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    General Edward Porter Alexander at Second Manassas: Account of the Battle from His Memoirs
    General Edward Porter Alexander at Second Manassas: Account of the Battle from His Memoirs
    General Edward Porter Alexander at Second Manassas: Account of the Battle from His Memoirs
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    General Edward Porter Alexander at Second Manassas: Account of the Battle from His Memoirs

    By Edward Porter Alexander

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    About this ebook

    In the narrative of the Civil War, Edward Porter Alexander has loomed larger in death than in life. Just 25 years old when the war broke out, Porter Alexander had already served as an engineer and officer in the U.S. Army, but the native Georgian resigned his commission in May 1861 and joined the Confederacy after his home state seceded. 


    Porter Alexander would continue to serve under Longstreet's corps for most of the rest of the war, and he famously suggested to Lee at Appomattox that the Confederate army should disband and melt away instead of surrender. Porter Alexander would later regret the suggestion, and Lee scolded him for it anyway. 


    Though he had served with distinction during the Civil War, it was Porter Alexander's memoirs that have kept his name alive today. While many prominent officers on both sides wrote memoirs, Porter Alexander's were among the most insightful and often considered by historians as the most evenhanded. With a sense of humor and a good narrative, Porter Alexander skillfully narrated the war, his service, and what he considered the successes and faults of others, including Lee, when he thought they had made good decisions or mistakes. As a result, historians continue to rely heavily on his memoirs as a source for Civil War history. 
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKrill Press
    Release dateNov 25, 2015
    ISBN9781518310577
    General Edward Porter Alexander at Second Manassas: Account of the Battle from His Memoirs
    Author

    Edward Porter Alexander

    General Edward Porter Alexander (1835-1910) was Robert E. Lee’s artillery commander for most of the Civil War. After the Confederate surrender, he served as an executive at various railroad companies and became a respected author. He died in Savannah, Georgia.

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      Book preview

      General Edward Porter Alexander at Second Manassas - Edward Porter Alexander

      GENERAL EDWARD PORTER ALEXANDER AT SECOND MANASSAS: ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE FROM HIS MEMOIRS

      ..................

      Edward Porter Alexander

      FIREWORK PRESS

      Thank you for reading. In the event that you appreciate this book, please consider sharing the good word(s) by leaving a review, or connect with the author.

      This book is a work of nonfiction and is intended to be factually accurate.

      All rights reserved. Aside from brief quotations for media coverage and reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form without the author’s permission. Thank you for supporting authors and a diverse, creative culture by purchasing this book and complying with copyright laws.

      Copyright © 2015 by Edward Porter Alexander

      Interior design by Pronoun

      Distribution by Pronoun

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      INTRODUCTION

      Chapter 10: Cedar Mountain

      Chapter 11: Second Manassas

      General Edward Porter Alexander at Second Manassas: Account of the Battle from His Memoirs

      By

      Edward Porter Alexander

      General Edward Porter Alexander at Second Manassas: Account of the Battle from His Memoirs

      Published by Firework Press

      New York City, NY

      First published 1904

      Copyright © Firework Press, 2015

      All rights reserved

      Except in the United States of America, this book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

      About Firework Press

      Firework Press prints and publishes the greatest books about American history ever written, including seminal works written by our nation’s most influential figures.

      INTRODUCTION

      ..................

      IN THE NARRATIVE OF THE Civil War, Edward Porter Alexander has loomed larger in death than in life. Just 25 years old when the war broke out, Porter Alexander had already served as an engineer and officer in the U.S. Army, but the native Georgian resigned his commission in May 1861 and joined the Confederacy after his home state seceded.

      Porter Alexander spent 1861 as an intelligence officer, and he served as part of a signal guard, but he soon became chief of ordnance for Joseph Johnston’s army near Richmond. Half a year later, Johnston would be injured during the Peninsula Campaign at the Battle of Seven Pines, after which he was replaced by Robert E. Lee. Over the course of 1862, Porter Alexander took on more roles in the Army of Northern Virginia’s artillery branch, particularly under Longstreet’s 1st Corps.

      Though he had served with distinction during the Civil War, it was Porter Alexander’s memoirs that have kept his name alive today. Though many prominent officers on both sides wrote memoirs, Porter Alexander’s were among the most insightful and often considered by historians as the most evenhanded. With a sense of humor and a good narrative, Porter Alexander skillfully narrates the war, his service, and he isn’t afraid to criticize officers, including Lee, when he thought they had made mistakes. As a result, historians continue to rely heavily on his memoirs as a source for Civil War history.

      This account of the campaign that culminated with the battle of Second Manassas comes from Alexander’s memoirs, Military Memoirs of a Confederate: A Critical Narrative.

      CHAPTER 10: CEDAR MOUNTAIN

      ..................

      Recuperation.

      — GENERAL POPE ARRIVES. — general Halleck Arrives. — McClellan recalled. — Lee moves. — Jackson moves. — Cedar Mountain. — the night action. — Jackson’s ruse. — casualties.

      The close of the Seven Days found both armies greatly in need of rest. Lincoln called upon the governors of the Northern States for 300,000 more men, and bounties, State and Federal, were offered to secure them rapidly. They were easily obtained, but a mistake was made in putting the recruits in the field. They were organized into entirely new regiments, which were generally hurried to the field after but little drilling and training. President Davis also called for conscripts, — all that could be gotten. No great number were obtained, for those arriving at the age of conscription usually volunteered in some selected regiment. Those who were conscripted were also distributed among veteran regiments to repair the losses of the campaign, and this was done as rapidly as the men could be gotten to the front. Although this method allowed no time for drill or training, yet it was far more effective in maintaining the strength of the army than the method pursued by the Federals.

      During the short intermission from active operations, something was accomplished, too, to improve our organizations, though leaving us still greatly behind the example long before set us by the enemy. Longstreet and Jackson were still but major-generals commanding divisions, but each now habitually commanded other divisions besides his own, called a Wing, and the old divisions became known by the names of new commanders. Thus, Jackson’s old division now became Taliaferro’s, and Longstreet’s division became Pickett’s, while Longstreet and Jackson each commanded a Wing, so called.

      It was not until another brief rest in October, after the battle [176] of Sharpsburg, that Longstreet and Jackson were made lieutenant-generals, and the whole army was definitely organized into corps. Some improvement was also made in

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