There are persistent myths that have surrounded the Civil War for more than one hundred years. Robert E Lee was a military genius while Grant was a butcher. The war wasn't over slavery at all, but instead was fought of an intangible ideal referred to as States Rights. That the North wage a total war against the South, in which multitudes of Southern civilians were raped and murdered. The South had no chance to win and fought a gallant, losing cause from the outset.
The Myth of the Lost Cause examines all of these points and in a concise way presents historical evidence to refute each one. Considering how the causes of the Civil War are still being constantly examined and the ideal of states rights are still lauded, this book offers a wonderful counterpoint. In particular, anyone who thinks the South fought the Civil War over anything other than slavery should read this book. ( )