American Generalship: Character Is Everything: The Art of Command

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Good, but could have been great ..........2007-10-03

The first book assignment in my Strategic Leadership and Decision Making (SLDM) elective for Air War College was "American Generalship: Character Is Everything: The Art of Command" by Edgar F. Puryear Jr. The level of leadership this study aims at is very high indeed - the ranks of the general officers. The kind of strategy that leaders at this level create and conceptualize, during both peace and war, involves all of the nation's forces, and applies itself through large-scale, long-range planning and development, to ensure security or victory. This book deals exclusively with the sort of character, mentorship and values that a leader at this level must possess, and it does so with a tidal wave of good examples and meaningful quotes.

The subtitle of the book, "Character is Everything: The Art of Command", defines the focus of this study in leadership. Although the leaders studied in this book are chosen from fairly narrow sections of time and from only one country (USA), those times are the greatest perils. Ike, Patton, MacArthur, and Clark are drawn from World War 2. Grant, Sherman, Lee, and Jackson are cited from the American Civil War. Extensive passages on Billy Mitchell's experience as well as that of his ardent supporters Hap Arnold and Tooey Spaatz. George Washington's contribution is discussed in detail. There is a far too small, albeit tasty, portion for more recent leaders, like Colin Powell, Schwarzkopf, Meyer, and Creech, who have had to deal with the today's hyperpolitics, scandal-centric journalism, perpetual war and a evaporating budgets.

As good as "American Generalship: Character Is Everything: The Art of Command" is, some important details of the leadership experience are left in rather soft focus. The rationale behind Operation Market Garden (p288, listed in other references as "disastrous"), continued support for Wedemeyer (p318-9, a similar set of "circumstantial" charges against an officer today would certainly be career ending), and clearing the Hooverville shantytown built by "Bonus Army" marchers (p264-265, brutal tactics used and the unfortunate remarks made at the press conference that immediately followed). These details could have provided the all important context that framed these actions and decisions. Character is revealed through actions inside context.

More examples could have been provided about leaders who did not read books. The book only lists one leader, the confederate Longstreet (p152-153), who did not read extensively. On the other hand, the narrative bogs down with mountains of evidence that reading books, particularly biographies and historical works, helps leaders think more broadly and learn from the timeless lessons of the past.

All things considered, "American Generalship: Character Is Everything: The Art of Command" is certainly worth a read. It is a very good book that could have been great if only it had spent a little more time in the hands of an editor.

Enduring Truths.......2007-05-17

Outstanding book on leadership. It covers the dynamics of proven performers through the ages and gives the reader a strong foundation in personal assessment and grow. A must-have for anyone's professional library.

Best Leadership Book I've Ever Read.......2007-05-12

As a career Air Force officer I have read many books on leadership and command. American Generalship stands out as the best I've ever read. The author highlights shared leadership traits held by several of great generals that he gleaned from personal interviews. I give this book to all the officers under my command to mentor them as leaders.

A must have for your Leadership Development library.......2005-07-28

Mr. Puryear wastes no time with fluff. He gets right to the heart of leadership in this wonderfully written book. He has done a superb job in researching and interviewing each of the men he writes about. So, the information you'll receive from this book is both accurate and personal. You can read it casually or blaze through it. Either way, I believe you will be pleased with the nuggets of leadership wisdom revealed by some of the world's finest military leaders.

Great Book!.......2005-07-28

This book is well written and keeps me interested; it is not dry at all. It really gives me insight towards becoming a good manager and leader for any situation.

Grant and Lee: A Study in Personality and Generalship

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Fresh, Stimulating, and Thought Provoking Comparison of Two Remarkable Generals.
Interesting Comparison Between Lee and Grant
Unique Unbiased View of the Generalship of Both
A Very Enjoyable Book, Very Interesting & Very Creative
Outstanding Analysis by the Clausewitz of the 20th Century!

Grant and Lee: A Study in Personality and Generalship
J. F. C. Fuller
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0253202884

Customer Reviews:

Fresh, Stimulating, and Thought Provoking Comparison of Two Remarkable Generals........2007-04-09

Grant and Lee, A Study in Personality and Generalship, published in 1932, compares quite favorably in its detailed research and readability with works by modern writers and historians like Shelby Foote, James M. McPherson, Gary W. Gallagher, and Stephen W. Sears. This work by Major General J. F. C. Fuller is notable for directly challenging the conventional wisdom that Grant was little more than a "butcher" and that his eventual success was almost entirely due to the North's larger population and more abundant resources. In Fuller's view Grant was not only the greatest general of the Civil War, but ranks among the greatest strategists of any age. Fuller generated even more controversy with his contention that Robert E. Lee in several respects had major failings as a military leader.

