"Destruction and Reconstruction" by Richard Taylor

[dawg80]

I am re-reading this autobiography/narrative commentary centered on that late, great unpleasantness known as the "American Civil War" but more accurately: the War of Northern Aggression.

Read this some 15 years ago, and have referred to it from time to time, but I started re-reading it again, cover to cover. While the book is self-serving. i.e. Taylor knew afterward what "should have been done instead" if only someone, like Robert E. Lee, had asked him at the time, it is an interesting portrayal of events from about 1860 thru U.S. Grant's two terms as president.

If you do nothing else, read the final chapters about Grant's 8 years as president. It will remind you of another, ahem, more recent POTUS.

Good stuff.

[Blue Dawg]

I will have to read it. Sounds good!

[hookdown]

You can read it online here:


http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/taylor/taylor.html


Son of a former President, Taylor is one of the finest Southern generals nobody (or few at least) has heard of.




U.S. Grant, quite possibly one of the worst three President's ever. Yes, even surpassing Bush and Obama.

[TYLERTECHSAS]

U.S. Grant, quite possibly one of the worst three President's ever. Yes, even surpassing Bush and Obama.

Where do you put the total loon Jimmy Carter?

[dawg80]

GWB is NOT as bad as Carter and obummer. You lose all credibility trying to lump those three together. And, additionally, Carter was (is) just a boob.....did you see where he said recently obummer has not contacted him once for advice...... Carter, however, does love this country and did not act deliberately against our best interests. In that context, same can be said of GWB, not the smartest prez we've had, but his heart was always in the right place, what was best for the USA. Besides, with a few notable policy exceptions, GWB had a good tenure as prez. It was the collapse of the whole sub-prime mortgage mess right at the end of his tenure that has tainted his legacy. He participated in that mess, as has been carefully documented on this very forum many times before, so he is not w/o blame for the financial crisis. But from 2002 to 2006, our economy was humming.

obummer on the other hand, is an enemy to our nation and should be treated as such. Impeachment is just the first step....criminal prosecution, a fair trial, and a public execution should all follow.

[dawg80]

Back to the topic of this thread....

Doing more reading in history. Learned that up thru the 1850's, at least, and maybe after that as well, the definition of "Native American" was anyone who could trace his/her family roots to being in this country, before it became a country (1776). And! that many state laws, including Louisiana's, required a certain percentage of the state legislature be composed of said "Native Americans." If your family came to America prior to 1776, you qualified as a "Native American." And that was the exact term used too.

Interesting tid-bit.

[dhussdawg]

GWB is NOT as bad as Carter and obummer. You lose all credibility trying to lump those three together. And, additionally, Carter was (is) just a boob.....did you see where he said recently obummer has not contacted him once for advice...... Carter, however, does love this country and did not act deliberately against our best interests. In that context, same can be said of GWB, not the smartest prez we've had, but his heart was always in the right place, what was best for the USA. Besides, with a few notable policy exceptions, GWB had a good tenure as prez. It was the collapse of the whole sub-prime mortgage mess right at the end of his tenure that has tainted his legacy. He participated in that mess, as has been carefully documented on this very forum many times before, so he is not w/o blame for the financial crisis. But from 2002 to 2006, our economy was humming.

obummer on the other hand, is an enemy to our nation and should be treated as such. Impeachment is just the first step....criminal prosecution, a fair trial, and a public execution should all follow.

I am not convinced GWB thought the Iraq War was best for our country, but as a whole, I do agree about GWB. He just wasn't the brightest or best.

Obama just doesn't like what the US has stood for during its history and is actively trying to change it. It is a damned shame.

[hookdown]

GWB is NOT as bad as Carter and obummer.

Upon re-reading my comment I can see where I implied that Bush was in the top three with Grant and Obama. That was not my intent. Bush is in my top 10 (always subjective) but certainly not as bad as a number of others. Sorry for the confusion.

Back to the thread.

Now reading "War Crimes Against Southern Civilians" by Cisco. Also, what do you think of DiLorenzo?

[Blue Dawg]

DiLorenzo's book The Real Lincoln is almost entirely comprised of Lincoln's own speeches and statements. So, pretty straightforward.

[dawg80]

I enjoyed Dale Carnegie's "Lincoln." Thought it a fair and indepth accounting.