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Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series #5
Their Tattered Flags: The Epic of the Confederacy (Volume 5)
"Their tattered flags became the symbol of a defeated class, and Vandiver's description of aristocratic Southern leadership in crisis is a real contribution to the literature of the Civil War."— New York Times Book Review " . . . goes beyond the legendary heroism of the Lees and the Johnstons and the fabled soldiers in gray and shows how and why these men were unable to create an independent Southern nation."—Bruce Catton "A Southern mirror to Bruce Catton's splendid books on the Civil War . . . written with the pace of a Confederate infantry charge."—Robert K. Massie
376 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
About the author
Frank E. Vandiver
49 books5 followersFrank Everson Vandiver was an American Civil War historian and former president of Texas A&M University and the University of North Texas, as well as acting president of Rice University. Vandiver wrote, co-wrote, or edited 24 books, and wrote an additional 100 scholarly articles or reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 25, 2020
The War Between the States is a period of history that has been near and dear to me for most of my three plus decades on this Earth. I think the only historical subjects I own as many books in would be the World Wars (who doesn't?), Slavic history (especially Russian/Ukrainian), German history, and Ancient history. Yet despite my historical loves, the American Civil War will always be my first love.
So it's rare when I discover a historian who works in the field of the War Between the States that I have never found until now.
Frank Vandiver, former President of Texas A and M, and in his own right an excellent historian, has written one of the finest, short, single volume studies of the War that one can hope to find.
To say that Vandiver is a great writer is, in a honesty, selling the man dearly short. This book was written in a way that can only be described as either magnificent, or majesterial. Genuinely beautiful writing, the kind that makes fellow writers jealous, combined with astute observations, keen analysis, sharp wit, and a genuine passionate love for the subject matter, Vandiver tells the story of the War from the viewpoint of the South.
Written not as a military history with deep analysis of strategy, operations, tactics, logistics, and leadership, as well as politics, this is instead a story of a people. Of the Southern people in their war for independence, their triumphs, their tragedies, their glories, their flaws, their virtues, their sins, their heroes, and their villains.
Vandiver is certainly sympathetic to the South, and showcases his abiding love for her, but never once shies away from detailing the complexity, the good, and the bad, that was the Confederacy. He never forgets the intricacy of slavery and the plantation class to the Southern way of life, the hierarchical class system that was Southern society, and the harshness and ugliness that both brought with them.
And yet, this was written over fifty years ago, before the modern hyper-sensitivity that has destroyed Academia's usefulness, and before the art of history as story, history as related to humanity, and history as the tale of people was lost and forgotten.
So Vandiver isn't afraid to praise the great generals, the heroic soldiers, the proud and patriotic women, as well as condemn the cowards, the fools, and the traitors of the South. In doing so, he brings to light some things that, now a days, only really deep specialty studies even touch on.
The deep, passionate patriotism of Southern women, and how they created a culture that shamed men into uniform and courageous deeds in the early days, and stoic, stubborn resistance in the dying days. The debates over slavery, emancipation, and the role of Blacks in Southern society. The idea of Confederate Nationalism, and what did it mean to be Southern? And most interestingly of all, he spent some time talking about the debates within the Confederate Army and Congress, which lasted for well over a year, over wether or not freedom should be offered to slaves, en masse, who served in the Confederate Army. In the end, though too late to matter, Southerners realized that yes, they were willing to let go of slavery and arm slaves, free them, and make them citizens if it meant independence.
But such was not meant to be.
Written back when narrative wasn't a dirty word in academia, when history hadn't yet, fully, lost its relation to humanity, this is a truly gorgeous book. It tells the story of the South when she, briefly, was her own nation.
And it truly is the American Iliad.
Could not possibly recommend this book highly enough.
So it's rare when I discover a historian who works in the field of the War Between the States that I have never found until now.