Controversial or not, Major General J. F. C. Fuller was no ordinary soldier writing about the Civil War. Fuller was a highly respected British military strategist and noted author. In the 1920s he collaborated with B. H. Liddell Hart in developing new ideas for the mechanization of armies. Ironically, their recommendations were more readily adopted in Germany than in Britain, France, or the U.S.

Grant and Lee, A Study in Personality and Generalship, is a relatively short book, around 300 pages. Fuller writes with clarity and precision. He makes careful use of firsthand accounts; he paid particular attention to opinions of staff officers, as men in these roles were likely to have gained greater insight into the personalities of Grant and Lee. He also utilized the opinions of foreign witnesses of the war, like Colonel Fremantle, as a check on insiders' observations. His sources were identified through extensive end notes as he realized that his findings would be controversial. He includes statistics on battle losses to illustrate that the persistent belief that Grant's losses were abnormally high is simply a myth, and that Lee's percentage losses were actually higher.

There are many exceptionally good books on the Civil War, but there are few that are as readable as Fuller's Grant and Lee, and offer such a fresh viewpoint (albeit, now nearly 75 years old, but one that remains stimulating and thought provoking). Grant and Lee, A Study in Personality and Generalship, is available in a reprint edition (1982) by Indiana University Press. Five stars.

Interesting Comparison Between Lee and Grant.......2005-06-23

Whatever your view of Robert E. Lee and U.S. Grant, Fuller's book will challenge you to think long and hard about your beliefs concerning both generals.

As a Southerner, I have to admit that Fuller makes a compelling case for Grant being the better general between the two. One instance is where he confronts the idea that Grant was a butcher because of the heavy casualties during the Wilderness-Spotsylvania Campaign. While Grant indeed suffered the heavier losses, the percentage of losses was acutally lower than Lee. In fact, this was a common occurence in many battles in which Grant commanded.

The book's contents are as follows:

1. The Two Causes - the two nations, presidents, armies and other North/South factors both generals had to operate within.
2. The Personality of Grant - modesty, common sense, courage.
3. The Personality of Lee - humility, tact, audacity.
4. The Generalship of Grant and Lee, 1861-1862 - description of the battles fought by both generals during both years (Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Antietam, Fredericksburg, etc).
5. The Generalship of Grant and Lee, 1863 - Vicksburg, Gettsyburg, Chattanooga, Chancellorsville.
6. The Generalship of Grant and Lee, 1864-1864 - Spotsylvania, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Appamattox.
7. The Two Generals - comparison and contrast between their two styles and personalities.

One other interesting point mentioned by Fuller was perhaps making the Confederate capital in Atlanta instead of Richmond. I have often thought how such a move would have affected the fighting in Virginia, Georgia, and my home state of North Carolina. Something interesting to ponder!

I highly recommend the book. Read and enjoy.

Unique Unbiased View of the Generalship of Both .......2005-01-20

If you read the introduction to this book, you will understand that Fuller has set out to write a brief but direct book on the Generalship capabilities of Grant and Lee. In the introduction, Fuller notes that Henderson's classic book on Jackson is more a romantic study than one that is an objective view. He goes further to say that a full study of Jackson gives a different appreciation. A respect for his maneuvering and desire to fight but also his idiosyncrasies and secrecy that Fuller indicates would cause one to question Jackson's sanity. With that introduction, you are prepared for the author's blunt assessment of both Generals. The book is brief concentrating more on strategy than just battlefield tactics. He concentrates on the critical battles of the war and the general effect the war has as a whole not just the eastern theater. In Lee, he notes that he was not a grand strategist but one that fought with intuition. As a General, he excelled on fighting on the defensive as showed in the final campaign. However, Lee preferred fighting aggressively and his errors show at Gettysburg and Malvern Hill. In the case of Chancellorsville, Fuller notes that Lee should have used the wilderness more often as a greater asset for defensive maneuvers instead of coming out in the open into battle. That like a spider, he should have waited for opportunities to attack and withdrawal with the protection of cover. He further indicates that Lee had a poor operating staff and his administration impaired supply and clarity of orders as all were given verbally and minimally. Grant on the other hand was a former quartermaster, was well organized and had a global plan of the war hence his simultaneous operations with the western theater and his multiple prong attacks in the east. Fuller notes that at first his objective was to follow Lee and not concentrate on the Richmond. But later he changed to maneuver so that Lee had to react to him as opposed to the reverse. Grant was often accused of having little imagination but as Fuller notes, he did not have the imagination to inflate numbers that were against him (McClellan) but he was rational in knowing that the Confederates had limited manpower. Through his intuition, Lee had success against the earlier Union generals but as Fuller points out, he could not fathom Grant.

The book is critical of both; however, as an overall commander, Grant comes across as much more able and Lee a totally different commander highly capable on the defensive but not as much a hands on commander as most would previously think. Both men are stripped bare; the author offers a unique unbiased view of the war without the human frailty of sentiment.

A Very Enjoyable Book, Very Interesting & Very Creative.......2003-08-05

This is a small book, but don't judge it by its size. It is a great little book. Grant & Lee, with such different backgrounds, lead two great armies in the strangest of times. In the end, with no grudge, the two men get to know and respect each other. But the story of how these men fought & how they thought so similarly in the battlefield and how they were both so noble and courageous help show that two men that could not have been more dissimilar, ended up being so alike serving their causes. I highly recommend this book. Very entertaining, and very educational.

Outstanding Analysis by the Clausewitz of the 20th Century!.......2002-08-24

The oft-repeated view, especially from Confederate defenders, is that Grant won though he was a drunken butcher indifferent to high casualties whose triumph was inevitable because of superior manpower and supplies. John Frederick Charles Fuller, the British Major General, and along with Liddel Hart one of the top military strategists of the 20th century, provides overwhelming evidence to lay this view to rest. Grant practiced maneuver warfare when he could, and his Vicksburg campaign (not just a siege, rather a series of five battles), along with Jackson's valley campaign, are the two greatest campaigns of the war. In his final Overland campaign, Grant could not maneuver much because Lincoln required that he keep substantial forces between Lee's army and Washington. By a thorough analysis of Grant's and Lee's battles throughout the war, Fuller makes the case that Grant was among the best generals ever, and greater than Lee, who was also great but had his limitations (after Order 191 was lost and recovered by McClellan's troops before Antietam, Lee would only issue oral orders, and his subordinates were often confused by them; Grant was known for crystal clear written orders, following the example of Zachary Taylor under whom Grant (and Lee) had served in the Mexican War). Rating Grant so highly will of course be heresy for neo-Confederates, but there is no question Grant has received unfair treatment even among historians. Another Fuller book, "The Generalship of Ulysses S. Grant" adds more details to the defense of the claim that Grant was an excellent general. In assessing the relative greatness of Grant and Lee, one should keep in mind their age difference and the difference in upward mobility on the two sides during the war. Lee was 14 years older than Grant, Lee was already a Colonel when the war started and still serving on active duty, whereas Grant had left the army as a captain after the Mexican War. At the start of the war, Winfield Scott, who had served in the War of 1812 and masterminded in the Mexican War the amazing defeat of a country of 20 million people with 12,000 invading troops, was the greatest soldier on either side. However he was old and so fat he could no longer ride a horse; his campaigning days were over. After Scott, Lee was the best soldier on either side at the start of the war--and Lee was offered command of the Union army but turned it down. However Grant rose through the ranks because he learned quickly from his mistakes at Belmont, Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, and Holly Springs. By the end of the war Fuller's analysis shows Grant was clearly the superior general, and not just because he had superior numbers. Even the oft-cited mistake at Cold Harbor, according to Fuller, is exagerrated. Fuller summarizes the overall casualy numbers during the war: the ratio of killed and wounded to total forces engaged for Grant was 10%; for the whole Federal army it was 11%; for the whole Confederate army it was 12%; and for Lee, it was 16%. One must be fair to Lee and not lose sight of the fact that he was an exemplary, even a saintly individual who must always be acknowledged as among the great American generals. But the simplistic, grossly unfair judgment of Ulysses S. Grant is revealed here as a sham which must stop. Under the razor-sharp and penetrating analysis of Fuller, one of the greatest military historians of all time, the conventional, common opinion of Grant is shown to be balderdash. Ulysses S. Grant was one of the greatest generals the U.S. has ever produced. Though written many years ago, Fuller's book is still relevant to this ongoing national discussion, and is a must read for anyone who wants to compare Union and Confederate generalship. Regarding Grant's drinking, Fuller doesn't discuss this, but this too is greatly exaggerated. He was indeed a binge drinker. When I asked the renowned Civil War historian Ed Bearss about this, he said Grant got drunk about four to six times during the war, always when he was away from his wife (she was with or lived near him during some campaigns and he was always lonely without her). Moreover, in the Civil War one could usually tell when battle was near, and there was usually inactivity during the winter months. The circumstances are not comparable to a modern general's always being on call in the nuclear age. Grant's occasional binge drinking never once affected his generalship, in public functions he usually would not drink at all, being a semi-recovered alcoholic except for the occasional binge. The stereotype is that Grant was constantly drunk during the war. This too is an unfair assessment not based on historical fact. Read this book and will see just how wrong the stereotype of Grant's generalship is, and how good a general he was.

The Generalship of Ulysses S. Grant (Da Capo Paperback)

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A British general of World War I looks back and is impressed
The Best Analysis of Grant as a General
General Grant...and more

The Generalship of Ulysses S. Grant (Da Capo Paperback)
J. F. C. Fuller
Manufacturer: Da Capo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0306804506

Customer Reviews:

A British general of World War I looks back and is impressed.......2005-09-10

An earlier reviewer commented on the paucity of General Fuller's source material. In May of 1929, Fuller wrote this passage (in all the orotund glory of its semi-colons) in his preface: "Here, then, is the gist of this book--to write living history as well as truthful history--a difficult task; for in my opinion all history has been diluted with about seventy-five per cent. of falsehood; and more especially official history, which is normally meticulously accurate in fact and utterly false in spirit.... In order to decipher [Grant's] generalship I have relied on three sources: the official records--the bones of my subject; the personal memoirs and various historical works--the muscles; and my own intuitions and deductions which I may liken to the nerves. This latter source may be very defective; yet I feel not more so than the other two."

This famous book was written by one of the relatively few critics with real (as opposed to armchair) high-level military knowledge and experience. Both were gained, moreover, on battlefields bearing closer resemblance to those of Grant than anything seen since. For what it's worth, General Fuller remains the highest ranking non-participant military man ever to write at length on the American Civil War (which in Fuller's day was still officially and legally designated by Damnyankees, at least, as "The War of the Rebellion." My unreconstructed Confederate ancestors, naturally, had other ideas.)

Fuller's book had a profound effect in Europe. Until its publication, accepted European military opinion held that the U.S. Civil War was no more than a series of military riots conducted by armed mobs. After this book and its analysis of the brilliant campaign that led to the capture of Vicksburg and of the multi-pronged assault that withered and then destroyed the Confederate States of America, the unassuming, unimpressive-looking Grant emerged as one of the great captains of history.

A few--a very few--new details have been unearthed in the seventy-six years since General Fuller handed his manuscript over to his publishers, but no large-scale analysis of Grant as a soldier and commander has surpassed this one.

The Best Analysis of Grant as a General.......2000-11-09

I find this book to be the best detailed analysis of the generalship of U. S. Grant available. Written by one of the most outstanding military writers in the world, it presents a thought provoking and convincing picture of one of our greatest generals. It pictures General Grant as one of the greatest strategists of all times and gives many convincing arguments to back up the claim.

The book covers other aspects of his csreer and comments on his capabilities and shortcomings. It is not completely lauditory, as it points out his many failures as a tactician as well as other shotcomings. Substantiation and analysis of his actions make for a very convincing account. It is especially effective when read in conjunction with his memoirs.

I highly recommend it.

General Grant...and more.......2000-02-09

The paucity of source material utilized by General Fuller is more than offset by the lucidity of his commentary, and his keen insight into the military mind and psyche. Grant, the man, appears to have been a hobby of Fuller's, and while there are better analyses of the details of Grant's campaigns and battles, the reader leaves this book with a sense of knowing and understanding Grant, and believing that Grant's personality was the critical factor in the Union's 1864-1865 Virginia compaigns. The assessment of U.S. Grant is Fuller's personal assessment, nevertheless, when this reader finished the book he hoped Fuller was right. Essential Civil War reading. There's also some interesting commentary on the theory of military strategy and tactics.

