Reviews for Undaunted: A Norwegian Woman in Frontier Texas

The average rating for Undaunted: A Norwegian Woman in Frontier Texas based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-01-12 00:00:00 Timothy Butler I may have read this one when I was 14 or 15. I read every book on the American Civil War I could find at that time. Burke Davis was a well known and liked author who wrote over 40 books. Several on the Civil War. He also wrote a book on Marine legend Chesty Puller that was required reading for Marine officers for several decades. In this volume he tells us the story of Jeb Stuart. His daring cavalry raids were admired (and feared depending on which side you were on). He rode all the way around the Union army on two occasions to the embarrassment of the North and glee of the South. He sent a telegram to the quartermaster of the Union army complaining about the quality of their mules he captured saying they were hardly able to pull the wagons full of their plundered goods. Stuart the person was a fun loving high spirited man. He had a good mind for strategy but was also known for keeping a banjo player in his headquarters and frequently breaking out in song. He was also a firm believer that he would not be killed unless it was his time and with that in mind often rode fearlessly (by all accounts from witnesses) thru enemy fire. The author keeps the book interesting not only relating what happened in the war but also by telling all sorts of stories of funny things that happened or daring deeds accomplished. During Stuart's time stationed in Kansas before the war with the conflicts there between slavery and anti-slavery folks one of Stuart's reactions was to send money home to Virginia asking that a church for free blacks be build with it. As a young man with a wife and child on the way this was a large sum of money from someone without a large income ($75). The author does not delve into the issue of slavery and what Stuart thought about it. His choice to fight with the South seems to be predicated on his state's decision versus any personal focus on the issue of slavery. The author also barely touched on the patent that Stuart acquired for a saber hook making easier to carry a saber from horseback. The US army paid Stuart to use his idea. The two most famous Union Calvary leaders are probably Philip Sheridan and George Armstrong Custer. Both were friends of Stuart but little of that was discussed. These subjects would been nice to see more info and analysis on. While I think the author liked Stuart he did not hide criticism of his performance or the way he maintained a happy go lucky party atmosphere at his headquarters. Major John Pelham (West Point class of 1861) was an artillery leader for Stuart's cavalry. A Galahad character of incredible bravery who routinely threw his guns in between the Calvary and pursuing enemies or covering the infantry when needed. Stuart thought of him like a son and was devastated when he was killed. Stuart did not survive the war. Proper etiquette is to wear black (it could be just an armband) for three months after a death in the family. Stuart's wife, Flora, stayed in morning for her husband 59 years until she died in 1923.

Review # 2 was written on 2016-02-22 00:00:00 Barry Sheppard Although an adequate representation of Stuart, it fell short of giving the reader in-depth insight into the development and character of the man. It left me wondering if there was a better biography available.