Charles Dahlgren of Natchez - by Herschel Gower (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

As a young man Charles Dahlgren, brother of the famous Union admiral John A. Dahlgren, moved from Pennsylvania to Natchez, Mississippi, in search of glory. He made a spectacular start by acquiring two mansions overlooking the Mississippi River and cultivating acres of cotton fields in Louisiana. Determined to defend his dynasty at the outbreak of the Civil War, Dahlgren accepted an ill-fated commission as brigadier general of volunteers in the Mississippi militia. Ultimately his dreams crumbled with those of the Confederacy, but he survived his losses as a Confederate carpetbagger engaged in business on Wall Street.

Herschel Gower's expertly woven narrative proves that sometimes truth challenges the domain of fiction. Charles Dahlgren of Natchez will enthrall readers with its provocative story of honor, violence, and allegiance in the face of crisis.

Review Quotes

"Altogether a riveting biography of a man who stood in the wings of America's tragic stage."--Robert J. Schneller, Jr., author of A Quest for Glory: A Biography of Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren

"Gower illuminates a rarely charted area."--Publishers Weekly

"Well-researched."--Dallas Morning News

About the Author

Herschel Gower is professor emeritus of English and American literature at Vanderbilt University. His previous works include Pen and Sword: The Life and Journals of Randal W. McGavock and Jeannie Robertson: A Biography of the Scottish Folk Singer.