|
History Professors at Southern Miss Publish Two
New Books
HATTIESBURG – French colonial Louisiana and a major Civil War
victory masterminded by Robert E. Lee are the topics of two new
books by history professors at the University of Southern
Mississippi.
The
Peninsula Campaign of 1862: A Military Analysis
is the first book by Lt. Col. Kevin Dougherty, former Army ROTC
battalion commander and chair of the Department of Military Science
at Southern Miss now teaching in the Department of History. The
183-page book, co-authored by J. Michael Moore, is published by
University Press of Mississippi.
French Colonial Louisiana and the Atlantic World
is a collection of essays edited by Dr. Bradley Bond, who also wrote
the book’s introduction. Published by Louisiana State University
Press, it is the third book either authored or edited by Bond.
Putting
it in the context of current and long-standing military doctrine,
The Peninsula Campaign of 1862 analyzes Union General George B.
McClellan’s unsuccessful assault toward Richmond, Va., and how the
personality traits of generals can sometimes undermine their troops.
“This is
a history book, but it’s designed for those with an interest in the
military aspect of the event,” Dougherty said. “It offers great
lessons about leadership and doctrine and the importance of chance.”
The book
allows students of military history many opportunities to study the
art of war on multiple levels – strategic, operational and
tactical. In the Peninsula Campaign of 1862, where battles between
ironclad ships changed the nature of naval warfare forever,
McClellan and his army was undone by a mixture of bad luck,
apprehension and an inability to adjust to changing situations.
“McClellan was in love with his own plan, but when the Rebels moved
their troops, ruining the plan of attack, McClellan forced it
anyway, refusing to adapt,” Dougherty said. The message, while
delivered in a military context, is applicable to most any
situation, he said.
“There’s
a saying in the military that ‘no plan survives first contact.’
That’s why you have to fight the battle at hand, and not the plan. I
think that’s as true in business or elsewhere as it is in the
military, which makes this an interesting read for people of
different backgrounds,” Dougherty said.
French Colonial Louisiana and the Atlantic World
examines the important but often overlooked role in American history
played by a region that at one time consisted of the majority of the
United State’s undeveloped interior.
Despite
its significance in the nation’s early stages of development,
however, French colonial Louisiana does not stand out in the
historical consciousness of most Americans, Bond said.
“This is
a region that for various reasons has been largely ignored. History
has always tended to skip over the great interior of our country,
which at that time occupied most all of the lower Mississippi
valley,” he said.
The
French colonial region provided for a cultural converging of
Indians, Africans and Europeans and served as a gateway between
French, British and Spanish colonies in North America and the
Caribbean. But the geographical region was short-lived, lasting
between 1699 and 1762, and its subservience to the dominant
narrative of the British colonies relegated the region to the
dustbin of history.
About
The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in
1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university
fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and
empowering individuals to transform lives and communities. In a
tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is
educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital,
cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world.
Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional
campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf
Coast; further information is found at
www.usm.edu.
-30-
For more
information, contact Christopher Mapp at 601.266.4497.
The URL of this document is:
Last updated:
01/06/06 |
