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Title: An Honorable Defeat: The Last Days of the Confederate Government by William C. Davis ISBN: 0-15-100564-8 Publisher: Harcourt Pub. Date: 04 June, 2001 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $30.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.16 (19 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: An Honorable Defeat: The Last Days
Comment: An Honorable Defeat: The Last Days of the Confederate Government written by William C.Davis is a book using original research, has a flowing narrative with a dramatic style and clear historical accuracy.
This book is about the last few months left in the Confederate States Government with Jefferson Davis as the autocratic president and John C. Breckinridge as general and secretary of war. Jefferson Davis, though reluctant at first to serve as President of the Confederacy, later vowed never to surrender whatever the cost. While Breckenridge and others saw the writing on the wall and were trying to get Jefferson Davis to pack it in and surrender. John C. Breckenridge hoped the pragmatism would save the shattered remenants of the land he loved, but to no avail.
This book recounts the astounding journey of the entire Confederate Cabinet as they fled Richmond by train, then by whatever means were available... all the way to Cuba for Breckenridge and Benjamin. If you like the books "April 1865: The Month that Saved America" by Jay Winik and "Damage Them All You Can: Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia" by George Walsh are excellent adjuncts to this book. Reading these three books will flesh out the time period and you'll get a better picture as to what was really happening.
"An Honorable Defeat" brings those times long ago past to the light of today with factual writing making this book one of the best-researched and best-written books on history of this time period. In 1865, as the American Civil War entered its last tormented weeks, preceptive men in the Confederate States of Amreica realized that whether or not their side would fall was no longer the ultimate issue, but rather how it should fall. the tragedy of recent generation in central Europe, and in their own hemisphere in Mexico and South America, told them all too well of the retaliation, revenge, and the long dark noight of oppression that could follow defeat in an internal struggle.
In the end, "An Honorable Defeat" shows us the personal struggle between two men, both of whom had fought for the cause, but from radically different motivations, and each of whom now faced the close with dramatically opposing hopes and ideas of how it should end... Jefferson Davis And John C. Breckenridge.
THis is a keeper for your Civil War History Library.
Rating: 5
Summary: On the road with Jeff, John and Judah
Comment: It's rare to have a window on an ousted government on the run. In modern times, the Failed President, Great Dictator, or Big Daddy just scuttles under some Third World rock to settle down and enjoy the retirement benefits of a Swiss bank account. In AN HONORABLE DEFEAT, we have a more satisfying story.
As General Robert E. Lee's defense of the South's capital became untenable, President Jefferson Davis evacuated Richmond on April 1, 1865 with his Cabinet Secretaries: John Breckinridge (War), Judah Benjamin (State), John Reagan (Postmaster General), George Trenholm (Treasury), Stephen Mallory (Navy), and George Davis (Attorney General). Heading south by train, wagon, horse, and finally for some, boat, this narrative chronicles the sad odyssey. Oh, and let's not forget the one-half million dollars in coin from the Confederate Treasury, as well as the deposits held by Richmond banks, that went with them.
The escape route eventually led through the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. The goal for all was either to get out of the country entirely, or to join up with Confederate forces west of the Mississippi and continue the fight. Few made it. The narrative focuses chiefly on Jefferson Davis, Breckinridge, and Benjamin. The reader can only be amazed at Jeff's stubborn state of denial. He was convinced that the war could be continued (and won!) if only he could join any remaining Confederate force still in the field. Finally, though, he's redeemed when he puts his family above all other considerations.
If there's a "hero" in this saga, it's Breckinridge, who labored mightily, against his President's fixation, to bring the conflict to an honorable close rather than a farce, and in doing so save Southern lives and property. The Secretary of War's ultimate daring and perilous escape by small boat to Cuba is the stuff of legend, if not a good Hollywood movie.
Benjamin, the ever-jolly Secretary of State with no more demand for his statecraft, just thought of himself. He never looked back, and got the furthest.
Author William Davis does a magnificent job tying together the potentially confusing escape routes and timelines of the various fugitives, who sometimes travelled together, split up, and then rejoined. The text is supplemented by a perfectly adequate map and a section of photographs. The post-war loose ends of all concerned are tidied up in an Aftermath chapter.
And the Confederate monies? Most was disbursed in payment to escort troops and for supplies en route, or was ultimately confiscated by the Yankees. However, $170,000 in gold was looted by raiders in Georgia. As the author dryly notes:
"... the stolen treasure ... was never seen again. Locals years hence told of friends who removed to Missouri and California with sudden fortunes, never to return." California, yes. But Missouri?
As a work of popular history, AN HONORABLE DEFEAT is masterfully researched and eruditely told. It's a must-read for any Civil War buff.
Rating: 4
Summary: Dealing with Losing
Comment: William Davis has written many books about the Civil War and particularly the Confederate side of it. An Honorable Defeat is a great addition to his selections and is recommended for anyone interested in the Civil War or war in general.
"How you lose is just as important as how you win," is a quote often used to teach children how to be good sports and it also can apply to leaders in times of war.
Davis tells the story of the last days of the President and Cabinet of Confederate States of America and how these men dealt with losing the Civil War. The two protagonists in this story are President Jefferson Davis and Secretary of War John Breckenridge. These two men differed on how the Confederate states should face the losing cause and come to terms with the Union. Davis quickly introduces and provides biographies for the two protagonists and this allows the reader to better understand each man and his actions. Both of these men were leaders in their own way and it is interesting how each deal with how they feel they are responsible for those they lead.
The bulk of the book is how the Davis cabinet fled Richmond, the Confederate capital, and tried to elude the Union as the Confederacy fell and how Davis clung to the fool's hope of the Confederacy rising again, even while weary Confederate soldiers deserted to return to their homes. The story and the internal politics of the Cabinet during it's last days is very interesting and reconstructed by Davis from letters, journals, and memoirs from the principal participants. Davis tells how the Cabinet slowly convinced Jefferson Davis the futility of continuing the war, which he clinged to despite overwelming evidence of a losing cause till shortly before his capture. The level of detail that Davis provides is entertaining, not burdensome, and gives the reader a good perspective on the cabinet members.
The book, while well written and researched, has one disappointment. Davis focuses almost exclusively on the activities of the Davis Cabinet and excludes other confederate leaders to the point that they are only mentioned as an aside. It would have added to the book to expand on how the Confederate state governments were settling and making peace with the Union even while the Confederate President Davis still dreamed of a guerilla war with the Union.
Davis adds a good book to the library of work about the U.S. Civil War and this book should be a welcome read to any who are interested in learning more about the Confederate civilian leadership.
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Title: Look Away! : A History of the Confederate States of America by William C. Davis ISBN: 0684865858 Publisher: Free Press Pub. Date: 11 April, 2002 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: GOVERNMENT OF OUR OWN : THE MAKING OF THE CONFEDERACY by William C. Davis ISBN: 0029077354 Publisher: Free Press Pub. Date: 01 September, 1994 List Price(USD): $30.95 |
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Title: Jefferson Davis, American: A Biography by William J. Cooper ISBN: 0394569164 Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Pub. Date: 07 November, 2000 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government (Rise & Fall of the Confederate Government) by Jefferson Davis ISBN: 0306804182 Publisher: Da Capo Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 1990 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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Title: The Southern Nation: The New Rise of the Old South by R. Gordon Thornton ISBN: 1565546970 Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company Pub. Date: 01 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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