Jefferson Davis: The Man and His HourThis portrait puts the emphasis on Davis's private warmth, public coolness, personal insecurity and indecisiveness during the Civil War. Relying mostly on contemporary sources, the author ( Image of the War ) explores how Davis's attitudes and values were developed at West Point and during his Mexican War service and how they were put to the test in his years as U.S. senator, as secretary of war under Franklin Pierce and as president of the Southern Confederacy. The author defends Davis (1808-1889) against the charge that he interfered with his generals, partly by showing how well he and Robert E. Lee worked together. The book also makes clear that Davis lacked managerial skill, was inflexible, could not admit making a mistake and had great difficulty delegating authority. Nevertheless, as the author points out, Davis built the systems that kept the Confederacy afloat from his inauguration in 1862 until he was captured by Union troops in 1865. This is a pragmatic but sympathetic biography that explains why Davis was respected but never loved by the citizens of the Confederate states. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
appointment April army Army of Tennessee asked August battle Beauregard Bragg Breckinridge Brierfield cabinet called campaign Charleston Colonel command Confederacy Confederate Congress Davis Bend Davis Papers Davis's December Democrats Department Diary enemy February February 20 Federals fight gave Gustavus Smith Harrison hope Howell Cobb Ibid Jackson January Jefferson Davis Jones Joseph July June Kentucky Kirby Smith knew later leave letter Lincoln looked Mallory Manassas March Mason Barret Collection Memoir ment military Mississippi never North November October Orleans Pemberton perhaps political Polk president president's Preston Johnston probably Record Group 109 regiment Richmond Rosa Johnston Rowland secession secretary secretary of war Seddon seemed Senate sent September slavery slaves South Carolina Southern spoke Taylor Tennessee thought tion told took Union Varina Vicksburg Virginia vote wanted Washington weeks West Point Whig Wigfall WPJ to Rosa wrote Yankees York young Johnston