The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862 (review)

In The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862, the eighth volume in the Military Campaigns of the Civil War series, Gary W. Gallagher and seven other scholars analyze the powerful place the Valley holds in the history and memory of the war. Although heavy on biographical sketches, the collection includes provocative essays on Union and Confederate leadership, how men are made into myths, the impact of the media on home front morale, and the experiences of the Valley's civilians.

Three essays deserve special attention. Peter Carmichael's "Turner Ashby's Appeal" analyzes the southern cavalier tradition and Ashby's transformation into its symbol. Carmichael suggests that Ashby was both more and less than the myth, and that he should be remembered not as the epitome of the noble cavalier, but as a pragmatic officer who understood his troops' loyalties and obligations to home. Carmichael's portrayal of Ashby requires the reader to understand the man behind the myth and the practical considerations that impelled him to action. Keith Bohannon's study of the 12th Georgia Infantry and its representations in the media and memory illustrates how social mores influence and sometimes limit the ability to accurately report events. Bohannon compared personal, public, and official documents regarding the regiment's Valley experiences, and issues an important reminder that primary sources must be read critically with an eye toward their underlying purpose. Gary Gallagher also urges closer readings of documents in his piece on Abraham Lincoln's contribution to the 1862 campaign. Gallagher characterizes Lincoln's letter to General George B. McClellan dated 25 May 1862, typically used as evidence of Lincoln's panic in the face of Confederate successes in the Valley, as a subtle and effective attempt by the commander-in-chief to goad his plodding commanders into action. Carmichael, Bohannon, and Gallagher write well, seamlessly moving between narrative and analysis and challenging readers to discover the deeper forces of history.

Far from being exceptional in their excellence, Carmichael, Bohannon, and Gallagher are merely representative of the volume's contributors. Robert K. Krick again proves to be a determined researcher in his essay on the metamorphosis of Stonewall Jackson from a great commander into a legend. William J. Miller's essay on the Federal commanders in the Valley is a welcome addition not only because it focuses on the understudied northern experience, but also because it incorporates a variety of analytical approaches, including military, political, social, and environmental. Jonathan Berkey demonstrates great scholarly promise in his work on the effects of the Valley campaign on local residents. Robert E. L. Krick's study, "Maryland's Ablest Confederate," provides an in-depth look into Charles S. Winder's entire military career, with Winder's brief but influential tenure in the Valley as the focal point. "Prejudices and Partialities," by A. Cash Koeniger, employs the trial of Richard B. Garnett as a lens through which to see Thomas J. Jackson the man without the obscuring effects of the legend.

Gary Gallagher once again proves to be a top-notch editor who values the contributions of veteran historians and new scholars alike. The variety of the authors' experiences and perspectives is one of the most compelling features of the volume, complementing the goal of the series to present divergent approaches to familiar ground. Anyone looking for new insight into the 1862 Valley campaign or for models of innovative and compelling research should read this volume.