Book Description
The Change Leadership Group at the Harvard School of Education has, through its work with educators, developed a thoughtful approach to the transformation of schools in the face of increasing demands for accountability. This book brings the work of the Change Leadership Group to a broader audience, providing a framework to analyze the work of school change and exercises that guide educators through the development of their practice as agents of change. It exemplifies a new and powerful approach to leadership in schools.
Book Description
The 1862 battle of Pea Ridge in northwestern Arkansas was one of the largest Civil War engagements fought on the western frontier, and it dramatically altered the balance of power in the Trans-Mississippi. This study of the battle is based on research in archives from Connecticut to California and includes a pioneering study of the terrain of the sprawling battlefield, as well as an examination of soldiers' personal experiences, the use of Native American troops, and the role of Pea Ridge in regional folklore.
Customer Reviews:
Clearly written, compelling to read, opens a new page........2007-09-18
This book is a model for clarity in histories of the Civil War. The author describes troop movements and strategic decisions in an accessible manner. The meaning of the Pea Ridge campaign is made clear. In this book, you can follow the battlefield and get a sense of where people were at any given moment.
The South lost the West in this battle; the battle pre-saged many of the tactical innovations of the Civil War. This "sideline" battle is revealed as more important than most realize, an early indication that western battles would yield Union victories.
Shedding light on an overlooked battle.......2007-07-28
Even among Civil War buffs, Pea Ridge is pretty much a forgotten battle. Shea's book remedies that with clear, readable and moving narrative and keen analysis of the largest Civil War battle fought in Arkansas (and depending on which numbers you believe, the largest fought west of the Mississippi). Even more importantly, the book provides compelling reasons why Pea Ridge should NOT be a forgotten battle. He also spotlights the brilliant performance of Samuel Curtis, perhaps the Union's most underrated general, as well as the less-than-brilliant work of Confederate General Earl Van Dorn, who had all of Jeb Stuart's style but not of his skills.
A battle from obscurity..........2007-07-14
Many Civil War buffs, and most casual readers of Civil War history, have more than a parochial understanding of this pivotal battle. When Curtis's northern troops entered NW Arkanasas, during the winter of 1862, they knew they were facing a strong enemy.
Earl Van Dorn, recently promoted to commander of the Army of The West, had assembled a strong army and was anxious for success against Curtis's troops. He believed that he could defeat him and launch an overland campaign, against Union held St. Louis, ensuring his lasting fame. He was unprepared for what he would find with Curtis.
Curtis had entrenched his army, along Little Sugar Creek, which rests south of Pea Ridge Tavern along the Telegraph Rd. As the Rebels were wintering in the Boston Mountains, south of his position, Curtis had little worry about Rebels hitting him from the North. Fortunately, Brig General, Franz Sigel, detached from Curtis's army, and at Bentonville, was defeated, and pushed back to Curtis's position and alerted him of trouble in his rear.
Van Dorn's ingenious plan revolved around splitting his army, to traverse Elk Horn mountain, with troops under Ben McCullough taking the Ford Rd, to the mountain's south side, and his troops, commanded by Sterling Price around the north side. They would meet on the Telegraph Rd, north of Curtis's army and push them into Little Sugar Creek - blocking their means of retreat to Missouri. While conceptually, this plan was sound, in reality, the timing proved difficult and Union troops under Osterhaus and Jefferson C Davis, caught McCollough's rebels in the open. Battle followed in, and around Leetown. While the rebels were able to open the battle, their organization fell apart after brigadier generals Ben McCullough and McIntosh were killed on the field. Command of this sector fell to the next general in line, Albert Pike. Pike was leading the Civil War's first brigade of Indians, and was not up to the task. The union forces pushed them NE towards Elkhorn tavern.
Meanwhile, east of Leetown, Van Dorn's main body, unleashed a spectacular attack against Curtis's Union forces at Elkhorn Tavern. The rebels pushed Curtis's troops 1/2 mile south, along the Telegraph Rd. Even with the routing of the portion of his army, now being led by Pike, Van Dorn slept that night, confident that his troops would push Curtis's army into the Little Sugar Creek. This was the mistake that lost him the battle.
The next morning, after assembling his new battle line, Curtis's opened the day with the largest artillery barrage of the Civil War (up to that point). This artillery barrage caught Van Dorn's confederates unprepared. In the excitement of the previous day's victory, Van Dorn had not called up his supply train. Essentially, caught up against the east edge of Elkhorn Mountain, and in the open south of Elkhorn Tavern, Van Dorn's troops had almost no artillery ammunition, and very little ammunition for his infantry. Van Dorn was forced to retreat, east along Huntsville Rd.
Over the coming months, Curtis would pursue Van Dorn's army across north, and north central Arkansas. His victory would assure the Union, that Missouri would stay in the Union.
This book was extremely well written and easy to read. Shea did a remarkable job putting his text into easily visualized format. I was even more impressed with this book after visiting the battlefield, and using his maps, and pictures, to explore the battlefield (if you are interested in viewing my pictures of the Pea Ridge battle field, please email me at michael.noirot@gmail.com).
I highly recommend this book to all Civil War buffs. It will put the battles, west of the Mississippi, into proper perspective.
Michael Noirot
Saint Louis, Missouri
The Gettysburg of the West.......2007-03-16
Authors William Shea and Earl Hess tell the story of the campaign and battle of Pea Ridge, which is sometimes grandly called the Gettysburg of the West. The Union Army of the Southwest, commanded by Brig. Gen. Samuel Curtis numbered fewer than 11,000 soldiers, the same size as a single division in the Army of the Potomac at that time. Yet, while the vast legions of Army of the Potomac hovered uncertainly near Washington DC in February 1862, Curtis launched a winter campaign that took his small army clear across the Ozark Plateau and into northwestern Arkansas.
There, Union soldiers from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa and loyal Missouri met an equally tough set of Confederates from Texas, Arkansas and Missouri. It was one of the few times in the Civil War that the Northern soldiers were outnumbered. But in the subsequent battle of Pea Ridge in early March 1862, the 16,000-man Confederate Army of the West went down to defeat.
According to the authors, bad luck, uninspired leadership and Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn's many outrageous blunders negated the Southern army's numerical advantage. On the Northern side, Curtis and three of his four division commanders maneuvered their soldiers with skill. Even Curtis' erratic second-in-command, Brig. Gen. Franz Sigel supervised a decisive artillery bombardment on the second day of the battle. Three Yankee brigade commanders showed courage and initiative, but at least one unit commander had a yellow streak.
The book devotes a chapter and a map to the preliminary operation in which the Confederates missed capturing a Union detachment that Sigel had carelessly exposed. The March 7 fights at Leetown and Elkhorn, and the March 8 battle at Elkhorn are explained in detail with maps. The Army of the Southwest's later march to Helena, Arkansas is sketched out more briefly. A concluding chapter ably critiques the strategy and tactics of both sides. There is an Order of Battle and extensive footnotes.
Compare this book with Shelby Foote's short account of Pea Ridge in his splendid "The Civil War -- A Narrative." Foote was a great historian, but it sounds like a different battle. To take only one example, Foote says Van Dorn's two pronged attack was planned. Yet Shea and Hess note that the attack was improvised after the Confederate flank march fell badly behind schedule. This is typical of the kind of detail that the authors add to the history of this battle.
My only criticism is a lack of information on weaponry. Except for one Illinois unit, it is not clear whether Union infantry and cavalry units carried rifled muskets, smoothbores, carbines or Colt revolving rifles. The Order of Battle contains detailed data about the type of cannons in each artillery battery, but in one case the text contradicts the OB. For the Pea Ridge battle and campaign, this book is a keeper, despite my quibbling about weapons.
Great description of a key campaign.......2006-11-05
Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West, authored by William Shea and Earl Hess, is a well done work describing one of the most important battles in the Trans-Mississippi theater. This Union victory ensured that Missouri would be Union territory; it also provided a spearhead for attacks further South (e.g., Arkansas). Compared with the Eastern Theater and the Western Theater, the Trans-Mississippi experienced fewer major battles; after Pea Ridge, the Confederacy lost a lot of "steam" in that district.
The battle itself resulted from a campaign headed by Union General Benjamin Curtis and Confederate General Earl Van Dorn, colorful but not the most competent Army general in the Confederacy. Other generals in the engagement were, on the Confederate side, Sterling Price, Ben McCulloch, and Albert Pike, and, for the Union, Franz Sigel (with one of his very few halfway competent campaigns of the Civil War), Alexander Asboth, and Peter Osterhaus. The Confederate side was burdened with more questionable leadership.
Van Dorn was able to maneuver his army behind the Union defensive position at Pea Ridge (or Elkhorn Tavern). In the battle that followed, Curtis was able to turn his army around, with the rear becoming the front. It was a stunning display of generalship under pressure. The Confederate attack was designed to be two pronged. On the right, initial advances were successful. Then, a leadership crisis. The charismatic Confederate general, Ben McCulloch, was cut down early and died, and chaos set in on his side of the battle. On the other front, advancing up the Telegraph Road from the North, Van Dorn attacked Curtis' position and made some headway. However, as the situation on the Confederate right (and Union left) stabilized, Curtis was able to release more troops to defend against Van Dorn's assault.
By the next morning, the Confederates were fought out. And, in a display of stupefying incompetence, the Confederate Army had not brought up the supply trains and, thus, was low on food and ammunition. The Union attack the next morning, featuring competent generalship from Sigel (well worth mentioning, given the paucity of such days in the war for him), led to a general defeat of the southerners.
The resulting retreat back to Arkansas was disheartening to Van Dorn's army. The end result: the Union solidified its hold on Missouri, turned back a major assault by a large force, and reduced the ability of the Confederate Trans-Mississippi forces to mount a major attack for some time. It is too much to say that this was the Gettysburg of the Trans-Mississippi, but it was a major Union victory. This battle is not as well known as others, but it warrants attention by those interested in the Civil War.
Customer Reviews:
A comprehensive history of the American picturebook.......2006-05-25
Truly a labor of love, Barbara Bader's history of the American picturebooks from colonial times to the nineteen seventies is essential reading for anyone interested in children's literature. Bader is particularly good about the post-WWII period when writers like Margaret Wise Brown and editors like Ursula Nordstrom started the trend of incorporating the ideas of child psychology into picturebooks. Bader seems to have known everybody who was anybody in postwar juvenile publishing it seems, and she interviewed them all for this book. The result is a fascinating social history of the children's book business as well as perceptive analysis of the books themselves. This is an important book that deserves to get back into print.
Book Description
Neptune's Ark illuminates the dramatic saga of evolution spanning 500 million years of marine life along the magnificent Pacific coast of western North America. In an engaging narrative that artfully blends elements of science, history, folklore, and personal observation, renowned naturalist David Rains Wallace reveals a marvelous diversity of creatures, not only modern ones, but those from the far prehistoric past. Mysterious forms have abounded--from giant sea cows, oyster bears, and flightless toothed birds to the orcas, elephant seals, and sea otters of modern times. Wallace tells a story about evolution as well as a tale of the storms, scurvy, and shipwrecks that plagued the coast's explorers, naturalists, and scientists, many of whom led turbulent or tragic lives, with themes reflected in the wonder and danger of the coast itself. Neptune's Ark is full of vivid characters--from explorers like Sir Francis Drake and Captain James Cook, to pioneer naturalists including Georg Steller and Charles Scammon, to early paleontologists Othniel Marsh and Edward Cope, and to recent scientists and ecological visionaries.
Customer Reviews:
Delightful topic given hasty treatment.......2007-06-16
I looked forward with anticipation to reading this book, since the topic is of great interest- origins of the many marine animals that came from land. While it has been very interesting to read, it is a great regret that I can only give it three stars, due to its writing and editing. The publishers weekly review given above is correct in mentioning that the reader has to be prepared to come to this project with a lot of her own armamentarium- such as ready internet access and interest in the field. There is no diagram of geological time, even though the author mentions ancient geological eras by name in virtually every other sentence. (A useful one is [...]
.) There are no diagrams of fossils, only a few beautifully rendered yet speculative drawings of extinct creatures. While these drawings are valuable (as seen on the dust jacket), the discussions about the history of the field and of life generally turn on comparisons of the fossils- ear bones, jaw bones, leg bones, etc. which are not presented. This is rather surprising in a book put out by the University of California Press, which one would think has higher standards of scientific communication.
