Distinction in Every Service: Brigadier General Marcellus A. Stovall, C.S.A.

Rating:
Summary: An ordinary work about a questionable career
Review: I was extremely excited to get this book. In fact, I asked for it as a Christmas present and opened my gift with glee! I have a large collection of books concerning Confederate leadership and am constantly on the lookout for books about Confederate officers that are less well known. Most recently I have eagerly read works on Generals W.H.F. "Rooney" Lee, James L. Kemper, and Wade Hampton. My bookshelves "groan" with the weight of books on dozens of other Confederate (and Union) commanders

I expected FAR more from both the subject and the author of this book. I was keenly disappointed.

As I read this book I gradually began to wonder why the author had even decided to write about Brigadier General Stovall. Certainly, the facts of his life appear, to me at least, to be less than flattering. Just a few of the facts that are presented in the book, yet are glossed over or excused:

Confined to quarters and was dismissed from West Point in his first year because of Desertion. He wasn't AWOL, or just hitting the tavern down the road.....he had deserted with absolutely NO intention of ever returning.

Given a battalion at the start of the war because of his "experience" and then spent the next several months harrassing the Governor and his superiors for additional troops so that he could have a regiment rather than just a battalion. they turned him down time and again....one cannot help but wonder why....

Brought his completely inexperienced teenage son into his own unit and then promptly promoted him to the rank of Battalion Sergeant Major over the heads of all other soldiers in the unit.

At least one petition from his officers was received by higher authority requesting transfer from his command. This could be written off as back-stabbing politics, and it may have been, but combined with the rest of Stovall's history there may have been something behind it.

The author cites an occasion in which his men were engaged in a shooting competition and Stovall ordered one of them to load a rifle for him. The soldier deliberately gave it a double load and was overjoyed to see the massive recoil that practically knocked the general down and the fact that the General's shot went "200 yards" wide. The author mentions this as if it were good-natured fun that showed how much Stovall's soldiers loved him.....having been an enlisted man myself I would tend to see just the OPPOSITE! The last thing a soldier would want to do to an admired officer would be to bruise his shoulder severely and embarrass him in front of the troops.

Stovall was constantly "sick" and absent from his Brigade and the front, spending months at home with his family while other Confederate officers remained with their men even though virtually at "death's door". General Stovall in fact missed most of the actions in which his Brigade participated, including the great battles around Atlanta.

During the retreat from the disasterous battle of Nashville, Stovall's superior officer, General Clayton, was unable to locate Stovall with his command and gave orders to the senior Colonel. He in fact mentioned that colonel as being in command of the brigade. Stovall's fellow Brigadier, General Gibson, also noted in writing that Stovall was not present and that his senior colonel was in command. The author simply states that they were not "looking in the right place" but after the above mentioned absences from his command, I wonder......

During the retreat from Nashville the Army of the Tennessee reached Augusta by train on its way to join Johnston in the Carolinas. Upon arrival at Augusta Stovall promptly went "on furlough"! No mention of illness or wounds....he just basically abandoned his men at their lowest point. He was never to rejoin them. His brigade fought on under a series of other officers and surrendered with Johnston on April 26th, 1865. The author merely states that "Stovall's precise whereabouts at war's end are undocumented, but in all likelihood he was in Augusta." PLEASE!

Finally, from a study of many other works I know that General Stovall was one of the General officers that signed a petition to President Jefferson Davis requesting that General Bragg be removed from command of the Army of Tennessee. Startlingly, the author completely omits this fact! This was a HUGE development at the time that had a colossal effect on command relationships within the army. To fail to mention that Stovall was one of the officers at the center of this command debacle is beyond understanding.

I found myself greatly disappointed and disquieted by the time I had finished the book.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome, impeccably researched book!
Review: This book about Marcellus Stovall was flawless! I could
not put it down! The author was able to bring to life not only
a fascinating subject from history but Stovall's family members,
and his own struggles, as well. I learned so much about the South and the Civil War from this work, and I am grateful to its
author for bringing it to readers in the readable style that he did. I very much look forward to any and all future works by C.L. Bragg! Thanks for this wonderful, wonderful book!

Rating:
Summary: A Badly Needed Work
Review: Unlike the first reviewer above, I am greatly appreciative of C. L. Bragg writing this book.

Is any biography "definitive?" No. In that frame, the points raised by the negative review above deserve rebutting.

1) Due to illness, Stovall had not taken winter exams, therefore was not sworn in, nor off provisional status. Simply, he was trying to get tossed.

2) His "experience" consisted of years of militia duty. He did not harass the governor, and did far less than many to secure higher command. His superiors endorsed his efforts with high praise. "They turned him down time and again....one cannot help but wonder why...." It's obvious why, it says so in the book: the Gov. of Georgia did not have the additional companies to give him.

3) He did at one time suffer from backstabing politics from some subordinate officers, but their views were contrary to all of the good things everyone else in every context said about him.

4) The target shooting was one of many instances that proves, as reported by most of his own soldiers, Stovall was well thought of by his troops.

5) Stovall's frailty was consistently caused by stress more than illness, and that fact makes it more of an attribute that he continuously returned to his brigade.

6) It is fact that Stovall skilfully directed his brigade and helped save the army at Nashville and did a splendid job in covering the army's retreat. Afterward, Clayton stated that S. D. Lee had been wrong in criticizing Stovall.

7) Illness or wounds....(the Augusta furlough)? Again, nothing is definitive. The circumstances are not known. There is no evidence either way, unless the previous reviewer has some.

8) "Finally, from a study of many other works I know that General Stovall was one of the General officers that signed a petition to President Jefferson Davis". The previous reviewer is obviously very, very well learned on this topic. In fact, this statement shows more than a passing interest in Stovall before ever reading Bragg's book. The fact of Stovall being on this petition is nearly not to be found in any book or publication, and though the petition is in the official records, the list of signatures is not. Only after months of work has any reference to corroborate this statement been found, and it, too, is relatively obscure.

Stovall would never have enjoyed his popularity as a leader, his political successes, business successes, or become VP of the Augusta UCV if he were not regarded generally as a man worthy of admiration. The claims made by the other reviewer are simply inconsistent with what is known to be factual about Stovall's life.

For anyone looking to further their knowledge about another mostly obscure Confederate leader whose life is past due this examination, look no further.