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Rating: 
Summary: An excellent book - but not for Longstreet fans!
Review: An excellent book! The title essay alone is almost worth the
price. The chapter on Longstreet at Gettysburg on 2 July 1863 is
a classic. Longstreet apologists, beware; this is no effort to
rehabilitate his "reputation," such as it is. For those of us
who live in the real world, this is a treat!
Rating:
Summary: Once again, Krick proves he's the master, bar none.
Review: I've been a fan of Robert K. Krick ever since "Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain" came out and to say that I eagerly anticipated the release of this volume would be an understatement. The combination of Mr. Krick's mastery of the facts and his engaging writing style makes the book pure reading euphoria for a true student of the Civil War. I cannot conceive of what "The Anti-Krick" was smoking when he wrote his less-than-informed review. Maybe he was put off by Mr. Krick's use of big words that he didn't know the definition of. Who knows? But to say that Krick is a disciple of the so-called "Lost Cause" is pure fiction. The man is from California for crying out loud! Anyway, I encourage everyone to read this book. Even if you're not a Civil War fanatic like me, the writing is so good that it would make Alan Nolan (possibly the Anti-Krick himself) wet his pants. I salute you, Bob.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book - but not for Longstreet fans!
Review: I've been a fan of Robert K. Krick ever since "Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain" came out and to say that I eagerly anticipated the release of this volume would be an understatement. The combination of Mr. Krick's mastery of the facts and his engaging writing style makes the book pure reading euphoria for a true student of the Civil War. I cannot conceive of what "The Anti-Krick" was smoking when he wrote his less-than-informed review. Maybe he was put off by Mr. Krick's use of big words that he didn't know the definition of. Who knows? But to say that Krick is a disciple of the so-called "Lost Cause" is pure fiction. The man is from California for crying out loud! Anyway, I encourage everyone to read this book. Even if you're not a Civil War fanatic like me, the writing is so good that it would make Alan Nolan (possibly the Anti-Krick himself) wet his pants. I salute you, Bob.
Rating:
Summary: How the South was Lost
Review: I've read quite a bit about the Civil War, but the eight essays in this book brought me a load of new information. - The events leading to Stonewall Jackson's mortal wound are recorded in abundant detail. - I had never read anything negative about Longstreet, but Krick solidly documents instances where Longstreet's stubbornness worked against the core mission of the confederate army. - Garnett, McLaws, Rodes, and Gregg were just names to me (if I'd heard of them at all), but now I'll associate those names with the crucial roles these men played (or tried to play, had they not been undermined by their superiors). - There's a great essay on the general ineptitude of the Valley cavalry and how it weakened the southern army. In fact, near the end of the war, they were described as a "straggling cavalry that infested the Valley ... a greater terror to their friends than their foes." Ouch. This is an exceptional collection of illuminating facts about the Army of Northern Virginia. If you are interested in some well-researched and lesser-known information, dig in!
Rating:
Summary: The Smoothbore Volley That Doomed the Confederacy
Review: The Smoothbore Volley That Doomed the Confederacy: The Death of Stonewall Jackson and the other Chapters on the Army of Northern Virginia written by Robert K. Krick is a well-written book with a fast throughly researched and dramatic writing about the Army of Northern Virginia, one of the best armies every assembled and fought on American soil. Krick writes this book with a passion... often opinionated, but with profound insights and points of view, giving rise to controversy. There are only ten chapters within the binding of this book and hey are: The Smoothbore Volley THat Doomed the Confederacy
The Army of Northern Virginia's Most Notorious Court-Martial: Jackson vs. Garnett
If Longstreet... Says So, It Is Most Likely Not True: James Longstreet and the Second Day at Gettysburg
Longstreet Versus McLaws-- and Everyone Else--About Knoxville
We Have Never Suffered a Greater Loss Save in the Great Jackson: Was Robert E. Rodes the Army's Best Division Commander?
Maxcy Gregg: Political Extremist and Confederate General
The Coward Who Followed J.E.B. Stuart
The Cause of All My Disasters: Jubal A. Early and the Undisciplined Valley Cavalry
Confederate Books: Five Great Ones and Two Bad Ones
Confederate Soldier Records: Finding Them and Using Them The Essays in this book examine pieces of the army's history across a broad and diverse spectrum. Two deal with Lee's most famous subordinate, Thomas J. Jackson, one of them concerning a notable court-martial. Two others deal with Lee's most controversial subordinate, James Longstreet-- again, one concerning a famous court-martial. Gwnweral Robert E. Rodes appears as a superbly competent division commander; General Maxcy Gregg as a prototype of the successful politician-general; Colonel R.W.Carter as a failure; and the Shenandoah Valley irregular cavalry as a study in indiscipline. Seven of the ten essays have appeared before in some form. Several contained no documentation in their first appearences. All have been substantially revised and expanded with new material, in some instanced to double their original size. I was glad to see these essays again and this time documented. Krick has uncovered a wide array of unpublished material on Rodes to sketch hin in a fresh perspective, as well as Colonel R.Welby Carter as a rogue. Those of you who read about the Civil War should have this book in your library as it is deeply researched using as impressive selection of primary materials. The author tells it like he sees it... if the particular figure measures up or fails to meet expectations... Krick is fair in his assement. This book is hard to put down, making it an enlightenment with profound insights.
Rating: 
Summary: If Robert Krick says it about Longstreet it must not be true
Review: The very title alone implies the idolatry of the Lost Cause. The loss of Thomas Jackson was indeed a great one to the Confederate high command but it ignores other more significant factors contributing to Confederate defeat. The huge disparity between the Navies. How about the disparity in population? How about the inability to replace line officers? The inferiority of the artillery ordnance? The disparity in cannon foundaries? A better explanation of what doomed the Confederacy can be found in Clark Gable/Rhett Butler's diatribe at the beginning of Gone with the Wind! Thomas Jackson was a talented but eccentric general. He had many great accomplishments but he, like other generals, made mistakes. He was a human being and he had faults. This blind worship and the perpetuation of the myth and legend of the war should hopefully open some eyes. The two essays on Longstreet lead one to believe that the perpetrators of the Lost Cause, Jubal Early, William Pendleton and J. William Jones have been reincarnated into Mr. Krick. They are the same character assasinations that has been going on since 1872 when Mr. Early, just returned from his Canada vacation, gave a speech at a Lee Birthday celebration accusing Longstreet of not attacking at dawn as ordered. A complete fabrication. The East Tennessee essay thrown in for that extra added bonus criticism. Hard to believe that Mr. Gallagher would be associated with such a project.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This collection of essays is a must for any student of the Civil War. His sources and analysis are untouchable, and the man is an intimate in Civil War history.
I highly reccomend this book to anyone.
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