"This work is the
result of contributions by many Southern men to the literature of our country that treats
of the eventful years in which occurred the momentous struggle called by Mr. A. H.
Stephens "the war between the States." These contributions were made on a
well-considered plan, to be wrought out by able writers of unquestionable Confederate
record who were thoroughly united in general sentiment and whose generous labors upon
separate topics would, when combined, constitute a library of Confederate military history
and biography. According to the great principle in our government that One may result from
and be composed of Many--the doctrine of E pluribus unum--it was
considered that intelligent men from all parts of the South would so write upon the
subjects committed to them as to produce a harmonious work which would truly portray the
times and issues of the Confederacy and by illustration in various forms describe the
soldiery which fought its battles. Upon this plan two volumes--the first and the
last--comprise such subjects as the justification of the Southern States in seceding from
the Union and the honorable conduct of the war by the Confederate States government; the
history of the actions and concessions of the South in the formation of the Union and its
policy in securing the existing magnificent territorial dominion of the United States; the
civil history of the Confederate States, supplemented with sketches of the President,
Vice-President, cabinet officers and other officials of the government; Confederate naval
history; the morale of the armies; the South since the war, and a connected outline of
events from the beginning of the struggle to its close. "
