Ken Noe's Reluctant Rebels: The Confederates Who Joined the Army After 1861, a must read.

[LWhite64]

I think that Ken Noe's new book, Reluctant Rebels: The Confederates Who Joined the Army After 1861, is a must read for everyone doing a CS Military and Civilian Impression. The book is ground breaking and I think the best book out this year. Noe examines the soldiers that came after the first wave of patriotism that rushed zealous single young men into the army during the first months of hte war. So, that means the majority of the units that we portray. Noe breaks things down into the following chapters and examines each of these motivators and detractors. 1. Duty, Honor, Country 2. Slavery 3. Women 4. Hatred 5. Pay 6. Religion 7. Comrades 8. Weariness 9. Battle. Of particular interest are the chapters on Slavery, Women, and Religion. I highly recommend this one folks, if you are serious about a CS portrayal then this is a must read.

[Roy Queen]

Re: Ken Noe's Reluctant Rebels: The Confederates Who Joined the Army After 1861, a must read.

Thanks for the review, Lee. I'll put it on my list of books to read.
Roy Queen

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Ken Noe's Reluctant Rebels: The Confederates Who Joined the Army After 1861, a must read.

The book is ground breaking and I think the best book out this year. Noe examines the soldiers that came after the first wave of patriotism that rushed zealous single young men into the army during the first months of hte war.

Mr. White:

I am voracious reader, especially CS focused material.

Could you please share an example of the primary support for a groundbreaking aspect or new information which would help impressions ? An idea of something this book showed you that isn't known presently in the hobby or fresh to someone of your caliber as a historian on CS matters ?

Thanks in advance and for the review.

Chris Rideout
Tampa, Florida

[Johan Steele]

Re: Ken Noe's Reluctant Rebels: The Confederates Who Joined the Army After 1861, a must read.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Reluctant+Rebels%3A+The+Confederates+Who+Joined+the+Army+After+1861&x=7&y=17

Buy it and find out if the value equals the information, if you can't afford it get it through interlibrary loan as it's worth the effort. Whether doing a CS impression or US it's valable in understanding the men of the time a little better. IMO the words of the men at that time are what's valuable in understanding them, this book uses those instead of postwar Lost Cause idealogy.

And another review that adds.

http://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Rebels-Confederates-Joined-America/product-reviews/0807833770/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_pop_hist_4?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addFourStar&qid=1276086219&sr=8-1

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Ken Noe's Reluctant Rebels: The Confederates Who Joined the Army After 1861, a must read.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...+1861&x=7&y=17
Buy it and find out if the value equals the information, if you can't afford it get it through interlibrary loan as it's worth the effort. Whether doing a CS impression or US it's valable in understanding the men of the time a little better. IMO the words of the men at that time are what's valuable in understanding them, this book uses those instead of postwar Lost Cause idealogy.

I also see now on edit you have read the book too......that is great !!!!!

I would be interested to see what words of the men themselves, if anything you will post in terms of insight.

Mr. Lee White suggesting a groundbreaking book on the CS soldier for me is like Chuck Norris recommending a book on Martial Arts..... There has to be some pretty damn significant information gained in those pages to warrant such a weighty testimonial.

CJ Rideout
Tampa, Florida

[Pvt Schnapps]

Re: Ken Noe's Reluctant Rebels: The Confederates Who Joined the Army After 1861, a must read.

I also see now on edit you have read the book too......that is great !!!!!

I would be interested to see what words of the men themselves, if anything you will post in terms of insight.

Mr. Lee White suggesting a groundbreaking book on the CS soldier for me is like Chuck Norris recommending a book on Martial Arts..... There has to be some pretty damn significant information gained in those pages to warrant such a weighty testimonial.

CJ Rideout
Tampa, Florida

Amazon has this interesting "Look Inside" feature that allows you to read excerpts of the book: http://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Rebe...der_0807833770

You can do a search using this function, taking a word like "conscription," for example, and get some interesting quotes. Give it a try. You may or may not call the results "groundbreaking," but they're interesting.

[CYoungJSU]

Re: Ken Noe's Reluctant Rebels: The Confederates Who Joined the Army After 1861, a must read.

Although I have not read the book in its entirety, I have skimmed some of the chapters when Lee has had it with him at work. However, I have attended a presentation by Dr. Kenneth Noe concerning this publication at a symposium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, hosted by Stones River National Battlefield. The symposium content and what I have read was very impressive and insightful to say the least. This study of the motivators of soldiers between 1861 and those from 1862-63 (second rounders) is a must for any true Civil War enthusiest or historian.

-CY

[Mark Choate]

Re: Ken Noe's Reluctant Rebels: The Confederates Who Joined the Army After 1861, a must read.

Thanks for that report, CY

I just ordered a copy yesterday via Amazon and am looking forward to it.
Was the symposium with Dr. Noe primarily surrounding the content of this book??

thanks,
Mark

[LWhite64]

Re: Ken Noe's Reluctant Rebels: The Confederates Who Joined the Army After 1861, a must read.

In brief, the book discusses the motivation for enlisting, what kept the men in the ranks, and then combat motivation of the second round of CS enlistments. Basically, the boys of 61 were very different from the men of 62 and beyond. So men from the same county who enlisted in 61 would be different from those in 62, etc. Theres a lot more and he really fleshes out the arguments. One thing that also impressed me was the amount of "new" source material that he uses, Army of Tennessee sources that I havent seen or heard of before.

Lee

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Ken Noe's Reluctant Rebels: The Confederates Who Joined the Army After 1861, a must read.

I too have it in route and will read it in pretty short order.

Edited: Mr. M.S. Schaffner - PM sent on annotations supporting conscription numbers.

On edit:

One thing that also impressed me was the amount of "new" source material that he uses, Army of Tennessee sources that I havent seen or heard of before.

Lee

Cannot wait - A kid at Christmas.

Chris Rideout
Tampa, Florida

[Darrell Cochran]

Re: Ken Noe's Reluctant Rebels: The Confederates Who Joined the Army After 1861, a must read.

I'll put it on my list for sure. My great-great grandfather (and his brothers) were part of that "second round" - They enlisted in the spring/summer of 1862 from SW Virginia and I'd love to see what the author says about men like them.