Product Description
In this revelatory, dynamic biography, one of our finest historians, Benson Bobrick, profiles George H. Thomas, arguing that he was the greatest and most successful general of the Civil War. Because Thomas didn't live to write his memoirs, his reputation has been largely shaped by others, most notably Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman, two generals with whom Thomas served and who, Bobrick says, diminished his successes in their favor in their own memoirs.

Born in Virginia, Thomas survived Nat Turner's rebellion as a boy, then studied at West Point, where Sherman was a classmate. Thomas distinguished himself in the Mexican War and then returned to West Point as an instructor. When the Civil War broke out, Thomas remained loyal to the Union, unlike fellow Virginia-born officer Robert E. Lee (among others). He compiled an outstanding record as an officer in battles at Mill Springs, Perryville, and Stones River. At the Battle of Chickamauga, Thomas, at the time a corps commander, held the center of the Union line under a ferocious assault, then rallied the troops on Horseshoe Ridge to prevent a Confederate rout of the Union army. His extraordinary performance there earned him the nickname "The Rock of Chickamauga."

Promoted to command of the Army of the Cumberland, he led his army in a stunning Union victory at the Battle of Chattanooga. Thomas supported Sherman on his march through Georgia in the spring of 1864, winning an important victory at the Battle of Peachtree Creek. As Sherman continued on his March to the Sea, Thomas returned to Tennessee and in the battle of Nashville destroyed the army of Confederate General John Bell Hood. It was one of the most decisive victories of the war, and Thomas won it even as Grant was on his way to remove Thomas from his command. (When Grant discovered the magnitude of Thomas's victory, he quickly changed his mind.) Thomas died of a stroke in 1870 while still on active duty. In the entire Civil War, he never lost a battle or a movement.

Throughout his career, Thomas was methodical and careful, and always prepared. Unlike Grant at Shiloh, he was never surprised by an enemy. Unlike Sherman, he never panicked in battle but always remained calm and focused. He was derided by both men as "Slow Trot Thomas," but as Bobrick shows in this brilliant biography, he was quick to analyze every situation and always knew what to do and when to do it. He was not colorful like Grant and Sherman, but he was widely admired by his peers, and some, such as Grant's favorite cavalry commander, General James H. Wilson, thought Thomas the peer of any general in either army. He was the only Union commander to destroy two Confederate armies in the field.

Although historians of the Civil War have always regarded Thomas highly, he has never captured the public imagination, perhaps because he has lacked an outstanding biographer -- until now. This informed, judicious, and lucid biography at last gives Thomas his due. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (48)

Unneccessarily argumentative, way overstates its case
George Thomas is probably the least-studied senior Civil War general. It's not hard to understand why: he left little in the way of papers behind, his actions are occasionally enigmatic in the extreme, and he died before he could write memoirs, if he had any intention of doing so anyway. That being said, he was one of the most successful generals on the Union side, and he ought to be the subject of a book, here and there. The lack of primary sources, however, appears to cripple such a project from the outset.

It's not like other biographers haven't taken on other similarly reticent subjects. James Robertson did biographies of both A.P. Hill and Stonewall Jackson, and managed to produce readable, interesting books that had a lot of information, while at the same time staying within their scholarship. This proves it's not impossible to write this sort of book, it's just harder. To demonstrate how difficult it is, Benson Bobrick has written a 400-page biography of George Thomas that's so argumentative, opinionated, and over-the-top that it's hard to see what it adds to our understanding of General Thomas, beyond a few family details.

Thomas was a relatively senior officer when the war started, and he naturally was advanced quickly. Bobrick provides a narrative of Thomas' service, from his post as staff officer to Patterson during the Bull Run campaign right through his conduct in the Nashville campaign in 1864-5, that's so biased and incomplete it's just completely out of whack. So when the account starts, the author somehow absolves Patterson (and by extension Thomas) of any responsibility for the escape of Joe Johnston's army from the Shenandoah Valley, which led directly to McDowell's defeat at 1st Bull Run. Pretty much no other historian of the Civil War agrees with this, and so the author proceeds from there, rewriting the history of every battle in which Thomas participated to exalt Thomas himself, and denigrate every one else involved. Sherman, then, is faulted for lazy reconnaisance prior to Shiloh, but his conduct during the battle (often thought to be his best day of the war) is ignored. Grant is a drunkard who just got lucky and wound up in command of the Union's armies because Lincoln didn't understand military strategy, and they were both from Illinois. At the start of the book, the author tells you that Thomas is the only general on either side in the Civil War to completely destroy two armies in battle. I thought about that for a minute. He's presumably referring to Hood's army at Nashville, for which Thomas definitely deserves credit...but what other army could he be referring to. The only thing I could come up with was Crittenden's division, which scattered after Mill Springs. By Bobrick's account, it consisted of 12,000 men, hardly an army. Oh, and Grant induced *three* armies to surrender (Buckner's at Donelson, Pemberton's at Vicksburg, and Lee's at Appomattox C.H.) but who's counting, right?

He makes several good points in his argument in Thomas's favor. The best point, in my opinion, is that Thomas never made a failed grand assault, like Grant's at Vicksburg and Cold Harbor, Lee's at Cemetary Ridge or Malvern Hill, or Sherman's at Chickasaw Bluffs or Kennesaw Mountain. Now technically he did make the assault at Kennesaw Mountain (at Sherman's order) but Sherman gets the blame (and took responsibility at the time and later, for whatever it's worth. This good point, however, is obscured by Bobrick's attempt to denigrate Sherman's and Grant's service, and make Thomas out to be something he wasn't, a sort of transplanted Yankee Napoleon (the author actually says that Nashville ranks with Austerlitz as a complete victory, something that seems more than a bit incredible). By the time I was two-thirds the way through the book I had pretty much lost interest and was impatient for the end, frankly. When Robertson was writing one of his biographies of those Confederate generals who didn't leave much in the way of papers, he made sure you knew the composition of each unit the man commanded. You got a description of the units involved and thumbnail sketches of the commanders who were subordinate to the subject of the biography. With "Master of War" for the most part you know Thomas was a general in the Civil War, and that's about it. At Nashville he tells you who the corps commanders under Thomas were, but during the Atlanta campaign, or at Chattanooga? Nothing, not even a hint who his subordinates were, where the troops came from, nothing.

Just as an aside, there's also the issue of the author's competence as a historian, just recounting things that are facts. So he screws up P.G.T. Beauregard's name, tells you George McClellan (class of '46) graduated from West Point before Thomas (class of '42), and has various other things backwards or confused. He also is selective with facts, so when Grant assaults Vicksburg and loses a lot of troops, it gets mentioned...when Vicksburg surrenders, Grant's triumph there is ignored. By the end of the book, when the author was telling you that Sherman stole the idea for the March to the Sea from Thomas, and that it was a failure anyway, things have gotten so far off the reservation it's no longer worth paying attention to.

I really wanted to like this book. I'm something of a fan of Thomas, and frankly I was looking forward to this book. What a dissappointment!

This book proves Thomas was a great tactician and Leader
I had read another book comparing generals of the North and South and it also came to the conclusion that General Thomas was not only denied recognition for great leadership, strategy, innovation and skill, but should probably be recognized as the greatest general of the War. Many of his strategies could have ended the war much earlier, but because they were denied for various petty reasons, the war continued. His victory at Nashville not only annihilated Hood's army but was the main cause for the ending of the war.He is the only general in the Civil war to have never lost a battle and the only general to have defeated and annihilated two confederate armies. Yet this is almost never mentioned in the history books because of the warp of "history" based on false evidence, political prejudice, jealousy and other intrigues. Let the truth finally come out and let general thomas be recognized for what he really did.

Superb detail, different spin
I have read several books about Sherman but this was my first on Thomas.The author is unashamedly a major partisan for Thomas, and really bashes both Sherman and Grant.Perhaps this is appropriate, as neither was particularly concerned about sending their troops on futile and costly frontal assaults.Grant was especially egregious in this regard, as Bobrick repeatedly points out.
Thomas's life is fascinating, and he would have secured far more recognition had he come from the North and had political allies in Washington.Conversely, had he joined his fellow Virginians in the Confederate cause he would have been one of their most celebrated generals.There are occasional hiccups in the text that appear to be editing glitches, but overall I found it to be the most compelling and fascinating book on the Civil War I have read to date.This may be partly because the protagonist, General Thomas, is relatively fresh figure, and many of the battles are not well known, such as Franklin, Stones Creek, and Nashville. Nevertheless, the author has done a superb job of bringing them to life and shedding new light on the history of the war.

Master of War: The Life of General George H. Thomas
The author spent about half the book attempting to make a case against Grant and Sherman.It seems his point of view was Thomas candle would shine brighter if he blew out the flame on Grant and Shermans. There are much better books available on Thomas.

Master of War
A great under-appreciated American General portrayed with the facts that show his true military and humane greatness.
A super Civil War read. ... Read more

Product Description
The idea of general war was introduced by Arnold Toynbee in his Study of History. In the last quarter of the 20th century, scholars have been studying such wars, though they have differed on the naming and dating of general wars. This study reviews the major assumptions about general wars against the data available in world history. Ultimately, using criteria that had been applied by others to the West, the author found 38 cases of general war, 33 of them from nine other civilizations. It was then possible to test a numbe rof hypotheses generated from a consensus of scholars studying Western wars against this much wider array of cases. ... Read more

Product Description
By the time Hitler declared war on the Soviet Union in 1941, he knew that his military machine was running out of fuel. In response, he launched Operation Blau, a campaign designed to protect Nazi oilfields in Rumania while securing new ones in the Caucasus. All that stood in the way was Stalingrad.

