From Dr. Jerry D. Morelock, Senior Historian/Senior Editor, America’s Civil War magazine; Fulton, MO

Wait, what’s that? Confederate General Robert E. Lee, as now portrayed in Russell Glenn’s new superbly-imagined and excellently-written “what if” historical novel, … is actually a “good guy?” Seriously? Such apparent blasphemy contradicts all of the work over the last few years of revisionist historians, such as former West Point history professor and “born-again” anti-Lee firebrand Ty Seidule, and activists, notably “1619 Project” – which makes the tenuously-supported claims that the United States was singularly built upon slavery — developer and champion, the journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, as they systematically “deconstructed” and consistently, with barely concealed relish, demonized Lee’s character and reputation. After the Civil War, Lee was lionized as the South’s universally-revered, unassailable “Marble Man” – the essential centerpiece of the “Lost Cause” myth. Lee, of course, never sought such lionization and devoted the remaining 5 years of his life to healing the wounds of the Civil War and doing all he could to bring the war-ravaged country back together again – as historian Charles Bracelen Flood revealed “Lee’s finest hour.”

Glenn’s thoughtfully-written novel is, of course, based upon the “what if?” that Lee had answered in the affirmative when offered high command in the Union Army in Spring 1861. Historically, Lee had famously – and fatefully – declined, asking, “How can I draw my sword against Virginia, my native state?” (allegiance to one’s state in that era often trumping allegiance to what was, in the pre-Civil War times typically referred to as “These” United States, emphasis on the individual states. The war would unalterably change that appellation into “The” United States, a single, unbreakable entity). In Glenn’s novel, the conflicted Lee accepts Union command, and the book’s narrative flows from that bit of “tweaking” Civil War history. Glenn includes most of the war’s historical battles and the commanders’ names on both sides are familiar to Civil War students. But the battles’ outcomes and the fates of those commanders are often unfamiliar – for example, Stonewall Jackson becomes commander of the Army of Northern Virginia.

In God’s War, Lee’s prescient strategic genius at the command of the more powerful Union Army of the Potomac manages to avoid the historical butchery and mass casualties of Ulysses Grant’s “human sledge-hammer” 1864-5 Virginia Campaign.

For Civil War buffs, Glenn’s “what if?” will be a fun, interesting read, the novel’s narrative informed by the author’s knowledge of the war that guide his thoughtful extrapolation of “likely/probable” historical events into riveting historical “what if?” fiction.

God’s War is a 5-star novel that appeals to a wide range of readers – from Civil War buffs to casual reader seeking a well-informed account of what might have been.

From Lieutenant Colonel (US Army, retired) Edwin L. Kennedy, Former president of the Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table and member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans

What if?  What if things in history happened in a plausible manner but did not occur as actually recorded?  What if General Robert E. Lee commanded the Union Army and his nemesis was LtGen “Stonewall” Jackson?  What if the results of campaigns and battles ended very differently than what we know as history? God’s War is an alternate history in the same genre of Harry Turtledove’s (“The Master of Alternate History”).  The challenge that I find as a historian is determining where the non-fiction ends and the fiction begins because the story-line is inter-woven so well.

God’s War is extremely-well researched and meshes the actual facts with fictional circumstances very meticulously.  Actual recorded conversations are carefully integrated into the fictional storyline adding to the authenticity of circumstances.  Of course, only those who are historians or aficionados of the war would realize that some of the quotes are real.  For others who read this book, it meshes with the narrative and makes perfect sense.

Even those only remotely interested in the war would know that Robert E. Lee commanded the Army of Northern Virginia when this story takes place. And, Russ Glenn never intended this to be a total war account and the focus of the story is only in the northeast, discounting the Western and Trans-Mississippi theaters.  His knowledge of the personalities and the Victorian culture adds much to the believability of this story.  Speech patterns and social customs are very much reflected in his research.  On top of this, Glenn’s military background as an Army “brat” and career officer add much to the understanding of the dynamics of decision-making, strategy, operations, and tactics.

The maps and terrain are also integral and important aspects of campaigns and battles.  The maps are extremely good and illustrate the narrative well.  This is where I had to be careful to cross-reference with historical battle and campaign maps to determine which changes had been made in God’s War.

In God’s War, the strategic / operational situation takes a massive turn from the actual history.  Again, the injection of totally plausible military forces at the opportune time insures that the war is concluded on a totally different note.  The change to the operational / tactical events in 1863 insure that the war is brought to an end more quickly and that is a surprise to the reader.

God’s War is a very interesting look at the possibilities that might have presented themselves “if” things had begun differently in the spring of 1861.  The “What ifs” are logical and believable as presented by Glenn and average readers will have a difficult time discerning where the truth ends and the fiction begins —- which makes it an “almost history”, pleasurable read.   For those who like to speculate what might have been with a President Robert E. Lee, this book will certainly be of interest.

From Colonel (US Army, retired) Dennis O’Keefe

“God”s War” is a civil war alternative history.  It begins with Robert E. Lee accepting command of the Union Army, Stonewall Jackson commanding the Army of Northern Virginia; other changes occur throughout the book.  “God”s War” contains an incredible amount of detail that allows the reader to be at the battlefield, in bivouac, marching, etc.  This detail, at times almost poetical in its expression, puts the reader in a position to feel the heat and chill of the day and night, wet with heavy dew and rain, extreme mental and physical fatigue.  The detailed effects of the battle are graphic and realistic.  Personal portraits are painted from the individual infantryman through army commanders and the political leadership in Washington, DC.  The capabilities and  effects of weaponry are presented in detail which allows the reader to understand that the tactics employed were oftentimes dictated by weapons effects.  The reader can also get inside the decision cycles from small unit leaders to senior commanders.  There is something that even the best read civil war aficionado can learn in this book. The ultimate effect of “God’s War” is that the reader will be able to experience the civil war as fought in the Eastern Theater as if he were there.