Category Archives: Book Reviews

Book Reviews, Civil War

Book Review: Lincoln’s Lieutenants: The High Command of the Army of the Potomac

 

Lincoln’s Lieutenants: The High Command of the Army of the Potomac

by Stephen W. Sears

 

On paper it should have been easy for the United States of America to put down the rebellion that broke out in April 1861. The North had the population, resources and industrial capacity that the people of the South could only dream of. The first battle, fought at Bull Run, should have been the first battle, but there was one problem that the Union had that almost cost it the war. A lack of military leadership that hamstrung every attempt to put the rebellion down by force. No where was this lack of leadership so apparent as in the Army of the Potomac, the Union Army that was tasked with capturing Richmond and ending the war.

Starting with General McClellan, who loved the army so much he refused to actually have it fight. To General Meade who took command two days before the largest battle ever fought on the continent, the leadership had issue that allowed the Confederates to win almost every major battle in the first few years of the war.

This book by Stephen Sears digs deep into the officer corps of the Army in a way that a general history of the conflict will not. Several times I found myself thinking how a single sentence about a battle would open up into a flurry of blame throwing and general incompetence that other wise would be missed.

As a general example: General Meade ordered an assault on a fortified Confederate position at 6;30pm on a given day. Orders were sent to all his Corps commanders to make the  attack at that time. Where a general history of the battle would say, “the attack did not launch as planned”. In this book you learn that several commanders claimed to not have received there orders, or decided that they were not ready so attacked later, earlier or whatever. Then each blames the other and in the meantime the rebellion continues.

Sears’s cast of characters is wide and varied and he does a good job in making sure you never lose track fo who is who among the officers. Each has their moment, some heroic, some less than but all are heard from.

This book is recommended if you have a general knowledge of the Civil War and are ready to start the deep dive. The focus on the Army of the Potomac means not much is covered in the Western Theater or other areas and that is good. I would love to see the same sort of book done to bring the same level of focus to the other main Armies of the Republic.

As always, you can get a copy of this book by clicking the cover pic above.

Book Reviews, Civil War

Book Review: The Impending Crisis: America Before the Civil War: 1848-1861

It would be easy to put this book in the same old prelude to Civil War books that have become a category all their own. It is however different. See most of these books treat the era between the end of the Mexican War and the start of the Civil War as a continuation of one or pregame for the other. This book however deals with the changes in the country and the growing sectionalism that would eventually split the country. In this book that time period has become almost its own epoch that is more than worthy of its own focus and study.

David Potter raises some interesting questions about the roots of sectionalism and how even if the question of slavery were not on the table a split may have become likely at some point. This flies in the face of much of the revisionist history that makes its way to history books. Using statistics and research Potter frankly turns the Antebellum South into a foreign country, that always questioned its place in the United States.

Personally one of the best things about this book is that it tears the cover off much of the wheeling and dealing that went in to presidential elections of the day and how the parties rose and fell and the sword of idealism. From Free Soilers, to Know Nothings, Democrats to newly minted Republicans, they all had a hand in creating the path that led to war.

This book is highly recommended and a great read. As always you can get your copy by clicking on the photo above.

American Revolution, Book Reviews

Book Review: The Men Who Lost America: British Leadership, the American Revolution, and the Fate of the Empire

The Men Who Lost America: British Leadership, the American Revolution, and the Fate of the Empire

by Andrew Jackson O’Shaughnessy

In the years that I have spent studying the American Revolution I thought I had found everything I needed to find. I could write a narrative that started with the French & Indian War and continue through to the election of President Washington without so much as batting an eye. Then I came across this book and found out that I had only just begun the story. It’s easy to read about the people you know. We are taught about the Revolution as kids but quickly, almost as if the school system has somewhere else it needs to be.  because of this quick overview, which leads into high school and even college level history the surface is barely scratched.

We know the name Cornwallis, maybe Gage and Howe. Clinton and possibly Burgoyne and Tarleton (or Tavington if you saw The Patriot). Basically we know names because they were the opponents of our chosen side and why should we spend time learning about the men that were on the losing side?

This book is one of several that I have come across that presents the struggle for America from the other side of the coin. It gets into British politics and how the fighting in America effected events back in England. It deals with the men who wore the red coats and what it was like to them to be fighting a war thousands of miles away from home that seemed to drag on forever. We also see how very few people in the British side knew who to deal with the Americans and the disdain that would eventually turn into a begrudging respect.

The author tells their story well and lays out the period in a way that makes you realize that there are in indeed two sides to every story. There are also lessons here that would have served the United States in its later conflicts has they chosen to pay attention to their own history (cough, cough Vietnam, cough cough).

Well written, meticulously researched and honest about the men that had the task of taming a rebellious people, and who failed. This book is highly recommended and could add depth to your knowledge of the American Revolution. as always clicking on the cover above will take you to the page where you can get yourself a copy!

