Clifford Dowdey

Lee by Clifford Dowdey

This is a new release of the original 1937 edition.

Bugles Blow No More

Robert K. Krick

“Dowdey brings to an encyclopedic knowledge of the facts a freshness that makes the story seem new.”—American Heritage In the early spring of 1862, the Army of the Potomac invaded Virginia in the hopes of capturing the Confederate capital of Richmond and ending the war. Led by the lauded Gen. George McClellan, the Union forces landed in March—and the Confederates led by Joseph E. Johnston slowly but surely retreated toward Richmond. Defeat seemed inevitable. But when Johnston was wounded and taken out of action, an intelligent but little-considered officer named Robert E. Lee replaced him—and nothing would ever be the same. Taking advantage of McClellan’s slow reactions and overconfidence, Lee went on the attack, turning the tide with a combination of feints, harassing attacks, and tactical genius that soon had the Union army falling back. Over the course of one week, during which six battles were engaged, Lee outfought and out-thought his opponent at every turn, turning the great Peninsular Campaign into a humiliating defeat for the Union, proving his brilliance as a military leader—and dooming the nation to three more years of bloody warfare. Here, those fateful days and Lee’s astounding generalship are explored as are the actions in military and political circles that ended the Union’s hope for quick victory, and unleashed one of the most brilliant military minds of all time onto the Civil War battlefields—and into history.

The Emergence of Robert E. Lee and the Dawn of a Legend

Seven Days

During the Seven Days Campaign--the series of battles fought near Richmond at the end of June 1862--General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia routed General George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac. Although the Confederates repulsed the powerful offensive of the Yankees, they failed to win a complete and decisive victory. The campaign had far-reaching consequences for both sides: depriving McClellan of a military decision meant the war would continue for two more years, and the chance for Southern victory would never come again. The Seven Days memorably depicts a turning point in the war and in American history.

The Emergence of Lee

The Seven Days

Three manuscripts and two galley proofs of Dowdey's novel "Jasmine Street," including corrections and insertions.

Jasmine Street

The Seven Days Campaign was a series of battles fought near Richmond at the end of June 1862. General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia had routed General George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac. Depriving McClellan of a military decision meant the war would continue for two more years. The Seven Days depicts a critical turning point in the Civil War that would ingrain Robert E. Lee in history as one of the finest generals of all time. Masterfully written, The Seven Days is Dowdey at his finest—detailed and riveting.

Clifford Dowdey

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