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Robert E. Lee at War
Robert E. Lee at War: Hope Arises From Despair is a full color, large format 9-by-12-inch art book with gold leaf leather binding, bound-in bookmark ribbon, and gold foil page edges. It is the first volume produced by Legion of Honor Publishing.
The first nine chapters comprise Part I of the book and cover the Seven Days campaign in 1862 that saved Richmond from capture by the Federal Army of the Potomac that came within sight of the Confederate capital. It was an unprecedented turn around that Bowden’s storytelling describes using eyewitness quotes. Combined with the in-depth original analysis, this book is not your typical military history.
The final three chapters comprise Part II of the book titled “Lee's Art of War.” This section is the first to explain the underpinnings of Lee’s military philosophy and how that was executed in the areas of operational warfare and grand tactics and on the battlefield.
The first nine chapters comprise Part I of the book and cover the Seven Days campaign in 1862 that saved Richmond from capture by the Federal Army of the Potomac that came within sight of the Confederate capital. It was an unprecedented turn around that Bowden’s storytelling describes using eyewitness quotes. Combined with the in-depth original analysis, this book is not your typical military history.
The final three chapters comprise Part II of the book titled “Lee's Art of War.” This section is the first to explain the underpinnings of Lee’s military philosophy and how that was executed in the areas of operational warfare and grand tactics and on the battlefield.
331 pages, Leather Bound
Published January 1, 2017
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September 7, 2018
Full disclosure: This reviewer has known Scott Bowden since the 1970s and helped edit two of his Napoleonic books published in 2006 and 2009 by Military History Press.
Robert E. Lee at War: Hope Arises From Despair is a beautifully produced, full color, large format 9-by-12-inch art book with gold leaf leather binding, bound-in bookmark ribbon, and gold foil page edges. The collector’s edition of Lee also includes a gold leaf slipcase. It is the first volume in this series produced by Legion of Honor Publishing.
This is an amazing book. Not only in the excellence of the binding and printing, but also in the well-researched and thoughtfully presented story of Robert E. Lee’s ascension to command in June of 1862 of what would arguably become the most important of the Confederate armies: the Army of Northern Virginia. Bowden utilized unpublished manuscripts, papers, and special collections as well as official records and memoirs.
Bowden acknowledges in his preface that the study of the American Civil War, and particularly Confederate leaders, is contentious today. However, these works provide important historical information vital to understanding why “The War” lasted so long. Bowden explains that “the careful study and analysis of the facts connected to Robert E. Lee’s military leadership—his mind and method—is the purpose of the Robert E. Lee at War series.”
During the Mexican War 1846-48 Lee served under Winfield Scott who was extremely impressed by Lee’s abilities. In 1861 Scott tried to get Lee to accept field command of the U.S. Army but Lee chose instead to serve his native state of Virginia. If he was so highly regarded by Scott, why was Lee so under employed for the first 13 months of the war? Although he was officially President Jefferson Davis’s advisor beginning in the spring of 1862, Lee only received a field command when Joseph E. Johnston was wounded during the fighting outside Richmond. The prologue by Bowden is a fascinating explanation that many readers may find surprising.
The first nine chapters comprise Part I of the book and cover the Seven Days campaign in 1862 that saved Richmond from capture by the Federal Army of the Potomac that came within sight of the Confederate capital. It was an unprecedented turn around that Bowden’s exceptional storytelling describes using eyewitness quotes, including civilians who were keen observers. Combined with the in-depth original analysis, this book is not your typical military history.
When Lee took command on 1 June he inherited an army that was no better than an “armed mob” (page 63) seriously lacking in discipline and cohesion. He met with his senior generals on 2 June, drastically improved the supplies and morale of the troops with personal inspections (page 68), made repeated personal reconnaissances (as he did in Mexico), devised a counter offensive and then executed it starting on 26 June, not even a month after meeting with his division commanders.
