Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Robert E. Lee and His High Command  By  cover art

Robert E. Lee and His High Command

By: Gary W. Gallagher,The Great Courses
Narrated by: Gary W. Gallagher
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $33.90

Buy for $33.90

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Few events have captivated students of American history like the Civil War. Its most striking personalities seem somehow outsized, magnified beyond the ability of books or even legend to contain them. And few among those personalities have ever held our attention like General Robert Edward Lee.

With his Army of Northern Virginia, Lee came to embody the cause of the Confederacy itself, inspiring a commitment from troops and civilians that eventually overshadowed even those given to its political leaders and institutions.

This riveting series of 24 lectures from one of the nation's most respected Civil War historians explains how this came to pass, and how - in a war that produced no other successful Confederate armies - this amazing leader was able to create and inspire an army whose achievements resonated not only across the Confederacy but also throughout the North and in foreign capitals like London and Paris.

You'll learn what Lee was actually like, and gain insights into his ideas about strategy and tactics. You'll grasp how battlefield events influenced public opinion on the home fronts of both the Union and the Confederacy. And, most of all, you'll grasp how crucial Lee's choices in forming his high command were to the war's events and outcome.

These lectures have been designed to appeal to everyone who wants to understand more about the Civil War and why it unfolded as it did, whether your interest is in the strategy and tactics underlying its major battles or in the broader context within which those battles took place.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2004 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2004 The Great Courses

What listeners say about Robert E. Lee and His High Command

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    362
  • 4 Stars
    74
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    332
  • 4 Stars
    71
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    330
  • 4 Stars
    64
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Review of Lee's High Command

Professor Gary Gallagher (a very highly decorated, nationally renown history professor at the University of Virginia) delivers a fast-paced review of Robert E Lee, Confederate principal generals, fast rising young generals and context miliary leadership in the Confederacy. Each bio is carefully presented with both strengths, flaws and outstanding performances coupled with failures. Dr. Gallagher turns these historical figures into real people. His perspective is particularly insightful in that he points out that virtually all Civil War Generals were essentially untrained and unready for their responsibilities. Many succeeded at a lower level and then failed with promotion to wider commands. Few truly met the measure of what was needed. The overwhelming number of deaths and wounding of Southern key generals made rapid replacement with overwhelmed promoted subordinates a recurring issue.

This lecture series gives you context on the literature of the Civil War, wonderful biographies and a blazing pathway through the campaigns. Professor Gallagher has a pleasant, interesting and engaging voice. He delivers his lectures with a fast pace, understandable and with interesting vocal emphasis. He does not get lost in jargon. I found this series of lectures immensely entertaining as well as informative. Each general is either a lecture or two or three (Lee). Some generals were so interesting I found myself listening to their lecture over and over. I highly recommend this lecture series for someone interested in the Civil War, regardless of prior background and study. This series brings these Confederate generals to life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Course

I have enjoyed several offerings of the Great Courses Lectures on Historical events and this was one of the more interesting ones.

Professor Gallagher has done an excellent job in detailing all of these interesting leaders within Lee’s high command. I especially like the balance he utilizes in showing both the strengths and weaknesses of the individuals. With very few exceptions the assessments are even handed, although there are one or two officers that his take seems to be more of a personal like or dislike than one of looking simply at the facts. A few things in the book really stuck out – first was the incredible attrition rate of the officers in the Army of Northern Virginia due to deaths/wounding in battle. There were rarely back to back battles in which the same command structure was actually in place, other than Lee himself. There was a constant need to reshuffle leadership following the engagements. Another interesting analogy made by Professor Gallagher was his comparison of Lee’s role with that of Dwight Eisenhower, who also had to deal with strong, aggressive and competitive personalities of subordinates such as Patton and Montgomery, with Lee that role was even a greater necessity as a large number of his Senior Leaders seemed to stay in perpetual conflict with each other. On numerous occasions there were officers arresting other officers for what seemed to be more out of a competition than any real military error. Lastly, it was really amazing to see how successful many of the officers were at one level, then as they gained rank they become ineffectual or only marginally successful – the Peter Principle.

If you are interested in the make-up of the officers in the book then you will really find the book interesting. I will say though, if you are more interested in details of their actions taken in famous battles; this book may not be what you would be looking for. The Battles are only described in the most general of terms.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best Lecture

What made the experience of listening to Robert E. Lee and His High Command the most enjoyable?

Clear, spirited, non-biased, expert mastery of the subject.

Any additional comments?

I never heard a lecture that was of such high quality before, which is sad because I spent 4 years in college. I guess that's the biggest difference between Ivy League universities and the others, the quality of lectures you get.

Professor Gallagher is a master in his field and it is just as simple as that. His lectures are in-depth, clear and crisp, provides much desired non-biased cultural and situational perspective, and you will gain understanding.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Robert E. Lee and His High Command

Gary Gallagher is in top form with this series of lecture - and don't let the word 'lecture' put you off, it's really a series of conversations. I don't know how he always manages to find and share new information on such a well trod subject, but he does. He takes a professional and unbiased view of the Confederate generals directly under Lee's command and, using first person accounts, leads us through the strengths and weaknesses of each man. Gallagher's work is always addictive to a civil war junkie, and this book is no exception.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Lots of good info but too much opinion.

