Like many other northern clergymen after the Civil War; A. D. Mayo became interested in the role that education could play in rebuilding southern society. From 1880 to 1900 he traveled from Virgina to Texas as an educational missionary advocating the "new education" theories of the 1840s and 1850s. In time he came to be considered one of the most perceptive observers of southern education during the period from the end of Reconstruction to the rise of the Redeemer governments in the 1890s.Mayo was convinced that the changes in southern society that Reconstruction had failed to bring about could be realized under a sound educational system. Learning; he believed; should be based on individual needs rather than on rote memorization of facts; and teachers should be recruited from those trained in the civilizing values. In Southern Women; Mayo set forth at length the ideas that southern white women were the ideal ones to transmit learning to the young blacks. Stressing the greatly expanding role of these women because of the war; Mayo saw them as a kind of elite trained in the ideals and culture of the Old South; but receptive to the values of the New South.In their introduction Dan Carter and Amy Friedlander place Mayo in the context of nineteenth-century intellectual and social currents and provide an interesting perspective on his often surprisingly contemporary-sounding ideas on education.
#1782133 in Books Louisiana State University Press 1994-06-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .46 x 5.98l; .68 #File Name: 0807119253200 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good bookBy BDWell written and well sourced. I recommend checking the footnotes as you read along because some are quite extensive. It was a good introduction to the battle/siege and very fair treatment. The descriptions of the action was often down to the regiment and company level. Only a couple maps in the book. I printed a few online to help as I read the book.7 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Nice Introduction to the Siege of Port HudsonBy Brett R. SchulteAnyone who has a decent understanding of the war knows about the Vicksburg Campaign. However; not as many know about a simultaneous Siege happening to the south in Louisiana at Port Hudson. General Nathaniel Banks and his Army of the Gulf (XIX Corps) besieged 6;000-odd men under Confederate Major General Franklin Gardner from May 23-July 9; 1863. After these 48 days; the Confederates surrendered; not because they were defeated; but because Vicksburg had fallen and they now had no hope of a rescue. Cunningham's book is a good introduction to this topic except for one important detail: maps. There are only two maps. One shows the larger area of operations along the Mississippi River from Cairo; IL to New Orleans. The other shows the siege lines in such a zoomed out map that I had trouble reading everything. This makes for a difficult time while following along. I pulled out my Official Records Atlas several times during my reading. The Order of Battle is slightly above average; with no strengths but with regimental commanders listed. Cunningham has adequate notes and a solid bibliography. The book was originally published in 1963; so that might explain the lack of maps. I enjoyed Cunningham's delivery. It was smooth and kept me interested throughout. However; he tended to make some grandiose claims from time to time regarding the ability of the Confederates to break the Siege. If you read it; you'll know what I'm talking about. This is a solid introduction to the Campaign; but it is by no means definitive. I would recommend the two-volume The Guns of Port Hudson by David C. Edmonds for that label. The books are not cheap and they're difficult to find; but judging by the second volume (which I own); they are worth it.174 pp.; 2 maps1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Excellent; Succinct readBy jlwOne of the last defenses of the invasion of Louisiana. The bravery and valor of the men of the Confederate forces defending the important; but seldom recognized; position on the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Vicksburg is here related.A succinct yet compelling book relating the last Confederate defense on the Mississippi River. The soldiers of Port Hudson; Louisiana held their position despite overwhelming odds and only surrendered their position when Vicksburg fell to the hands of U. S. Grant and it was obvious that there would be no reinforcements from Gen. Johnston. At that point the invading forces could simply wait and starve them out. In order to save the lives of the soldiers under his command; Gen. Gardner capitulated to Banks and surrendered Port Hudson to the invaders.Well written and interesting read. From every demographic the Confederates won the battle at Port Hudson. But as one of the soldier's shouted to the invaders; "You couldn't take us by fighting. You had to starve us out." Because the Union army was at the brink of breaking down and not able to withstand another bloody repulse morale was extremely low. Had the weather not delayed the Union assault planned for July 7th; or the news of the fall of Vicksburg been delayed; the outcome may have been much different along the Mississippi river just north of Baton Rouge.Lost one star for lack of maps (as stated by a previous reviewer). Nevertheless; a must read for any Louisiana History buff.
