tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487782624783333590.post1198137277587143963..comments2023-03-31T05:42:07.760-04:00Comments on Our Country's Fiery Ordeal: Book Review: John Bell Hood-The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of a Confederate General, by Stephen HoodDan Vermilyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09432345682562009779noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487782624783333590.post-38416282962931951192013-12-04T11:34:29.186-05:002013-12-04T11:34:29.186-05:00Sam,
I understand your feelings. Working at Antie...Sam,<br /><br />I understand your feelings. Working at Antietam, I have grown to have a much different understanding of George McClellan than is the common perception. Every time I hear a visitor refer to McClellan as an "idiot", I make mental note and try to provide some perspective for that person on ways they may look anew at the general. I think McClellan needs his own book just like the one you have written for Hood, which is why I thought it was such a nice contribution to Civil War literature. <br /><br />Looking forward to seeing the Papers of Hood published. I will review it on here as well if I can.<br /><br />DanDan Vermilyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09432345682562009779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487782624783333590.post-74355312408491179702013-12-04T09:27:40.015-05:002013-12-04T09:27:40.015-05:00If I may, a couple of brief comments on the book&#...If I may, a couple of brief comments on the book's shortcomings as accurately noticed by you.<br /><br />With a name like Sam Hood, you can imagine how many opinions and questions are given to me when I attend Civil War events. I am often referred to as a direct descendent of the general, and despite my persistent corrections (I am a second cousin) over 15 years I'm still thought by many to be a g-g grandson. Thus I hear much more about Hood than a "typical" Civil Warrior. <br /><br />When negotiating with my outstanding publisher Ted Savas, I told him that I wanted to take advantage of my book to broach each and every criticism of Hood I had encountered, everywhere from podiums at my presentations, to discussions in the back of CW tour buses between stops. I told Ted that some were more important than others, but I wanted to try and give my readers some info on all of them. Ted, being the great guy he is, consented, perhaps much to his later dismay. (Probably the best example of this is where I spend several pages on something as silly as the credibility of the myth that the during the retreat from Nashville the soldiers of the AoT sang "The Yellow Rose of Texas" with corrupted lyrics that mocked Hood. Although surprisingly, I have heard from several people who said they found my research on the song interesting.)<br /><br />So in my book I wanted to take ALL the common criticisms of Hood--some more legitimate than others--and simply give the man his day in court, so to speak. <br /><br />In the example you specifically cite (Hood's seemingly harsh words on casualties) I tried to illustrate that 19th century standards of expression of casualties weren't as sensitive as today. That is why I added to my argument how Hood would openly weep for his men after battles, and some of the compassionate things he said and wrote, which don't seem to make it into the literature as often as some of his words that seem cold.<br /><br />But you are correct, some of my cases were stronger than others...both in evidence and the quality of my presentation of the evidence.<br /><br />Thanks again for a well-reasoned and efficient review. <br /> <br />SamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487782624783333590.post-85283149515253550052013-12-03T14:42:14.597-05:002013-12-03T14:42:14.597-05:00Dan, please send me an email at samhood52@aol.com....Dan, please send me an email at samhood52@aol.com. I have a friend in Atlanta currently writing a book reassessing Hood's AOT generalship, and coincidentally, he advised me just last week that he is presently working on Kolb's Farm. I know nothing of that fight and look forward to learning about it myself. I'll put you in touch with him. Thanks again for your review...strengths and weaknesses of my book duly noted. <br /><br />With your permission I may later post here some additional info on the parts of the book you felt were less convincing than others. You are absolutely right about that, and there is a reason. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487782624783333590.post-85698174066261763282013-12-03T13:47:43.616-05:002013-12-03T13:47:43.616-05:00Mr. Hood,
Thanks for taking the time to read my r...Mr. Hood,<br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to read my review and thanks for visiting my blog. I have seen quite a bit of back and forth lately on this book, and I thought I would add my two cents into the fray. I am glad you found my review to be balanced and in context, as that was my goal. As noted above, I cannot say that you convinced me on every point, nor should you have to. I still enjoyed the book and found it a worthwhile contribution to the literature on Hood. <br /><br />There is one question I have for you, sir. Do you have any opinion on Hood's actions at Kolb's farm on June 22, 1864? I am writing a book for the History Press on Kennesaw Mountain, and part of it will be covering the action there and Hood's role in Johnston's defense. Would love to hear your thoughts on this topic, as it was not addressed in your book (understandably so given the constraints of publishing and space).<br /><br />Dan Dan Vermilyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09432345682562009779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487782624783333590.post-32768437187293952682013-12-03T09:27:30.292-05:002013-12-03T09:27:30.292-05:00Sir,
Thanks for the fair and accurate review. As ...Sir,<br /><br />Thanks for the fair and accurate review. As you keenly observe, my book is not so much about JB Hood, but about what has been written about him, and how it has shaped his historical reputation.<br /><br />Allow me to explain the sparse use of the newly discovered personal papers of Hood. I had finished the manuscript of the book when I was invited to inspect some boxes of old papers held by a direct descendent of John Bell and Anna Hood. They turned out to be the work papers and other personal documents of Hood, always thought to have been lost or discarded after his sudden death in 1879. Due to publishing constraints I only had time to transcribe some of the letters, and inserted information from them into the manuscript. I am now completing the manuscript of an annotated volume to be released by Savas Beatie next May, to be titled "The Lost Papers of Confederate General John Bell Hood." Richard McMurry recently reviewed the papers and calls them the most significant discovery in Civil War history in his lifetime. Richard will write the Foreword of my book.<br /><br />Thanks again for carefully reading my book in its entirety, and keeping it in proper context.<br /><br />Stephen "Sam" Hood Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com