Frank Vandiver, former President of Texas A and M, and in his own right an excellent historian, has written one of the finest, short, single volume studies of the War that one can hope to find.
To say that Vandiver is a great writer is, in a honesty, selling the man dearly short. This book was written in a way that can only be described as either magnificent, or majesterial. Genuinely beautiful writing, the kind that makes fellow writers jealous, combined with astute observations, keen analysis, sharp wit, and a genuine passionate love for the subject matter, Vandiver tells the story of the War from the viewpoint of the South.
Written not as a military history with deep analysis of strategy, operations, tactics, logistics, and leadership, as well as politics, this is instead a story of a people. Of the Southern people in their war for independence, their triumphs, their tragedies, their glories, their flaws, their virtues, their sins, their heroes, and their villains.
Vandiver is certainly sympathetic to the South, and showcases his abiding love for her, but never once shies away from detailing the complexity, the good, and the bad, that was the Confederacy. He never forgets the intricacy of slavery and the plantation class to the Southern way of life, the hierarchical class system that was Southern society, and the harshness and ugliness that both brought with them.
And yet, this was written over fifty years ago, before the modern hyper-sensitivity that has destroyed Academia's usefulness, and before the art of history as story, history as related to humanity, and history as the tale of people was lost and forgotten.
So Vandiver isn't afraid to praise the great generals, the heroic soldiers, the proud and patriotic women, as well as condemn the cowards, the fools, and the traitors of the South. In doing so, he brings to light some things that, now a days, only really deep specialty studies even touch on.
The deep, passionate patriotism of Southern women, and how they created a culture that shamed men into uniform and courageous deeds in the early days, and stoic, stubborn resistance in the dying days. The debates over slavery, emancipation, and the role of Blacks in Southern society. The idea of Confederate Nationalism, and what did it mean to be Southern? And most interestingly of all, he spent some time talking about the debates within the Confederate Army and Congress, which lasted for well over a year, over wether or not freedom should be offered to slaves, en masse, who served in the Confederate Army. In the end, though too late to matter, Southerners realized that yes, they were willing to let go of slavery and arm slaves, free them, and make them citizens if it meant independence.
But such was not meant to be.
Written back when narrative wasn't a dirty word in academia, when history hadn't yet, fully, lost its relation to humanity, this is a truly gorgeous book. It tells the story of the South when she, briefly, was her own nation.
And it truly is the American Iliad.
Could not possibly recommend this book highly enough.
August 12, 2011
An excellent overview of the Confederate effort. Superbly written and sympathetic without being apologetic.
July 25, 2021
This was written back in the ‘70s, post Civil-Rights movement, but definitely not in line with the modern view of the Confederacy. But, before somebody takes away woke points or dings me as a racist just for reading this, Vandiver writes with a warm but careful balance. He gives us the South’s own perspective of its choices and beliefs, but also provides context and balance. It’s not a paean to the South’s virtues, nor a screed against the demon Confederates. He doesn’t shy away from the evils involved, or gloss over the rough parts. It’s a fine line to walk, between the brutal judgments of history and the idealized views of the people at the time. And, as I mentioned before, Vandiver has beautiful, lyrical writing, that carries you along into the times.
Also, this is more of political than military history of the South; I’ve studied the campaigns, but this was focused on the government and politics, which gave me a different viewpoint. This is an indispensable part of any historian who studies this time frame; it’s out of print, but if you find a copy in a used book store, grab it up. You will not regret it.
Also, this is more of political than military history of the South; I’ve studied the campaigns, but this was focused on the government and politics, which gave me a different viewpoint. This is an indispensable part of any historian who studies this time frame; it’s out of print, but if you find a copy in a used book store, grab it up. You will not regret it.
June 27, 2017
1965 was a long time ago, but I read everything I could find about the Civil War for the next 2 years....I liked this enough to start recording books that I liked way back then!! Still do it today....but not all my books get recorded anymore....mostly those that speak to me.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews