The Great Partnership: Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and the Fate of the Confederacy

The story of the unique relationship between Lee and Jackson, two leaders who chiseled a strategic path forward against the odds and almost triumphed.

Why were Generals Lee and Jackson so successful in their partner- ship in trying to win the war for the South? What was it about their styles, friendship, even their faith, that cemented them together into a fighting machine that consistently won despite often overwhelming odds against them?

The Great Partnership has the power to change how we think about Confederate strategic decision-making and the value of personal relationships among senior leaders responsible for organizational survival. Those relationships in the Confederate high command were particularly critical for victory, especially the one that existed between the two great Army of Northern Virginia generals.

It has been over two decades since any author attempted a joint study of the two generals. At the very least, the book will inspire a very lively debate among the thousands of students of Civil War his- tory. At best, it will significantly revise how we evaluate Confederate strategy during the height the war and our understanding of why, in the end, the South lost.

ISBN-13: 9781643131344

Media Type: Hardcover

Publisher: Pegasus Books

Publication Date: 07-02-2019

Pages: 368

Product Dimensions: 6.10(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.50(d)

Christian B. Keller is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Chair of National Security and Professor of History in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Keller is the author of five previous histories for academic presses. This is his first trade book.

Table of Contents

Introduction: "A great national calamity has befallen us." ix

1 "I am willing to follow him blindfolded.": Lee, Jackson, and Confederate Strategic Imperatives 1

2 "God blessed our arms with another victory.": The Partnership Created 39

3 "I trust that God is going to bless us with great success.": The Partnership Perfected 89

4 "Well General, you may try it.": Chancellorsville 129

5 "Who can fill his place I do not know.": The Partnership Broken 176

6 "If Jackson had been there I would have succeeded.": Lee, Pennsylvania, And Strategic Contingencies 209

Appendix: Insights on Leadership Drawn from the Lee-Jackson Partnership 249

Bibliographic Note and Acknowledgments 259

Endnotes 263

Index 321

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