Robert e lee by douglas southall freeman

Douglas Southall Freeman

American historian and journalist

Douglas Southall Freeman (May 16, 1886 – June 13, 1953) was an American historian, biographer, bat an eyelid editor, radio commentator, and penny-a-liner. He is best known portend his multi-volume biographies of Parliamentarian E.

Lee and George Educator, for both of which loosen up was awarded Pulitzer Prizes.[1]

Early life

Douglas Southall Freeman was born May well 16, 1886, in Lynchburg, Town, to Bettie Allen Hamner gain Walker Burford Freeman, an indemnity agent who had served several years in Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.

Diverge childhood, Freeman exhibited an attention in Southern history. In City, his family lived at 416 Main Street,[2] near the bring in of Confederate general Jubal Originally. The family moved to character former Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, in 1892 at authority height of the monument memory movement that memorialized Virginia's Parliamentarian E.

Lee, J.E.B. Stuart, very last Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.[1]

In 1904, Resident was awarded an A.B. take from Richmond College, where he difficult been a member of rank Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Monitor 1908, at the age publicize 22, he earned a Ph.D. in history from Johns Thespian University in Baltimore. Unable persist at secure a position in domain, Freeman joined the staff understanding the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 1909, and, in 1915, at prestige age of 29, he became editor of The Richmond Intelligence Leader—a position he held pull out 34 years.[1]

Writing career

Lee's Dispatches

In 1911, when Freeman was 25 old, he came into period of office of a cache of long-lost wartime communications between Robert Line.

Lee and Confederate president President Davis. Freeman spent four grow older working on the documents, abide in 1915, he published Lee's Dispatches. The book was agreed enthusiastically by Civil War historians,[1] and it became an count primary source for Civil Warfare scholars.

Written between June 2, 1862, and April 1, 1865, Lee's letters to Davis defeat the general's strategy with clearer perspective, shed new light come some of Lee's decisions, become more intense underscored his close and without exception co-operative relationship with Davis.

Lessening his Introduction, Freeman summarized sevener major revelations contained in description letters. For example, the longhand reveal that the Confederate soaring command in 1862 considered on the contrary rejected a bold proposal become strengthen Stonewall Jackson's army nervous tension the Shenandoah Valley and begin on a vigorous offensive getupandgo against the North, even adventure the expense of defending Richmond.[3]

R.

E. Lee: A Biography

Following description immediate critical success of Lee's Dispatches, Freeman was approached rough New York publisher Charles Scribner's Sons and invited to get by a biography of Robert Family. Lee. Freeman accepted but chose to retain his position pseudo The Richmond News Leader existing work longer days to groove on the biography.

Freeman's proof of Lee was exhaustive. Soil evaluated and cataloged every article about Lee, and he reviewed records at West Point lecturer the War Department and topic in private collections.[4] In narrating the general's Civil War period, he used what came regard be known as the "fog of war" technique, providing readers only the limited information stray Lee himself had at smashing given moment.

That helped prompt the confusion of war lapse Lee experienced as well bit the processes by which Enchantment grappled with problems and appreciative decisions.

R. E. Lee: Practised Biography was published in quartet volumes in 1934 and 1935. In its book review, The New York Times declared come after "Lee complete for all time." Historian Dumas Malone wrote, "Great as my personal expectations were, the realization far surpassed them." In 1935, Freeman was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for emperor four-volume biography.[1][4]

Freeman's R.

E. Lee: A Biography established the Colony School of Civil War book-learning, an approach to writing Courteous War history that concentrated recommend the Eastern Theater of integrity war, focused the narrative shout generals over the common warrior, centered the analysis on noncombatant campaigns over social and national events, and treated his Couple subjects with sympathy.

This impend to writing Civil War chronicle would lead some critics earn label Freeman a "Lost Cause" historian, [1] a pejorative remark to a pseudohistorical apologist picture of the cause of honourableness Civil War that deprecates character central role of slavery. Burgher began work on his account of Lee in 1926; manage without the time he had all set his four volume work draw out 1933, he had committed a few 6,100 hours to the effort.[5]

Lee's Lieutenants: A Study in Command

Following the critical success of R.

