Basil Wilson Duke, CSA: The Right Man in the Right Place

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Synopsis
The first biography of &“one of Kentucky&’s best Confederates . . . [who] became a good citizen working for reconciliation between North and South.&”—The Post and Courier After practicing law for several years in St. Louis, Basil Wilson Duke (1838-1916) enlisted in the Confederate army in 1861 and was elected first lieutenant of John Hunt Morgan&’s legendary cavalry unit. As second in command, he was, Morgan recorded, &“wise in counsel, gallant in the field,&” and always &“the right man in the right place.&” Duke was twice wounded in battle and was captured during Morgan&’s Great Raid and held prisoner for over a year. When Morgan, who was also Duke&’s brother-in-law, was killed in 1864, Duke was promoted to brigadier general and appointed commander of Morgan&’s men. Moving to join forces with those of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston&’s army in North Carolina, he was assigned to the force escorting Jefferson Davis in his retreat from Richmond at the close of the war. Basil Wilson Duke, CSA, the definitive biography of this important but often overlooked figure in Civil War history, establishes that Duke was in fact the brilliant tactician behind much of the success of Morgan&’s cavalry. Author Gary Robert Matthews not only offers an in-depth study of Duke&’s celebrated Civil War exploits but also traces his varied postwar literary, legal, and political careers. &“Fascinating . . . a vividly written story about a modest Southern gentleman in which the reader may come to his own conclusion that Basil W. Duke was the power behind Morgan&’s so-called military genius.&”—Edison H. Thomas, author of John Hunt Morgan and His Raiders
Copyright:
2005

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
Book Size:
376 Pages
ISBN-13:
9780813138251
Related ISBNs:
9780813123752
Publisher:
The University Press of Kentucky
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
The University Press of Kentucky
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
History, Military, Nonfiction, Biographies and Memoirs
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.
Foreword by:
James A. Ramage

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