The life and wars of Gideon J. Pillow
By: Nathaniel Cheairs Hughes, Jr., and Roy P. Stonesifer, Jr.
Contributors: Stonesifer, Roy P.
Series: Civil War America
Publisher: University of North Carolina Press
Published: 1993
Place of publication: Chapel Hill
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 455
ISBN-13: 9780807821077
Subjects: Pillow, Gideon Johnson, 1806-1878.; Confederate States of America. Army -- Biography.; Generals -- Confederate States of America -- Biography.; Generals -- United States -- Biography.
Description: Commonly portrayed in Civil War literature as a bungling general who disgraced himself at Fort Donelson, Gideon Johnson Pillow (1806-78) is one of the most controversial military figures of nineteenth-century America. In this first full-length biography, Nat Hughes and Roy Stonesifer take a fresh look at Pillow, calling attention to his prominent role in many of the major conflicts of his day. Pillow was one of Tennessee's wealthiest planters and lawyers as well as an influential broker in national politics. His friendship with fellow Tennessean James K. Polk broght Pillow a generalship in the Mexican War, where he served under Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor and antagonized the military establishment with his recklessness and self-promotion. Following the war, Pillow attempted to capitalize on his notoriety as the "hero of Chapultepec" by reentering Democratic party politics.^

Despite his efforts on behalf of Franklin Pierce, he was unsuccessful in his bid for the vice presidency and the Senate. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Pillow again sought the public stage. His organization of what would become the Army of Tennessee placed him at the forefront of the Confederate war effort. But he was bested by Ulysses S. Grant at Belmont and then suffered disaster at Fort Donelson. Following these defeats, he spent the remainder of the war directing Confederate conscription in the West and leading Confederate cavalry forces. As a result of his role at Fort Donelson, Pillow has been dismissed as a political general with destructive military ambitions. Hughes and Stonesifer argue that such a judgment fails to consider the many contributions made by the dynamic planter-lawyer.^

They point out Pillow's organizational abilities (evidenced before and after Donelson), his standing with distinguished peers such as Joseph Johnston and Braxton Bragg, and his continuing service as an infantry and cavalry leader. Unbounded, restless energy brought Pillow his few triumphs and, despite his failures, made him an attractive and important figure. The Life and Wars of Gideon J. Pillow reveals a colorful, enigmatic man who moved just outside the world of greatness he yearned to enter. - Jacket flap.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [407]-439) and index.
Table of contents: title: A Jacksonian tradition; title: A friend indeed; title: Tennessee's own son; title: Hurra for Pa; title: Hero of Chapultepec; title: Leonidas; title: Making good Democratic music; title: Palace of fire; title: The Provisional Army of Tennessee; title: To aid our friends in Missouri; title: A plunge into the forest; title: I will die first; title: Is this right?; title: A place he so exactly fits; title: I only want a respectable command; title: A bitter cup; title: Epilogue; title: Appendix 1 : And afterward; title: Appendix 2 : Some of Gideon J. Pillow's staff officers