Notes Concerning the Author:
Richard Taylor’s, Destruction and Reconstruction: Personal Experiences of the Late War, was published in 1879, making it truly an eye-witness account of the subject being presented. Richard Taylor (1826—1879) was the son of President Zachary Taylor and the brother-in-law of President Jefferson Davis. He knew most of the important people on both sides in the War between the States. Though not a professional soldier, he was a very able Confederate general, defeating, with a much smaller force, the federal attempt to conquer Louisiana in the Red River campaign. Taylor was a learned man and a very good writer.
Abstract:
Taylor’s account of the war and first-hand characterizations of many of the leaders are unfailingly interesting. This is probably the best of all of many Confederate memoirs.
Availability of the Book:
This book has republished a number of times. The 1998 edition contains a worthwhile introduction by Clyde N. Wilson. Suggest Amazon.com.
CNW