Unfortunately, worse than the missing media is the writing itself, which is laden with non sequiturs and oddly presented stories which put me in mind of the compulsive intrusion of King Charles's head into the writings of Charles Dickens' character, Mr, Dick. The author tries to liven up the book with descriptions of the 19th century conflicts between paleontologists Othniel Marsh and Edward Cope, who intrude at odd moments and have conflicts that are neither clearly explained nor convincingly resolved. I have no problems with the author's personal reminiscences and connections (dreams are wonderful sources of art & insight)- they are some of the more lively parts of the narrative. But they all seem to turn on only one location- one point on the Point Reyes seashore, which might be a metaphor of sorts for the modest amount of research that went into this book. More substantive parts of the narrative are also plagued with headscratchers, which may or may not be explained at some later episode. One example is the claim that sexual dimorphism was ruled to be minor or absent for Enaliarctos, when only two partial skull fossils had been found to the time. Another is the frequent refrain that some ancient group or other originated in the pacific, when only one fossil had been found world-wide. One might conclude that editing was either very lax, or was so severe as to impair the original sense- either way it can be a chore to figure out what is going on. What can be said is that this book is inspiring enough that this chore is gladly undertaken.
Book Description
An intriguing and fascinating case study, Noas Ark is a welcome and recommended addition to bilingual and multilingual studies reading lists and reference collections.
- Wisconsin Bookwatch
Many monolingual teachers view multiliteracy development - the development of literacy in multiple languages simultaneously - as difficult or even unattainable. With Noa's Ark, David Schwarzer proves otherwise. He reveals that, under the right conditions, multiliteracy can be developed easily and provides some of the tools and strategies to enable monolingual teachers to do so.
This book is based on an in-depth longitudinal study of Noa, a multilingual (Hebrew, English, Spanish) first grader studying in a traditional English/Spanish bilingual classroom. Schwarzer follows Noa's early literacy development in her community, in her household, and in her school. His research goal is to show the complexity of a young student's multiliteracy development in the context of her daily life in which three languages are presented in different formats, for different purposes and audiences. His practical goal is to show the pivotal role teachers play in multiliteracy development and provide some of the tools they need to promote it. Schwarzer also addresses many of the misconceptions about early multiliteracy development and offers clear, manageable advice on how a monolingual teacher can create a learning community in which multiliteracy will flourish.
Providing both theoretical and practical ideas on early literacy development in general, and biliteracy and multiliteracy education in particular, Schwarzer will change the way teachers view bilingual and multilingual instruction. Not only will they be more open to allowing other languages in their classrooms, they'll be able to foster these languages by applying their knowledge of literacy education in general.
Customer Reviews:
The possibilities and benefits of multilingual education.......2002-04-13
Noa's Ark: One Child's Voyage Into Multiliteracy by David Schwarzer (Assistant Professor, Multilingual Studies, University of Texas, Austin) is both anecdotal and world-encompassing as it deals with Noa, who is a young, multilingual (English/Hebrew/Spanish), female first grader, in a study focusing on her placement within a traditional English/Spanish bilingual classroom. Her journey and learning experience show the possibilities and benefits of multilingual education, as well as the complex yet rewarding developments of acquiring multiliteracy. An intriguing and fascinating case study, Noa's Ark is a welcome and recommended addition to bilingual and multilingual studies reading lists and reference collections.
Average customer rating:
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Fort Smith: Little Gibraltar on the Arkansas
Edwin C. Bearss , and
Arrell M. Gibson
Manufacturer: Univ of Oklahoma Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0806112328 |
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- Meeting the Ghosts in the House
- Awesome! What every "old house" owner has dreamed of doing.
