Letters From Lees Army

This is a new release of the original 1947 edition.

A history of the Confederate troops under Robert E. Lee presents portraits of soldiers from all walks of life, offers insight into how the Confederacy conducted key operations, and reveals how closely the South came to winning the war.

Gunner in Lee's Army: The Civil War Letters of Thomas Henry Carter

Never did so large a proportion of the American population leave home for an extended period and produce such a detailed record of its experiences in the form of correspondence, diaries, and other papers as during the Civil War. Based on research in more than 1,200 wartime letters and diaries by more than 400 Confederate officers and enlisted men, this book offers a compelling social history of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia during its final year, from May 1864 to April 1865. Organized in a chronological framework, the book uses the words of the soldiers themselves to provide a view of the army's experiences in camp, on the march, in combat, and under siege--from the battles in the Wilderness to the final retreat to Appomattox. It sheds new light on such questions as the state of morale in the army, the causes of desertion, ties between the army and the home front, the debate over arming black men in the Confederacy, and the causes of Confederate defeat. Remarkably rich and detailed, Lee's Miserables offers a fresh look at one of the most-studied Civil War armies.

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The 110 letters compiled in Lee's Adjutant shed light on day-to-day life at Lee's headquarters and on the general himself. Written to Taylor's fiancee and family, these letters recount the Army of Northern Virginia's early triumphs, invasions of the North, defeat at Gettysburg, the bloody struggle in the Wilderness, the siege of Petersburg, and final surrender. In them the young officer testifies to the simplicity of Lee's lifestyle as well as the gentility of his demeanor. He describes the bond that developed between himself and the general, and he discusses the furloughs, reports, dispatches, petitions, and grievances that he handled as Lee's alter ego in administrative matters.

The character and legend of Robert E. Lee make him one of the most beloved figures in American history, particularly in the South. This attractive gift book captures that character and legend for Southerners, Civil War buffs, and home school students "Do your duty in all things," Robert E. Lee told his youngest son. "You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less: Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War, embodied all that is honorable in the tradition of an American soldier. A Commitment to Duty captures the essence of Lee through his most significant quotations and observations.

General Robert E. Lee is best known as the commander of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Lee was also a prolific writer, seemingly writing almost every day of his life. Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee contains letters that General Lee wrote to family and friends with comments and background by his son, Robert. Through his letters and his sons commentary, the varying facets of Lees character are revealed.