Edward Porter Alexander

[Legion Para]

 

[Cavalry Charger]

Looking forward to watching this. Thanks for posting.

 

[Stone in the wall]

Enjoyed it thanks for posting

 

[redbob]

I believe that everything that you need to know about Edward Porter Alexander can be said by his tombstone, it is located in the old cemetery in Augusta, Georgia; it is a rather non-descript tombstone amongst many others, that lists his accomplishments in his life. Among, but not at the top of the long list is Chief of Artillery-Army of Northern Virginia. He was a well -rounded balanced man that accomplished many things in his life.

 

[kevikens]

E. Porter Alexander. Accurate observer, honest recorder.

 

[luinrina]

There's a similar talk by Gary Gallagher here:
https://www.c-span.org/video/?163528-1/fighting-confederacy

It's mostly the same as the video in the OP but also has some passages on how Gallagher came to edit the manuscript.

 

[Northern Light]

Edited. I have read some of Alexander's post war writing and I am a bit skeptical of some of his writing. Even though he was supposed to be writing only for his family and not for public treading, this does not mean that he was entirely objective about the war. Some of his comments show a very decided nonobjective opinions, in my reading. Alexander may have been very well educated and smart, but that does not mean that he does not have an altogether unbiased view of his experiences.

 

[MaryDee]

"Fighting for the Confederacy" is a personal memoir, not written for publication, so of course it contains Alexander's prejudices and personal opinions. That, to me, is what makes the book so interesting!

Interesting to see a much younger Gary Gallagher!

 

[WJC]

Edited. I have read some of Alexander's post war writing and I am a bit skeptical of some of his writing. Even though he was supposed to be writing only for his family and not for public treading, this does not mean that he was entirely objective about the war. Some of his comments show a very decided nonobjective opinions, in my reading. Alexander may have been very well educated and smart, but that does not mean that he does not have an altogether unbiased view of his experiences.

No, it is not an unbiased report of the war by an objective outsider. It is a personal memoir of a man very deeply committed to the rebel cause.
As I have said several times here, my favorite Civil war book is his memoir, as edited by Professor Gallagher: Gallagher, Editor, Fighting for the Confederacy: The Personal Recollections of General Edward Porter Alexander.(Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press, 1989.)
Is it reasonable to expect any of the men who fought in this terrible conflict to be unbiased in relating their experiences years later? For that matter, will we be able to give an unbiased account of what we are currently doing years from now?
No, it is not objective, but it is an interesting work that gives us insight into how one man saw his war experiences. That is its lasting value.

 

[Northern Light]

No, it is not an unbiased report of the war by an objective outsider. It is a personal memoir of a man very deeply committed to the rebel cause.
As I have said several times here, my favorite Civil war book is his memoir, as edited by Professor Gallagher: Gallagher, Editor, Fighting for the Confederacy: The Personal Recollections of General Edward Porter Alexander.(Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press, 1989.)
Is it reasonable to expect any of the men who fought in this terrible conflict to be unbiased in relating their experiences years later? For that matter, will we be able to give an unbiased account of what we are currently doing years from now?
No, it is not objective, but it is an interesting work that gives us insight into how one man saw his war experiences. That is its lasting value.

While you find it a favourite, I found it tedious reading and very self serving. To each his own.

 

[WJC]

While you find it a favourite, I found it tedious reading and very self serving. To each his own.

Thanks for your response.
Exactly. It would be a dull world if we all agreed on everything....

 

[Pat Answer]

The video was very interesting, thanks for posting. I remember Military Memoirs of a Confederate to be a refreshingly frank series of battle and campaign reports. I think Gallagher edited that one also.*
Gallagher's final comments (beginning around 46:30) are golden. Hindsight... does not always mix well with history...

*Edit: Yup. DaCapo Press, 1993

 

[War Horse]

Edited. I have read some of Alexander's post war writing and I am a bit skeptical of some of his writing. Even though he was supposed to be writing only for his family and not for public treading, this does not mean that he was entirely objective about the war. Some of his comments show a very decided nonobjective opinions, in my reading. Alexander may have been very well educated and smart, but that does not mean that he does not have an altogether unbiased view of his experiences.

Very biased opinion. That's what's so refreshing about it.