Most accounts of the Battle of Stalingrad have focused on the dismal fate of the German Army. Joel Hayward now chronicles Luftwaffe operations during that campaign, focusing on Hitler's use of the air force as a tactical rather than strategic weapon in close support of ground forces. He vividly details the Luftwaffe's key role as "flying artillery," showing that the army relied on Luftwaffe support to a far greater degree than has been previously revealed and that its successes in the East occurred largely because of the effectiveness of that support.

Hayward analyzes this major German offensive from the standpoint of cooperation between ground and air forces to attain mutually agreed upon objectives. He draws on diaries of both key commanders and regular airmen to recreate crucial battles and convey the drama of Hitler's frustrations and reckless leadership. Ultimately, Hayward shows, the poorly conceived strategies of Hitler, Goering, and others in Berlin doomed the efforts of air commander Wolfram von Richthofen, a courageous and resolute leader attempting to come to grips with an increasingly impossible situation.

Stopped at Stalingrad is a dynamic case study in combined arms warfare that fills in many of the gaps left by other studies of the eastern war. By reconsidering the campaign in the light of a wider body of documentary sources and analyzing many previously ignored events, Hayward provides military historians and general readers a much deeper and more complete understanding of the Battle of Stalingrad and its impact on World War II.

This book is part of the Modern War Studies series.Amazon.com Review
As General MacArthur's air commander in the southwest Pacific,General George C. Kenney has long been regarded as a key to Americanmilitary success in that theater of the Second World War. YetMacArthur's Airman is the first extensive treatment he hasreceived from a historian. Using both official documents and Kenney'sown private papers, Griffith reveals his subject to be a pioneer inthe development of air warfare. Kenney employed flexible tactics tofit local circumstances but retained a consistent belief in thepurpose of air power: to limit an enemy's ability to hurt friendlytroops. This meant controlling the skies and attacking far behind thefront lines. Flanking an enemy is a traditional battle strategy goingback to the days of classical warfare, and Kenney understood that thedevelopment of reliable combat planes provided a critical newopportunity to employ the oldest trick in the book.

Griffith offers a few biographical details on the Canadian-bornKenney, but mostly concentrates on the command-level experience ofairborne warfare, from actual operations to planning missions,gathering intelligence, and maintaining morale. In all, MacArthur'sAirman represents an important contribution to our understandingof the war in the Pacific. --John J. Miller ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

VERY GOOD BOOK!
This book on one of America's finest air generals is long overdue, since the only other significant work on General George C. Kenney is his own book (titled "General Kenney Reports"), which was published in the late 1940's."MacArthur's Airman" is well-researched, superbly written, and full of interesting information about World War II in the Southwest Pacifc Area, especially the air war.However, it does include a few minor flaws:1) there are no photos in the book, and the few maps it contains do not show many of the locations discussed; 2) author Griffith states that one of the many modifications made to Gen Kenney's B-25 bombers was the addition of two more machine guns to the plane's top turret.This would have been impossible, since the turret already contained two guns and there was no room for more.Mr. Griffith was probably referring to the addition of two "packages", each of which contained a pair of .50-caliber machine guns.These 'packages' were mounted to the plane's sides, one just under the pilot's position and the other under the copilot's station; 3) although the book discusses Gen Kenney's early life, his service during World War I, and his assignments between the world wars, it mentions nothing about his post-WWII career.This leaves the reader wondering what happened to one of the Army Air Force's top generals after the Japanese surrender.A summary of General Kenney's postwar activities would have been appropriate, to include his involvement with the establishment of the U.S. Air Force in 1947; his assignment (and problems) as the first commander of the Strategic Air Command; and his final duty as commander of the Air University.Despite these three shortcomings, "MacArthur's Airman" is a must-read for anyone interested in finding out more about Gen George C. Kenney, an innovative, brilliant, and highly respected expert on tactical air warfare.

Somewhat of a dissappointment
I purchased this book with high expectations, but they haven't been met. While there are some interesting facts, it appears that the author depends to a large extent on his own opinion and that of other historians. There are also contradictions - he accuses Kenney of exaggerating certain events, then a few paragraphs later will comment on his military brilliance. It also appears that the author failed to do all of the research he should have. In one instance he refers to a mission in Europe when B-26s went into Holland at low altitude as evidence that Kenney's faith in low-altitude attack was ill-founded. But while the missions - there were actually two - resulted in very heavy losses, about half of the losses were due to operational causes and most of the airplanes shot down were lost to German fighters. Such claims distract from what could have been an excellent book. The author also fails to place the Kenney's decisions in the context of World War II where casualties were expected and accepted, but rather follows the modern military aviation philosophy that casualties of any kind are unacceptable. While I would recommend the book for lack of anything else on the subject, the reader should beware.

A Fine Biography of One of the Less Well-known Air Commanders of World War II
George C. Kenney was one of the most significant air officers of the World War II generation. That is saying quite a lot because such well-known American air commanders as Hap Arnold, Carl Spaatz, Claire Chennault, and Curtis LeMay are also members of that cadre. But Kenney is less well-known than the others. This biography of Douglas MacArthur's air commander in the Pacific Theater is a welcome addition to the literature of air power, rescuing Kenney from obscurity. Born into an elite New England family and educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, rather than West Point, Kenney became enamored with flight during World War I and enlisted in the Army Air Service where he became a pilot. He flew 75 combat missions in Europe and shot down two enemy aircraft. He ended the war as a captain, and received the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star for his valor.

The air arm of the Army during the period between the two world wars was small but filled with young officers fired with a vision of independence based on the possibility of strategic bombing to win future conflicts. Kenney was one of those young men. He served in a variety of positions, concentrating on aeronautical development and its application to warfare and pursuing the chimera of victory solely through air power.

In August 1942 with the United States entering the Second World War less than a year earlier, Kenney assumed command of all allied air forces in the Southwest Pacific, and worked throughout the war as MacArthur's air component commander. Kenney found that meeting MacArthur's stiff requirements was not easy. The Japanese were at first stronger, of course, but the distances in the Pacific, the unique climate, the difficulties of logistics, and the dearth of virtually all resources made every campaign a challenge. His abilities as a leader, his willingness to cut through regulations and to innovate with both tactics and equipment, and his unique conceptions on how to organize forces and mass them for victory were critical to success in the Pacific. For instance, as this biography points out, experimentation with ordnance made possible the unusual but successful tactic of skip-bombing Japanese ships. In addition, Kenney's organizational approach of composite units with bombers, fighters, transports, and all support ingredients ensured that smaller units could conduct effective warfare in the expanses of the Pacific.

In 1946 Kenney became commander of the Strategic Air Command, the central organization charged with nuclear bombardment. In October 1948 he became commandant of the Air University. While in this position in 1949 he published a significant book, "General Kenney Reports," a work available in reprint from the Office of Air Force History, which was not only a memoir of his career in World War II but also an explanation of his theories on air superiority.

All of this and more is explored in this biography by Thomas Griffith. It is well-done and fully worth the time necessary to read and absorb its lessons.

Well written WW II chronicle of Gen George C. Kenney
For a man of whom Gen MacArthur stated "I believe that no, repeat, no officer suggested for promotion to General has rendered more outstanding and brilliant service than Kenney... Nothing that Spaatz or any other airofficer has accomplished in the war compares to what Kenney has contributedand none in my opinion is his equal in ability", surprisingly littlehas been written about this innovative and charismatic air power proponent.Griffith changes that with this well written, fast-paced biography. Whilenot a comprehensive biography, Griffith focuses on Kenney's leadership inthe Southwest Pacific Area during World War II. Taking command of a weary,demoralized group of flyers in which MacArthur had lost confidence, andturning them into an offensive-minded, hard-charging unit was perhapsKenney's greatest victory. Griffith clearly explores Kenney's philosophy ofhow to train and treat his men as well as the five point of his air powerformula. Over and over again Griffith points out how Kenney stuck to hisformula with resultant success against the Japanese war machine. Whilelacking the depth and completeness of an exhaustive biography, Griffith'sbook is nonetheless the best and most balanced account of General GeorgeKenney's life to date; especially regarding his role as air componentcommander in the Southwest Pacific. The rather abrupt ending of the book atthe conclusion of WW II leaves the reader wanting more and perhaps somefuture writer will examine Kenney's post-war life. Regardless, MacArthur'sAirman is an excellent place for one to start any research on this superb,somewhat neglected air commander who was instrumental in turning the tideagainst the Japanese in World War II. ... Read more

Product Description
Historical images of Robert E. Lee and his lieutenants have been shaped to a remarkable degree by former Confederates, who in reminiscences and other writings constructed the Lost Cause interpretation of the conflict.They portrayed Lee as a perfect Christian warrior, Stonewall Jackson as his peerless right arm, and the Army of Northern Virginia as the backbone of Confederate resistance.In this collection of thirteen essays, prominent Civil War historian Gary W. Gallagher explores the effect of Lost Cause arguments on popular perceptions of Lee and his most famous subordinates, astutely examining the ways in which historical memory is created and perpetuated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Lee, His Generals, A War, Remembered
Gary Gallagher is a virtual one man industry of Civil War history, although at times I worry that he is spreading himself a bit thin and in danger of repeating himself. While I at first thought that this was a collection of essays by others that he edited, it is actually a collection of his own essays. One benefit of that fact is that this work offers the reader a chance to see the breadth and depth of this knowledge about this conflict and particularly about its most famous figure - Robert E. Lee. It also offers the opportunity to see beyond the marble man Lee to the real historical man and military leader.

