Rebel Yell

The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson

By: S. C. Gwynne

Narrated by: Cotter Smith

General Stonewall Jackson was like no one anyone had ever seen. In April of 1862 he was merely another Confederate general with only a single battle credential in an army fighting in what seemed to be a losing cause. By middle June he had engineered perhaps the greatest military campaign in American history and was one of the most famous men in the Western World. He had given the Confederate cause what it had recently lacked: hope. In four full-scale battles and six major skirmishes in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Jackson had taken an army that never numbered more than 17,000 men and often had far less, against more than 70,000 Union troops whose generals had been ordered specifically to destroy him. And he had humiliated them, in spite of their best efforts, sent the armies reeling backward in retreat. He had done it with the full knowledge that he and his army were alone in a Union-dominated wilderness and surrounded at all times. He had even beaten a trap designed by Lincoln himself to catch him.

How did he do this? Jackson marched his men at a pace unknown to soldiers of the era. He made flashing strikes in unexpected places, and assaults of hard and relentless fury. He struck from behind mountain ranges and out of steep passes. His use of terrain reminded observers of Hannibal and Napoleon. His exploits in the valley rank among the most spectacular military achievements of the 19th century.

Considered one of our country’s greatest military figures, a difficult genius cited as inspiration by such later figures as George Patton and Erwin Rommel, and a man whose brilliance at the art of war transcends the Civil War itself, Stonewall Jackson’s legacy is both great and tragic in this compelling account, which demonstrates how, as much as any Confederate figure, Jackson embodies the romantic Southern notion of the virtuous lost cause.

©2014 S. C. Gwynne (P)2014 Simon & Schuster Audio

easily the best book I've read.

I own the hard copy, and bought this to go through the book again in times I cant read (work).
you will not be disappointed.

Prepare To Love A Man You've Never Met

Would you listen to Rebel Yell again? Why?

My strongest recommendation. This wonderful documentary doubled my knowledge of the Civil War. Many facts figures, and anecdotes seamlessly joined into a most enjoyable package. Excellent narration, with the perfect voice and cadence.

The first 40-60 minutes lay the groundwork for the non-stop ride that follows. Strategy. Tactics. Interpersonal relationships. Living conditions. Politics. Morale. Detailed battle descriptions - lots of battles. Courage - lots of courage.

Grab a map, sit back, and prepare to be entertained, educated, even amazed. And be ready to love a man you’ve never met.

Great History, Great Man, Great Biography

which comes as little surprise, considering the subject, SC Gwynne’ continues to prove he is immune from both agenda or PC scholarship.. His most excellent “Empire of the Summer Moon” was my introduction to his excellent chronicling and Rebel Yell won’t be my last. In the face of today’s virtue signaling revisionism, the Man, the Author and the History are exalted in this book I wish I could give 10 Stars.

Wouldn’t recommend

I wasn’t a fan of the author’s writing style. Unnecessarily complicated. Lots of “If this, then that” statements. Would’ve preferred more straightforward writing. Maybe I’m just a simpleton.

Cotter Smith’s narration is monotone, and he uses this inflection style that softens every word before a pause and the last word of every sentence. Listen to the sample and you’ll hear it. If he were to narrate the sentence, “The sky is blue, and there are no clouds,” the words ‘blue’ and ‘clouds’ would drop in volume as he spoke them, making them hard to understand. It’s a bothersome narration style and not very easy to listen to.

Jackson had to die to save Union

I’ve heard & read all my life what a masterful strategist & tactician Lee was. Actually it turns out Lee was nothing without Jackson. When Jackson died it was beginning of end for Confederacy. If he hadn’t died EVERYTHING would have been different. I believe in his heart Jackson knew the Lord, in taking, him, had meant for the Union to survive.

a phenomenal account of CSA Gen. TJ Jackson

Reads like an exciting historical novel.
Chapters alternate between the personality and morality of the man, and his battlefield accounts.
This Yankee book lover has gained a new understanding and sense of respect from listening to this book about this Confederate General. I carried this audio book with me while visiting battlefields and historical monuments in VA and MD and WVa, which really brought the war accounts alive for me, and helped portray a deeper perspective on the man TJ Jackson.
This is a must listen for any Civil War aficionado.

Fantastic

This book was amazing. Very sad and beautiful. I did not know that Jackson was a Unionist, or that Jackson started the first African American Church in Lexington Virginia. Or that he was threatened by colleagues to shut it down. I own both print and audio versions. The author went to great lengths to show the true character of Jackson. The author was able to show that Jackson was human and dealt with many of the same issues that we deal with today. I think I will listen to it again.

The goods, the bads and the effects of the Civil War on ordinary men….excellent!!

What made Jackson tick?……I guess this will never be known but this book gets you close. You can just imagine Stonewall Jackson in a cold, rainy, humid and windy tent at night thinking about the battle to come. How much he’d pushed his men?……! Were they going to fight for him?…had he tricked the Union Generals and when was he going to write a short letter to his wife and love of his life. That’s quite a range of emotion, but when the battle started all that went outside the door. The order of the day was to do all to win the battle with god on his side. His charging “little sorrel” in the front line of the charge and all aside to the scaring “rebel yell”!!!!! Union troops wanted to be anywhere but in-front of Rebel troops with General Stonewall Jackson on the charge which most of the time predicted their death!!! Ultimately with bravery, many more men and resources the Union prevailed but the way Jackson died could have hardly been anything but divine intervention. Author did a great job of bringing all of this to the presentation. I loved the emphasis of his writing, the absolute focus on accuracy and timing. The Civil War was coordinated chaos and author did a great job of laying the Strategy and moves.

Timely

I'm a truck driver, and I was driving right past a couple of the battle towns as I was driving through the Shenandoah valley. It was very descriptive and moving.

Engaging and thought provoking story

I enjoyed listening to this book. The author does a good job of summarizing Jackson's life in a clean way, showing oddities and triumphs in a human way. I will say I am no professional historian and do not study Jackson so I cannot attest to the accuracy of everything, but the author stays clear of fantasticical story and simply tells the inspiring facts as they are.