Lee then fought five major battles in seven days, seizing the initiative in the campaign and driving the Federals from Richmond. It was a most remarkable accomplishment, and Bowden shows how Lee’s methods and maxims were influenced by his study of Napoleon and other great commanders of history. Each of these battles employs multiple color maps and interesting sidebars such as the composition of the opposing artillery forces.
The final three chapters comprise Part II of the book titled “Lee's Art of War.” This section is the first to explain the underpinnings of Lee’s military philosophy and how that was executed in the areas of operational warfare and grand tactics and on the battlefield. The next volume in the series deals with Lee’s campaign and victory at the Battle of Second Manassas (Bull Run) in late August, just two months after the end of the Seven Days.
When President Lincoln asked Winfield Scott why 100,000 men could not take Richmond, Scott explained “The men who took us into the City of Mexico are the same men who are keeping us out of Richmond” (page 197).
Highly recommended.
Robert E. Lee at War: Hope Arises From Despair is a beautifully produced, full color, large format 9-by-12-inch art book with gold leaf leather binding, bound-in bookmark ribbon, and gold foil page edges. The collector’s edition of Lee also includes a gold leaf slipcase. It is the first volume in this series produced by Legion of Honor Publishing.
This is an amazing book. Not only in the excellence of the binding and printing, but also in the well-researched and thoughtfully presented story of Robert E. Lee’s ascension to command in June of 1862 of what would arguably become the most important of the Confederate armies: the Army of Northern Virginia. Bowden utilized unpublished manuscripts, papers, and special collections as well as official records and memoirs.
Bowden acknowledges in his preface that the study of the American Civil War, and particularly Confederate leaders, is contentious today. However, these works provide important historical information vital to understanding why “The War” lasted so long. Bowden explains that “the careful study and analysis of the facts connected to Robert E. Lee’s military leadership—his mind and method—is the purpose of the Robert E. Lee at War series.”
During the Mexican War 1846-48 Lee served under Winfield Scott who was extremely impressed by Lee’s abilities. In 1861 Scott tried to get Lee to accept field command of the U.S. Army but Lee chose instead to serve his native state of Virginia. If he was so highly regarded by Scott, why was Lee so under employed for the first 13 months of the war? Although he was officially President Jefferson Davis’s advisor beginning in the spring of 1862, Lee only received a field command when Joseph E. Johnston was wounded during the fighting outside Richmond. The prologue by Bowden is a fascinating explanation that many readers may find surprising.
The first nine chapters comprise Part I of the book and cover the Seven Days campaign in 1862 that saved Richmond from capture by the Federal Army of the Potomac that came within sight of the Confederate capital. It was an unprecedented turn around that Bowden’s exceptional storytelling describes using eyewitness quotes, including civilians who were keen observers. Combined with the in-depth original analysis, this book is not your typical military history.
When Lee took command on 1 June he inherited an army that was no better than an “armed mob” (page 63) seriously lacking in discipline and cohesion. He met with his senior generals on 2 June, drastically improved the supplies and morale of the troops with personal inspections (page 68), made repeated personal reconnaissances (as he did in Mexico), devised a counter offensive and then executed it starting on 26 June, not even a month after meeting with his division commanders.
Lee then fought five major battles in seven days, seizing the initiative in the campaign and driving the Federals from Richmond. It was a most remarkable accomplishment, and Bowden shows how Lee’s methods and maxims were influenced by his study of Napoleon and other great commanders of history. Each of these battles employs multiple color maps and interesting sidebars such as the composition of the opposing artillery forces.
The final three chapters comprise Part II of the book titled “Lee's Art of War.” This section is the first to explain the underpinnings of Lee’s military philosophy and how that was executed in the areas of operational warfare and grand tactics and on the battlefield. The next volume in the series deals with Lee’s campaign and victory at the Battle of Second Manassas (Bull Run) in late August, just two months after the end of the Seven Days.
When President Lincoln asked Winfield Scott why 100,000 men could not take Richmond, Scott explained “The men who took us into the City of Mexico are the same men who are keeping us out of Richmond” (page 197).
Highly recommended.
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