The journals of Josiah Gorgas, 1857-1878

Josiah Gorgas was best known as the highly regarded Chief of Confederate Ordnance. Born in 1818, he attended West Point, served in the U.S. Army, and later, after marrying Amelia Gayle, daughter of a former Alabama governor, joined the Confederacy. After the Civil War he served as president of The University of Alabama until ill health forced him to resign. His journals, maintained between 1857 and 1878, reflect the family's economic successes and failures, detail the course of the South through the Civil War, and describe the ordeal of Reconstruction. Few journals cover such a sweep of history. An added dimension is the view of Victorian family life as Gorgas explored his feelings about aspects of parental responsibility and transmission of values to children--a rarely documented account from the male perspective. His son, called Willie in the journals, was William Crawford Gorgas (1854-1920), who was noted for his fight to control yellow fever and who became surgeon general of the United States. In his foreword to the volume, Frank E. Vandiver states: "Wiggins has done much more than present a well-edited version of Gorgas's diaries and journals; she has interpreted them in full Gorgas family context and in perspective of the times they cover. . . . Wiggins informs with the sort of editorial notes expected of a careful scholar, but she enlightens with wide knowledge of American and southern history. . . . Josiah Gorgas [was] an unusually observant, passionate man, a 'galvanized Rebel' who deserves rank among the true geniuses of American logistics." Josiah Gorgas Was Best Known As The Highly Regarded Chief Of Confederate Ordnance. Born In 1818, He Attended West Point, Served In The Us Army, And Later, After Marrying Amelia Gayle, Daughter Of A Former Alabama Governor, Joined The Confederacy. After The Civil War He Served As President Of The University Of Alabama Until Ill Health Forced Him To Resign. His Journals, Maintained Between 1857 And 1878, Reflect The Family's Economic Successes And Failures, Detail The Course Of The South Through The Civil War, And Describe The Ordeal Of Reconstruction. An Added Dimension Is The View Of Victorian Family Life As Gorgas Explored His Feeling About Aspects Of Parental Responsibility And Transmission Of Values To His Children - A Rarely Documented Account From The Male Perspective. Introduction -- Genealogy Of The Family Of Josiah And Amelia Gorgas -- Prologue -- Antebellum : January 1857-march 1861. Her Affectionate Companionship Is Sufficient For Me -- My Great Regret Is The Wandering Life We Are Obliged To Lead -- Civil War : June 1862-may 1865. Brilliant Hopes Which Centered In The Possession Of Richmond -- The Confederacy Totters To Its Destruction -- Has War Ever Been Carried On Like This -- Such A War, So Relentless And So Repugnant -- Can We Hold Out Much Longer? -- The Prospect Is Growing Darker And Darker About Us -- Reconstruction : May 1865-july 1878. I Am As One Walking In A Dream -- Our Works Progress Slowly -- Harrassed With Debt And Surrounded With Troubles -- Our Company Affairs Are Very Much Embarrassed -- I Am Now Daily Teaching -- I Was Not Well Pleased With The Action Of The Board Of Trustees -- Epilogue -- Biographical Directory -- Manuscript Sources -- Printed Sources. Edited By Sarah Woolfolk Wiggins ; With A Foreword By Frank E. Vandiver. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [281]-288) And Index. Josiah Gorgas was best known as the highly regarded Chief of Confederate Ordnance. Born in 1818, he attended West Point, served in the US Army, and later, after marrying Amelia Gayle, daughter of a former Alabama governor, joined the Confederacy. After the Civil War he served as President of the University of Alabama until ill health forced him to resign. His journals, maintained between 1857 and 1878, reflect the family's economic successes and failures, detail the course of the South through the Civil War, and describe the ordeal of Reconstruction. Few journals cover such a sweep of history. An added dimension is the view of Victorian family life as Gorgas explored his feelings about aspects of parental responsibility and transmission of values to his children -- a rarely documented account from the male perspective. - Jacket flap. This collection of Gorgas journals covers three important decades of the 19th-century South - the antebellum period, Civil War years and the postbellum period. It provides information on Victorian family life, military events, and the political and economic conditions faced by many Southerners.