Two Great Rebel Armies

Richard McMurry compares the two largest Confederate armies, assessing why Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was more successful than the Army of Tennessee. His bold conclusion is that Lee's army was a better army--not just one with a better high command. "Sheds new light on how the South lost the Civil War.--American Historical Review "McMurry's mastery of the literature is impressive, and his clear and succinct writing style is a pleasure to read. . . . Comparison of the two great rebel armies offers valuable insights into the difficulties of the South's military situation.--Maryland Historian

Joseph Eggleston Johnston was one of the original five full Confederate generals. He graduated West Point in the same 1829 class as Robert E. Lee and served in the War with Mexico, the Seminole Wars in Florida, and in Texas and Kansas. By 1860 Johnston was widely looked upon as one of America’s finest military officers. During the Civil War he commanded armies in Virginia, Georgia, and the Carolinas and served as commander of the entire Western Theater during a critical period of the war. Johnston’s contributions to the war effort, however, remain a lightning rod of controversy. In The Civil Wars of General Joseph E. Johnston, Richard M. McMurry argues persuasively that the Confederacy’s most lethal enemy was the toxic dissension within the top echelons of its high command. The discord between General Johnston and President Jefferson Davis (and others), which began early in the conflict and only worsened as the months passed, routinely prevented the cooperation and coordination the South needed on the battlefield if it was going to achieve its independence. The result was one failed campaign after another, all of which cumulatively doomed the Southern Confederacy. McMurry’s study is not a traditional military biography but a lively and opinionated conversation about major campaigns and battles, strategic goals and accomplishments, and how these men and their decision-making and leadership abilities directly impacted the war effort. Personalities, argues McMurry, win and lose wars, and the military and political leaders who form the focal point of this study could not have been more different (and in the case of Davis and Johnston, more at odds) when it came to making the important and timely decisions necessary to wage the war effectively. The Civil Wars of General Joseph E. Johnston represents a lifetime of study and contemplation that captures Johnston in a way that has never been accomplished. It sheds fresh light on old controversies and compels readers to think about major wartime events in unique and compelling ways. This first installment begins just before the Civil War and ends on the eve of Johnston taking command of the Army of Tennessee in North Georgia. Here, finally, is the definitive study of how qualities of character played an oversized role in determining the outcome of the Civil War.

Much has been written about the Confederate armies during the American Civil War. General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia has gotten most of the attention of historians and writers over the years. There are several reasons for this. The Army of Northern Virginia has been identified with the Confederacy's effort for independence. Lee's army was much more successful on the battlefield than any other Confederate force. Its battles were fought near the capitals of both the North and the South, thus getting most of the attention and writing of both sides during the war. Much of the manuscript source materials on the Army of Tennessee were lost or destroyed over the years. One could also infer that writers prefer a winner over a loser. However, especially in the relatively recent past, there has been work focused on the Army of Tennessee. One such book, Two Great Rebel Armies by Richard McMurry, compares and contrasts the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of Tennessee. In this work McMurry cites reasons he believed caused the difference in effectiveness and performance between the two armies. Additionally, there have been numerous books written about the field artillery corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. The artillerymen in the Army of Tennessee have received less attention. One recent and notable book on the subject is Cannoneers in Gray by Larry J. Daniel. However, unlike Two Great Rebel Armies, there has been no book written comparing the field artillery corps of the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of Tennessee. Was there a difference in the effectiveness and performance of the respective field artillery corps as there was with the armies in general? If so, what were the reasons? This thesis will attempt to answer these questions. To answer these questions a look at the foundation of each army and its field artillery corps will be examined. Topics addressed in the foundation include state militia strength, equipment, and experience levels, as well as, recruiting, governmental relationships with each army, and other areas. In addition to the foundation of each force, the senior leadership of each army will be examined to determine its effect on the performance of the army and its field artillery corps. Quantity and quality of ordnance, equipment levels, logistics, and training are all important components of each armies artillery that must be examined. The effectiveness of each field artillery corps is also going to be highly influenced by its leadership, organization, and tactical use. Each of these areas will be thoroughly examined to answer the question which field artillery corps was the most productive for the Confederacy during the American Civil War.

Escape from the prison at Andersonville: Charles T. Goss -- Capture, prison life and escape: George W. Nicholas -- Belle Isle and Andersonville, escape from Andersonville: Francis J. Liggett. Includes "Regimental roster": pages [334]-430.