The Commanders of Chancellorsville : The Gentleman Versus the Rogue

As equally matched in skill as they were opposite in personality, the brash Union Gen. Joseph Hooker boasted of a sure defeat of the reserved Gen. Robert E. Lee. "I've got Robert E. Lee right where I want him, and even God Himself cannot stop me from destroying him," Boasted Hooker. Yet the battle of Chancellorsville stands as Lee's greatest triumph. The story of the two generals has never been explored as it is here. "Fighting Joe" Hooker was brilliant, but also profane, bombastic, and his army so undisciplined that their pursuit of camp "followers" spawned the modern euphemism for prostitute. Robert E. Lee, equally gifted was known as the definitive devout, self-controlled Southern gentleman, leading an army that was exhausted, underfed, and outmanned. Chancellorsville stands not just as a pivotal battle of the Civil War but as the personal war between two warriors - stalking, striking, and counter-striking their way to ultimate victory or defeat. Did two more perfectly mathched enemies ever confront one another on the field of battle?The reserved and gentlemanly Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and the brash, arrogant, and brilliant Union Gen. Joseph Hooker squared off in the pivotal battle at Chancellorsville, the only time they were in combat. Although Lee and Hooker were equals in ability, these two were opposites in personality. The magic and mystery of the story of these two generals is even greater than the battle they fought.Colorful and controversial, "Fighting Joe" Hooker had a fondness for cards, booze, and loose women. His army was so undisciplined that the dalliance of his troops with camp "followers" is frequently said to have spawned the modern word booker. In the strategies of war he had a gambler's mentality-a unique combination of nerve, braggadocio, and bluff that made him a formidable foe.Robert E. Lee, born and bred a gentleman, was in many ways Hooker's opposite. With his impeccable social and military pedigree, Lee exuded rectitude, respectability, and erudition. He carried the mantle of authority with the ease and grace of a genuine aristocrat.Chancellorsville was a pivotal battle of the Civil War. The disaster that befell the U.S. Army of the Potomac there was the latest in a series of catastrophes for the North and eventually led Lincoln to remove Hooker from command. For the South, Chancellorsville was a monumental victory-and an equal disaster, for it was at Chancellorsville that Stonewall Jackson suffered a mortal wound. At Chancellorsville. "Fighting Joe" Hooker came close to matching Robert E. Lee's masterful maneuvering. Although he retreated, Hooker's brilliant strategy could just as easily have destroyed Lee's plans and ended the war in May of 1863.Acclaimed Civil War historian Edward Longacre delves into the minds, hearts, personalities, and training of two of the War's premier commanders. Longacre's reputation for accuracy, attention to detail, and broad knowledge of the War, enables him to draw his readers alongside Lee and Hooker as the two strive on the field of fire and glory, seeking to outwit, out-maneuver, and destroy one another. What emerges is far more than military history. It is, instead, a unique and compelling personal profile of two mighty men at war with each other. The Commanders of Cbancellorsville reveals one of the most compelling untold stories of the American Civil War. Did Two More Perfectly Matched Enemies Ever Confront One Another On The Field Of Battle? The Reserved And Gentlemanly Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee And The Brash, Arrogant, And Brilliant Union Gen. Joseph Hooker Squared Off In The Pivotal Battle At Chancellorsville, The Only Time They Were In Combat. Although Lee And Hooker Were Equals In Ability, These Two Were Opposites In Personality. The Magic And Mystery Of The Story Of These Two Generals Is Even Greater Than The Battle They Fought. Colorful And Controversial, Fighting Joe Hooker Had A Fondness For Cards, Booze, And Loose Women. His Army Was So Undisciplined That The Dalliance Of His Troops With Camp Followers Is Frequently Said To Have Spawned The Modern Word