Lincoln and his generals by t harry williams abebooks. The nook book ebook of the abraham lincoln letters to his generals, 18611865 by brett f. Big picture, and how the generals fit into lincolns plans. Lincoln and his generals summary print showing president abraham lincoln sitting on a rock talking with his generals, from left. A selftaught strategist with no combat experience, abraham lincoln saw the path to victory more clearly than his generals. This book provided him with many national and local acclaims. T harry williams offers a portrait of president lincoln as commanderinchief of the union forces during the civil war and his emergence as a master strategist.
Essay lincoln and his generals book report 1231 words 5 pages. Lincoln and his generals is a book by thomas williams that focuses on the civil war as being the first modern war and the way president lincoln lead his divided nation during this dark historic time. Okay read this book is a series of short essays by historians on abraham lincolns relationships with his various generals, mclellan, hooker, meade, sherman and grant. Libraries theme is lincoln as a director of war, and his place in the high command system for this nation. He is probably best known for his extensive biography of huey long. During his childhood and early youth, the family would move several times, first to indiana and later to illinois. Apr 21, 2009 at the outset of his presidency, lincoln was prone to defer on military matters to the generals he had inherited. Lincoln and his generals digital file from original. For the lincoln administration, the risk of these tactical setbacks were exceeded by the political support amassed every day these popular figures were in uniform, revealing how political generals and their west point peers were judged using different standards based on distinct calculations of political gain and military effectiveness. Abraham lincoln new, used and rare books and ephemera at. Abraham lincoln as commander in chief while there are countless books and biographies written on the life of abraham lincoln, none argue quite so heavily in favor of lincoln s military brilliance during the civil war as t. Lincolns telegrams to generals in the field were a turning point in military history, as they marked the first time a commander in chief could communicate, practically in real time, with his commanders. An analytic and narrative account of the oftenneglected role of the union navy in the outcome of the civil war. Their secret war to save a nation, in which he recounted the team of union spies that provided president lincoln and his generals.
Harry williams book lincoln and his generals, published. An intriguing collection of essays covering much familiar ground, but with enough new insights and fresh perspectives to interest both civil war buffs and casual readers. It is a riveting look at his search for a winning general, and of his own. The book will have wide circulation as a selection of the bookofthe. Evaluates lincoln s ability as a director of war and his influence on the development of a modern command system. The quality of its writing certainly approaches the extraordinarily high standard set by williams with the exception of. To write a book that invites comparison with the quality and influence of lincoln and his generals is no small task, but that is what craig l. Lincoln and his generals has 4 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Lincoln and his generals has 5 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. It has effectively given a definitive account of lincolns leadership style by creating drama, which tells stories of lincolns search for able commanders of the american union army. Harry williams dramatizes lincoln s long and frustrating search for an effective leader of the union army and traces his transformation from a politician with little military knowledge into a master. This is a great book for explaining lincoln as commander in chief and his relationship with each of the generals along the way. Nov 27, 2011 from the beginning, lincoln viewed every military decision through the single objective of defeating the rebellion and uniting the nation.
Historian douglas waller talked about his book, lincolns spies. Lincoln and his generals book report 1225 words cram. The highest navy grade was captain, and there was no. Lincoln and his generals book by t harry williams 4. Harry williams published a book entitled lincoln and his generals. The bios are limited to the war, but it reads more like a biography, so that it is not simply facts and dates, but has some personal interest. Essay lincoln and his generals book report 1231 words. Cowinner of the 2009 lincoln prize, lincoln and his admirals was also awarded the barondess lincoln prize, the john lyman award, the daniel and marilyn laney prize, and the nevinsfreeman prize. Boritt and a team of distinguished historians examine the interaction between abraham lincoln and his five key civil war generals. Jan 11, 2011 since it was first published in 1952, lincoln and his generals has remained one of the definitive accounts of lincolns wartime leadership.
