Intimate Strategies of the Civil War: Military Commanders and Their Wives

By Carol K. Bleser

Book Overview

From Robert E. and Mary Lee to Ulysses S. and Julia Grant, Intimate Strategies of the Civil War examines the marriages of twelve prominent military commanders, highlighting the impact wives had on their famous husbands' careers.
Carol K. Bleser and Lesley J. Gordon assemble an impressive array of leading scholars to explore the marriages of six Confederate and six Union commanders. Contributors reveal that, for many of these men, the matrimonial bond was the most important relationship in their lives, one that shaped (and was shaped by) their military experience. In some cases, the commanders' spouses proved relentless and skillful promoters of their husbands' careers. Jessie Fr mont drew on all of her connections as the daughter of former Senator Thomas Hart Benton to aid her modestly talented husband John. Others bolstered their military spouses in less direct ways. For example, Ulysses S. Grant's relationship with Julia (a Southerner and former slave owner herself) kept him anchored in stormy times. Here, too, are tense and tempestuous pairings, such William Tecumseh Sherman and his wife Ellen--his foster sister before becoming his wife--and Jefferson Davis's fascinatingly complex bond with Varina, further complicated by the hostile rumors about the two in Richmond society. Throughout, these historians paint remarkably intimate portraits of their subjects. Readers will see these famed men in a way that they perhaps never considered: not merely as famous leaders, but as lovers, husbands and fathers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195330854
• ISBN13: 9780195330854
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.6" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

very insightful

Carol Bleser and Lesley Gordon did a wonderful job with this book,delving into the personal lives of several famous civil war figures, along with black and white photographs of the couples.Some of the marriages in the book include the Shermans, Grants, Lee's, Custer's , Stonewall Jacksons, and many others. With so many figures from the civil war this book gives a wonderful overview of some of the more famous marriages and there family life. With so many figures to choose from I think the authors did a suberb job with the couples they featured. This is a book not to be missed.

Fascinating insights re personal lives of Civil War leaders

This collection of twelve essays explores the personal lives of prominent Civil War military commanders and their wives. The writers paint vivid pictures of how family life and the war were interwoven. The most striking thing to me is the great variation between the relationships of the various commanders and their wives, all within the Victorian societal structure. I think this book makes great reading for everyone, regardless of a person's interest in history.

Comments on "Intimate Strategies"

In this book, editors Carol K. Bleser and Lesley J. Gordon bring together essays describing the marriages and personal lives of a dozen Civil War leaders. The essays remind us of the essential humanity of the leading figures in that awful conflict. We gain an insight into the stresses placed upon these husbands and wives by the calls of patriotism, political and military duty, and career ambition on one hand, and the responsibility to home and family on the other. We sense through excerpts from letters and first-hand memoirs the flow of their emotions as they suffered illness, loss of loved ones and, certainly in the South, loss of homeland. Seen against the events of September 11, these essays help us to empathize with the suffering and sacrifice undergone by many of our contemporary countrymen and countrywomen.

Sensational insight into Military Commanders.

Lesley Gordon and Carol K. Bleser writes/edits an insightfull perspective into military leaders and their wives, by bring these two issues together, they were able not only to tell you about the Military Commanders but add to the already exisiting sources of information and knowledge. I would recomended this book to anyone with an interest in the American Civil War...