Stratagem 1861:
In many histories of the Civil War, there is a considerable gap in the literature for the period between the Union defeat at Bull Run in July 1861 and the beginning of McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign in March 1862. In that eight-month period, the huge citizen army around Washington trained constantly to become the Army of the Potomac, while a severe defeat was suffered at Ball’s Bluff in October 1861. At the same time, the Confederates were threatening Washington by entrenching in strength along the Potomac River. It is this critical period that Robert Alton has studied in his Stratagem 1861. He presents an interesting, if not detailed, history of this period. It describes how the armies were organized, brief expeditions into each other’s territory and the forgotten naval campaigns on the lower Potomac River in the winter of 1861-1862. The book is heavily illustrated with appropriate charts, images of commanders and weapons, and more than a few period sketches from Harpers Weekly and Frank Leslie’s. Alton’s book is written for those with a casual interest in the war and those wanting to scratch the surface of this forgotten campaign. The bibliography, the first section this reviewer reads in any book, is skimpy — only a page and a half of sources, mostly modern studies and few first-hand accounts. Stratagem is littered with spelling and grammatical errors that could have easily been corrected. Furthermore, this book suffers from a lack of detail; it appears to simply state the same facts that have been around for 150 years. Several small skirmishes are covered in detail, but they are not enough to support the narrative. Perhaps the most shocking part of the book is the final third, in which Alton delves into the world of relic hunting in Northern Virginia. He describes various Confederate campsites and the relics recovered there. He says they were recovered on private property with permission. As a professional historian, this reviewer believes that artifacts such as these need to be studied by professionals. As Indiana Jones would say, “it belongs in a museum.” Disturbing these sites destroys the context of the artifacts and scholars’ ability to gain access to them as they disappear into private collections. While there is little money available in these tough times to fund professional “digs,” state governments need to provide protection until these sites can be properly studied by professionals instead of being destroyed by amateurs bent on finding the next Confederate belt buckle for their collections. In conclusion, Stratagem 1861 is a book that would be a good addition to the library of those interested in the dark period of 1861-1862, especially those seeking a Confederate perspective. The illustrations are worthwhile, but the materials on relic hunting severely detract from this otherwise interesting work. Reviewer: Robert Grandchamp
Robert Grandchamp recently completed a history of the 103rd Field Artillery and is currently working on several projects, including a biography of Colonel Edward Cross, and the Siege and Capture of Harpers Ferry. He resides in Rockingham, New Hampshire.
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Illustrated, photos, maps, glossary, notes, bibliography, index,164 pp., 2011, Walsworth Publishing,