The essays are grouped under four themes - Lee, Lee's Generals, Fighting for Historical Memory, and Distant Reverberations. Within each theme, Gallagher presents essays on Lee as a commander and a leader of men in an unequal struggle; Lee's complex relationships with his key subordinates - both the good and the not so good - with emphasis upon Longstreet, Jackson, Magruder, A P Hill, Ewell, and Early; the identfication of Lee by the creators of the Lost Cause version of Southern history; and finally the legacy of Robert E. Lee and of the Civil War in the age of Ken Burns, Shelby Foote, and a broadly supported battlefield preservation movement (among other Civil War related phenomena including battles over the Confederate battle flag adn the election of Barack Obama - though Gallagher doesn't mention either of these). To my mind this is one of Gallagher's best works and a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the Civil War both as history and cultural phenomenon.

Lee and his generals in war and memory
A collection of essays by Gary Gallagher (not an anthology like many of the other books with his name on them) mostly about Lee, his generals, and Lee's image during and after the war.

Gallagher writes with clear, sensible precision, tending to rationally examine evidence and the arguments of others rather than to leaping to "definite" conclusions or shoehorning the evidence into predetermined pet theories. I found his comments on Ken Burns' The Civil War and on the preservation of battlefields to be interesting, pertinent and something a bit different from the usual historical paper. Other articles here examine Lee and the ideology of the Lost Cause, Confederate leadership at Gettysburg (about which I am in entire agreement with Gallagher's conclusions except that I would be less generous to Hill), the 1862 and 1864 Valley campaigns, and other, often controversial, topics.

Great Detail on Lee, worthy of Douglas Freeman
Excellent book on Lee and his generals. Covers Lee's unique hands off style and his relationships with his senior staff with mini biographies. The best part of the book is how Lee deals with adversity particularly after Longstreet is shot down in the Wilderness, Ewell is relieved at Spotsylvania and Hill becomes bed ridden. Lee has to rise above it all and pick interim successors in a time of crisis with Grant bearing down. Lee has to make crucial personal decisions with limited experienced staff and take a greater role. One of Gallagher's best books.

Thoughtful Essays on the Confederate War Effort
Professor Gary Gallagher is a rarity among writers on the Civil War in his ability to appeal to both scholarly and lay audiences. He shares this ability with Professor James McPherson but with few others. Unlike Professor McPherson, Gallagher's writings concentrate on the Confederate war effort.He brings an obvious sympathy and understanding for his subject without overromanticizing of glorifying it.This is also highly unusual among writers on the Civil War.His essays are informed, through, balanced, and inspiring.They are a pleasure to read.

Professor Gallaher's "Lee and his Generals in War and Memory" (1998) consists of thirteen essays, most of which have been published elsewhere.I think the unifying theme of this collection is Professor Gallagher's attempt to find a middle ground between the "Lost Cause" interpretation of the Confederate war effort and recent, critical and revisionist accounts.

The "Lost Cause" school sees the Southern cause as entirely noble, tends to glorify Robert E. Lee and the valor of the Confederate troops, and attributes the defeat of the Confederacy almost entirely to the Federal's overwhelmingly superior resources and numbers.The revisionist school emphasizes the origins of the Civil War in the institution of slavery, tends to be critical of Lee and his aggressive and costly (in terms of casualties) approach to battle, and emphasizes Union skill and tenacity, among other factors, in finally winning the war.

The first section of Professor Gallagher's book consist of four essays on Lee which both explain the high regard in which he was held in the South while acknowledging mistakes and shortcomings.There is an introductory essay, "Lee and the Southern People" followed by essays on the Seven Days Battles against McClellan, Lee's actions on the second day of Gettysburg, and Lee's role in the Wilderness campaign of May, 1864.

The second part of the book, "Lee's Generals" includes a discussion of Stonewall Jackson's military reputation and how it was in large part deserved but also partly the result of chance and circumstance.In this regard, the section also includes an excellent essay comparing Jackson's 1862 Shenendoah Valley campaign, which was one of Jackson's great successes, with Early's 1864 campaign, generally regarded as a disaster. Professor Gallagher offers some unusual insights.This section also includes a thoughtful essay on A.P. Hill's and Richard Ewell's controversial roles during the first day of Gettysburg, as well as essays on Longstreet and John Magruder.

The third section of this book covers the history of Southern interpretations of the War, particularly the "Lost Cause" school of interpretation.Gallagher presents a well-balanced account of Jubal Early, whose writings became predominant in the "Lost Cause school" and a discussion of the Civil War letters frequently attributed to George Pickett -- of Pickett's charge on the third day of Gettysburg. Gallagher describes the history of these letters and concludes, in common with most scholars today, that they are in fact forgeries written by Pickett's wife.

A final section of the book offers a discussion of Ken Burns' "Civil War" series on public TV, which has much good to say about it, and Professor Gallagher's assessment of the continued importance of Civil War battlfield preservation to help educate the public about our Nation's history and about this seminal conflict.

I learned a great deal about the Civil War and about Confederate leadership from Professor Gallagher's fine collection of essays.

A CIVIL APPROACH
Dr. Gallagher brings Civil War discussion into the modern era by using first rate scholarship and sound reasoning to evaluate many of the lingering controversies. Eschewing many of the ideologically driven, axe to grind efforts that often taint Civil War history, Gallagher has produced a balanced account of such topics as "Lost Cause" Historiography, the Longstreet blame game, and a candid assessment of Lee. Gallagher, a historian from the Univ. of Virginia, has attained one of those rare feats in historical writing by compiling a work that is congenial reading for both the academic and the layman. Seeking neither to glorify or desecrate some of the luminaries of the conflict, the author relies on the evidence, and letting such evidence speak for itself. There is also thoughtful commentary on the current state of historical sites, and the flood of film and print fiction works. The latter is particularly instructive, as it commends the likes of Burns and Shaara for promoting interest, while cautioning about the Eastern Theater biases contained in such productions. Teachers seeking an excellent supplemental reading to Civil War courses can do no better than LEE AND GENERALS. It isa masterful job of separating the fact from the fiction and should remain an enduring contribution to Civil War Historiography. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Accessible but superficial biography
Duane Schultz's "Custer: Lessons in Leadership" is certainly an accessible, fast-reading biography of George Custer, although I would question the accuracy of the subtitle "Lessons in Leadership".Any such "lessons" to be taught would require far more analysis and discussion than are present in this book.the Kirkus Reviews blurg on the back cover proclaims: "Provides about as much information as the average reader needs to know about the flamboyant general".And that would seem to be accurate.Schultz's book does provide a chronological biographical framwork for Custer's life, although arguably his Civil War career is too briefly described.And the book does serve as something of a corrective for that knee-jerk ultra-negative picture presented of Custer so often in the popular media, but it is far from providing a real understanding of the man and his generalship, which encompassed both astounding success in the Civil War and ultimate failure in Plains Indian warfare.Probably the most insightful part of the book in this regard is the brief foreword written by Gen. Wesley K. Clark.

Anyone really wishing for any kind of detailed description and analysis of Custer's strengths and weaknesses as a military leader would be better served by reading, for example, Jeffrey Wert's "Custer: The Controversial Life of George Armstrong Custer".As an introduction to Custer, however, for the reader who knows nothing beyond tiny snippets learned from television and movies, Schult's book would serve quite adequately.It reads easily and is factually accurate.

Of questionable necessity . . .
I spent about 15-20 minutes looking through this book today at the bookstore.If you are new to Custer then perhaps it is a 3-star book.But if you have been reading about Custer and the Indian wars for several years (or many years), you will notice that the bibliography is rather brief and contains titles that you have already read.The subtitle is "Lessons in Leadership"; however, in looking through the book, it was nothing more than an ordinary biography, and appeared to be a very light treatment at that.I'm not sure why this book was written, other than to try and cash in on the Custer name.Buy it if you must own every book with Custer in the title, otherwise take a look at the bibliography and read some of those books instead. ... Read more

Product Description
Terry de la Mesa Allen was one of the most remarkable soldiers in American military history. He failed out of West Point twice, yet ended up as a fearless battalion commander during World War I— personally leading patrols into no-man’s-land.

During World War II, following hard and successful combat in North Africa and Sicily, Major General Allen was “fired” by Gen. Omar Bradley from command of the army’s 1st Infantry Division for lax personal and unit discipline. Within a year, he was back in combat in command of the crack 104th Division Timberwolves, the first unit to reach the Elbe River and link up with the Soviet Union’s Red Army—an event that marked the practical end of the war in the Europe. Loved by his soldiers and barely tolerated by the high command, Allen compiled one of the most successful combat records of any American general in any war. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Decent Biography of a True Fighting General
Gerald Astor's "Terrible Terry Allen" is a good but uneven treatment of one of the most enigmatic American commanders of World War II.Because Terry Allen never rose higher than a division commander, in one way it is unusual that a biography was written about him; but after reading this book, you'll understand why this man (who commanded two separate divisions in the European Theater and was a true fighting general) deserves a biography.

