Our Review
The Preface written by the Editor, Gen. Evans, provides the best review and introduction to the work:
“This work is the result of contributions by many Southern men to the literature of our country that treats of the eventful years in which occurred the momentous struggle called by Mr. A. H. Stephens ‘the war between the States.’ These contributions were made on a well-considered plan, to be wrought out by able writers of unquestionable Confederate record who were thoroughly united in general sentiment and whose generous labors upon separate topics would, when combined, constitute a library of Confederate military history and biography. According to the great principle in our government that One may result from and be composed of Many – the doctrine of E pluribus unum – it was considered that intelligent men from all parts of the South would so write upon the subjects committed to them as to produce a harmonious work which would truly portray the times and issues of the Confederacy and by illustration in various forms describe the soldiery which fought its battles. Upon this plan two volumes – the first and the last – comprise such subjects as the justification of the Southern States in seceding from the Union and the honorable conduct of the war by the Confederate States government; the history of the actions and concessions of the South in the formation of the Union and its policy in securing the existing magnificent territorial dominion of the United States; the civil history of the Confederate States, supplemented with sketches of the President, Vice-President, cabinet officers and other officials of the government; Confederate naval history; the morale of the armies; the South since the war, and a connected outline of events from the beginning of the struggle to its close.
“The two volumes containing these general subjects are sustained by the other volumes of Confederate military history of the States of the South involved in the war. Each State being treated in separate history permits of details concerning its peculiar story, its own devotion, its heroes and its battlefields. The authors of the State histories, like those of the volumes of general topics, are men of unchallenged devotion to the Confederate cause and of recognized fitness to perform the task assigned them. It is just to say that this work has been done in hours taken from busy professional life, and it should be further commemorated that devotion to the South and its heroic memories has been their chief incentive.
“Clement A. Evans, Editor.”
The following is a list of the contents of the volumes, and their authors:
Volume I: Hon. J. L. M. Curry, LL.D., “Legal Justification of the South in Secession“; William R. Garrett, “The South as a Factor in the Territorial Expansion of the United States“; Brig.-Gen. Clement A. Evans, “The Civil History of the Confederate States.”
Volume II: Brig.-Gen. Bradley T. Johnson, “Maryland“; Col. Robert White, “West Virginia.”
Volume III: Maj. Jed. Hotchkiss, “Virginia.”
Volume IV: D. H. Hill, Jr., “North Carolina.”
Volume V: Brig.-Gen. Ellison Capers, “South Carolina.”
Volume VI: Joseph T. Derry, A. M., “Georgia.”
Volume VII: Lieut.-Gen. Joseph Wheeler, “Alabama“; Colonel Charles E. Hooker, “Mississippi.”
Volume VIII: James D. Porter, “Tennessee.”
Volume IX: Colonel J. Stoddard Johnston, “Kentucky“; Colonel John C. Moore, “Missouri.”
Volume X: John Dimitry, A. M., “Louisiana“; Colonel John M. Harrell, “Arkansas.”
Volume XI: Colonel O. M. Roberts, “Texas“; Colonel J. J. Dickison, “Florida.”
Volume XII: Capt. William Harwar Parker, “The Confederate States Navy“; J. William Jones, D. D., “The Morale of the Confederate Armies“; Brig.-Gen. Clement A. Evans, “An Outline of the Confederate Military History“; Lieut.-Gen. Stephen D. Lee, “The South Since the War“; Documental and Statistical Index: “Constitution of the Confederate States,” “Members of the Provisional and Regular Congress of the Confederate States,” “Chronological List of Engagements by States,” “Statistics,” and “Index and Illustrations.”
HVT