The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942 Page: 392

South western Historical Quarterly

many cross-currents, Professor Abernethy stated that the
"westward movement did not roll forward with an orderly
and irresistible force." In the lecture on Kentucky, which cov-
ered approximately the last quarter of the eighteenth century,
Professor Abernethy reached the conclusion that this third
Virginia frontier did not produce any legislation which was
"more enlightened than the contemporary legislation of Vir-
ginia," except "in the matter of manhood suffrage and repre-
sentation according to population." The statement that "the
one outstanding triumph of the popular party-the establish-
ment of the circuit court system-was a step in the wrong
direction" leaves little room for the well-known frontier thesis
to stand on.
Even if the very nature of this study, that is, a series of
lectures, did not preclude the use of footnotes, the soundness
of Professor Abernethy's earlier works would make footnotes
unnecessary. The style is clear, and the narrative moves ever
forward in a forceful and convincing manner. The memory of
Professor Walter Lynwood Fleming is indeed well honored by
these lectures.
R. L. BIESELE.
The University of Texas.
"Fightin' Joe" Wheeler. By John P. Dyer.
University, La.: Louisiana State University Press, 1941. Pp. ix,
417. Illustrations. $3.00.
"Fightin' Joe" Wheeler was a curious mixture of a man. An
audacious cavalry raider like Moseby when operating as one
unit of a larger force, he proved time and again his inability
to "successfully conduct large scale, independent cavalry oper-
ations." Timid in imaginative planning, he was daring in the
execution of others' plans.
A West Pointer, Wheeler began his military career in the
Confederacy in North Alabama as a lieutenant. He rose rapidly
to a major-generalship and did most of his fighting in Ten-
nessee and Georgia, serving ably under Johnston and Hood. He
harassed Sherman's rear through Georgia and South Carolina
and on into North Carolina, where at the close of the war
he was captured by Federal forces.

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