Four Years With General Lee | 
 enlarge | Authors: Walter H. Taylor, James I. Robertson
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 598378
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.3 x 0.7
ISBN: 0253210747
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.782
EAN: 9780253210746
ASIN: 0253210747
Publication Date: June 1996
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Product Description
Walter Taylor was first to last the closest of all staff officers to General Robert E. Lee, and his intimate relationship with his commander gives Taylor's writings signal importance in any study of Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. Taylor devoted a considerable portion of his postwar years to settling controversies relative to Lee's command. Rarely are his conclusions disputed, because he possessed a memory known to be both cohesive and accurate. He became in effect an unofficial court of last resort in the arguments that abounded in the half-century after Appomattox.A recognized classic, "Four Years with General Lee" first appeared in 1877 and was a collector's item by the turn of the century. For many years a standard authority on Confederate history, it is the source for dozens of incidents that have now become a part of every biography of Lee. This annotated edition, first published in 1962, was prepared by noted Civil War historian James I. Robertson, Jr., who has provided a new introduction for his paperback reissue.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
Four Years with General Lee April 18, 2005
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
A history of the Civil War by Lee's aide Walter Herron Taylor.
This is more a history than a memoir, and I get the impression that Taylor's other book has more personal reminiscence, though I haven't had a chance to see it yet. It clearly has served as a major source for generations of scholars; it describes most of the ANV's actions with a fair amount of detail and also discusses Lee's early campaign in West Virginia. The numerical strengths of the armies are tabulated in detail.
Taylor's hero-worship of Lee is clear in his analyses of events and in the appended anniversary address, which doesn't make this a less useful source but should be taken into account.
 "Four Years with...", but NOT a memoir November 24, 2002
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
As did Gilbert Moxley Sorrel (Longstreet), staff officer Walter Taylor offers his insights of the War of Southern Independence. Indeed, Taylor has rightful claim to his judgements, as his acquaitance with Lee offered him first-hand knowledge of events. However, I caution future readers that this is NOT a memoir or diary per se - Taylor rarely gives any unique slants to anything, and more often than not, seems occupied with setting the "numbers straight" - many, many, many tables and charts are provided giving the numbers available for this battle and that battle, etc...I suggest this book only for serious students of the war - and more particularly, those wanting "first-hand" data on "numbers." Of final interest, though, is Taylor's disdain for Hiram U. Grant (accurately recognizing Grant as a true butcher - merely throwing big numbers at an under-manned, under-supllied army) and the insertion of a speech given upon the anniversary of Genl Lee's birthday (albeit NOT written, or presented by Taylor himself)
Four years of Confederate history... April 11, 2002
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
Taylor's approach to covering the history of the Confederate struggle is encouraging to read. Though the title of this book tends to be a bit misleading. It should be called Four years of Confederate history. Taylor tends to describe battle movements and give calculations as to the manpower of divisions, brigades and regiments to a dragging sense. This books I recommend highly for those trying to get an accurate count of soldiers available for each battle, how many were casualties, after battle net amounts,etc.. Rarely are daily affairs of Lee covered. When I read this book I was disappointed to find out that it wasn't a book about General Lee and his daily livelyhood as I wanted to read about. Since Taylor was Lee's secretary I thought who better than to describe Lee's motives, attitudes, triumphs and defeats? Very rarely did Taylor ever mention Lee in this manner. Not enough to capture the man and tell his story. This book is a quick refresh of battles and movements throughout the war of the Army of Northern Virginia which hardly fits being called Four Years With General Lee. Credit is due to Taylor's ability to calculate total manpower and army positions throughout the four years though falls way short in covering Lee.
 Men of Character August 14, 2000
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
Wonderful book describing the massive work and devotion to duty that General Lee adhered to. Written by his A.A.G. A must read for southern patriots.
Sometimes, Taylor can be a little biased August 3, 2000
2 out of 11 found this review helpful
Taylor, as Lee's trusty staff member thoughout the war, is a great reference on Lee. Not all his words are to be taken at face value, however. For example, he had provided himself with a lovely suie with a piano and all he needed, far grander than Lee's abode. When Lee commented that Taylor had himself "finely fixed" there, Taylor responded " It will do." Lee was rightfully astounded, and left, although Taylor does not phrase it this way. Just a warning.
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