Army of the Heartland: The Army of Tennessee, 1861-1862

Rating:
Summary: The best book on the AOT
Review: Although Connelly wrote this book in the 1960s it remains the top book about the Army of Tennessee in 1861 and 1862. Much of this book deals with the formation of the army largely from the state army/militia of Tennessee, characters who helped form the army like Governor Isham Harris, and early leaders of the army such as Polk, A.S. Johnston, Bragg, E.K. Smith, and others. The book also delves into the strategies, policies, and politics of the army and the army's dealings with the Confederate government and President Jefferson Davis. Connelly also discsses topics that deal with the ineptitude of some early AOT leaders. Much of the discussion centers on these topics, but there is also discussion of early battles such as Shiloh, Richmond (KY), and Perrysville. I believe the second volume of Connelly's work on the AOT (Autumn of Glory) is superior to Army of the Heartland, but this is still a well-written, informative, and interesting look at the formation of the Confederacy's largest army in the Western Theater. It is not a surprise this book, and Autumn of Glory, was named one of the 100 essential Civil War titles by Civil War magazine.

Rating:
Summary: The best book on the AOT
Review: Although Connelly wrote this book in the 1960s it remains the top book about the Army of Tennessee in 1861 and 1862. Much of this book deals with the formation of the army largely from the state army/militia of Tennessee, characters who helped form the army like Governor Isham Harris, and early leaders of the army such as Polk, A.S. Johnston, Bragg, E.K. Smith, and others. The book also delves into the strategies, policies, and politics of the army and the army's dealings with the Confederate government and President Jefferson Davis. Connelly also discsses topics that deal with the ineptitude of some early AOT leaders. Much of the discussion centers on these topics, but there is also discussion of early battles such as Shiloh, Richmond (KY), and Perrysville. I believe the second volume of Connelly's work on the AOT (Autumn of Glory) is superior to Army of the Heartland, but this is still a well-written, informative, and interesting look at the formation of the Confederacy's largest army in the Western Theater. It is not a surprise this book, and Autumn of Glory, was named one of the 100 essential Civil War titles by Civil War magazine.

Rating:
Summary: Good text, atrocious maps
Review: Connelly has a low opinion of almost every general in the Army of Tennessee. They can't do much right as far as he's concerned. In this, I think he overdoes it. And I think he's somewhat to hard on Braxton Bragg, and not hard enough on Leonidas Polk.

Still, he's basicly correct that the Army of Tennessee went from failure to failure, and that most of that failure was because of the high command. Connelly describes things pretty well here.

But don't expect the maps to be of the least use. I've seldom seen worse. The ones where maps of the same area of Kentucky show roads vanishing and appearing are particularly bad, but none are good.

Still, definitely worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Good text, atrocious maps
Review: Connelly has a low opinion of almost every general in the Army of Tennessee. They can't do much right as far as he's concerned. In this, I think he overdoes it. And I think he's somewhat to hard on Braxton Bragg, and not hard enough on Leonidas Polk.

Still, he's basicly correct that the Army of Tennessee went from failure to failure, and that most of that failure was because of the high command. Connelly describes things pretty well here.

But don't expect the maps to be of the least use. I've seldom seen worse. The ones where maps of the same area of Kentucky show roads vanishing and appearing are particularly bad, but none are good.

Still, definitely worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Definitive book on early war in Tennessee
Review: Connelly wrote this excellent account of the first year of the Army of the Tennessee from the viewpoint of the high command and it is a very thorough and pretty damning one. Starting with the Tennessee militia, then on to Forts Henry and Donelson, then on to the surprise counterattacks at Shiloh and Corinth and Bragg's remarkable but pointless invasion of Kentucky in the fall of 1862, Connelly relentlessly describes and criticises the actions or inactions of the generals and shows how most of Tennessee was lost to the Union in a few months at comparitively little cost through the sheer incompetence of the Southern generalship. Polk, Floyd, Pillow, Albert Sidney Johnston, Beauregard, Kirby Smith, Van Dorn, Bragg, and especially Jefferson Davis all receive lashings at the hands of this historian, whose research and conclusions are impeccable and damn near irrefutable.

On the downside, the maps in this book are atrocious (but usable)and sometimes Connelly is rather ignorant about the Union Army. By staying in the command tent, Connelly ignores the story of the common soldier. The biggest flaw is that Connelly is so fierce in his criticisms of the Confederate high command that I found it hard to believe they did ANYTHING right.

Rating:
Summary: Definitive book on early war in Tennessee
Review: Connelly wrote this excellent account of the first year of the Army of the Tennessee from the viewpoint of the high command and it is a very thorough and pretty damning one. Starting with the Tennessee militia, then on to Forts Henry and Donelson, then on to the surprise counterattacks at Shiloh and Corinth and Bragg's remarkable but pointless invasion of Kentucky in the fall of 1862, Connelly relentlessly describes and criticises the actions or inactions of the generals and shows how most of Tennessee was lost to the Union in a few months at comparitively little cost through the sheer incompetence of the Southern generalship. Polk, Floyd, Pillow, Albert Sidney Johnston, Beauregard, Kirby Smith, Van Dorn, Bragg, and especially Jefferson Davis all receive lashings at the hands of this historian, whose research and conclusions are impeccable and damn near irrefutable.

On the downside, the maps in this book are atrocious (but usable)and sometimes Connelly is rather ignorant about the Union Army. By staying in the command tent, Connelly ignores the story of the common soldier. The biggest flaw is that Connelly is so fierce in his criticisms of the Confederate high command that I found it hard to believe they did ANYTHING right.