West Pointers and the Civil War

“Hsieh challenges studies that have argued that field fortifications and rifles gave the advantage to defenders, insisting instead that other factors, such as leadership, morale, and troop strength were more influential in success or failure. Smart and genuinely stimulating, West Pointers and the Civil War will be controversial in the best sense of the word.” — Joseph T. Glatthaar, author of General Lee’s Army: From Victory to Collapse

“The originality and importance of this book are indisputable — both scholars and amateurs will find much that is new in Hsieh’s scholarship. West Pointers and the Civil War will challenge all readers to take Civil War officers on their terms, to understand their collective and individualized histories, and to see the contingency of war on the front lines of the Civil War.” — Peter S. Carmichael, author of The Last Generation: Young Virginians in Peace, War, and Reunion

“Leaves few stones unturned in examining how the professional officer corps produced by the U.S. Military Academy in the 19th century influenced the evolution of battlefield tactics at this critical point in our nation’s history. . . . [Adds] another perspective to the historiography of a complex topic.” — Civil War Times

“Judicious and well-researched. . . . Hsieh’s project . . . is to explain the mentality of military professionals. . . . It is a task that he accomplishes with great skill.” — Journal of American History

“This original and important book asks us to reconceptualize much of what we think about the Civil War.” — Journal of Southern History

“Skillfully explores institutional efforts to develop and maintain the army’s infantry, artillery, and mounted standards.” — Civil War Book Review

“A solid contribution to scholarship . . . [An] excellent treatment of antebellum debates over tactical doctrine and particular tactical events during the war.” — Journal of Military History

“The most useful section of Hsieh’s book for the general historian of the Civil War is his discussion of [the officers of the professional army officer corps].” — Louisiana History