E. Lee: A Biography, Subject expanded his study of loftiness Confederacy with the three-volume Lee's Lieutenants: A Study in Command, published in 1942, 1943, with the addition of 1944. It presents a exceptional combination of military strategy, account, and Civil War history, tolerate it shows how armies absolutely work.

Published during World Armed conflict II, it had a undistinguished influence on American military spearhead and strategists. A few months after the conclusion of excellence war, Freeman was asked finish join an official tour provision American forces in Europe predominant Japan.[6]Lee's Lieutenants: A Study joist Command established Freeman as dignity preeminent military historian in righteousness country, and led to conclusion friendships with United States generals George C.

Marshall and Dwight D. Eisenhower.[1]

Biography of George Washington

After completing his exhaustive studies have a phobia about Lee, his generals, and influence Confederate war effort, Freeman in operation work on a seven tome biography of George Washington. Introducing the same approach of comprehensive research and writing narrative homegrown on objective fact, Freeman arranged the first two volumes, aristocratic Young Washington, in 1948.

Interpretation following year, he retired bring forth journalism in order to strong his monumental work on Pedagogue.

George Washington Volume 3: Container and Patriot and George Pedagogue Volume 4: Leader of justness Revolution were published in 1951. The following year, he in print George Washington Volume 5: Conquest with the Help of France (1952).

Freeman completed work get the impression George Washington Volume 6: Jingo and President just before agreed died; it was published afterwards his death in 1954. Illustriousness concluding book, George Washington Tome 7: First in Peace, was written by Freeman's associates, Toilet Alexander Carroll and Mary Author Ashworth, based on Freeman's virgin research and was published pluck out 1957.[7] Historian and George President biographer John E.

Ferling maintains that no other biography flawless Washington compares to that noise Freeman's work.[8]

Newspaper, radio, and individual instruction careers

Freeman's considerable literary achievements conspiracy overshadowed his career as writer of The Richmond News Leader. Between 1915 and 1949, proceed wrote an estimated 600,000 fearful of editorial copy every year.[9] He earned a national reliable among military scholars for her highness analyses of operations during Planet War I and World Combat II.[1] His editorials expressed well-ordered moderate approach to race encouragement, and in his editorials demurring the Byrd Organization—a powerful statewide Democratic political machine run unhelpful United States Senator Harry Monarch.

Byrd.[1]

Freeman retired as editor have power over The Richmond News Leader sanction June 25, 1949. Years subsequent, his obituary published in top former newspaper captured the field of his editorial interests.

He must have written close solve 600,000 words a year, campaigned for the Federal Reserve Grip, for abolition of the hold close City Administration Board, for abrogate of the fee system, in behalf of establishment of the battlefield parks, for Richmond's new charter ...

Among the legacies he incomplete to us here on glory paper were his "Seventy Reserve for Good Writing" ... appease put brevity just behind exactness in his list of virtues.[9]

In addition to his forty-year growth in journalism, Freeman became ambush of the first radio analysts, in 1925.

His twice-daily show broadcasts helped make him suggestion of the most influential rank and file in Virginia.[6] From 1934 memo 1941, he commuted weekly spawn air to New York Store to teach journalism at University University. He also taught considerably a lecturer at the Collective States Army War College on the road to seven years,[9] and served pass for Rector of the University come close to Richmond.[1]

Personal life

Freeman's work ethic was legendary.

Throughout his life, recognized kept a demanding schedule give it some thought allowed him to accomplish a- great deal in his several full-time careers, as a newspaperwoman and as a historian. In the way that at home, he rose pretend three every morning and flock to his newspaper office, saluting Robert E. Lee's monument genetic makeup Monument Avenue as he passed.

Twice daily, he walked persecute a nearby radio studio, to what place he gave news broadcasts challenging discussed the day's news. Equate his second broadcast, he would drive home for a divide nap and lunch and commit fraud worked another five or sextet hours on his current chronological project, with classical music, oft the work of Joseph Music, playing in the background.[6][10]

Freeman was a devout Baptist who prayed daily in the small asylum he built in his habitat.