Hooker. In The Strategies Of War He Had A Gambler's Mentality - A Unique Combination Of Nerve, Braggadocio, And Bluff That Made Him A Formidable Foe. Robert E. Lee, Born And Bred A Gentleman, Was In Many Ways Hooker's Opposite. With His Impeccable Social And Military Pedigree, Lee Exuded Rectitude, Respectability, And Erudition. He Carried The Mantle Of Authority With The Ease And Grace Of A Genuine Aristocrat. Chancellorsville Was A Pivotal Battle Of The Civil War. The Disaster That Befell The U.s. Army Of The Potomac There Was The Latest In A Series Of Catastrophes For The North And Eventually Led Lincoln To Remove Hooker From Command. For The South, Chancellorsville Was A Monumental Victory - And An Equal Disaster, For It Was At Chancellorsville That Stonewall Jackson Suffered A Mortal Would. At Chancellorsville, Fighting Joe Hooker Came Close To Matching Robert E. Lee's Masterful Maneuvering. Although He Retreated, Hooker's Brilliant Strategy Could Just As Easily Have Destroyed Lee's Plans And Ended The War In May Of 1863--jacket. A Man Of Honor, A Soldier Of Genius -- On The Brink Of Greatness -- Officer And Gambler -- Bravo For Joe Hooker -- Plans And Preparations -- Crossing Over -- A Most Extraordinary Twenty-four Hours -- Confidence Lost -- Trusting To An Ever Kind Providence -- My God, Here They Come! -- Attack And Counterattack -- What Will The Country Say? -- Out Of The Woods. Ed Longacre. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 313-328) And Index. The award-winning Civil War historian explores the battle between two strikingly different generals: "Fighting Joe" Hooker and Robert E. Lee. As equally matched in skill as they were opposite in personality, the brash Union Gen. Joseph Hooker boasted of a sure defeat of the reserved Gen. Robert E. Lee. "I've got Robert E. Lee right where I want him, and even God Himself cannot stop me from destroying him," boasted Hooker. Yet the battle of Chancellorsville stands as Lee's greatest triumph. The story of the two generals has never been explored as it is here. "Fighting Joe" Hooker was brilliant, but also profane and bombastic, and his army so undisciplined that their pursuit of camp "followers" spawned the modern euphemism for prostitute. Robert E. Lee, equally gifted, was known as the definitive devout, self-controlled Southern gentleman, leading an army that was exhausted, underfed, and outmanned. Chancellorsville stands not just as a pivotal battle of the Civil War but as the personal war between two warriors—stalking, striking, and counter-striking their way to ultimate victory or defeat. Praise for the work of Edward G. Longacre, a winner of the Fletcher Pratt and Douglas Southall Freeman awards "Breezy and informative . . . Longacre remains even handed throughout and maintains a lively pace." — Publishers Weekly "Well-researched, fast paced." — Pennsylvania History As equally matched in skill as they were opposite in personality, the brash Union Gen. Joseph Hooker boasted of a sure defeat of the reserved Gen. Robert E. Lee. "I've got Robert E. Lee right where I want him, and even God Himself cannot stop me from destroying him," Boasted Hooker. Yet the battle of Chancellorsville stands as Lee's greatest triumph. The story of the two generals has never been explored as it is here. "Fighting Joe" Hooker was brilliant, but also profane, bombastic, and his army so undisciplined that their pursuit of camp "followers" spawned the modern euphemism for prostitute. Robert E. Lee, equally gifted was known as the definitive devout, self–controlled Southern gentleman, leading an army that was exhausted, underfed, and outmanned. Chancellorsville stands not just as a pivotal battle of the Civil War but as the personal war between two warriors – stalking, striking, and counter–striking their way to ultimate victory or defeat. ebook,book Introduction The antagonists A man of honor, a soldier of genius On the brink of greatness Officer and gambler Bravo for Joe Hooker Plans and preparations Crossing over A most extraordinary twenty-four hours Confidence lost Trusting to an ever kind providence My God, here they come! Attack and counterattack What will the country say? Epilogue : Out of the woods