Obstinate Heroism

In Obstinate Heroism Steven J. Ramold examines the complex, occasionally chaotic surrender of Confederate forces after the capitulation of the Army of Northern Virginia. Over eleven chapters, Ramold details how Joseph E. Johnston, Richard Taylor, Edmund Kirby Smith, and others chose to surrender in the weeks after Robert E. Lee's defeat and the collapse of the Confederate government in Richmond. While each commander confronted unique circumstances in their respective departments, they share common themes. Sagging morale, particularly after soldiers learned of Lee's surrender, and increased desertion rates in Confederate armies across the South are two such examples. And, except for Johnston in North Carolina, Confederate generals could not readily communicate with Jefferson Davis or any other high-ranking member of the Confederate government. This inability forced these generals to assume varying levels of political authority when negotiating the terms of surrender. Finally, all these commanders received insufficient support to keep their

Chose · Government (linguistics · Negotiation · Political science · Politics · Surrender · American Constitutional Law and Politics · History · Law · Philosophy