Challenging the popular conception of Southern youth on the eve of the Civil War as intellectually lazy; violent; and dissipated; Peter S. Carmichael looks closely at the lives of more than one hundred young white men from Virginia's last generation to grow up with the institution of slavery. He finds them deeply engaged in the political; economic; and cultural forces of their time. Age; he concludes; created special concerns for young men who spent their formative years in the 1850s.Before the Civil War; these young men thought long and hard about Virginia's place as a progressive slave society. They vigorously lobbied for disunion despite opposition from their elders; then served as officers in the Army of Northern Virginia as frontline negotiators with the nonslaveholding rank and file. After the war; however; they quickly shed their Confederate radicalism to pursue the political goals of home rule and New South economic development and reconciliation. Not until the turn of the century; when these men were nearing the ends of their lives; did the mythmaking and storytelling begin; and members of the last generation recast themselves once more as unreconstructed Rebels. By examining the lives of members of this generation on personal as well as generational and cultural levels; Carmichael sheds new light on the formation and reformation of Southern identity during the turbulent last half of the nineteenth century.
#2670381 in Books Univ of North Carolina Press; Chapel Hill; NC; U.S.A. 1965-12-01Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.08 x 6.22 x 9.27l; #File Name: 080780973X264 pages
Review
33 of 40 people found the following review helpful. An Honest Appraisal of "Little Powell"By Kerr SmithRobertson's work is a readable;even-handed treatment of this Confederate general who is overshadowed by his fellow Virginians; Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. I give Robertson high marks for not trying to inflate Hill's abilities while at the same time giving Hill deserved credit for his hard-nosed leadership of the Light Division. After Stonewall Jackson is felled at Chancellorsville; Lee promoted hill to Corps commander. What Henderson shows is that Hill possesed the verve and warfighting skills to be an outstanding division commander; but he did not possess the strategic vision required of a corps commander. While Hill and Lee had deep respect for one another; Hill clashed with both Longstreet and Jackson. Jackson arrested Hill for not following his orders during the Second Manassas Campaign. The sting of that arrest was an insult that would never heal.Robertson probes these clashes objectively and honestly. I reached the conclusion that the imperious Jackson and the proud Hill would never have gotten along in any age; in any setting. It certainly was not a case of right and wrong. Roberston explains that Hill's poor health is the likely result of a case of gonorrhea which he contracted during his West Point years. Roberston provides interesting details of the competition between George McClellan and Hill for the hand of Ellen Marcy. The picture that emerges of "Little Hill" is a courageous;noble warrior who was magnanimous to friend and foe alike. Hill does not rank as one of the top generals to come out of the Civil War; but he is clearly in the same class as Forrest or Hancock as a tenacious fighter.Hill's death only days before Appamatox has become a metaphor for the southern cause.Finally; one cannot avoid the poignance that the name of Hill was on the dying lips of both Jackson and Lee. A powerful testament indeed to a spirited fighter.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Good biography of the mercurial A. P. HillBy Steven PetersonAmbrose Powell Hill (A. P. for short) was one of the finest division commanders in the Army of Northern Virginia. His rise to corps command may illustrate the "Peter Principle;" in which people rise to positions for which they are incompetent.This book looks at his early life; including the triangular relationship among George McClellan; Hill; and Ellen (Nelly) Marcy. McClellan won Nelly's hand. Later; some Union troops wondered of Hill would have been less aggressive had he won Nelly's affections!The story in this book begins with his youth and his early career in the army. When war broke out; he joined the Confederate army. The author; William Hassler; describes Hill's leadership qualities thus (Page 3): "A natural leader; Hill possessed that 'commanding resolution' which 'inspired by his voice; his example; and his personal appearance.'"He showed a great ability with division sized command; leading what became known as "The Light Division;" an oversized command that fought hard under him. His prickly nature came out with two corps commanders--James Longstreet and Stonewall Jackson. Both feuded with him. In fact; he was removed from Longstreet's command to Jackson's to get around the disagreement with Longstreet--only to see a second feud brew with Jackson!His high water marks came at Second Manassas and Antietam ("and then Hill came up"). At the latter; his last minute arrival at the battlefield saved the day for Lee's forces. After Jackson's death at Chancellorsville; Lee reorganized the army and gave Hill command of a corps. His dicey health and perhaps his skill level were not up to the challenge.; He performed poorly at Gettysburg and blundered badly at Bristoe Station. At the North Anna; he had another bad day. On the other hand; at Reams' Station; outside Petersburg; he thoroughly whipped Winfield Scott Hancock's by now degraded Second Corps.This is a fine biography of Hill's life. I would have desired a bit more detail on the battles and some maps would have been be appreciated. Nonetheless; this is a good work.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Good Solid BiographyBy Aussie ReaderWilliam Hassler's book "A. P. Hill: Lee's Forgotten General" was first published in 1957 (reprinted 1962) and although it may suffer in comparison with more recent biographies on Hill it is still a worthwhile book to read. In 240 odd pages we follow Ambrose Powell Hill from birth in 1825 till his death towards the end of the Civil War in 1865.This is not an in-depth biography but does cover the life and aspects of the man in question and his role in the Civil War. The battles he fought in are not covered in great detail but enough to understand the man and his inter-action with fellow Confederate commanders. Overall this is an easy to read and enjoyable book and I found the story compelling and told with an unbiased approach. My one complaint would be that the maps supplied were not enough and not in great detail.To finish I would like to quote from the front piece of the book:"Distinguished in every engagement; his death in front of Petersburg; April 2; 1865; was a serious loss to the army. Upon him as perhaps none of his other young officers; except Stuart; General Lee implicitly relied; and to him the memory of the great commander seemed to revert on his deathbed; for among his last words were: `Tell A. P. Hill he must come up'. " - Douglas Southall Freeman:
