Hunter's Fiery Raid Through Virginia Valleys [Retitled from Yankee Soldiers in Virginia Valleys: Hunter's Raid] [SIGNED]

Descripción

Fine unread condition beige boards with gold front cover and spine lettering contained in a fine condition color illustrated dust jacket. Includes Author Dedication and Acknowledgment; Postlogue; Text Notes; Index; About the Author; The Author's Other Books; and Addendum. Also includes a two page document of Gary Walker's other books. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs, drawings, and maps. Signed, inscribed, and dated (8/15/95) by the author with green pen on the blank first free front endpaper. "Maj. Gen. David Hunter has been described as, "the Northern general all Southerners love to hate." Driven by an unquenchable hatred of slavery, Hunter reaped his vengeance upon the people in the valleys of Virginia. He changed the character of America's bloodiest conflict. Military units and facilities, railroad and industrial propertys, and some commercial interests had been the targets of previous military missions, but that all changed with Hunter. Now civilian property (real, chattel, and personal) became an official military target. Both men and women were arrested without charge; some forfeited their lives under Hunter's reign of terror. Routinely, Southern ladies and their crying babies were forced from their homes with nothing but the clothes on their bodies. Their manor houses were plundered and burned before their horrified eyes. Major battles were fought. Numerous towns and villages were looted and burned. Washington College (later Washington & Lee University) was sacked, Virginia Military Institute was sacked and burned. Hunter even issued orders to burn an entire town to the ground. President Davis branded Hunter a criminal and put a price on his head. Many of Hunter's own soldiers were mortified by their general's policies. Some men contemptuously nicknamed their general, "Black Dave." Gary Walker was in a uniqe position to research and produce this first detailed account of Hunter's raid into the valleys of Virginia. Mr. Walker's very successful previous book, The War in Southwest Virginia 1861-65, dealt with the production and the transportation of the vital war materials of lead and salt from that section of the state. He wrote at length of the many battles and skirmishes in that area, and thus became familiar with the soldiers and leaders that fought there. It was logical that he should follow the men and their generals as they moved from Southwest Virginia to the defense of the Shenandoah Valley. Mr. Walker's account is not a dry recitation of cold facts and columns of statistics. He examines the political and economic impact of Hunter's raid. The feeling is generated that the reader is there when the generals analyze intellignece data, formulate strategy, and direct massive troop momements. Mr. Walker looks at the psychological motivation for major decisions. The account is interspersed with a number of side stories, some humorous, some poignant, which keeps the story flowing. Then he brings it down to the individual soldiers in the trenches. At times the actions is so vivid that the reader feels as if he is right their on the line. One can almost smell the smoke, feel the perspiration drip from the brow, and hear the heart pound as the lines clash and the men fall with hideous, gaping wounds. Those who crave well documented, accurate history will be satisfied with this book. The library of those who study the war or Southern independence will be incomplete without this volume. Those who honor the brave deeds of their ancestors will cherish this work. Those people with roots in the valleys of Virginia (from Harpers Ferry to Lynchburg and throughout Southwest VIrginia) need this book. This is the book of the year, perhaps the decade, in the Civil War history field." -- from the inner front and rear jacket flaps. N° de ref. del artículo 007123

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