Astor tells the story of Terry Allen's life, from a brief introduction with his parents' background (his father was also an Army officer), briefly discusses his childhood, and then focuses on Terry Allen's military career - which included service during the Mexican incursion and truly heroic service as a battalion commander in World War I.Of course the majority of the book discusses Allen's World War II service.In World War II, Allen served as the commander of the First Infantry Division (from which he was relieved during the Sicily campaign, a move that has been discussed at length but never fully explained) and then the commander of the 104th Infantry Division during its train-up in the United States and its campaign in Europe.

Astor sometimes tells this story by quoting from letters that Allen wrote him while at war.At other times he is notably silent on what Allen was thinking or feeling.Sometimes, the book is more of a chronicle of the units that Allen was leading than of his actions.This is of course is the result of writing about someone who was only a division commander:his papers were not preserved like others were; his aides and staff did not keep their own detailed memoirs; and he was not a prolific letter writer and diarist the way some commanders (such as Eisenhower and Patton) were.

Also of note:this book had a good collection of maps (very important in any military history work) but the paperback binding was beginning to separate during just one reading.

Despite these drawbacks - many outside of the author's control and a natural product of writing on someone without a large body of documentary evidence -- there isn't another good resource on the life of Terry Allen.For this reason, I recommend this book to anyone interested in World War II.

Missing in action
First, full disclosure.Had my father been home when I was born, I'd likely have been named Terry Allen Aubrey. But my father was fighting with the 104th (Timberwolves) at the time.The first platoon sergeant he'd had was wounded and home in time to name his son Terry Allen Hodges.There is a Viet Nam memorial in Ionia, Michigan, carrying, among others, the name of Terry Allen Towne.
Astor does not tell us why men would name their sons after their division commander.
The reality is that the Timberwolves knew what fighting was, and they knew the cost they paid, and they knew how much worse it was in the other divisions.Terry Allen saved their lives.
Part of it was night fighting.Night fighting, particularly before the development of night vision devices, is not like daylight fighting but in the dark.When I was at Ft. Benning, the introduction to the extensive block of instruction on night fighting was a lengthy reading from the Timberwolves' after-action reports.During a break, I told the instructor that I didn't need to be sold.I'd learned it at my father's knee.
The instructor told me that there's always somebody in each course who tells him that. The Timberpups' fathers can tell their sons.
But Astor doesn't tell his readers.Generals can worry themselves sick about casualties, but Terry Allen did something nobody else did and got enormous results.The connection is, I think, inadequately made.
At one point, Allen, dismissing his prospects for promotion to something above division level, says he was jumped past well over a hundred more senior officers to get the First Division and, implicitly, has that many enemies. Logically, that means he's at the end of his career.
What Astor misses completely is what caused the highest levels of the Army to reach past well over a hundred senior officers, all of them well qualified, and pick Allen.
In the small, interwar club of the old professional Army, everybody knew everybody.Talents, weaknesses, vices, and baggage were all common knowledge.Astor tells us that Allen was occasionally reprimanded for sloppy personal appearance.That is practically inexcusable.Turning out immaculately in the prescribed uniform is reflexive in any private, and doubly so in officers who've passed through the demanding, detail-oriented, infuriating inspections of various commissioning schools. Not looking "right" is almost unimaginable.
Allen was known to have a drinking problem.In the Army, this is not as bad as having a hangover problem.A company commander I had once remarked that there used to be "twenty-seven day" sergeants, but then (1970) no officer could afford to indulge a three-day drunk following payday.Allen, for whatever spectacle he might have made of himself, apparently showed up for work.
During the interwar period, Allen spent some time in the Southwest in the cavalry, and some time at the Infantry School at Ft. Benning.
Like many of his colleagues, he was loth to see the end of horse cavalry, and even drew up a table of organization and equipment for modern cavalry.He specified light automatic weapons not then existing.I have no idea how this was received by those to whom he showed it.They may have seen it as an exercise in nostalgia (and perhaps shared a laugh or two), or they could have thought Allen was hopeless.Due to an imprudent investment, Allen was trailed by a debt problem which he did not completely pay off for many years.Taking care of this was a constant worry in an era where bouncing a check could get an officer dismissed from the service.
Commanding a peacetime unit of any size offers the officer in question a great opportunity.He may--must--let his subordinates do the work. "Work them hard but let them work," is a piece of advice that goes back a very long way.He must keep track of results, keep track of details, but keep a distance from the day-to-day work.With the time freed from the grind, he must, if he is to progress, look at a bigger picture.How can he improve his unit?What other ideas can he put into useful form and "sell" to his commanders?What contingencies can he foresee and plan for?
Allen had that opportunity and apparently made the most of it. For later on, Marshall and others reached past scores of more senior officers, officers who did not worry about debt, who did not drink to excess, who were impeccable in their dress, who were also well qualified, and picked Allen.But we have no idea how Allen showed himself superior in potential to so many colleagues, or how much better he had to be to overcome his faults.
As an idea of the scale, the Timberwolves were the 104th Infantry division.There were a few more, possibly up to about 110.There were a dozen armored divisions, and with everything, possibly almost two hundred division-equivalent formations, not counting the Air Corps.
So Allen jumped over a number of officers sufficient to command more than half the two-star commands available.
WHY?WHY?
HOW did he impress Marshall and company?
We have no clue.
I find that the biggest disappointment in the book.
However, Astor gives us a glimpse of what it means to be a professional officer when he relates Allen's WW II burdens.It might be thought that commanding an Infantry division in combat is enough.But Allen still had his occasional ventures with booze and his debt. His wife, not surprisingly, was more and more concerned for him, like millions of others, and needed reassurance.His son needed encouraging letters.His sister, an Army nurse, was undergoing a slow nervous breakdown and Allen was trying by letters to manage as best he could her situation.
That Allen could be a superb division commander during this time is testament to the hard, almost brutal, mental and emotional control a professional officer must have over himself.
As another reviewer noted, general officers whose highest command was a division in World War II are rarely the subjects of biography.What set Allen apart is not shown.
Yes, Allen was a good commander, according to Astor.Why men would name their sons after him is left to those men and their sons.Those not in that privileged group are not enlightened by Astor's book.
Having said this, I must say that it is an excellent book about the career of a fine officer, a good look at part of our history, and a lesson that personalities matter, even in the structured climate of the military.Men, as one of Heinlein's characters remarks, are not potatoes.They are not interchangeable.And which one of them happens to be at a particular nexus of events makes a huge difference.
In this, Astor is crystal clear.

Terrible Terry Alan: Underdog
I'm actually surprised Terry Allen was promoted to general. He didn't graduate from West Point, his discipline of his troops was lax in comparison to other generals, and he obviously wasn't in the club with Bradley, Ike, and Patton. While Patton did stand up for him in the invasion of Sicily, Ike wanting to can him, Patton insisted he remain in command of his Big Red One. Patton would do things like pee into Gen Allen's slit trench in front of Allen's men, effectively calling him a coward in not so many words. Two of Allen's men took their tommy guns off of safe into fire mode with an audible click at which point Patton left.I would recommend this book to any WW II buff.

Best U.S. Combat Commander of W.W.II
"The Greatest Soldier of World War Two" - This is one of the many accolades said of Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen by other Generals who knew him.He has also been credited with being the best U.S. combat commander of WWII.There are quite a few similarities between General George S. Patton and Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen in that they both:
· trained at West Point (Allen did not graduate, but finished his education at the Catholic University),
· served in the U.S. Cavalry during World War I as officers,
· became generals during World War II,
· were aggressive in their campaigns and always attacked,
· lost commands for "political" reasons,
· and both were very controversial.

There were also definite differences between the two:
Whereas Patton loved the limelight, and never missed an opportunity to distinguish himself, Allen was very low key, shied from publicity, and who liked his liquor.
Patton graduated from West Point, Allen flunked out twice.

Known as aggressive fighters, Patton was not terribly concerned with casualties but Allen was continually looking to keep the casualty rate as low as possible.
While Patton and Allen were both outspoken, Patton tried to play the "Army" game...Allen did not play the game, which irritated his superiors.

Allen was loved and respected by the average "G.I." in both Army Divisions. He was considered the enlisted man's General.Terry Allen was the only American WWII general to train and lead into combat two Army Divisions:
The 1st Division (a.k.a. the famous "Big Red One"), and the 104th Infantry Division ("The Timberwolves").Under his command, the 1st Division helped conquer Sicily.Later, the 104th Division, led by Terry Allen was the first Army Division to make contact with the Russian Army (they met somewhere between the Mulde and Elbe Rivers).
The 104th Division under Terry Allen, set a record of 195 days of consecutive combat contact against the German Army.

While Gerald Astor has corrected a historical oversight by writing Terry Allen's biography, he definitely fell short of the excellent mark of a great book.I found the book to be slow moving during the first few chapters of "Terrible Terry Allen",and dwelled too much on minute details (such as the letters to his wife), while completely skipping over very important events in his life. While it is still a good book in that it describes a very controversial and brilliant military man, it comes up short describing "the total man".I would normally rate it at 3 stars, but give it a 4th only because it is the only book of its kind on Terry Allen.

Terrible Book about Terry Allen
It should not be surprising that a book written by someone who is trained neither as a soldier nor a historian, about a consummate warrior like Major General Terry Allen, disappoints. It is most unfortunate, however, as Allen was one of the real characters among the US Army leadership in World War II and his life must have been a fascinating one.
This book reads like a first draft --one that cries out for a firm, knowledgeable editor who will cut the extraneous material and force the author to answer all the questions that could make this a great book. As only one example, before World War I Allen was sent as a new 2nd Lieutenant to the 14th Cavalry Regiment on the Mexican border. What was a cavalry regiment in 1914? How was it organized, trained,equipped and led? What was life in the 14th like? Where did the 14th Cavalry go and what did it do in the years Allen was with it? There is plenty of secondary material out there to answer these questions but scarcely a word in this book.
Allen claimed he participated in the last mounted charge with sabers by the US cavalry. This is a STORY. What happened? When? Where? Why? How? The author makes a silly try at connecting Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa's attack on US troops in Columbus, New Mexico, with inflated body-counts in Vietnam but the writer passes up another STORY and one relevant to Allen's development as a combat leader. Was Allen at Columbus? What happened there? What did Allen do?
Throughout we get page after tiresome page of Allen's letters to his wife, but little context. Why? What is the point? Before taking over the legendary 1st Infantry Division, The Big Red One, in the early days of World War II Allen commanded the all-black Second Cavalry Division which included 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments -- the famous "Buffalo Soldiers." What effect did Allen have on the 2nd Cavalry Division? What effect did the division with its strong cadre of long-service, regular Army, African-American troopers and NCOs have on Allen? We are never told. Finally, for reasons that elude this reviewer, we get the full story of Allen's son's defeat by the Viet Cong as a battalion commander in the 1st Division in Vietnam. This in a book that gives us little of the important detail of when, where and how The Big Red One fought across North Africa and Sicily under General Allen. Why? Where is that editor?
We are left with a pradox: a polo-playing, loud-mouthed, combative drunk, who did not study his profession in peacetime, and refused to instill and demand discipline in war. Yet this officer trained and led into battle two of the best US Army combat divisions in World War II? How could that be? Sadly, we get few insights from this book. ... Read more

Product Description
These war memoirs are Duke's forceful recollections of his participation in the Civil War. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Great Inside View of the CSA
Basil Duke was a former editor of the Southern Bivouac and helped spread pro-Confederate literature after the Civil War.His Reminiscences offer an inside loom at the various facets of the Confederacy.Buke looks at the truth and beliefs about CSA Generals such as Albert Sidney Johnson and Braxton Bragg.He talks about what the Confederate people thought during the war, and what has happened during Reconstruction.

The Civil War scholar should have a copy of this book to refer to; it is an accessible and easy to obtain primary source. ... Read more

Product Description
Lewis provides a comprehensive, impartial examination of Argentina's "Dirty War." He analyzes the causes, describes the ideologies that motivated both sides, and explores the consequences of all-or-nothing politics. Although the military and guerrillas seem marginal today, Lewis questions whether the Dirty War is really over. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Book
I have always been interested to know why the country is such a mess. This book explains why. It does a good job of describing the different sides and motivations of adversaries during the civil war.

Thorough and informative
Guerrillas and Generals is probably one of the best English language descriptions of chaos that engulfed Argentina in the last half of the 20th century. Many of the descriptions of Argentina's dirty war under the military junta that lasted from 1976 to 1983 tend to focus those years alone and give scant attention to what took place before or after.The first half of this book deals with the years leading up to the junta's ascension to power. Thanks the class cleavages exacerbated by populist President Juan Peron and the influences of the cold war and leftist nationalism that swept through Latin America in the post-WWII period, Argentina was facing a serious terrorist revolutionary movement. The 1960s and 1970s experienced an explosion of college attendance in Argentina and campuses became hot beds of radicalism. By itself, that isn't shocking since it was true in many other countries but this occurred under authoritarian governments that, for whatever reason, made little or no effort reign in the faculty and administration that not only tolerated revolutionary radicalism but encouraged it.

The revolutionary groups, the Monteneros and ERP were not just idealistic young people fighting for the rights of the poor; they were committed leftists with a strong predilection for violence that a series of military and civilian governments had failed to quell.The hard ball tactics to crush the rebels did not begin with the military coup of March 24, 1976 that overthrew erratic President Isabel Peron (who assumed the Presidency when husband Juan died in 1974).Peron's government had given the military orders to "annihilate" the rebel groups, however, the harshness of tactics and the scope of those targeted greatly expanded after the coup.

Lewis is not sentimental about either side, and thus he presents an unbiased description of events. In the process, he takes down some of fashionable myths about the period. First, there is very little evidence the United States had much of anything to do with the junta. While the Administration of U.S. President Gerald Ford didn't raise many objections to the military's actions, the junta had a frosty relationship with Jimmy Carter.Certainly Ford's Secretary of State Henry Kissinger glossed over the junta's actions but the junta received neither help nor inspiration from the Americans. Rather, their guide was the French counterinsurgency strategies in Vietnam and Algeria, which is interesting, given they knew neither strategy was ultimately successful. Nor was the junta a promoter of neoliberal economic policies, as is sometimes suggested by the socialist left, as it carried on the interventionist policies of governments before it.

Another aspect that should surprise developed world readers accustomed to civilian control of the armed forces was the status of the military in Argentina.Apart from its tactics in the dirty war, it seemed to operate in its own fiefdom well before the 1970s and was frequently at war with itself.The book is replete with descriptions of units taking up arms against units of the same military. It may have been this sense of detachment from the society as a whole that allowed the military leaders to believe they could act with such impunity when they had control of the government.

Concise and correct, but not perfect
I read this concise and correct book, while I was in Argentina, last year.This book is concise, correct, but even so, it remains whith a few failures.The main failure of this book is to have a bias, against Argentina's generals.This book really recognizes that Argentina was in a war, with strong and sadistic guerrillas, but failures, when it doesn't shows what other thing must Argentina's generals would did.The "desaparecidos" could be just executed under a legal system?The Argentina's dirty war began years before Argentina's culp in 1976 and this shows this.
Even with some failures, this book remains the best, I ever read about Argentina's dirty war.

The one book you should read about the Dirty War
I have studied the Argentine Dirty War for over 20 years, and if I were to recommend one book to anyone to read on the subject it would be this one.There are two things that Lewis does which really set this book apart from the literature on the subject so far.

First, Lewis describes and makes sense out of all of the background starting with Peron that led up to the Dirty War.This really helps place the Dirty War in its proper context so the reader can comprehend why such terrible things occurred later.He then gives a full account of all the atrocities committed by the Argentine military. In this way he does not exonerate or excuse the Dirty War, but does make sense of why things happened the way they did.

Second, Lewis points out that there really was a war going on.The guerrillas were active, were powerful, were committing acts of terrorism and were seriously threatening to destabilize the Argentine state.A lot of anti-military sources try to portray the security threat posed by the guerrillas as a figment of the military's imagination.This was simply not true.There was a real war going on and Lewis shows that this was the case.Lewis does not excuse the ways the military chose to deal with the guerrilla threat, but does explain why rational and normal men would choose to commit such horrorific acts.In their mind they were in a desperate life and death struggle, and they acted accordingly.In retrospect they made some very bad choices, but Lewis helps explain how it all seemed rational and necessary at the time.

This book is balanced, honest and cuts through a lot of the cherished popular myths.It is fair to both sides of the conflict.Finally it is well written and flows well.I got through it in two days.This book will become a classic text on the Argentine Dirty War. ... Read more

Product Description
ivil War Generals 2 expanded on Impressions' earlier title, Robert E. Lee: Civil War General. CWG2 features turn-based play on a hex map and artwork by Mort Künstler. Battle as the boys in blue or gray in the Mississippi Valley or on the Atlantic Coast. Play an individual battle, a mini-campaign or the entire war. Create your own customized battlefields with the new terrain editor, and challenge foes around the world to Internet, modem, or network war. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

great game
hey, i love this game.i've played it since i was a kid.i'm now running it on win xp pro on my macbook pro and it's working just fine !

Rarely a game stands the test of time as well
Civil War Generals 2 is a turn-based strategy game, where you play a campaign of tactical level battles. Unlike in many games, the results of the battles actually affect the course of war. Depending on the result of the battle (casualties, supply captured from the enemy, victory or defeat) you will get to choose from different lists for the next battle, you will have different amount of resources to arm your men (supplying then with better rifles, for example), and you will have different number of troops available. Play well/badly enough, and you will attack/defend Washington D.C.

The graphics and sounds are very poor by modern standards, of course, but completely adequate. Who plays turn-based strategy games to see nice graphics? (Some might play Battleground series to hear nice songs, though, although it would be easier just to play the .wav files.)

The controls are easy to use, and at the level of tactical battles the fighting is slightly tuned-up version of the Battleground series. The troops get tired and scared, and may use all their ammo, if you do not have enough supplies.

I recently began playing a campaign again. It is still a great improvement compared to most of its successors, not to mention its predecessors.

A great game, a great play. Together with Sid Meier's Gettysburg perhaps the greatest civil war game ever, and undoubtedly one of the best tactical games.

I've played this since I was 12! What a game!
Well, I've recently been going through my old PC Game stack when I came across this game.It was heavily scratched but loaded great so I decided to try playing this game I loved so much again, and it WORKS!Thank God because it's practically a collector's item now!

The game reminds me of a board game with the hexagonal approach to everything, and the battle reports, and short videos are a joy.I love even creating my own battles!This game will never EVER get old!If you don't care about gory graphics, but moreso the strategy behind it all, This game is for you!

I can't believe how much it is! Thank God my disc works still!!!

Civil War buffs delight
This computer game has provided me many, many hours of enjoyment over the years. Sierra, the developer, ceased to exist and when my older disk became corrupted, I despared of finding a replacement. I was so pleased to find Amazon still had the CD available, and while a little pricey, it was well worth it to obtain. The game is excellent in that each episode, whether an individual battle or an entire campaign is always different and the AI included is surprisingly good for a program that can run on even Win95 era computers. My new Gateway laptop also runs it fine, but one must select Win95 or 98 for it to operate properly within XP.

Very Good Turn-Based Strategy Game
In my opinion, Civil War 2 is the best turn-based strategy game I have ever played.While I prefer real-time strategy games (hence the 4 star rating) like the Sid Meier series, Civil War 2 has plenty of battles to choose from.

Indeed, with almost 50 different engagements, just about all of the major Civil War engagements are covered.Since the terrain features are clearly marked, players can determine which route to take to fight, manuever, or retreat.

The game manual that accompanies the game is very informative and easy to follow and helps the new player learn the game and the veteran player develop stronger strategies.

All in all, if you prefer a turn-based Civil War strategy game, then this one is for you. ... Read more

Product Description

During World War II, U.S. Army generals often maintained diaries of their activities and the day-to-day operations of their command. These diaries have proven to be invaluable historical resources for World War II scholars and enthusiasts alike. Until now, one of the most historically significant of these diaries, the one kept for General Courtney H. Hodges of the First U.S. Army, has not been widely available to the public. Maintained by two of Hodges's aides, Major William C. Sylvan and Captain Francis G. Smith Jr., this unique military journal offers a vivid, firsthand account detailing the actions, decisions, and daily activities of General Hodges and the First Army throughout the war. The diary opens on June 2, 1944, as Hodges and the First Army prepare for the Allied invasion of France. In the weeks and months that follow, the diary highlights the crucial role that Hodges's often undervalued command -- the first to cross the German border, the first to cross the Rhine, the first to close to the Elbe -- played in the Allied operations in northwest Europe. The diary recounts the First Army's involvement in the fight for France, the Siegfried Line campaign, the Battle of the Bulge, the drive to the Roer River, and the crossing of the Rhine, following Hodges and his men through savage European combat until the German surrender in May 1945. Popularly referred to as the "Sylvan Diary," after its primary writer, the diary has previously been available only to military historians and researchers, who were permitted to use it at only the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, the U.S. Army Center for Military History, or the U.S. Army Military History Institute. Retired U.S. Army historian John T. Greenwood has now edited this text in its entirety and added a biography of General Hodges as well as extensive notes that clarify the diary's historical details. Normandy to Victory provides military history enthusiasts with valuable insights into the thoughts and actions of a leading American commander whose army played a crucial role in the Allied successes of World War II.

Customer Reviews (1)

Best Primary Source Since The Patton Papers
_Normandy to Victory: The War Diary of General Courtney H. Hodges and the First US Army_ will no doubt be acclaimed as the best primary source contribution since Martin Blumenson's two-volume _The Patton Papers_. This daily log kept by Lt. Gen. Courtney H. Hodges' aide Major William Sylvan (& Capt. Francis G. Smith Jr.), is often noted as the Sylvan diary in countless histories from D-Day to VE-Day. From numerous volumes in the US Army official history in World War II (commonly called "The Green Books"), to seminal carvings by well known ETO historians like Martin Blumenson, Charles B. MacDonald, and Russell F. Weigley, the Sylvan diary has been indispensible for gaining insight into the operations of First US Army. Now, John T. Greenwood has transcribed and painstakingly edited this monumental source into book form, for serious researchers and interested readers alike. .

The original copy of the Sylvan diary is housed at the Eisenhower Library in Abilene, Kansas, with photo-copy versions at US Army Military History Institute at Carlisle, PA, and National Archives and records Administration (NARA) II at College Park, Maryland. Locating the latter copy versions has, at times, frustrated researchers when staff at Carlisle claims only NARA has it, and vice-versa.

Greenwood has done a marvelous job editing the Sylvan diary. In the Introduction, he states that the diary is "in edited form" but he is unclear if any portions have been edited out. The daily entries start on June 2, 1944 and end on May 7, 1945, indicating that it is most likely intact. He has arranged the daily logs into topical chapters covering every major campaign from D-Day, the breakout from Normandy, The Huertgen Forest, The Battle of the Bulge, the Remagen Bridge crossings of the Rhine River to the link-up with the Russian forces. Army headquarters were kept informed of the big picture of events taking place outside their sphere of operations, so news of Operations MARKET-GARDEN and The landings in southern France (ANVIL-DRAGOON), among others are also injected. As with all HQ documents the entries are often concise and cover the daily operations of corps, division, and sometimes regiments throughout the entire drive of First Army across Europe. The logs also give insight to Hodges daily activities, command style, and a full range of problems confronting an Army headquarters in the field. Surprisingly, in spite of the choppiness of the original writing style, the dairy entries are quite readable. Within the text, Greenwood corrects misspelled words and when only an individual's last name was used, provides the person's military rank and full name in brackets alongside the original. In copious endnotes, he adds factual information for clarity and a biographical sketch of nearly every person mentioned in the diary, but purposely leaves out opinions, arguments, historical debates and controversies. This tendency to provide only the facts, gives the biographical sketches a dull encyclopedia entry flavor which spills over into the short biography of Courtney H. Hodges that opens the book.

The book itself is handsomely bound utilizing high quality paper. There are about 298 pages of diary and with intro, Hodges bio, notes, bibliography, and index total about 575 pages. A few West Point style maps of the major campaigns and a high glossy photo section containing many photographs not usually seen in other ETO histories rounds out the book.

Military historians have long been aware that the role of General Hodges has remained hidden in the shadows of more flamboyant commanders like General Patton and British Field Marshal Montgomery. The accomplishments of First Army are certainly undeservingly over-shadowed by that of Patton's famous Third Army. This slanted view is beginning to change. In _A Command Post at War: First Army Headquarters in Europe 1943-1945_, David W. Hogan Jr. (2000) relies heavily on the Sylvan diary in his well researched tome. Now, thanks to John T. Greenwood the Sylvan diary and the role of Hodges and his First Army will reach a wider audience and the verdict of history may be overturned. The significance of this volume cannot be overstressed. Very highly recommended.


... Read more

Product Description
Although he never achieved the renown of Ulysses S. Grant or Robert E. Lee, General Alexander Hays was one of the great military men of the Civil War. Born July 8, 1819, in Franklin, Pennsylvania, Hays graduated from West Point and served with distinction during the Mexican War. When the Civil War began a few years later, it was no surprise that Hays immediately volunteered and was given the initial rank of colonel with a later meritorious promotion to general. Hays was also known for his concern for his men, a fact that no doubt contributed to the acclaim which he received after his death on May 5, 1864, at the age of 44. From West Point to the Civil War, this biography takes a look at Hays’s life, concentrating—with good cause—on his military career. Personal correspondence and contemporary sources are used to complete the picture of a complex man, devoted husband and father, and gifted and dedicated soldier. ... Read more

Product Description
From his first court martial as a cadet at West Point through his dismissal from the United States Army at the age of 49, Justus McKinstry made his career through outright cunning and manipulation of the legal system. Graduating from West Point in 1838, he eventually landed a long-sought-after position in the quartermaster corps. During his service here he took advantage of the extraordinary wartime circumstances to betray the public trust and make a profit for himself in the guise of acquiring much needed supplies. He was brought before a court of inquiry or a court martial six times during his nefarious career, yet only one time were charges initiated from within the Army itself. The final charges—once again initiated from a source outside the Army—brought his crimes to light and resulted in his dismissal from the service. This biography takes a look at the forces within the life of Brigadier General Justus McKinstry that shaped him into the man he eventually became. It briefly discusses his upbringing as well as his unprecedented six years at West Point and his service during the Second Seminole and Mexican wars. The bulk of the text, however, concentrates on his Civil War commission and his duties as an officer of the quartermaster corps, especially his position as Chief Quartermaster of the Department of the West during the summer and fall of 1861. Special emphasis is placed on the ways in which the system itself failed McKinstry, bringing into question the ability of the Army to police itself. Sources incorporate an abundance of official records from the time period, including a transcript of McKinstry’s final court martial. ... Read more

Product Description
The men, the minds, and the military tactics of Nazi Germany that would challenge the world to war.

In 1940, as Nazi Germany spread its wings of war, France stood secure in the knowledge that they possessed the largest, most formidable, and best-equipped army in Europe. France also had a stalwart ally in Britain and the support of Holland and Belgium. But they were all about to face a new kind of enemy who fought a new kind of war.

In this book, expert military strategist Bevin Alexander examines the groundbreaking martial concepts developed by three brilliant generals- Erwin Rommel, Erich von Manstein, and Heinz Guderian. Their plan was to unleash the power of the tank, grouping them into juggernauts that would slam into-and through-enemy lines, as aircraft supported them and ground forces swept in behind them. It was the Blitzkrieg. And it alerted the world that the deadly might of Germany could no longer be ignored... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not bad, title slightly misleading
A decent in-depth treatment of the successful German campaign against the Western Allies in France and the Benelux countries in 1940. Goes into a fair amount of detail of how the German victory was primarily the result of the advanced use of mobile armor combined with precision airstrikes coordinated with Stuka dive-bombers (mentions repeatedly how better communications, in the form of widespread radios which actually worked, was a key part of the "Blitzkrieg" strategy. Also the quickness with which dive-bombers could be used as opposed to heavy artillery [which had to be brought up] was a new point for me). Goes into a fair amount of technical detail comparing and constrasting German and Allied armor with such statistics of armor thickness, ability of main cannon to penetrate enemy armor, and so on (interestingly the French tanks were generally better than the German, but were misapplied [in too small units and in static forms]).

Goes into (for me) too much detail regarding "chain of command" and "unit identifying"-type of information, but may appeal to military geeks who wish to track movements on gameboards, etc. Note this is specifically about this one campaign, there is no other discussion of any other German front during World War II, despite the general title. In addition, as the above reviewer noted, the three generals referred to in the subtitle are Erich von Manstein, Heinz Guderian and Erwin Rommel.

Spends a fair amount of time discussing the political and cultural reasons for the inability of the Western Allies to conceive of the nature of the German assault--in a nutshell, victory bred complacency while defeat bred innovation. In what was new to me, even Hitler had be strongly convinced of the need to gamble on a highly mobile thrust through the Ardennes--like his adversaries, he thought primarily in terms of the static trench warfare of World War One. In addition the defensive mentality of the French cannot be underestimated, although this is no way impugns their bravery at a personal level. Thus Hitler's fearfulness (along with many of his generals) regarding his army's exposed flanks led him in part to let the British Expeditionary Force (along with some French and other troops) escape back to the U.K., a decision the author believes cost Hitler the chance to force Britain to surrender (many others have argued the same, although slightly less categorically). In addition noted the numreous occasions (more than I had realized) when German generals disobeyed direct orders to keep the offensive going (in particular Rommel), and to what extent the success of the German Army was dependent on these "mavericks". Finally also discusses the radicalness (for the time) of the German airborne assaults on the Benelux countries, and how this initially captured the Western imagination and led in part to the erroneous conclusion that the northern German assault (rather than the one through the Ardennes) was the main one.

Strangely (to me) does not mention the fact that Rotterdam was bombed in part *after* the Netherlands had officially surrendered, also lists the date of the destruction of that city as May 13, 1940 (the Wikipedia article on it says May 14). Also should be noted that despite its somewhat salacious title, the book in no way addresses political questions at a moral level, or references the Holocaust in any way (in other words, is strictly a work of military history).

Would have given it 3 1/2 stars if I could have, gave it three instead of four because of the excessive military minutaie which make it a tougher read.

Formula for a successful invasion
Bevin Alexander presents an extremely interesting book detailing the successful invasion of France in the beginning days of WWII.
There are pictures, mainly taken by the Germans, throughout the text which add appeal and there are informative maps.Some of the maps show in an outstandingway the extraordinary accomplishment of especially Rommel's 7th Panzer Division's 4 day dash across Belgium and into France and then the 2 day drive through France to Cherbourg. A picture of the British forces lined up on the beach of Dunkirk is probably one of the greatest examples of the British habit of queuing - amazing to see this illustration of columns of men waiting to be rescued, in orderly lines snaking across the sands.

There are contrasts of the military style of the Allies and the Germans in their movements and their use of airpower. The utilization ofStukas is especially covered. The 3 leading German generals; Erich von Manstein, Heinz Guderlain and Erwin Rommel are given the credit for the success of the German plan. Much space is devoted to the tactics of Rommel.

The incursion into France, Belgium and Holland is covered step by step, minute by minute - explaining the military philosophy of both sides. There are good explanations given on why the Germans allowed the escape of the British Expeditionary Force from the beaches of Dunkirk
Also very well done are the descriptions of how this miracle of Dunkirk occurred and then what happened with the fall of France. An epilogue surmises what would have happened if the British forces had not been rescued or if the Germans would have taken advantage of their position of power and captured the Suez Canal.
In total this is a well written and researched book that would interest anyone who wishes to learn more about military tactics, WWII history or just how the German military operated. ... Read more

Product Description
The heartbreaking saga of the years preceding The Killer Angels

"SHAARA'S BEAUTIFULLY SENSITIVE NOVEL DELVES DEEPLY in the empathetic realm of psycho-history, where enemies do not exist--just mortal men forced to make crucial decisions and survive on the same battlefield. . . . [He] succeeds with his historical novel through fully realized characters who were forced to decide their loyalties amid the horrors of their dividing nation."
--San Francisco ChronicleAmazon.com Review
In a prequel of sorts to his father Michael Shaara's 1974epic novel The Killer Angels,Jeff Shaara explores the lives of Generals Lee, Hancock, Jackson andChamberlain as the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg approaches. Shaara capturesthe disillusionment of both Lee and Hancock early in their careers, Lee'sconflict with loyalty, Jackson's overwhelming Christian ethic andChamberlain's total lack of experience, while illustrating how eachcompensated for shortcomings and failures when put to the test. Theperspectives of the four men, particularly concerning the battles atFredericksburg and Chancellorsville, make vivid the realities of war. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (248)

Still another super read
The only problem with these books is that make you want more like them and there aren't that many books as good.Truly fine and more educational than all the history classes I ever took.Don't miss them.

Keen INsight into the HUman Experience of War
I found this book riveting in its exploration of the human mind and soul in times of war. What impressed me most is how the author was able to read through the vast amounts of information available on the civil war and perceive what was actually going on in the men's minds who led us in this difficult time. Outstanding work - of the highest caliber.

Close and Personal Civil War Story
Although I purchased this historical novel trying to find information on the 1st Battle of Manassas, it actually involves Fredericksburg.

Several characters are followed from their days before the war, and describes their "firsthand" thoughts leading up to, during, and after battles.

It is superbly written; the reader easily is lost in these pages of the times.

great response
afraid i wouldn't be able to find at a book store.amazon is great for books that are older.came in like two days, although i was told could be up to ten days.very glad of quick response.good place to shop for hard to find items at a very reasonable price.

Review
I had a complaint but it has been resovled.The book did not match the description.I paid almost full price for a "book line new" but received an obviously used book.I was reimbursed part of the purchase price to resolve the issue. ... Read more

Product Description
VOLUME 31; THE CHRONICLES OF AMERICA SERIES ALLEN JOHNSON EDITOR ... Read more

Product Description
General Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1849Original Publisher: Derby, MillerSubjects: GeneralsUnited StatesBiography ... Read more

Product Description

From the late 1960s to the late 1970s, the United States Army was a demoralized institution in a country in the midst of a social revolution. The war in Vietnam had gone badly and public attitudes about it shifted from indifference, to acceptance, to protest. Army Chief of Staff General Creighton Abrams directed a major reorganization of the Army and appointed William E. DePuy (1919--1992) commander of the newly established Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), in 1973. DePuy already had a distinguished record in positions of trust and high responsibility: successful infantry battalion command and division G-3 in World War II by the age of twenty-five; Assistant Military Attaché in Hungary; detail to CIA in the Korean War; alternating tours on the Army Staff and in command of troops. As a general officer he was General Westmoreland's operations officer in Saigon; commander of the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam; Special Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, Army. But it was as TRADOC Commander that DePuy made his major contribution in integrating training, doctrine, combat developments, and management in the U.S. Army. He regenerated a deflated post-Vietnam Army, effectively cultivating a military force prepared to fight and win in modern war. General William E. DePuy: Preparing the Army for Modern War is the first full-length biography of this key figure in the history of the U.S. Army in the twentieth century. Author Henry G. Gole mined secondary and primary sources, including DePuy's personal papers and extensive archival material, and he interviewed peers, subordinates, family members, and close observers to describe and analyze DePuy's unique contributions to the Army and nation. Gole guides the reader from DePuy's boyhood and college days in South Dakota through the major events and achievements of his life. DePuy was commissioned from the ROTC six months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, witnessed poor training and leadership in a mobilizing Army, and served in the 357th Infantry Regiment in Europe -- from the bloody fighting in Normandy until victory in May 1945, when DePuy was stationed in Czechoslovakia. Gole covers both major events and interesting asides: DePuy was asked by George Patton to serve as his aide; he supervised clandestine operations in China; he served in the Office of the Army Chief of Staff during the debate over "massive retaliation" vs. "flexible response"; he was instrumental in establishing Special Forces in Vietnam; he briefed President Lyndon B. Johnson in the White House. DePuy fixed a broken Army. In the process his intensity and forcefulness made him a contentious figure, admired by some and feared by others. He lived long enough to see his efforts produce American victory in the Gulf War of 1991. In General William E. DePuy, Gole presents the accomplishments of this important military figure and explores how he helped shape the most potent military force in the history of the world.