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Thoughts on Leadership From Former Military Leaders
A must-read for Leaders of all types.
Fantastic Structure, Considered, yet Poorly Written
Outstanding!
Very thought provoking...an excellent read

American Generalship
Edgar Puryear , and Edgar F. Puryear
Manufacturer: Presidio Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0891416587
Release Date: 2000-01-10

Book Description

What does it take to become a successful, high-level leader in America's armed forces, not just to wear the stars emblematic of your position at the top military pyramid, but to excel in yor service to our country?

Customer Reviews:

Thoughts on Leadership From Former Military Leaders.......2002-08-18

Mr Puryear's "American Generalship" is overall a good book. It has resently been added to the CSAF Reading List. The author has taken many of his interviews and discussions with past military leaders and summized what they believe the keys are to effective leadership within the military. It is a fairly easy read, though some thoughts seem to be repeated in several locations.

A must-read for Leaders of all types........2002-08-16

Puryear has done a superb job summarizing years of intensive research on the subject of leadership. The finished product is applicable not just to military leaders, but to anyone who takes on the awesome responsibility of managing other people. He systematically breaks down the essential components of character and cites examples that drive the point home. Time after time I found myself thinking that this book should be required reading for civilian leaders of all kinds. His writing style is articulate and easy to read. I've read several books on this subject and this one is a winner.

Fantastic Structure, Considered, yet Poorly Written.......2002-05-27

American Generalship does an incredible job of outlining the necessary components to character, and while it is aimed at American military leaders, its scope seems unnecessarily constrained. I have been told that I cannot criticize the author for not writing a book he didn't write; however, it seems that the subject was deserving of a broader scope than merely American military leaders. The book includes eleven chapters, each covering some component of this elusive leadership character: (1) Selflessness; (2) Decision: The Essence of Leadership; (3) "Feel" or "Sixth Sense" in Decision Making; (4) Aversion to "Yes Men": Having the Character to Challenge; (5) Books: The Importance of Reading; (6) Mentorship: Guidance, Counseling, Advice, Teaching, and Door Opening; (7)Consideration; (8) Delegation; (9) Fix the Problem, Not the Blame; (10) Reflective Descriptions of Character; and, (11) The Pattern. Unfortunately, because of missing and misused quotation marks within the text, it is difficult to understand whether Puryear is himself speaking, or whether he is quoting a military leader. There are some remarkable stories contained in the book however, most especially in the fifth chapter concerning reading. I had purchased the hard- back version of the text (I am unsure of whether there is any other in print), which was published by Presidio Press, and the binding has already cracked. Thus, the reason I have given it three stars is because I believe the structure Puryear used in defining the nature of leadership character is excellent, and the text is generally reflective of a well-considered approach. Yet, the book's durability, and more importantly, its readability remain wanting.

Outstanding!.......2002-03-13

I've been in leadership and management positions, military and civilian, for most of my adult life. I've read a lot of books on leadership - some good, some not. This one among the best I've ever read, if not THE best. It's oriented towards military leadership, but it is applicable to leadership in any organization. It's also a first rate history of military and senior Government leadership in World War II and later. I wish I had had this book 30 years ago.

Very thought provoking...an excellent read.......2002-02-16

This book provided insight into the minds of the senior leaders of the military. It provided me w/a framework to continually develop and improve my own leadership abilities. I highly recommend this book, not only to new and current officers,(I have given my copy to my Platoon Leader) but to ALL enlisted men and women serving as NCOs, in the U.S. military. The information provided in this text can be utilized by ANYONE desiring to improve their leadership abilities. This book by Puryear has me wanting more, and now I must read his previous book "19 Stars".

Civil War Generalship: The Art of Command

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Stonewall, Banks, Old Rosy, Bragg, The Gallant Hood, and The Rock
A good review of essential leadership qualities
For specialists only, but wonderful

Civil War Generalship: The Art of Command
W. J. Wood
Manufacturer: Da Capo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0306809737
Release Date: 2000-06-20

Book Description

First time in paperback: An incisive analysis of tactics and command during the Civil War-"a fresh approach" (John S.D. Eisenhower) to a topic of never-diminishing interest

In this original examination of Civil War leadership, W.J. Wood looks at the tactical and strategic problems faced by commanders by focusing on three decisive battles and the six generals involved in each one. The Charlotte Observer hailed the way Wood "has interwoven drama, anecdotes, humor, and human glimpses of these commanders" and called the book "gripping." Wood analyzes the campaign at Cedar Mountain, directed by Stonewall Jackson and Nathaniel Banks; the battle of Chickamauga, commanded by Braxton Bragg and William Rosecrans; and the battle of Nashville, where John Bell Hood engaged opponent George H. Thomas-deftly describing the art of war these men developed, an art that still provides paradigms for military leaders today.

Customer Reviews:

Stonewall, Banks, Old Rosy, Bragg, The Gallant Hood, and The Rock.......2006-04-01

CIVIL WAR GENERALSHIP is a treatise on the nature of military command leadership written for the popular market. To make his case, author W.J. Wood, an ex-Army war gamer for weapons system analysis, focuses on three battles: Cedar Mountain in August 1862 between commanders Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and Nathaniel Banks, Chickamauga in September 1863 between commanders Braxton Bragg and William "Old Rosy" Rosecrans, and Nashville in December 1864 between commanders John Hood ("The Gallant Hood") and George Thomas ("The Rock of Chickamauga").

In a prefatory Part One of the book, Wood pretty much establishes the lack of any formalized pre-Civil War military thought in the U.S. Army as to how battles should be fought and won. West Point, attended by all the aforementioned commanders except Banks, focused mainly on engineering; during the four-year curriculum, only nine hours were devoted to battlefield tactics. Thus, the army commander had to learn his skills through on-the-job combat experience during his ascent through the command structure.

As a reader possessing a casual interest in the Civil War history, I can find only minimal fault with this brief (245 paperbacked pages) treatment of the topic. Indeed, the concise and lucid summaries of the three selected battles, each one supplemented by more than adequate maps, were, for me, even more valuable than Wood's dissection of the leadership skills displayed by each of the six protagonists. After all, a century and a half after the War Between the States, the battles of Cedar Mountain, Chickamauga, and Nashville are sometimes lost against the backdrop of confrontations considered more pivotal to the final outcome, e.g. Vicksburg, Gettysburg, or Appomattox, or simply more high profile, e.g. Shiloh, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, or Cold Harbor.

At no point does the author explain why he chose these three particular battles and their opposing generals for his book. By definition, each commander had to be exercising independent field command of an army at the time. And perhaps his choice of battles was unconsciously limited to those not including Grant, McClellan, Lee, and Sherman, whose names pop up with consistent regularity in popular Civil War history and whose careers have been fields well-plowed by historians.

Wood's examination of the characters and personality traits of Jackson, Banks, Bragg, Rosecrans, Hood, and Thomas adds an endearing human element to the work as a whole. It also leads to my only minor criticism of the book, which is that no epilogue describing the post-battle careers of the six is included. Jackson, of course, was mortally wounded by friendly fire at Chancellorsville, but the remaining five, as far as I know, survived the Civil War, and it would be nice to know what happened to them without having to resort to further research.

A good review of essential leadership qualities.......2005-08-15

Expecting to find another book on strategy and tactics, I was surprised that the major theme of this well-written book involved the personal characteristics that make a successful general.

At some point in the book, Wood emphasizes to the reader that the general is not a "manager." However, the graduates of business school programs will be quick to point out that the qualities surveyed in the book are also essentials in successful business leaders.

The generals are rated on such points as subordinate selection, ability to delegate but yet remain in control, clearly - defined missions but flexibility in attaining them, ability to view the situation within a "big-picture" context, efficient use of resources, clarity of orders and other communications, ability to work within the existing political environment, a firm but positive leadership style, and creative decisions within the constraints imposed by reality. All of the 6 generals come off with mixed reviews with respect to these criteria, although George Thomas receives a well-deserved favorable evaluation and some of Stonewall's flaws are pointed out. One thing that ran through my mind as I was reading this book was that all of the favorable traits exhibited by a great leader seem to be a composite of a man little-mentioned by the author - General Grant.

This book provides much insight into the human aspect of military leadership and is useful to the reader in better understanding any generals and their level of success.

For specialists only, but wonderful.......2004-09-11

This is not your usual Civil War History book. W.J. Wood is uninterested, here, in discussing the course of the Civil War itself, or its battles and capaigns. Instead, Wood wants to examine how Generals controlled their armies, or didn't, and the decision-making process that led to the battles came out.