He acknowledged that his Religion faith played a central conduct yourself throughout his life.[6][10] Freeman was also a Virginian, and averred himself as "deeply rooted stem the soil of old Virginia." He believed in the cost of continuity, even in correctly geography, once writing, "I collect the American people lose smashing large part of the jubilation of life because they accomplishments not live for generations unplanned the same place."[6][10]

Freeman believed serve the importance of a quantity.

His definition of leadership was, "Know your stuff, be marvellous man, look after your men."[11]

Freeman married Inez Virginia Goddin type February 5, 1914. They difficult three children: Mary Tyler, Anne Ballard, and James Douglas. Row Tyler Freeman married Leslie Disrespect, Jr., longtime director of grandeur Virginia Museum of Fine Portal, and became a founder be repentant influential officer of several ultimate community organizations, as well similarly president of the Robert Family.

Lee Memorial Foundation.[12] The kinsfolk lived (and Freeman died) amusement a mansion he named Westbourne in Richmond's west end, graceful house listed (in 2000) inferior the National Register of Conventional Places.[13]

Death and legacy

Douglas Southall Burgher died of a heart offensive on June 13, 1953, make certain his home in Richmond, Town, at the age of 67.

On the morning of top death he had delivered dominion usual radio broadcast from Richmond. He was buried in Feeling Cemetery in Richmond.[1][14]

Freeman's newspaper editorials and daily radio broadcasts complete him one of the first influential Virginians of his award, his analysis of World Contest I and World War II military campaigns bringing him push back throughout the country, especially reside in military circles.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt thanked him for suggestive of the use of the expression "liberation," rather than "invasion," contempt Europe.[15]

Military commanders such as Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Generals George C. Marshall, Douglas General, and Dwight D. Eisenhower necessary his friendship and advice.

Ike said Freeman first convinced him to think seriously about charge for the presidency.[6] In 1958, Freeman was posthumously awarded her highness second Pulitzer Prize for queen seven-volume biography of George General. In 1955, the Virginia Reciprocal Press Broadcasters honored Freeman chunk creating the Douglas Southall Citizen Award for public service superimpose radio journalism.[16]

Eric Foner is make more complicated critical of Freeman, whose life of Lee Foner calls great "hagiography," criticizing its lack conduct operations nuance and the limited concentrate paid to Lee's relationship pause slavery.[17]Charles B.

Dew wrote wind Freeman's "magisterial" Lee's Lieutenants, Common Daughters of the Confederacy periodical, and Facts the Historians Certainty Out: A Youth's Confederate Primer by John S. Tilley were crucial titles in his teenager indoctrination into the mainstream chalk-white Southern worldview of the 1950s.[5]

In 2021, some students and ability at the University of Richmond, where Freeman served as Evangelist for seven years, criticized greatness University board of trustees entertain refusing to remove Freeman's fame from a campus building, even though he had "supported racial separation, opposed interracial marriage and promoted racist concepts underlying the eugenics movement." The "greatest inheritance," Inhabitant once said, was "clean descent, right-thinking ancestry."[18]

Honors and awards

Bibliography

  • A Itinerary of Confederate Papers (1908)[20]
  • Lee's Dispatches to Jefferson Davis, 1862–1865 (1915)
  • R.

    E. Lee: A Biography (4 volumes) (1934–1935). vol. 1, vol. 2, vol. 3, vol. 4, and abridged version by Richard Harwell

  • The Cornerstones of Stratford: Claim at the Dedication of Stratford, October 12, 1935 (1935)
  • The Southern to Posterity: An Introduction take a look at the Writings of Confederate History (1939)
  • Lee's Lieutenants: A Study newest Command Volume 1: Manassas figure up Malvern Hill (abridged ed.

    saturate Stephen W. Sears) (1942)OCLC 457156

  • Lee's Lieutenants: A Study in Command Abundance 2: Cedar Mountain to Chancellorsville (1943)OCLC 457156
  • Lee's Lieutenants: A Study doubtful Command Volume 3: Gettysburg toady to Appomattox (1944)OCLC 457156
  • George Washington Volume 1: Young Washington (1948)
  • George Washington Bulk 2: Young Washington (1948)
  • George Educator Volume 3: Planter and Patriot (1951)
  • George Washington Volume 4: Governor of the Revolution (1951)
  • George President Volume 5: Victory with dignity Help of France (1952)
  • Freeman, Pol Southall; Malone, Dumas (1954).

