Fallen Leaders: Favorite Stories and Fresh Perspectives from the Historians at Emerging Civil War

Some, like Abraham Lincoln, Stonewall Jackson and John Reynolds, have become legendary. Others, like Earl Van Dorn, have become infamous. Some, like Albert Sidney Johnston, James McPherson, and Elmer Ellsworth, have left more questions than answers about unfulfilled potential and lost opportunities. Many – too many – have faded into obscurity.   The Civil War took as many as 720,000 lives – among them, some of the best and brightest military leaders on both sides, from army commanders to beloved regimental commanders. Other leaders fell, grievously wounded, and in doing so changed the course of battles.   Other leaders fell, not from death or wounds, but because of their own missteps or misdeeds. Their reputations never recovered from their falls from grace.   Fallen Leaders: Favorite Stories and Fresh Perspectives from the Historians at Emerging Civil War recounts the fall of some of the most famous, infamous, and under-appreciated commanders from both north and south. This collection of essays brings together the best scholarship from Emerging Civil War’s blog, symposia, and podcast – all of it revised and updated – coupled with original pieces, designed to shed new light and insight on some of the most significant casualties of the war.

About the Author :
Chris Mackowski, Ph.D., is a writing professor in the Jandoli School of Communication at St. Bonaventure University in New York, where he also serves as the associate dean for undergraduate programs. He is also the historian-in-residence at Stevenson Ridge, a historic property on the Spotsylvania Court House battlefield in Virginia. Chris, an award-winning author, has written or edited more than two dozen books, including The Battle of Jackson, Mississippi, May 14, 1863. He is the editor-in-chief of the digital history platform Emerging Civil War and managing editor of the award-winning Emerging Civil War Series published by Savas Beatie.

Review :
"Fallen Leaders is not just a book for Civil War scholars, but also for anyone who seeks a significant understanding of this pivotal war and the various individuals who played key roles in it. It encourages the reader to reflect on the role of fate in historical analysis and the profound impact of seemingly small events. Chris Mackowski's historical and editorial expertise is evident in the book's structure and narrative."-- "The NYMAS Review" "Fallen Leaders is a good read from its introduction to its last article. One's attention is caught immediately by the rich background information about the Civil War deaths or downfalls of the mighty and the minor. Because of the short approach of vignettes, this collection may be enjoyed for a few minutes or a few hours as one chooses. Reading it is time well spent."--Dr. Curt Fields, living historian, General Grant by Himself "The Book of Common Prayer says, 'Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live . . . he cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower.' Many of the leaders featured in this excellent anthology were cut down--physically or politically--in the flowering of their lives. When reading each of these concise works, it is hard not to wonder how things might have been different had they survived the ordeal of our American Iliad. Huzzah to Emerging Civil War for bringing these deeply human stories to life on ground hallowed forever by, as Lincoln said, 'what they did here.'"--David N. Duncan, president, American Battlefield Trust "Beyond the engaging human-interest stories about leaders--famous and obscure--that we have learned to expect from Emerging Civil War, Fallen Leaders rewards us with a kaleidoscope of Civil War military history and insights into the nature of leadership, mythmaking, mythbusting, and collective memory."--John Coski, author of Capital Navy