Speaker delivers the lectures in a clear voice although he seems sometimes rushed. Provides lots of good information. Some of the characters were new to me especially the "young" officers. When the lecturer sticks to the facts or to the proven history, first hand quotes, dispatches, etc. it is well done. When the lecture attempts to interject personal opinion it falters badly. There is no place for opinions to be offered in this context without first stating the interjection of same. The fact that the "professor" takes the liberty is troubling and the bias is as obvious as is is misplaced. Too bad as it detracts from an otherwise good series of lectures.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Biographical Review of the Confederate Army

Warning: This course will be very difficult to put down for any history buff.

I love European history, but American history has never really resonated with me. This lack of interest has caused me to largely ignore the American Civil War. The only reason I choose to listen to this course was that I have a penchant for experiencing wars from the losing side. History is enriched when you learn both sides of a story. Plus who doesn't like a good underdog story? Well, it turns out that I've done myself a great disservice by ignoring American history. This course was an excellent listen and very engrossing.

The focus is on Robert E. Lee, who his generals were, and how these men interacted throughout their campaigns together. This may sound like a standard approach to history, but this course is unique in that the men's life (before, during, and after the war) and their characters form the structure of the course. This focus causes the topic to become much more real because these are no longer names on a page. You now know these men. What's also refreshing about this course is that the instructor is very even handed. This is not a course that overly glorifies or vilifies the South nor the North. I felt like what was presented was very fair presentation of the facts.

Overall, I really enjoyed this course. I would recommend this to anyone who likes history, leadership, or biographies.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding Professor

What did you love best about Robert E. Lee and His High Command?

Dr. Gallagher is an outstanding presenter! If more students has a history teacher like him, more people would love history and not dread it. His enthusiasm is electrifying, and he is clearly not reading a script. I am going to search out his other books here, and in print.

What did you like best about this story?

He knew so much about the topic, had wonderful insights, and provided the little details so missing, yet humanizing, in many history tomes.

Which character – as performed by Professor Gary W. Gallagher – was your favorite?

He did not "perform". He presented his information and was fantastic. I was really sorry when it was over.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I have no idea.

Any additional comments?

Worthwhile and educational. And entertaining.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A smidge too much worship of R E Lee

I think Mr. Gallagher has great information and does a great job presenting it. While I recognized most of the generals and knew of their big picture contributions to a few of the campaigns, I did learn a lot about the backstory and a much more detailed view on their actions during the war.

My only major complaints was with the beginning and the end. The beginning seemed to be a very godlike praise of R E Lee. One example is I guess I'm part of the group that criticizes him a little for resorting to bloody frontal assaults during key battles or campaigns (think seven days, Gettysburg, etc. etc.). I felt he did a very amateur job of ignoring the criticism with the throw away statement of "everyone does frontal assaults."

My other criticism regards his views on the confederacy, he has very strong views regarding what he considers "revisionist" history and the generals attempts to reframe the debate. For a war that is over 150 years old, he sure seems to hold a grudge, almost makes me wonder if he wishes we still had an occupation army in the south.

But besides those two issues at the very beginning and very end he does a marvelous job when he discusses the other generals. If you have an interest in the Civil War, I would strongly recommend this title. And even with my criticisms, if you feel the same way as me, it never hurts to listen to someone who disagrees with your thoughts. A little too much groupthink is a bad thing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Masterful Performance

Beyond the colossal issues at stake and the campaigns (both political and military) that settled those issues, what holds our interest in the American Civil War are the personalities who executed those campaigns. In these thoughtful, measured appreciations of the central figures in the Army of Northern Virginia, Professor Gallagher gives us his clear-eyed take on the persisting questions and controversies that surround these men. Was Lee an old-fashioned commander? Just how good was Thomas Jonathan Jackson? Did Richard Ewell really lose the Battle of Gettysburg on the evening of July 1? Did James Longstreet lose it in the late afternoon of July 2? Figures who usually garner less attention, like Jubal Early, that manufacturer of some of the above mentioned controversies, get their fair share of the spotlight, too.

Not that Gallagher ignores the larger picture; he sets Lee, his command and his commanders squarely in the context of their times as the “most important institution in the Confederacy”, the prop of home front morale and best hope of foreign recognition. And in his final lecture, Gallagher delivers an insightful exposition of the inspirations for and influence of the Lost Cause writers. Overall, this is a masterful performance.

While perhaps not a graduate-level course, you’ll be glad if you’ve done your reading. Professor Gallagher skips around the chronology and geography of the Mexican and Civil wars pretty freely. More importantly, you'll find his views more interesting if you've evolved some views of your own. Though not as polished a speaker as others in the Great Courses (I’m thinking of Elizabeth Vandiver, Allen Guelzo and Patrick Allitt) he nonetheless engages you as fully as any of those professors.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent audiobook in all aspects

This lecture series is one of the best I've listened to. Professor Gallagher truly knows history and he presents the material in a very easy to understand way while also proving a ton of insight about each particular general and their strengths and weaknesses.

I would highly recommend this series to anyone with an interest in the Civil War.

I wish there was a companion audiobook about the Union army's high command as well, preferably from the same professor.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful