Eyewitnesses to the Indian Wars, 1865-1890: Conquering the Southern Plains, Vol. 3 Book

This is vintage Woodworth, right down to his penchant for finding nothing right with those he dislikes, in this case Johnston (deservedly in most regards), Beauregard (unfairly), and Longstreet (because he hated Saint Bragg of the Woodworth order of historians). In spite of this and the book's overwrought concentration upon detailed correspondence and meetings, a nuanced portrait of Davis and Lee emerges. This might have been the strangest command duo in American history. They thought differently on how to fight the war yet they had warm relations and a cast-iron mutual respect. This is where the book shines. Indeed, it is the best picture we have of Davis as commander in chief, since he is shown at his best and worst. Now it is up to another, more even-minded historian, to expand on that point. This one though is too bogged down in details and Woodworth's historical vendettas to suffice.