Book Reviews

Book Review: The Dawn of Innovation: The First American Industrial Revolution

The Dawn of Innovation: The First American Industrial Revolution

Almost all the book reviews so far have been about men or wars or battles and they fit the site theme well. This book is a little different because it does not deal with outward military themes. Instead it has to do with something much bigger, the rise of American industrialization.

It starts in the wake of the revolution when the fledgling country started shifting away from a colonial economy. From the shipwrights in New England during the War of 1812 to the rapid growth of a peace time economy. This is the story about how the US eventually would surpass England in manufacturing power. This was done by making use of the boundless resources of the continent and harnessing an American spirit. It is this spirit that the author tries to convey in the portraits of the people and places that rose to the occasion.

The author uses the development of interchangeable parts to illustrate this tale. Also the battles over patents, and the general disregard for them. One of the recurring taglines of this book is that the United states achieved the unprecedented rate of 3.9% growth for over 135 years. The author does a very good job of showing that.

As always  you can click on the cover to find the book easily on Amazon.

American Revolution, Book Reviews

Book Review: Give Me a Fast Ship: The Continental Navy and America’s Revolution at Sea

Give Me a Fast Ship: The Continental Navy and America’s Revolution at Sea
Written by: Tim McGrath

Time and time again the story of the Continental Army has been told. Farmers and tradesmen rose up to fight one of the most powerful empires in existence.One story that does not always get its fair share of space is that of the Continental Navy, a handful of ships against what was in no doubt the largest and most powerful navy in the world. With just a handful of ships these me were able to make a stand and show Britain that even though they ruled the seas, ruling America would be a little more difficult.

That is the story told by the author in this fantastic book that takes you through the birth of the American Navy and brings you tales of heroism and sacrifice that should never be forgotten. Men such as John Barry, Nicholas Biddle, James Nicholson and of course John Paul Jones are brought to life in an unforgettable manner.

The amount of research the author has done on the subject is beyond dispute as he brings to bear a fountain of information on the subject. Never though does he lose sight of the humanity of those that fought and died during the epic struggle. All this leads to a well written and informative look at what can be considered and undeserved aspect of American history.

This book is highly recommended and as always you can get by clicking the picture above.

Book Reviews, Civil War

Book Review: City of Sedition: The History of New York City during the Civil War

In City of Sedition by John Strausbaugh the main character is the city of New York and the main setting is the Civil War. One of the things that drew me to this book was wanting to know more about the 1863 draft riots in the city and what led up to them. While that topic is covered very well this book goes a long way to provided a much richer and fuller history of the city and its role in not only the years leading up to the war, but its role during the conflict and in the country in general at the time.

Everything you would expect in a story about New York is there. Crooked politicians, war profiteering, immigrant struggles and possible out right treason at times. What makes this story so unique though is that by focusing on one city you get a new perspective on that city and what it contributed to the war effort. In the opening chapters the relationship between New York and the Southern states is laid plain, and the difficulty that was had balancing the commercial side of its identity with the growing abolitionist movement in the North in the Ante Bellum era. The commercial ties are the most dynamic as at one point after the South seceded there was actual talk of New York City itself leaving the Union in order to form a “neutral” entity. Pretty cool stuff.

It’s the little stories like that set this book a part and effective show how no other city in the country gave so much to the war effort, but also stood do strongly against it. The cast of characters is as wide and diverse as the city itself. Horace Greely, to Boss Tweed, Herman Mellville to Walt Whitman, Dan Sickles to Benjamin Butler all play wide and very roles in the drama. Never one does the book seemed bogged down, which in something so full of detail and heft would be easy to do.

This book is highly recommended and it doesn’t matter if you are a Civil War person or just find the history of New York City fascinating. there is plenty in this book to make it worthwhile and the author does a great job in guiding you through the alleys, churches and slums of the city. As always you can click on the cover image above to go right to the book on Amazon.

Book Reviews

Book Review: Washington A Life by Ron Chernow

By now you all may have realized that I am not a professional reviewer. i tend to just tell you what I like and don;t like about the books and movies that end up on the site. There are good and bad aspects of that but if any of that helps you decide to read/watch/avoid something then it may be worth it.

In this book, Washington A Life Ron Chernow has successfully peeled away the layers of myth from the man known as the Father of our Country. That is one of the things that comes out of this biography is that George Washington was man, not a marble statue and over the centuries we have tended to forget that.

He was vain. He was a shrewd business man who enjoyed making money, with mixed results. He was also almost always broke and even at the height of the Revolution was trying to get his holdings to turn a profit. He was not that great of a general and seemed to get by with a prodigious amount of luck. And yes, he was a slave owner who sometimes railed against the institution and sometimes wondered what he would do without it. He was also an honorable man with a sense of duty and willingness to sacrifice for his country that set him above even the other giants of the age.

Chernow shows all this and very seldom does he judge Washington by contemporary standards, he slips on occasion especially when slavery comes up, but more of a scalpel than a sledgehammer.

