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The Tarnished Cavalier
Major General Earl Van Dorn, C.S.A.
by Arthur B. Carter
ISBN: 1572330473
ISBN-13: 9781572330474
Format: Hardcover
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Bibliographic Details
Publisher: Univ of Tennessee Pr
Published date: 1999
Size: 6.25 x 9.5 inches
Weight: 1.4 pounds
Pages: 247
Publisher's Notes
Dashing, bold, and fearless in command, Major General Earl Van Dorn was a soldier whose star shone brightly during the early days of the Confederacy. A veteran of the Mexican War and Indian campaigns, he is remembered for suffering devastating defeats while leading armies at Pea Ridge and Corinth and then redeeming himself as a cavalry commander at Holly Springs and Thompson Station. Yet he was perhaps best known for his reputation as a womanizer killed by an irate husband at the height of his career. Arthur B. Carter's biography of Van Dom, the first in three decades, draws on previously unpublished sources regarding the general's affair with Martha Goodbread -- which resulted in three children -- and his liaison with Jessica Peters, which resulted in his death. This new material, unknown to previous biographers, includes the revelation that the true circumstances of Van Dorn's death were kept secret by friends and comrades in order to protect his family. Carter reveals that the general was probably mortally wounded on the Peters plantation but was carried back to his Spring Hill headquarters. He reconstructs the details of Van Dorn's murder in a brisk narrative that draws on accounts of Van Dorn's confidantes, capturing both the danger and passion of those events. The Tarnished Cavalier is more than a story of scandal. Carter sheds new light on Confederate conduct of the war in the western theater during 1861 and 1862, revisits the pivotal battles of Pea Ridge and Corinth -- both of which are important to understanding the loss of the upper South -- and introduces new perspectives on the defense of Vicksburg and the Middle Tennessee operations of early 1863. Carter's narrativejuxtaposes Van Dorn's flamboyance with his failings as a commander: although he was a soldier with heroic aspirations, he was also impulsive, reckless, and unable to delegate authority. Perhaps more telling, it shows how Van Dorn's character flaws extended to his personal life, cutting short a promising career.
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The Tarnished Cavalier: Major General Earl Van Dorn, C.S.A
Carter, Arthur B
University of Tennessee Press. Hardcover. 1572330473 This First edition book is inscribed, dated and autographed by the author! This book is just like new - clean, tight and unmarked. An apparently unread copy in perfect condition. No remainder marks, price clips or other imperfections. . Fine. ( more information) Offered by AZBOOKA (United States)
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The Tarnished Cavalier: Major General Earl Van Dorn, C.S.A
Carter, Arthur B
University of Tennessee Press. Hardcover. 1572330473 New with very slight shelf wear from time on shelf (like you'd see at a major chain). We ship daily, provide personalized customer service and want you to have a great experience purchasing from us. Thank you for your consideration. . New. ( more information) Offered by BennettBooksLtd (United States)
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