Books
The Last Words: The Farewell Addresses of Union and Confederate Commanders to Their Men at the End of the War Between the States
At the very end of the War Between the States, seventeen commanders delivered farewell addresses to the men they had led through four years of hell during which 750,000 died and over a million were maimed. The seventeen include Lee, Grant, Sherman, Forrest, Meade, Mosby, Trowbridge (U.S. Colored Troops), Johnston, Wheeler and Hoke.
Those eight Confederate and nine Union addresses are important documents in American history because they show clearly what each side was fighting for.
Lee: The Last Years - Charles Bracelen Flood
In this magnificent post-war biography of Lee, readers get an intimate portrait of the General's life in his final years. We see the character and resolve of Lee, and his willingness to press on after the South's devastating defeat. Author Charles Flood uses firsthand accounts from people who actually knew and interacted with Lee to highlight the General's unwavering commitment to faith, family, and community.
Robert E. Lee's Orderly - Al Arnold
In a one of a kind family history, Al Arnold reveals his ancestor's personal relationship as General Lee's orderly during the Civil War. Arnold does a magnificent job of not only bringing his family's history to life, but addresses the topic of Robert E. Lee and his legacy in a way that evokes respect, professionalism, and a sincere passion for objective truth. This book serves as one of the finer additions to recent scholarship about Lee.
The Southern Tradition At Bay - Richard M. Weaver
Few literary works do better to uphold Southern society than Richard Weaver's classic The Southern Tradition At Bay. Weaver's defense of culture and his emphasis on the value of history exists as one of the great American scholarly works. A must read for anyone seeking an intellectual, academic portrayal of the American South.
Lee - Douglas Southall Freeman
Douglas Southall Freeman proved himself as one of America's most respected and thorough historians. In Lee, he captures the gentility, greatness, and nobility of the General and his accomplishments. This is the authoritative biography of Robert E. Lee. One should look no further when trying to truly understand Lee and the difficult time he lived in.
Remembering Who We Are: Observations of a Southern Conservative - M.E. Bradford
There are few issues more pressing than the lack of knowledge regarding our history and, more specifically, the government that we inherited from the founders. Bradford's masterful work attempts to provide both context and intention regarding the US Constitution and how it has been twisted and misused throughout American history. To quote the author, "The original understanding of the Constitution conformed much more closely to the Southern position than to Lincoln's acts of usurpation."
The Political Crisis Of The 1850's - Michael F. Holt
In his unparalleled work, historian Michael Holt points to the political disfunction of the decade preceding the Civil War as the main culprit that perpetuated disunion. Specifically, the breakdown of the two party system created a lopsided political imbalance. This, in turn, led to an increased hostility over sectional and ideological issues. One cannot fully understand the underlying causes of the Civil War without first consulting Mr. Holt's dynamic historical study.
Plain Folk Of The Old South - Frank Lawrence Owsley
Owsley's Plain Folk Of The Old South seeks to dispel the myth of the South having only three classes - planters, poor whites, and slaves. The author reveals a world often overlooked in the Old South, namely its sizable yeoman farmer middle class. Owsley charts these people's lives, culture, and autonomy with exquisite detail.
From Union To Empire: Essays In The Jeffersonian Tradition - Clyde Wilson
Few modern authors do a better job of vindicating Southern culture and history than Clyde Wilson. His superb prose and detailed scope of knowledge allow him to truly penetrate the topic at hand in a substantial way. From Union To Empire exhibits Wilson at his best. An excellent resource to help understand the original context of the American republic and how it diverged from it's path.
Lincoln As He Really Was - Charles T. Pace
In this work, Dr. Pace challenges and sheds truth on the worship and mythology surrounding Lincoln. Very rarely do authors and historians exhibit the boldness to question the legacy of Lincoln. Dr. Pace does so in a respectful, firm, and resoundingly factual manner.
Essays
One of the most well versed authorities on the American South tackles the topic of symbols. This is a must read for anyone interested in the historical perspective on current affairs and trending political movements.
Military historian Victor Davis Hanson sheds light on the motives and driving agenda behind those that seek to vandalize, remove, and destroy historical monuments. In his article, he reveals the clear links of radical communism to the current movement to eradicate priceless pieces of public art and history. Hanson highlights both the dangers and repercussions of allowing such a dangerous ideology to exist.
Matt Walsh wrote an excellent piece on the radicalism of altering history in favor of contemporary political agendas. He, like many other historians and preservationists, pointed out the inherent unending process of this reactionary behavior. The American Founders exist as the next target of the modern Jacobin movement.
Those who control the narrative of history, have great sway over the present. What are the motives behind altering an entire nation's past?
A fascinating look at the intentions and dangers of recent attempts to dismantle the classic archetypes of American history. In the author's words, "The emptying of our hall of heroes is not a random thing. It is driven by Jacobins who want to replace our history with something else—a falsified, political, agitprop version."
The Abbeville Institute is on the forefront of challenging jacobin politics and marxist ideology. In this article, Thomas Crane highlights the absurdity of the arguments put forth by those who wish to remove or alter history. A must read for those seeking an modern intellectual perspective.
New Orleans native and local, Kurt Fromherz, explains the necessity of historical accuracy. Specifically, he highlights the far too common trend of outsiders and elites who attempt to rewrite and talk down history to local communities.
The Federalist has emerged as one of the most reputable and accurate online news publications. In this article, author John Daniel Davidson clearly lays out the reasoning behind monument removal. More than this, the crux of his argument lies on the fact that Confederate Monuments are not the end, nor even the real goal. The true aim of reactionary politics is to altogether remove and/or change history in favor of particular political and social agendas.
war-time sketches historical and ot herwise
Published in 1911, this is a collection of Confederate Civil War stories written by Adelaide Dimitry, who was a cousin of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart and the historian for the Stonewall Jackson Chapter of New Orleans, United Daughters of the Confederacy. Also touches on reconstruction.