He does show that Washington was a well meaning and honorable man who was the exact man needed at the time. And there in lies the true value of Chernow’s work. He not only presents Washington as the “indispensable man” but spends almost a thousand pages proving that fact.

Now that actually brings up a caveat that seems to be one of my favorites. The book is long and not a casual read. Even the audio book version is over fifty hours long. It never drags and never gets boring but it is an investment of time.

Chernow is best known no for writing the biography of Alexander Hamilton that put him on Broadway. Will the same happen with Washington? Probably not. Should you read this book? Yes, if General Washington is a mystery you need solved, Chernow lays him bare.

As always clinking the link takes you to Amazon where you can find a copy of the book.

 

American Revolution, Book Reviews

Book Review: Washington’s Immortals

Washington’s Immortals  is the story of a Maryland regiment during the American Revolution. It follows them from their formation as a militia unit before the war all the way to the events at Yorktown and beyond. See that is one of the things that makes this book so unique in regards to the warm any war in general. This unit, these men from Maryland were there at almost every battle, every historic moment and every turning point.

Author Patrick K. O’Donnell does a fantastic job telling the story of these men and their role in the war.  This is not a top-down study that simply deals with the battles they fought in, but boots on the ground personal and visceral telling of history. The research was meticulous and very well presented through a rich and compelling narrative. One thing that struck me was how in so much of my personal reading and research the Maryland Line showed up in the course of so many battles, but it was after reading this that you can see their line of march as one continuous campaign that took them from New York to the Carolinas and eventually to Virginia. An amazing journey.

This book is very definitely recommended to anyone that feels ready to deep dive into a very good unit history and has a good understanding of the war. If you are looking for a good solid narrative about a brave bunch of men, this is good for you too. You don’t need to be a scholar of the Revolution to enjoy the book, but it may help fill in some gaps and provide additional perspective.

As always click on the image of the book to purchase it at Amazon.

 

Book Reviews, Civil War

Book Review: William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Country: A Life

General William Tecumseh Sherman was a man who falls into the category of having been at the right place at the right time. He missed out on the action of Th Mexican War and lamented a careering a military that never seemed to be quite enough, but was also the only life he felt he was capable of living. This biography ranks very high up in the list of the ones about this man. It may not change how you think of him, but seeing his story on its own and not part of a larger narrative does give you a bit of an understanding.
That is the highest praise that can be given about this book, It gives you more details than you ever had before and you get to see Sherman as a man who made tough decisions, right and wrong, and lived with their consequences. Having always believed himself that his campaign from Savannah and into North Carolina was hundred time more harrowing than his march through Georgia you get to feel his frustration and the later was the one most celebrated. You also get to grieve with the man who lost a number of children, whom he did love greatly and walk with him as the Civil War tore the Union apart. The life of Sherman is made all the more fascinating in contrast to the death that always seemed to be hovering near him.

James Lee McDonough tells this story and tells it well. With a subject like Sherman you can expect it to never be boring and McDonough does a good job of capturing the General’s spirit. In one passage near the end the author tells of Sherman, having outlived many of his famous military contemporaries, spent more and more time at funerals for the men that he fought alongside and even sometimes against. While the first part of book tells a tale a man of his time, the last part is about a man who time has passed on.

There is a reason that “Uncle Billy”, as his men called him, remains the quintessential American warrior. Few ever fought as hard or as steadfast and few will ever refuse to fade like the old warhorse. This book goes a long way to explaining why.
American Revolution, Book Reviews

Book Review: Benedict Arnold’s Navy: The Ragtag Fleet That Lost the Battle of Lake Champlain but Won the American Revolution

Benedict Arnold’s Navy: The Ragtag Fleet That Lost the Battle of Lake Champlain but Won the American Revolution is a book that takes one of America’s greatest traitors and presents as the hero that he was until things turned sour.

In October 1776 the Americans forces had all but fled from Canada while British reinforcements threaten to sweep them from Lake Champlain and right down the Hudson River to Albany. Effectively splitting the colonies in two. The only thing standing in their way was Commodore Benedict Arnold and a rag tag fleet of American ships. As the two fleets sailed the great lake in a game of cat and mouse, Arnold showed a courage and uncanny leadership ability that would make him a star in the Continental Army and the ego and hubris that would come back to haunt him in the years to come.

Author James L. Nelson tells the story of Arnold’s Navy in a deft and efficient manner around the Battle of Valcour Island, in which a small American fleet, led by the Arnold, went toe to toe with the British navy, only to be overwhelmed and destroyed.

Using skills that shone in a dozen novels the Nelson presents a new Benedict Arnold. Not the egotistical traitor but a fearless and talented officer, One of General Washington’s favorites and a who capably led his men to hell and back.

If you really want to see a different side of the Arnold this book shows you a fair and honest look at one of the most pivotal moments in the American Revolution that put him center stage. this book may not change how you view Arnold, but it show you that if nothing else he was  a man of tremendous courage. It is recommended for those that like to dive a little deeper into what they have been told about the man. As always you can click the cover of the book to purchase yourself a copy!