West Pointers and the Civil War: The Old Army in War and Peace (Civil War America)
"Thought provoking."--Louisiana History"West Pointers and the Civil Waris a fine study that reminds readers that personality and leadership matter in understanding the conflict and those who participated in it."--The Historian"A must read for anyone interested in the subject of why the war was fought the way it was."--The Past in Review"This original and important book asks us to reconceptualize much of what we think about the Civil War."--The Journal of Southern History"Judicious and well-researched. . . . Hsieh's project . . . is to explain the mentality of military professionals. . . . It is a task that he accomplishes with great skill."--Journal of American History"CAMP members who are Civil War buffs will want to addWest Pointers and the Civil Warto their military libraries."--The Journal of America's Military Past"Offers something for almost everyone. Those who revel in minutiae will enjoy Hsieh's detailed discussion of the tactical changes of the 1815-45 years and of the impact . . . of rifled weapons on the battlefield. Hsieh's discussions of some of the Civil War's major campaigns . . . will provide food for thought for those who prefer to study the war's larger military aspects."--Blue & Gray Magazine"A truly original and interesting study that places the Civil War within the context of the development of the United States Army in the nineteenth century. . . . Concise and well written."--H-Net Reviews"[A] closely reasoned, thoroughly researched, and provocative work. . . . Recommended."--Choice"Students of the Civil War will find this analysis worth considering."--On Point"A solid contribution to scholarship . . . [An] excellent treatment of antebellum debates over tactical doctrine and particular tactical events during the war."--The Journal of Military History"Leaves few stones unturned in examining how the professional officer corps produced by the U.S. Military Academy in the 19th century influenced the evolution of battlefield tactics at this critical point in our nation's history. . . . [Adds] another perspective to the historiography of a complex topic."--Civil War Times"Skillfully explores institutional efforts to develop and maintain the army's infantry, artillery, and mounted standards."--Civil War Book Review"A scholarly, well-footnoted book. The author has many ideas that he supports with logical documented arguments. . . . The author writes well, having an excellent readable way of presenting that never makes reading this book a chore."--TOCWOC"Trac[es] the evolution of military professionalism from the War of 1812 to the Civil War."--ARMY"An excellent book that was thoroughly researched by Hsieh. It is technical in nature, perhaps geared more towards a serious student of the military, but written in such a style as to be a worthy read for anyone with an interest in the military, or the Civil War."--This Mighty Scourge"Combining synthetic elements and solid research with the author's own (often subtle) interpretive slant, Wayne Wei-siang Hsieh'sWest Pointers and the Civil Waris worthwhile reading for those interested in the transformational steps taken by the antebellum U.S. Army, and what they would ultimately mean for the conduct of the war fought between Union and Confederate forces. Recommended."--CWBA.blogspot