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Reflections on Lee: A Historian's Assessment
A sharply focused chronicle of Lee's life and a meditation on the general's career and his place in history, this biography is a thoughtful response to some of the more secondary literature on Lee offering a balanced evaluation of his strengths as a man and soldier.
- GenresCivil War
130 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1995
7 people want to read
About the author
Charles P. Roland
17 books2 followersCharles Pierce Roland is an American historian and professor emeritus of the University of Kentucky who is known for his research field of the American South and the U.S. Civil War.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 28, 2018
Charles P. Roland's book Reflections on Lee: a Historian's Assessment is a nice read. It tries to be a balanced approach and analysis of Robert E. Lee's qualifications both as a general and as a gentleman, for instance by attempting to countering the criticisms about Lee's generalship. He does a nice job, but oftentimes stretches thin doing so. Albert Sidney Johnston's plan to concentrate his troops for a counterattack against Grant was Lee's, even if Johnston had already put this plan into work. (Conveniently, Lee's absence on the Western theater absolves him of the failure to implement the plan succesfully.) In the end, the reader gets the impression this isn't an honest estimation of Lee, but another hagiography. Take, for example, the following sentence:
"Asked pointedly whether he believed blacks were as capable as whites of acquiring knowledge, [Lee] expressed the opinion that they were not, but he added that some were more apt than others. He also protested that he was not particularly qualified to answer such questions." (p.111)
My immediate response was, to wonder why not. Roland just spent a few pages elaborating on Lee's "zeal for education" (p.106) at his new job: president of Washington College. As a former slave owner, furthermore, he was surrounded by specimens of both races, and as such familiar with estimating whether "blacks were as capable as whites of acquiring knowledge." Roland, however, dimisses Lee's racism and implicitly sees Lee's protestation as a sign of dishonest questioning.
My final thought on this book is, that it's a nice, slim volume to read in order to put the likes of McKenzie and Nolan into perspective. But it does not render their analyses and criticisms of Lee obsolete.
"Asked pointedly whether he believed blacks were as capable as whites of acquiring knowledge, [Lee] expressed the opinion that they were not, but he added that some were more apt than others. He also protested that he was not particularly qualified to answer such questions." (p.111)
My immediate response was, to wonder why not. Roland just spent a few pages elaborating on Lee's "zeal for education" (p.106) at his new job: president of Washington College. As a former slave owner, furthermore, he was surrounded by specimens of both races, and as such familiar with estimating whether "blacks were as capable as whites of acquiring knowledge." Roland, however, dimisses Lee's racism and implicitly sees Lee's protestation as a sign of dishonest questioning.
My final thought on this book is, that it's a nice, slim volume to read in order to put the likes of McKenzie and Nolan into perspective. But it does not render their analyses and criticisms of Lee obsolete.
February 10, 2016
On the west coast the Civil War is a chapter in a history book. Dates, battles, places unfamiliar and far away fill that chapter.
In the South the Civil War is a real and present topic. General Robert E. Lee is still a very important person. Interestingly enough, even though Lee was a Southern general, he is highly regarded by many in the North too.
This small book goes into why this seeming contradiction exists.
It does begin with an overview of the Civil War and Lee's involvement in it. Lee's tactics form the focus of the discussion.
After the Civil War ends, the discussion moves to one about the kind of man Lee was. Admittedly the author is an admirer of Lee but does try to present a balanced view. He presents opinions different from his own.
Robert E. Lee was only a name to me when I opened the cover of this book. He is now a real person. I find I too admire the man and better understand the choices he made. Lee was a gentleman in the best sense of the word and put the good of first his state and then his country before his personal feelings.
This book is easy to read and follow. It is an excellent book for those interested in this time.
In the South the Civil War is a real and present topic. General Robert E. Lee is still a very important person. Interestingly enough, even though Lee was a Southern general, he is highly regarded by many in the North too.
This small book goes into why this seeming contradiction exists.
It does begin with an overview of the Civil War and Lee's involvement in it. Lee's tactics form the focus of the discussion.
After the Civil War ends, the discussion moves to one about the kind of man Lee was. Admittedly the author is an admirer of Lee but does try to present a balanced view. He presents opinions different from his own.
Robert E. Lee was only a name to me when I opened the cover of this book. He is now a real person. I find I too admire the man and better understand the choices he made. Lee was a gentleman in the best sense of the word and put the good of first his state and then his country before his personal feelings.
This book is easy to read and follow. It is an excellent book for those interested in this time.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews