West Pointers and the Civil War

I received a few days ago my advanced review copy of Wayne Wei-Siang Hsieh’s West Pointers and the Civil War: The Old Army in War and Peace (Civil War America). Hsieh challenges studies that claim field fortifications and defensive positions were to make the decisive difference in battle during the Civil War. Instead, Hsieh argues, there were other factors such as leadership, morale, and troop strength that played a key role in the outcome of battles. I have spent some time looking through the book and can’t wait to get to it…. only question is when?!?!?!