ebooks My Father's Daughter: A Memoir by Tina Sinatra in History

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In the narrative of the Civil War; Edward Porter Alexander has loomed larger in death than in life. Just 25 years old when the war broke out; Porter Alexander had already served as an engineer and officer in the U.S. Army; but the native Georgian resigned his commission in May 1861 and joined the Confederacy after his home state seceded. Porter Alexander spent 1861 as an intelligence officer; and he served as part of a signal guard; but he soon became chief of ordnance for Joseph Johnston's army near Richmond. Half a year later; Johnston would be injured during the Peninsula Campaign at the Battle of Seven Pines; after which he was replaced by Robert E. Lee. Over the course of 1862; Porter Alexander took on more roles in the Army of Northern Virginia's artillery branch; particularly under James Longstreet's 1st Corps. Though he participated in several battles; he played his biggest role at the Battle of Gettysburg. On the third day; Lee decided to make a thrust at the center of the Union's line with about 15;000 men spread out over three divisions. Though it is now known as Pickett's Charge; named after division commander George Pickett; the assignment for the charge was given to Longstreet; whose 1st Corps included Pickett's division. Lee's decision necessitated a heavy artillery bombardment of the Union line in an attempt to knock out the Union's own artillery before beginning the charge that would cover nearly a mile of open space from Seminary Ridge to the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. Lee tasked Porter Alexander; in charge of the 1st Corps' guns; to conduct the artillery bombardment. What resulted was the largest sustained bombardment of the Civil War; with over 150 Confederate cannons across the line firing incessantly at the Union line for nearly 2 hours. Unfortunately for Porter Alexander and the Confederates; the sheer number of cannons belched so much smoke that they had trouble gauging how effective the shells were. As it turned out; most of the artillery was overshooting the target; landing in the rear of the Union line. Reluctant to order the charge; Longstreet commanded Porter Alexander to order the timing for the charge. As Longstreet and Alexander anticipated; the charge was an utter disaster; incurring a nearly 50% casualty rate and failing to break the Union line. Porter Alexander would continue to serve under Longstreet's corps for most of the rest of the war; and he famously suggested to Lee at Appomattox that the Confederate army should disband and melt away instead of surrender. Porter Alexander would later regret the suggestion; and Lee scolded him for it anyway. Though he had served with distinction during the Civil War; it was Porter Alexander's memoirs that have kept his name alive today. While many prominent officers on both sides wrote memoirs; Porter Alexander's were among the most insightful and often considered by historians as the most evenhanded. With a sense of humor and a good narrative; Porter Alexander skillfully narrated the war; his service; and what he considered the successes and faults of others; including Lee; when he thought they had made good decisions or mistakes. As a result; historians continue to rely heavily on his memoirs as a source for Civil War history.