An Honorable Defeat

The Last Days of the Confederate Government

By: William C. Davis

Narrated by: John Lescault

In February 1865, the end was clearly in sight for the Confederate government. Lee’s defeat at Gettysburg had dashed the hopes of the Confederate army, and Grant’s victory at Vicksburg had cut the South in two. An Honorable Defeat is the story of the four months that saw the surrender of the South and the assassination of Lincoln by Southern partisans. It is also the story of two men, antagonists yet political partners, who struggled during this time to achieve their own differing visions for the South: Jefferson Davis, the autocratic president of the Confederate States, who vowed never to surrender whatever the cost; and the practical and warm General John C. Breckinridge, secretary of war, who hoped pragmatism would save the shattered remnants of the land he loved so dearly.

Pulitzer Prize nominee William C. Davis traces the astounding flight of these men, and the entire Confederate cabinet, as they flee south from Richmond by train, then by mule, then on foot. Using original research, he narrates, with dramatic style and clear historical accuracy, the futile quarrels of Davis and Breckinridge as they try to evade bands of Northern pursuers and describes their eventual - and separate - captures. The result is a rich canvas of a time of despair and defeat, a charged tale full of physical adventure and political battle that sweeps from the marble halls of Richmond to a dingy room in a Havana hotel.

©2001 William C. Davis (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

A Riveting Account of the Confederacy's Final Days

I recently finished listening to An Honorable Defeat: The Last Days of the Confederate Government by William C. Davis, narrated by John Lescault, and found it to be a fantastic read. Having always wanted to learn about the final days of the Confederacy, this book provided an excellently written, in-depth account of the struggles faced by Lee's army leading to his surrender.

The narrative thoroughly covers Jefferson Davis' transition to a fugitive and his eventual capture. What stood out to me personally was the detailed account of John C. Breckinridge’s role as Secretary of War and his intriguing international escape from the US Government. The storytelling was incredible, and Lescault’s narration was the best I’ve heard. Highly recommended for anyone interested in this pivotal moment in history.

History buff?

if you are interested history of the Civil War than this book is for you.
listen to the final hope of the CSA leaders.

EPIC!

I seldom complete an audiobook so quickly, but this one is absolutely enthralling. William C. Davis is such a good writer, and I have enjoyed at least a half dozen of his works, but An Honorable Defeat is just so good. Beginning with the last days of the Siege of Petersburg, the book tells of the efforts of the Secretary of War, the illustrious statesman and general John C. Breckinridge, to influence President Davis and to wind down the war.

After the fall of Petersburg, the evacuation of Richmond, and a Confederate government in almost continuous flight, the author provides a riveting play-by-play of the disintegration of both the war effort and of Davis’ inner circle, and of the fascinating adventures of the diverging parties of government officials attempting to escape capture. The irony in all of this is that, during the dying gasps of the Confederate cause, its most powerful and respected official and representative was not the contentious President Davis, but rather the renowned Kentucky statesman and former US Vice President whose loss of the Presidential Election of 1860 had, against his own wishes, brought about secession in the first place.

The author is, as always, neutral and fair in his assessment of complicated and often self-contradictory historical personages. I can’t say enough good things about this book

Wow

First a warning that the recording is a bit off. Some times it is extremely fast and then suddenly slows. Aside from that the stories of escape and attempts to escape by the Confederate cabinet just become more and more crazy. The details provided by the author are incredible.