Tag Archives: Confederate States of America

Command Ambiguity and Operational Friction: The Negative Effects of Robert E. Lee’s Vague Orders on the Army of Northern Virginia

Posted on December 13, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary This white paper examines the operational consequences of General Robert E. Lee’s habitual use of vague, discretionary orders within the Army of Northern Virginia (ANV), particularly during the middle and late phases of the American Civil War. While … Continue reading →

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Book Review: The Battle Of Fort Sumter

Posted on October 28, 2023 by nathanalbright

The Battle Of Fort Sumter: The First Shots Of The American Civil War, by Wesley Moody The author of this book, part of a series on critical moments in American history, takes a familiar subject and puts it in a … Continue reading →

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Book Review: The Outbreak Of The Civil War

Posted on October 26, 2023 by nathanalbright

The Outbreak Of The Civil War: A Nation Tears Apart, by Heather Lehr Wagner Given the wide readership of books about the Civil War, writing a book like this seems like a particularly low-hanging fruit as far as a writing … Continue reading →

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The Subtle Corruption Of Identity Politics

Posted on October 25, 2023 by nathanalbright

It is a regrettable if obvious truth that those identities that are rewarded by governments will encourage those identities to be adopted. We have seen this process play out in contemporary politics, as the rewarding of people for being minorities … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Crucible Of Command

Posted on September 27, 2023 by nathanalbright

Crucible Of Command: Ulysses S. Grant And Robert E. Lee–The War They Fought, The Peace They Forged, by William C. Davis William C. Davis is an able contemporary historian who has won notable awards for his even-handed writing about Confederate … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Robert E. Lee: The Man, The Soldier, The Myth

Posted on September 25, 2023 by nathanalbright

Robert E. Lee: The Man, The Soldier, The Myth, by Brandon Marie Miller There are many paradoxes about the life of Robert E. Lee and the many writings about him. One of them is that so much has been written … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Robert E. Lee: A Biography

Posted on September 22, 2023 by nathanalbright

Robert E. Lee: A Biography, by Brian C. Melton This book is part of an eclectic ABC-CLIO series of biographies that seeks to provide its young readers with accessible but challenging works on people of cultural and historical interest. If … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Robert E. Lee

Posted on September 21, 2023 by nathanalbright

Robert E. Lee: The Story Of The Great Confederate General, by Terry Collins, illustrated by Christian Mallea If you were constructing a minimal book of Robert E. Lee, in which you included only the smallest amount of material you could … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Robert E. Lee: A Life

Posted on September 20, 2023 by nathanalbright

Robert E. Lee: A Life, by Allen C. Guelzo This book does not really have a good enough reason to exist, at least if its introduction is to be believed. The author claims, at the outset of this book, that … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Robert E. Lee: Commander Of The Confederate Army

Posted on September 14, 2023 by nathanalbright

Robert E. Lee: Commander Of The Confederate Army, by Mona Kerby This is the sort of biography about Robert E. Lee that the subject himself would likely have found to be acceptable. Part of a series of legendary American biographies, … Continue reading →

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