Stonewall Jackson as Military Commander

John Selby's book "Stonewall Jackson as Military Commander" is a fine work about the exploits of Jackson in the American Civil War. From his rise to fame at First Manassas to his final great victory at Chancellorsville, Selby looks at the campaigns that defined Jackson as a military leader. While it is a bit dry at times, and there are a couple of typos (Fredericksburg began on December 11, 1862, not December 13), this is still a solid work about one of history's greatest leaders. Still, it doesn't match up to James Robertson's "Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Myth, The Legend," but no book can. Overall, it is a fine addition to anyone's collection of historical biography. Grade: B+

John Selby, a Sandhurst alum and Englishman, analyzes Stonewall as a military commander. He takes apart and critiques Jackson's strategy, tactics and decisions in the pivotal sites and conducts a post mortem on those decisions through the eyes of a trained military strategist. The book is totally absorbing and readable but immensely valuable as well because it features 15 maps and a plethora of pictures and drawings of battlefields and locations to provide additional perspective. If you are interested in Jackson's decision making from a battlefield standpoint then consult this book. Political and personal dynamics are not absent but not the focus of this work.

~Stonewall Jackson as Military Commander~ is candid tale of the military career of the late Confederate General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson. At First Manassas, Jackson defiantly held his ground, and led a climatic charge through Union lines. At that battle, he earned his name "Stonewall" from General Bee: "Look there is Jackson standing like a Stonewall." Jackson was a devout Christian, a West Point graduate, and a veteran of the Mexican War. He briefly taught at the Virginia Military Institute before the war began. John Selby has sketched a terse military biography of Jackson's career during the War Between the States. This book follows the legendary general from "first blood" to the campaigns in the Valley, the Seven Days campaign outside of Richmond, the Maryland campaign, Second Manassas and Fredericksburg. The book climaxes with Jackson's daring sneak attack on the western flank of Union lines at Chancellorsville. At twilight Jackson was tragically shot by his own men and died a few days later. Jackson was a brilliant strategist, and his military genius continues to be studied throughout the world. Jackson was a potent weapon, because of his dramatic flank marches and surprise attacks, he confounded the Union forces. Jackson had stung the Union forces psychologically, as Union commanders were overly cautious. Many have speculated that Jackson's death completely dashed southern hopes of victory. John Selby astutely and succinctly captures the military genius of the late Confederate General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson with amazing clarity. Overall, this is a fairly good military biography. The strength is its brevity perhaps. Though, it neglects Jackson's role in the Mexican War, and focuses entirely on the War Between the States. If you want a more comprehensive biography of Jackson then perhaps James I. Robertson's biography is what you are looking for. I've never quite finished Robertson's book, but it is definitely the standard bearer.