Robert Krick's, "The Smoothbore Volley That Doomed the Confederacy"

[gary]

It's actually a collection of Krick essays that have appeared over the years in various Civil War magazines. Only the first chapter concerns the death of Jackson. Former Chief Historian for Fredericksburg National Battlefield Park Robert Krick breaks down the movement of Jackson & the units that were involved in his fatal injury. He points out that the volley itself wasn't as harmful as the subsequent dropping of the general (twice) that exacerbated his wounds (opened a vein). It weakened Old Jack enough for the preexisting pneumonia to set in. Buh bye.

Other chapters examines Confederate leaders like Robert Rodes, Maxy Gregg and of course, Longstreet. Krick gives a very good account of Longstreet as a gineral and as well as the controversy surrounding him during the reconstruction & reconciliation periods. He points out how Longstreet thought highly of himself and covered up his errant ways by blaming others like Evander McLaws.

The book is well worth reading and on sale right now from Louisiana State University Press.

[elektratig]

I've read the book and liked it alot. His chapter/essay on Longstreet's persecution of Lafayette McLaws (not Evander Law) is utterly devastating to the former.