Civil War. The narrative drags a bit with the author's description of the battles that the author's subject commanded but that is to be, more or less, expected. The author describes Lee's part in the battles and what may have led him to make the decisions that he made and orders that he gave to, or advice he sought from, his subordinates and how they reacted and conducted themselves. The book ends rather gloomily with the Confederate army loosing people due to deaths, injuries and desertions and with its expected end just before Appomattox. Even with the heavy burden of responsibility the author shows that Lee was still a kind, thoughtful and caring man. Rather unlike many in positions of leadership today.
The writing in the volumes that I've read so far is of a quality that, in my honest opinion, we no longer encounter in the 20th and this century.
The writing in the volumes that I've read so far is of a quality that, in my honest opinion, we no longer encounter in the 20th and this century.
August 2, 2011
The quality is consistent though this entire set of books, it's taking a long time, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
December 8, 2013
See R E Lee, Vol I
November 15, 2022
Great books about General Robert E Lee during the Civil War. There are four Volumes to the set.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews