Product Description

For nearly a quarter of a century, Pulitzer Prize nominee William C. Davis has been one of our best writers on the Civil War. His books--including Breckinridge: Statesman, Soldier, Symbol; Jefferson Davis: The Man and His Hour; and "A Government of Our Own": The Making of the Confederacy--have garnered numerous awards and enlightened and entertained an avid readership. The Cause Lost extends that tradition of excellence with provocative new insights into the myths and realities of an endlessly fascinating subject.

In these pages, Davis brings into sharp focus the facts and fictions of the South's victories and defeats, its tenacious struggle to legitimize its cause and defeat an overpowering enemy, and its ultimate loss of will. He debunks long-standing legends, offers irrefutable evidence explaining Confederate actions, and contemplates the idealism, naivete, folly, and courage of the military leadership and would-be founding fathers.

Among the most misunderstood, Davis contends, was Jefferson Davis. Often branded as enigmatic and incompetent, the Confederate president was simply a decent and committed leader whose mistakes were magnified by the war's extraordinary demands. Davis scrutinizes Jefferson Davis' relationship with his generals--most of whom were unproved talents or cronies with proven deficiencies--and reveals why only Robert E. Lee succeeded in winning Davis' confidence through flattery, persuasion, and a sense of responsibility. He also examines the myths and memories of the nearly deified Stonewall Jackson and of John C. Breckinridge, the only effective Confederate secretary of war.

Davis also illustrates why the cause of the war--a subject of long-standing controversy--boils down to the single issue of slavery; why Southerners, 90 percent of whom didn't own slaves, were willing to join in the battle to defend their homeland; how the personalities, tactics, and styles of the armies in the turbulent West differed greatly from those in the East; what real or perceived turning points influenced Southern decision making; and how mythology and misinterpretations have been perpetuated through biography, history, literature, and film.

Revealing the Confederacy's myths for what they really are, Davis nevertheless illustrates how much those myths inform our understanding of the Civil War and its place in Southern and American culture.

This book is part of the Modern War Studies series.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #986568 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

From Library Journal
In a series of essays (some previously published) dealing with various aspects of the Civil War, Davis (The American Frontier, Smithmark, 1995) provides new insights into some of the myths and realities of the war. The essays on Jefferson Davis look at his leadership and his relations with his generals, especially Robert E. Lee, while those on Stonewall Jackson and Breckenridge correct a lot of the myths that have been written since the end of the war. The author also examines the Confederate armies in the West, blaming their losses on poor leadership and lack of support from the Confederate government, and illustrates why slavery was the single issue of the war though 90 percent of the participants from the South did not own slaves. Davis helps clear away misconceptions about the Civil War and gives the reader a clearer insight into problems that affected the South. An excellent book that should be in every Civil War collection.?W. Walter Wicker, Louisiana Tech Univ., Ruston
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
A splendid collection, characterized by the same insight, humor, and delightful irreverence found in all Davis's writing. -- Journal of Southern History

A wonderful book, written by a man with full command of, and great love for, his subject. -- Washington Times

Celebrated author William C. Davis here offers us stimulating essays full of provocative opinions. Will provoke plenty of healthy debate. -- Blue & Gray Magazine

Davis advances strong opinions without qualification and often in a bold, memorable way. -- Georgia Historical Quarterly

From the Back Cover
"This provocative book challenges readers to look at old questions in new ways. It 's a splendid read, entertaining and enlightening in equal measure and leavened with more than a dash of humor."--Gary W. Gallagher, editor of The Third Day at Gettysburg and Beyond

"The Cause Lost provides interesting and informative reading, in the process presenting some new ideas and fresh facts while exposing some old fallacies."--Albert Castel, author of Decision in the West: The Atlanta Campaign of 1864

"William C. Davis is one of the best and most prolific historians of the American Civil War. His many books on battles, commanders, and Civil War photography have added immeasurably to our knowledge and understanding."--James M. McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom

Customer Reviews

Excellent Thoughts on Civil War Basics, Mainly Confederate
William C. (Jack) Davis is a prolific author on the Civil War whose books (and talks) are both extremely well-researched and entertaining. He would be on anyone's short list of the best Civil War historians, and is the History Book Club's reviewer for new Civil War books. His books specialize on the Confederate side of the recent unpleasantness between the states. Like his other books, this one is well worth reading for his illuminating insight into topics such as the relationship of Jefferson Davis to his generals, especially Lee, Johnston, Beauregard, Jackson, and Breckinridge; the Confederate secret service and the 1864 U.S. presidential election; and the reasons behind the development of the post-Confederate philosophy known as the Lost Cause. Only one chapter deals with the lost cause--for a detailed book on the lost cause, read Gary Gallagher and Alan Nolan's "The Myth of the Lost Cause and Civil War History." But Davis's Cause Lost is a must read for anyone interested in the Civil War.

Not indepth but...
Mr. Davis writes for popular history in that he does not go too deep into any single issue but that he does reduce issues to the point that most readers can understand them. In this book he takes on several of the most enduring "histories" of The Lost Cause of the Southern view of the Civil War and for the most part effectively refutes them. He has done popular history a service by entering into this particular fray.

Most Americans recall of the Civil War revolves around what can loosely be called history, much of which is either partiallly or deeply wrong. Not all states for instance that left the US did so explictly mentioning slavery, here Alabama comes to mind (the majority of the CS did name it the first or chief reason for secession). The Lincoln pre war tax impost was a reason but outside of SC is seldom mentioned in any other state paper and at best is a minor reason or excuse for the war that resulted. Slavery and Federal interference (or threat of interference) with it, constituted the chief reason for secession. Of course the majority of Southern men fought to defend their homes, one can argue here poor men were manipulated into fighting for the rich slave holders if you take the view of poor always fighting rich men's fights.
However, this and the failure of the CSA government, other then the military, to acomplish much in the course of the War is today only now being noticed or studied.

Reading several of the previous reviewers it is obvious that no amount of scholarship will change their minds regarding the War, its causes, or lasting effects. Here is proof positive of Mr. Davis' points regarding The Lost Cause; yes history was rewritten, but by the losers. From the effects of various battles, the disregard in many Southern partisans' minds for the Western theater, hatred for those who after the War decided they were Americans again (Longstreet for instance), reasons why War came about, and coming up with reasons why the South lost all have been so colored by revisionists that non-Americans often wonder if the South had really won but allowed the North to think otherwise...

There are many books coming out now on the Southern homefront now that are direct contradictions to this revised version of history. The South was never monolithic in white opinion (look at CSA desertion rates, voting records on secession, & Unionist activity behind Southern lines) nor was it a simple all blacks being pro-Union but there were no New York or black Confederate units either. This history is complex enough that the simplistic Lost Cause version is slowly being crushed, the fusion of whats left will doubtless be closer to the truth.

Don't judge a book by the book jacket description!
Davis is no neo-Confederate, but he's no South-basher either. In this book he distinguishes sharply between the cause of secession and the reason why men took up arms.

YES! slavery *was* the cause of secession. Just read the declarations of each state!

But Davis states emphatically the men who took up arms (90% of whom did not own slaves according to Davis) did not fight to preserve slavery but out of defense of their homes.

Want more? How about the numerous petitions to Jeff Davis from slaves and free blacks to fight for the Confederacy which he mentions and deals with at length in his book on the Davis Adminstration. Would a "south-hater" mention that!?!

So 90% of the confederate troops, actually *opposed* slavery? Show me *one* letter from *one* confederate soldier saying slavery was evil and ought to be abolished immediately!

You think people couldn't be bamboozled into fighting for Bill Gates? HA! Poor people fighting and dying in wars started by the rich is a large part of human history! WAKE UP!

For those who can get beyond this, they will stand to gain much from this book. Davis is a wonderful writer. Blissfully non-Academic. His essay on Breckinridge was a revelation and his essay on the election of 1864 was a challenge to *my* preconceptions.

Anyone who wants to understand the Civil War better should read this book. Anyone who wants to cling to myths of "moonlight and magnolias" should look elsewhere.