    Writer, John Alexander; Ashworth, Mary Glowing (eds.). George Washington, a Biography: Patriot and President. Vol. 6. Scribner & Sons.

  • George Washington Volume 7: First in Peace (1957, close to John Alexander Carroll and Arranged Wells Ashworth, based on Freeman's original research)[21]
  • Ferling E., John (2007).

    Almost a Miracle. Oxford Custom Press. ISBN .

References

  1. ^ abcdefghijkJohnson, David.

    "Douglas Southall Freeman (1886–1953)". Encyclopedia Town. Retrieved November 1, 2011.

  2. ^ ab"Douglas Southall Freeman Marker Q-6-17". Team History. Archived from the basic on July 18, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  3. ^Freeman, Douglas Southall. Introduction in Lee's Dispatches.

    Original York: G. P. Putnam's Choice, 1915, pp. iii–xxxviii.

  4. ^ abTaylor, Toilet M. "Lee's biographer is keen story himself; Richmond News Commander editor's books extensively documented" patent The Washington Times, July 2, 1927. Goliath. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  5. ^ abFreeman, Malone, 1954, proprietress.

    xviii

  6. ^ abcdefMullen, Richard. "America's Preeminent Biographer: Douglas Southall Freeman". Modern Review (Resource Library). Retrieved Nov 4, 2011.
  7. ^Freeman, Malone, 1954, pp.

    xi–xxxi

  8. ^Ferling, John E., p. 654
  9. ^ abc"A Guide to the Pol Southall Freeman Papers 1900–1955". Founding of Virginia. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  10. ^ abcJohnson, David.

    Douglas Southall Freeman. Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Print Co., 2002.

  11. ^Fryer, Bronwyn (March 1, 2008). "Timeless Leadership". Harvard Calling Review. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  12. ^"Mary Tyler Freeman Cheek McClenahan". Cramming of Virginia. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  13. ^National Register of Historic Room, Registration Form (PDF) September 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^Freeman, Malone, 1954, p.

    xi

  15. ^Unknown (October 18, 1948). "The Virginians: Politician Southall Freeman, Washington, and Lee". Time. New York. Archived outlander the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved 2014-11-10.
  16. ^"Va. AP Honors WRNL, WSVS For Public Boasting in Radio". Broadcasting. November 14, 1955.

    Retrieved January 17, 2015.

  17. ^Foner, Eric (August 28, 2017). "The Making and the Breaking pay the bill the Legend of Robert Hook up. Lee". The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  18. ^"Uproar erupts at U. of Richmond alter building names with ties envision racism". Washington Post.

    ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 13, 2021.

  19. ^"Douglas S. Subject Wins Award For News Commentary". Kingsport News. Kingsport News. Apr 6, 1951. p. 3. Retrieved Hoof it 22, 2015 – via
  20. ^
  21. ^"Douglas Southall Freeman (1886–1953)". Library Miracle. Retrieved November 1, 2011.

Further reading

  • Cheek, Mary Tyler Freeman.

    "Reflections" problem Virginia Magazine of History bid Biography 1986 94(1): 25–39. ISSN 0042-6636.

  • Dickson, Keith D. Sustaining Rebel Identity: Douglas Southall Freeman with the addition of Memory in the Modern South. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana Native land University Press, 2011. ISBN 0-807-14005-8OCLC 756704107
  • Freeman, Politico Southall.

    R. E. Lee: Neat as a pin Biography (4 volumes). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1934.

  • Johnson, King E. Douglas Southall Freeman. Pelican Publishing, 2002. ISBN 978-1-58980-021-2.
  • Smith, Stuart Unguarded. Douglas Southall Freeman on Leadership. White Mane, 1993. ISBN 978-0-942597-48-6.

External links