The result is a book where the author studies three battles from the Civil War: Cedar Mountain in 1862, Chickamauga in 1863, and Nashville in 1864. The author spends much of his time laying out the military situation that confronted the opposing generals, and then briefly recounts the course of the battle, the decisions made, and the outcomes. The three battles involved some interesting personalities in command of the armies, and so the results are rather interesting, also.

Cedar Mountain involved Stonewall Jackson and Nathaniel Banks. The interesting thing here is that Banks doesn't come out as badly as you might imagine, nor Jackson as favorably. Chickamauga saw Braxton Bragg and William Rosecrans face off: both were unsuited for high command at some level, and are duly criticized. Nashville of course was the last hurrah of John Bell Hood, opposite the rocklike George Thomas. This one's not unexpected: Thomas comes out brilliant, while Hood turns out to be an idiot.

All three of these battles are interesting, and Wood advocates an analytical approach that favors what I call ruthless pragmatism. This works well, and I enjoyed the book, finding it worthwhile and the observations inside to be very interesting.

The War Within the Union High Command: Politics and Generalship During the Civil War (Modern War Studies)

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Overkill

The War Within the Union High Command: Politics and Generalship During the Civil War (Modern War Studies)
Thomas Joseph Goss
Manufacturer: University Press of Kansas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0700612637

Book Description

With Union armies poised to launch the final campaigns against the Confederacy in 1864, three of its five commanders were "political generals"--appointed officers with little or no military training. Army chief of staff Henry Halleck thought such generals jeopardized the lives of men under their command and he and his peers held them in utter contempt. Historians have largely followed suit.

Thomas Goss, however, offers a new and more positive assessment of the leadership qualities of these Northern commanders. In the process, he cuts through the stereotypes of political generals as superfluous and largely inept tacticians, ambitious schemers, and military failures. Goss examines the reasons why the selection process yielded so many generals who lacked military backgrounds and explores the tense and often bitter relationships among political and professional officers to illuminate the dynamics of Union generalship during the war. As this book reveals, professional generals viewed the war as a military problem requiring battlefield solutions, while appointees (and President Lincoln) focused more emphatically on the broader political contours of the struggle. The resulting friction often eroded Northern morale and damaged the North's war effort.

Goss challenges the traditional idea that success was measured only on the battlefield by demonstrating significant links between military success and the achievement of the Union's political objectives. Examining commanders like Benjamin Butler, Nathaniel Banks, John McClernand, John Fremont, and Franz Sigel, Goss shows how many filled vital functions by raising troops, boosting homefront morale, securing national support for the war--and sometimes even achieving significant success on the battlefield. Comparing these generals with their professional counterparts reveals that all had vital roles to play in helping Lincoln prosecute the war and that West Pointers, despite their military training, were not necessarily better prepared for waging war.

Whether professional or appointed, Goss reminds us, all generals could be considered political inasmuch as war is a continuation of politics by other means. He shows us that far more was asked of Union commanders than to simply win battles and in so doing urges a new appreciation of those appointed leaders who were thrust into the maelstrom of the Civil War.

This book is part of the Modern War Studies series.

Customer Reviews:

Overkill.......2004-01-18

The author takes 210 pages to come to a conclusion that is apparant after 50. The same information is repeated time after time until the reader can close one's eyes and know the next line (or at least the one after) will mention Banks or Butler or Logan, with nothing that has not already been said about any of them.

John M. Schofield and the Politics of Generalship (Civil War America)

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An overlooked officer

John M. Schofield and the Politics of Generalship (Civil War America)
Donald B. Connelly
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0807830070

Book Description

In the first full biography of Lieutenant General John McAllister Schofield (1831-1906), Donald Connelly examines the career of one of the leading commanders in the western theater during the Civil War and the role of politics in the formulation of military policy during both war and peace in the latter half of the nineteenth century.

Connelly relates how Schofield, as a department commander during the war, had to cope with contending political factions that sought to shape military and civil policies. Following the war, Schofield occupied every senior position in the army--including secretary of war and commanding general of the army--and became a leading champion of army reform and professionalism. He was the first senior officer to recognize that professionalism would come not from the separation of politics and the military but from the army's accommodation of politics and the often contentious American constitutional system.

