Jubal Early

Definition

Jubal Early was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, known for his aggressive tactics and controversial post-war writings that contributed to the development of the Lost Cause narrative. Early played a significant role in several key battles, particularly in the Valley Campaign, and became a prominent figure in Confederate veterans' organizations after the war, helping to shape how the South remembered its war efforts.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Jubal Early was born on November 3, 1816, in Virginia and graduated from West Point in 1837, serving in the Mexican-American War before joining the Confederacy.
2. He gained fame during the Civil War for his leadership in the Valley Campaign of 1864 and later for his attacks against Washington D.C., notably reaching the outskirts of the city.
3. After the war, Early became a key advocate for the Lost Cause perspective, writing memoirs that emphasized Southern bravery and downplayed issues of slavery.
4. Early served as a prominent leader in veterans' organizations like the United Confederate Veterans, helping to promote Southern pride and remembrance.
5. His controversial views and writings contributed significantly to how future generations understood and memorialized the Civil War, impacting Southern memory.

Review Questions

• What strategies did Jubal Early employ during his military campaigns, and how did these tactics reflect the broader Confederate military strategy?
  • Jubal Early employed aggressive tactics such as rapid movement and surprise attacks during his campaigns, particularly noted in his Valley Campaign. These strategies were reflective of broader Confederate military approaches that emphasized mobility and using terrain advantages. Early's ability to outmaneuver Union forces demonstrated a hallmark of Confederate tactics aimed at compensating for their numerical disadvantages.
• Discuss how Jubal Early's post-war writings contributed to the Lost Cause narrative and influenced Southern memory of the Civil War.
  • Jubal Early's post-war writings played a critical role in solidifying the Lost Cause narrative by portraying the Confederacy's efforts as noble and heroic. His memoirs depicted Southern soldiers as valiant fighters unjustly defeated by overwhelming Northern forces, minimizing slavery's significance. This portrayal influenced how future generations perceived the Civil War, shaping Southern identity and memorialization practices.
• Evaluate the impact of Jubal Early's actions on both Confederate military strategies during the Civil War and on post-war Southern identity through memorialization.
  • Jubal Early's military actions during the Civil War illustrated key Confederate strategies of mobility and aggressive engagement against larger Union forces, which were integral to their overall war efforts. Post-war, his promotion of the Lost Cause ideology through writings and participation in veterans' organizations helped shape Southern identity by framing defeat in a light that emphasized honor rather than shame. This dual legacy affected both contemporary perceptions of military conduct during the war and ongoing discussions about race and memory in American society.

Related terms

Lost Cause: A historical narrative that romanticizes the Confederate cause and portrays the South's fight in the Civil War as noble and justified, often minimizing slavery's role.

Valley Campaign: A series of battles in 1862 led by General Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley, showcasing Confederate military strategy and effectiveness.

Confederate Memorialization: The process by which the South commemorated its soldiers and the Civil War, often through monuments and writings that reinforced the Lost Cause ideology.