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If These Walls Had Ears: The Biography of a House
James Morgan
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Chasing Matisse: A Year in France Living My Dream
ASIN: 0446519146 |
Book Description
The 1920s-era house on Holly Street had a wrap-around porch, lots of bedrooms, and a central hall with seven doors. It also had ghosts - the joys and pains and human dramas of its residents. Before long, James Morgan, its newest occupant, found himself wanting to learn about the seven other families who had called 501 Holly Street their home. If These Walls had Ears recounts his search to find them, and his discovery of America's social and cultural past through the stories of these real people's lives. Against a backdrop that spans from the Roaring Twenties through the Depression and world war, then from postwar optimism to end-of-century uncertainty, he uncovers tales of bankruptcy, family feuds, lawsuits, personal betrayal, fire, cancer, accidents, the grief of a loved one lost to AIDS. But amid the deep drama, there's also high comedy - teenage girls sneaking out bedroom windows to meet boyfriends, even a gaggle of men in dresses roller-skating through the living room. In telling these stories, James Morgan brings us a story that is known to every one of us in every house in America - the ongoing search for a place that feels like home. As the author discovered why people built, bought, and sold his house, he began to understand the bone-deep link between our homes and our dreams, the state of our relationships, and our hunger for roots and security. At middle life in middle America, James Morgan has written a book about universals of the human condition, about leaving home and coming back, and about finding the place you want to settle down in and stay, within four walls - and within yourself.
Customer Reviews:
Meeting the Ghosts in the House.......2002-09-20
A house is an aggregate relic of all the people who have lived there, recording their improvements or their neglect. The author writes an interesting chronicle of the house's former inhabitants. It's disconcerting to reflect upon the fact that others owned our home before us, and we will leave it to others when we're gone. It's a reminder of how temporary our lives are, in our few hours upon the stage. Each generation, with all its hubris, is only a chapter, or a few pages, within the book of life.
Awesome! What every "old house" owner has dreamed of doing........1999-07-06
Morgan has done here what every old house owner has dreamed of doing: answering the question "what history occurred here before we arrived?" In telling the rich stories of the people who preceded him as owners of this particular Craftsman bungalow in one old neighborhood of a single city, he spins a wonderful tale of our nations's history as well.
Book Description
Maps, directions, mileage calculations, descriptions and pictures in this 144 page motorcyclist tour guide, outline paved, scenic and interesting routes through Arkansas' Mountains. These are the beautiful and challenging byways most tourists avoid on thier pilgrimage to popular attractions. The book is spiral bound for easy map viewing and discusses side trips and road hazards. The guide includes lodging and dining possiblities, describes potential side trips and road hazards then closes with other sources of Arkansas tourist information plus motorcycle dealer locations.
Customer Reviews:
A must for touring Arkansas' best roads.......2005-02-19
Caruso has reviewed many of Arkansas' best roads for motorcycling, or for that matter, the most scenic auto-touring get-aways in the state. His recommended places to eat is a bonus. These are one of a kind spots you won't find without a little help. I throughly enjoyed using his routes to turn a weekend ride into an adventure. I wish he would lead some tours in his beautiful state. He obviously knows the territory.
Book Description
Wilson’s Creek, Pea Ridge, and Prairie Grove were three of the most important battles fought west of the Mississippi River during the Civil War. They influenced the course of the first half of the war in that region by shaping Union military efforts while significantly contributing to Confederate defeat. Wilson’s Creek, Pea Ridge, and Prairie Grove, the first book to provide a detailed guide to these battlefields, takes the visitor step-by-step through the major sites of each engagement. With numerous maps and illustrations that enhance the authors’ descriptions of what happened at each stop, the book also includes analytical accounts explaining tactical problems associated with each battle as well as vignettes evoking for readers the personal experience of those who fought there.
An indispensable companion for the battlefield visitor, this guide offers not only touring information and driving tours of sites associated with the campaigns that led to the battles, but also a brief history of each battle and an overview of the larger strategy and tactics of the military action in which these battles figured.
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- An Amazing Era in Arkansas and American History
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Steamboats and Ferries on the White River: A Heritage Revisited
Duane Huddleston ,
Sammie Rose , and
Pat Wood
Manufacturer: University of Arkansas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1557285381 |
Customer Reviews:
An Amazing Era in Arkansas and American History.......2006-07-13
I had high expectations for this book and they were easily met. The Images are mostly photos but there are also hand drawn navigation maps of a few key areas along the river. It's amazing to see the traffic that occured along the entire length of this river, all the way up into Missouri even, crossing shoals and rapids, and relying souly on the flow of the river. It was an era in Arkansas history that played a major role in it's development but is often overlooked or forgotten.
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