Seen through the lens of Schofield's extensive military career, the history of American civil-military relations has seldom involved conflict between the military and civil authority, Connelly argues. The central question has never been whether to have civilian control but rather which civilians have a say in the formulation and execution of policy.

Customer Reviews:

An overlooked officer.......2006-05-09

John Schofield was one of those young men who managed to graduate from West Point just before the start of the Civil War. When the war began, like many others, he quickly became a general officer. Unlike many others, he retained this rank for the rest of his very long career. He held administrative and battlefield commands during the war, was Secretary of War, superintended West Point, and eventually became commanding general. Yet, he is almost unknown outside the circle of civil war experts and even within that group is not a major subject of research. This book will fill that gap. It is copiously detailed and covers every aspect of Schofield's career. The book centers on Schofield's negotiation of the politics of the military life. However, the author provides an opbjective and appropriately critical discussion of Schofield's role in the Atlanta/Franklin/Nashville campaigns. Schofield's personal virtues and flaws are also analyzed. As the book deals with army administration, army/congressional relationships, and politics, it is not a quick read. However, if you are willing to devote the time needed to carefully read this book, you will come away with a good understanding of the role of this interesting and important officer.

American Art of War and True Generalship: Szu War

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American Art of War and True Generalship: Szu War
Terrance Jones
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Audacity Personified: The Generalship of Robert E. Lee

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Audacity?
I Beg Your Pardon
One excellent essay; forget the rest

Audacity Personified: The Generalship of Robert E. Lee

Manufacturer: Louisiana State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0807129291

Book Description

Despite the literary outpouring on the life of Robert E. Lee, the southern chieftain remains an enigma. The existing scholarship is so voluminous, complex, and contradictory that it is difficult to penetrate the inner Lee and appreciate him as a general. Peter S. Carmichael has assembled a formidable array of Civil War historians who rigorously return to Lee's own words and actions in interpreting the war in Virginia. This is the first collective volume to scrutinize specific aspects of the general's military career.

Carmichael's opening contribution confronts Lee's supposed drive for a victory of annihilation and takes issue with claims that he was too aggressive. William J. Miller's novel analysis of Lee's leadership during the pivotal Seven Days battles reconstructs his strategic thinking and corrects old assumptions. Gordon C. Rhea overturns the common notion that Lee anticipated his adversaries with uncanny precision in the Overland campaign of 1864. Robert E. L. Krick takes aim at the oft-repeated criticism that Lee was not attuned to the demands of modern warfare because he failed to surround himself with enough subordinates to ensure the smooth operation of the army; in fact, Krick argues, Lee continually fine-tuned the performance of his support staff, striving to eliminate deficiencies. Finally, Max R. Williams's examination of the relationship between Lee and North Carolina governor Zebulon B. Vance, and Mark L. Bradley's portrait of Lee's relationships with Jefferson Davis and Joseph E. Johnston, offer contrasting views of the soldier as both politically assertive and reticent, respectively.

Falling easily into neither the pro- or anti-Lee camp, Audacity Personified challenges long-standing beliefs accepted since Douglas S. Freeman's influential biography of Lee was published seventy years ago. These diverse scholarly visions of the great Confederate general move beyond cliché and bring his career vividly to the printed page.

Customer Reviews:

Audacity?.......2007-08-14

The real audacity personified isn't Lee, it is the editor for advancing the position taken by the essays in this book. The entire effort is little more than an attempt to re-package Freeman's notion that Lee was somehow more than a mortal man. This book simply argues the same old line but for allegedly different reasons.

I Beg Your Pardon.......2006-04-12

I am one of the contributors to this volume. I agree with Mr. Scott about the excellence of Mr. Krick's essay. Of course, Mr. Scott is a renowned historian and an acknowledged expert on R.E. Lee and his campaigns, so I guess I must apologize for putting him to sleep. My bad. I'll use shorter words next time.

One excellent essay; forget the rest.......2005-11-03

The essay by Robert E. L. Krick on Lee's staff is excellent. Too bad, because it is contained in a volume with very god-awful other essays. If you can inter-library loan this, then do it and read Krick's essay; the rest is nonsensical drivel from others incapable of analyzing anything more involved than a stop sign.

Grant & Lee: A Study in Personality & Generalship

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Grant & Lee: A Study in Personality & Generalship
J. F. C. Fuller
Manufacturer: Spa Books Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0907590403

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