Chancellorsville 1863: The Souls of the Brave

This is a well written, comprehensive overview of the battle of Chancellorsville. The author has created a well balanced book that provides insight at both the strategic and tactical levels. His use of first person source material brings the battle to life and makes for compelling reading. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Civil War and this battle in particular.

Contemporary Civil War readers today are extremely fortunate to have an abundance of truly gifted writers who have contributed a wealth of modern studies. Writers such as Stephen Sears, James McPherson, Wiley Sword, Noah Trudeau, Gordon Rhea and (a recent addition to the club) Jay Winik have joined the "masters" Bruce Catton and Shelby Foote in writing recent comprehensive narratives while maintaining readability. Now, having read "Chancellorsville 1863: The Souls of the Brave", I must include Ernest Furguson as a new addition to my list. This extraordinary account of the complex battle at Chancellorsville ranks right up there with these other pantheons of Civil War history. Furgurson manages to convey both the personal side of the struggle as well as an in-depth analysis of the many tactical maneauvers that make Chancellorsville one of the most studied and debated Civil War battles. Furgurson's story takes us from the bewildering post Fredericksburg period through Lee's monumental decision to again invade the North...a decision that led to the battle at Gettysburg and ultimate defeat for the Confederate army. The book starts at the failed "Mud March" and the Abraham Lincoln decision to remove Ambrose Burnside from command of the Federal army. Enter "Fighting" Joe Hooker. Furgurson delivers a compelling biography of the outwardly confident, but morally weak General and goes a long way in explaining his future actions. At this point we also get insightful, pre-battle studies of R.E. Lee and (Furgurson's obvious hero) T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Hooker takes the demoralized "Army of the Potomac" and rebuilds it into a confident, offensive machine in his own image in only 4 months. His plan to flank attack Lee's entrenched troops at Fredericksburg is explained as near "brilliance" and gives Hooker the start that he needs. Lee then divides his army as he learns of Hooker's plans and sends most of his forces Westward to meet the on-coming Federals. The initial battle is immediately bloody and shows that the Union army is, in fact, newly confident as it drives the Confederates back towards Fredericksburg. Hooker then, mysteriously, pulls his troops back into a defensive position around the Chancellor house and "dares" Lee to attack him. Lee, of course, takes this dare and battles the Federals at Catherine's Furnace before allowing Jackson to start his flanking maneauver. Furgurson deftly describes Jackson's march and troop setup in the Wilderness at the extreme right flank of the Union army (with all the accounts of ignored intelligence by Union commanders) and the ensuing battle is wonderfully accounted as wave after wave of Rebel forces drive the Federals back to entrenched positions around Chancellorsville. Jackson's frustration at failing to completely destroy the Union army is ultimately to blame for his overly agressive "reconnoitering" ride to the edge of the Federal lines and shooting by his own confused troops. Furgurson then goes on to expla

Without a doubt this is the one work I would have in my library on the Battle of Chancellorsville. Furgurson, while being historically accurate, writes in such a way as to make the reader feel as if s/he is there. This book is much more than simply a listing of military units' movements and statistics. I came away feeling as if I had actually been in the ranks of Jackson's troops and their great flanking maneuver. Written much in the style of Burke Davis, this book held my attention throughout. For those who want to know not only what happened, but how it must have felt to be a part of this battle, this is the book to buy.

Reading about Chancellorsville can often be tangled and confusing due to all the differing leaders involved, but this book is extremely well written and clear. The book is crisply written and the chapters on Jackson's flanking maneuver and the 2nd battle of Fredericksburg were extremely good. Furguson writes in a way that makes one feel as if they are there along with the soldiers. Furguson captures both the human side and the tactics well. He uses first-hand accounts of the battle at good times and it really makes the book better. Simply put this is a terrific book and easy to read. I highly recommend it.

A study in leadership when things are going well and time is plentyful vs. leadership when events press men to do the correct thing, NOW!Read this book!