Dispelling much of what he terms the 'mythology' of the Scotch-Irish; James Leyburn provides an absorbing account of their heritage. He discusses their life in Scotland; when the essentials of their character and culture were shaped; their removal to Northern Ireland and the action of their residence in that region upon their outlook on life; and their successive migrations to America; where they settled especially in the back-country of Pennsylvania; Virginia; the Carolinas; and Georgia; and then after the Revolutionary War were in the van of pioneers to the west.
#777234 in Books The University of North Carolina Press 2009-11-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .98 x 6.42 x 9.48l; 1.30 #File Name: 0807832782304 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Some Decent Insights in a Dense and Turgid WorkBy HighlanderYou may note that I gave West Pointers and the Civil War (WPCW) three stars. If I could I would have given it four stars for those with a solid basis in CW history and two for novices.I saw Hsieh speaking on television on his book and was impressed by his insights and his ability to express relatively complex concepts in clear and direct language -- and I immediately ordered WPCW. If he could only write as well as he speaks. His prose is; at times; repetitive; dense; sometimes indirect; and often straying from the topic at hand. Hsieh has the defining characteristic of many academic historians -- if he made a note of an item of information; he will include it in the text without regard to how many other notes illustrate an identical point. In the text; many of his insights are little more than a collection of antebellum characterizations of a frontier constabulary that succeeded in its one great test - the Mexican War. He does provide valuable insights into civil-military relations and how the tone set before the war carried into the CW itself. And how the education provided at West Point was reflected in the commonality of both Union and Confederate officers.Further his observations on the resources and approaches used to create huge armies from the melding of a few professionals with lots of recreational militia and raw volunteers was valuable. Likewise; his illumination of tactics in both the early and later war challenged stereotypes as he gathered existing information and presented it in a logical and concise fashion.However; most of the information was not new to students of the Civil War. Or of the Old Army before the Civil War. Or the Mexican War. Hsieh does some good service in accumulating information that follows the creation of the Army's officer corps; its establishment as an institution; its failures and victories; and how it performed in the crucible of America's greatest trial. So; for one who is familiar with the topics presented; WPCW provides an interesting review coupled with some interesting and engaging evaluations and insights. But it is a bit of a wade through much of the language and structure.And; for the neophyte; I fear that the content could easily be lost in the complex and academic nature of the text.I did enjoy it; but would recommend other approaches to understanding the role and results of West Pointers in the Civil War; especially for those not already familiar with the era.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good Book - RecommendedBy John McQuittyGood book. - Informative. Well written ad well researched. Type is a little small; but OK if you clean your glasses.12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. An Excellent Book!By James W. DurneyBuilding a million plus man army is a gut wrenching task. In 1861; two nations set out to do this while fighting a civil war. During the building process; any military experience becomes a critical asset. Veterans of the War with Mexico; members of the militia; and graduates of private military schools struggle with half-remembered; misunderstood or just plain wrong ideas. However bad they are better than no idea of what to do. At ground zero stand the graduates of West Point; the only fully trained professional military either side has. West Pointers set the professional standard for training and conduct during the American Civil War. Their efforts convert ill-trained armed mobs into veteran armies. Their military thinking controls the military direction and application of the armies they trained. What they considered right and proper conduct became the right and proper way to fight the war. West Pointers; for good or ill; controlled and conducted the American Civil War. While they have nothing to do with the political decisions that lead to war; they have everything to do with waging that war.Wayne Wei-siang Hsieh brings us a look at how West Point learned about war; trained the cadets and how these lessons applied during the Civil War. Starting with the armed semi-trained mobs during the War of 1812; the author covers the development of America's professional officers. The War with Mexico vindicated the changes after 1814 giving the army a solid foundation while determining the direction taken into the 1850s. West Pointers understanding of moral; leadership and logistics allowed armies to develop. The daunting paperwork requirement of these armies was second nature to these men. They; more than any group; stepped forward and brought order out of chaos.This is a scholarly; well-footnoted book. The author has many ideas that he supports with logical documented arguments. 40+ pages of footnotes with a 20 page Bibliography testify to the depth of research that went into this book. However; this is a very readable book. The author writes well; having an excellent readable way of presenting that never makes reading this book a chore.This excellent background book will increase the reader's ability to understand the decisions based on shared training and experiences that determined the direction taken. This book truly tells us how "the old army thus served both in war and in peace".