Customer Reviews (6)

Well-Researched Work on a Great American
Gen. William E. DePuy is one of the seminal figures in the post-WW-II history of the US Army, and this excellent biography does him and his story justice.I particularly enjoyed Gole's strong research, including unpublished papers and oral histories not previously available outside of US Army archives.Gole overall does a great job covering DePuy's career, including his family.The parts on WW-II and the post-Vietnam resurrection of the US Army--in which DePuy along with Gen. Starry played key roles--are quite strong.I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in US military history and one of its under-appreciated leaders, who started his combat career at the June 6, 1944 D-Day landings at Normandy as a Captain, and ended the war less than a year later as a 25-year-old Lieutenant Colonel and battalion commander in the 90th Infantry Division, which lost 100 percent of its soldiers and 150 percent of its officers in the first six weeks of combat.

Great Information!
The book I purchased about General William E. DePuy was an excellent resource for me to use to discuss General DePuy's army career with my brother, a retired veteran.My brother had talked endlessly for the past 10 months, since coming to live with my family, about General DePuy and how he had influenced his life as a soldier.My brother was placed in the Alzheimer's Unit at our local Veterans Home one week ago.I am glad I had the opportunity to read this book and converse with him and let him relive some of his past with me.
I suggest this book be read by all veterans and their families if they have someone who served during the Vietnam War.

Gen William E Depuy
A fantastic read.How one individual, by his sense of urgency changed the training and education of the US Army after Vietnam.Although I never served directly under General Depuy, after reading this book, I feel that I have known him for my entire life.While reading the Chapter on the then existing training programs in the late 50s - early 60s, I began to laugh out loud.I remember vividly at Ft Sill, OK, after our group "qualified" with the compass, we were sent out on a night training mission in November on a very dark, cold and rainy night.My partner and I completed the course in a reasonably length of time;several of our compatriots walked off a cliff and suffered broken legs and miles from where they were supposed to be.Others straggled in over the next day or so.A well researched and very well written book with very appropriate comments added as appropriate by the author.This is a book for anyone advocating a change of direction in any organization - military or civilian.Highly recommended reading.

To Fix a Broken Army
Henry Gole's biography of General William Depuy follows the career of a professional soldier who played a key role in fixing a broken army after the strains of the Vietnam War.The story of General Depuy's career begins as a second lieutenant fighting seasoned German soldiers from Normandy to Frankfurt and beyond. The young 'Lt' learned valuable lessons of soldiering and leadership as well as gaining a life long admiration of the martial prowess of the Germans (Soldatentum).Years later, General Depuy, as Commander of the 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One), would take those lessons in squad and platoon tactics and combat leadership learned under fire in WWII and apply them with striking results against the enemy in the jungles of Vietnam.And he would draw once again upon these lessons in rebuilding the army in the seventies.

His third book, Henry Gole, a retired Colonel (USA) who saw combat in Korea and Vietnam, has once again done his homework, producing a thoroughly researched and extremely well written biography of a commander whose mantra was "decide, order, check." William E. Depuy: Preparing the Army for Modern War is a great read, and I highly recommend it.

Why DePuy?
William DePuy is not a houshold name: certainly not in the genre of Westmoreland,nor Powell, neither Schwartzkopf,nor the recently annointed Petraeus. But, Henry Gole pumps blood into the veins of this seemingly lustreless Four Star and traces his path relentlessly..the good and the bad..the brilliance and the brooding..selfish desires given over to selflessness. What comes to life under the author's pen is a soldiers' soldier; a commander and patriot whose total focus is on and for the troops..each and every one..to school them and train them - and to inspire their leaders (sometimes ruthlessly) to enable them to engage in the chaos of combat and emerge with a good chance of survival.
A great biography replete with an accurate history of confusing times for our Army and our nation. A truly rewarding read. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
On October 6, 1973, simultaneous attacks on two fronts caught Israel by surprise, on the holiest day of the Jewish year. With Israeli forcxes caught unprepared, the Egyptian crossing of the Suez Canal, and the Syrian attack on the Golan Heights were both initially successful. The following month saw desperate fighting as the Israeli forces slowly drove the invading armies back. It took two UN ceasefires, and the threat of Soviet intervention before the Israeli forces came to a halt.

Simon Dunstan offers a balanced analysis of the Yom Kippur War, describing the key battles and the forces involved and examining the outcome of the war - how at national and international levels the war was a disaster from which Israel has not recovered, as the nation became dependant on the USA for military, diplomatic and economic support. Illustrated with full-color artwork, photographs and detailed maps, this book provides an insight into the hostilities that enveloped the Middle East, the aftereffects of which are still seen today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A through, eminently readable history
It is all the more surprising that the "revised and definitive edition" which I have would
contain glaring errors like:

p. 72 Marshal KUtakhov, not Kotakhov
p. 271 crediting the carrier Independene with "eight hundred" (vice eighty) aircraft on board
p. 277confusing An-12's with An-22's. The latter are the giant (and long-range) aircraft.
They are respectively comparable to the C-130 and C-5A.
p. 356 Watergate "burst" in June, not March, 1972
p. 368. The Soviet satellites in polar orbit were launched from Plesetsk, not "Archangel"

Decent but one sided coverage
This book provides a decent overview of the war on both the Sinai and Golan fronts.Not as gripping or dramatic as some war accounts.The point of view is almost entirely from the Israeli side of things.The author either couldn't or didn't get much perspective from the Egyptian and Syrian side of the conflict.

I was struck by the scale of the conflict.For such small countries they fielded pretty large armies.2000 tanks on the Egyptian side and something like 1200 on the Syrian.12,000 Egyptians (estimated) killed in a couple of weeks of fighting.Those are WWII-scale figures.

Also provides a rare glimpse into the power politics and military chess moves of the US and the Soviets during the Cold War.

Worth the used price but probably not a new hard cover price.

The October 1973 WarRevisited.
Author Simon Dunston has written a superb historical account of the the Arab -Israeli war of 1973.Better known as "The yom kippur war", this 225 page book leaves no stone unturned.On October 6th 1973, during the holiest of Jewish holiday's, Egypt and Syria launched a two front surprise attack on the nation of Israel.Wanting to regain land that were lost during the six day war of 1967, the two Arab nations caught the nation of Israel off guard and ill prepared to fight a major two front war.The Egyptians had crossed the Suez Canal and Syria launched a fierce attack on the Golan Heights, causing Israel to fight for its survival as a nation.The Gov't of Golda Meir, knew of an Arab build up of soldiers and divisions of Arab tanks along its borders, but chose to ignore it and not launch a pre-emptive strike, for fear that the world would view the Israelies as aggressors if they carried out such an attack.This was a huge military blunder, and the fact that they did not mobilize their defense forces and reserves to full alert was nothing short of military negligence.This became the Israeli Pearl Harbor that proved to have a lasting effect on that nation to this day.The nation of Israel became dependent on American airlift power to deliver supplies and weaponry during the first phase of the Arab offensive.The state of Israel, even considered the use of nuclear weapons if the situation had gotten to the point that Israel would lose her nation.The Euphoric Arab armies of Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and Syrian president Hafez Assad underestimated the IDF's[Israeli Defense Force] resolve, and paid heavily in loss of life and military hardware during the second half of the war as the Israeli's did during the first weeks of the war.Col Dani Matt led the Israeli Army across the Suez Canal on the night of Oct 15th, and changed the course of the war.A modern day version of George Washington crossing the Delaware river.General Ariel Sharon, a George Patton type of general, made the Arabs pay dearly, as the Israelies pushed the Syrians out of Israel and marched to Damascus tearing up the Syrian enemy every step of the way.On Oct 14th, Egypt launched a major offensive in the Sinai desert, and engaged the Israeli army to inflict more bloodshed, but in the biggest tank battle since ww-2 in kursk 1943, the IDF destroyed 260 Egyptian tanks to just 20 Israeli tanks.The Israeli Airforce overwhelmingly took control of the skies, as Israeli pilots scored one victory after another against Russian, Pakastani and North Korean pilots who were known to be flying jets for the Arabs. Although the IDF won this war, it came with a huge price.Loss of life and the notion of Israeli invincibility was shredded.This book is well layed out on heavy glossy paper with lots of diagrams, maps and hundreds of rare photo's from the battle front.Also many interesting facts are presented throughout the book, for example, the IDF was so desperate for survival, that they put back into service some 350 ww-2 era Sherman Tanks modified with a 105mm main gun.The tank proved to still be a formidable weapon, as the Sherman destroyed Russian T54/55 tanks in the sinai some 30 plus years after they made their debut for the allies in ww-2.It was the final war that the Sherman would engage in, and for the state of Israel, she performed heroically one more time.The war had some positive effects on the region, as Egypt and Israel have found a lasting peace.This book should be part of any good military library and is a must for any student interested in the history of the middle east.I give this book my highest recommendation and it already has a permanent place on my bookshelf.

good enough to buy again
I don't often buy a newer edition of a book I already own, but there are reasons to do so in this case.The production quality is excellent (paper, binding, layout, etc.), well selected new photo content that adds to a greater understanding of the battle, and Simon Dunstan is worth supporting.He's excellent, and tackles the subjects so many others won't touch.Go Simon. ... Read more