Abraham lincoln letters to his generals, 18611865nook book. Harry williams was a fine teacher and writer in the field of american history. Lincolns wartime correspondence is no exception, and the letters he penned to his civil war generalsthrough one of the most critical episodes in american historyare of singular importance. Lincoln remains totally frustrated with his generals, especially the handsome, charming general mcclellan, with his own political ambitions. In the middle of the last century, the historian t. Lincoln and mcclellan come vividly to life in this bookand it is riveting to be in their company. Grant was a m it is a very good book, in a topic im not terribly interested in the civil war. Lincoln s wartime correspondence is no exception, and the letters he penned to his civil war generals through one of the most critical episodes in american historyare of singular importance. We know a great deal about president lincolns relations with his generals, but much less about his dealings with his admirals and his navy department. This look at the life of the assasinated president focuses on his childhood, the disorganization behind the union forces in the civil war, and the small moments that defined the man behind the legend. Mcclellan, hooker, meade, sherman, and grant, providing fresh insight into this mixed bag of officers and the. Since it was first published in 1952, lincoln and his generals has remained one of the definitive accounts of lincoln s wartime leadership. The quality of its writing certainly approaches the extraordinarily high standard set by williams with the exception of the repeated misuse of the word bemuse.
Work argues that political generals were not the failures often depicted in the historical literature and popular culture, but instead. Admiral porter, admiral farragut, lincoln, sherman, thomas, grant, and sheridan. Lincoln and his generals book by t harry williams 5. Harry williams dramatizes lincolns long and frustrating search for an effective leader of the union army and traces his transformation from a politician with little military knowledge into a master strategist. In it, he posited that lincoln was a great natural strategist, a better one than any of his generals. Lincoln and his generals free essay example edulearn14. Lincoln and his admirals hardcover craig symonds oxford. Lincoln apparently was familiar with the wolfe anecdote, and it is plausible that a delegation visited the president and requested the dismissal of general grant for excessive drinking. This compelling story of lincoln s challenge to form a competent fighting force is handsomely complemented by the book s luxurious appointments. In his account, lincoln, far from being the steelyminded leader to whom all eyes turned, was a weak temporizer. Lincoln and his generals by t harry williams alibris. Lincoln and his generals was the breakthrough book for williams who had only written one book previously. Lincoln and his generals vintage civil war library. Mcclellan, hooker, meade, sherman, and grant, providing fresh insight into this mixed bag of officers and the presidents tireless efforts to work with them.
This book is a collection of essays examining the relation between lincoln and five of his generals. Lincoln as commander in chief history smithsonian magazine. Williams introduces the union army as one that has no shape to it. From the beginning, lincoln viewed every military decision through the single objective of defeating the rebellion and uniting the nation. A signal contribution to lincolniana in a study of the development of lincolns military policy towards his generals, fremont, banks, grant, sherman, mcclellan, scott.
Evaluates lincolns ability as a director of war and his i. Harry williams dramatizes lincolns long and frustrating search for an effective leader of the union army and traces his transformation from a politician with. Apr 26, 2019 lincoln and his generals was the breakthrough book for williams who had only written one book previously. A signal contribution to lincolniana in a study of the development of lincoln s military policy towards his generals, fremont, banks, grant, sherman, mcclellan, scott. Lincoln and his generals is more of a biography of lincoln and his generals than it is a history book. The ultimate question regarding a book called lincoln and his admirals has to be whether it lives up to the classic reputation of lincoln and his generals. For instance, the best generals were those who could adapt. Waugh once again has melded an historians skills with his experiences as a correspondent covering the washington. Harry and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Since it was first published in 1952, lincoln and his generals has remained one of the definitive accounts of lincolns wartime leadership. Lincoln, abraham, 18091865 military leadership, lincoln. T harry williams this is the human, dramatic, and fascinating story of lincoln as commander in chief of an army at war against its brothers. Harry williams this book, one of quite a few spoken of my my local congregational pastor 1, is one of many.
Lincolns knowledge of the wolfe story would have made it easier for him to construct the clever riposte about sending whiskey to his other generals. This book is well written, and is great for learning of the generals and their styles. We are very pleased to add lincoln and his generals to your leatherbound library of military history. This overlaps to some degree territory covered by cattons recent mr. While abraham lincoln is responsible for a significant body of correspondence, this is the first time an editor has focused principally on the strategic. Frank and virginia williams collection of lincolniana mississippi state university. Campaigns, campaigns and battles, civil war, 18611865, generals. Lincoln eventually fires him and promotes general grant. Lincoln and his generals book report essay 1235 words. Abraham lincoln letters to his generals, 18611865 by. I state my general idea of this war to be, that we have the greater numbers that we must fail unless we can find some way. Lincoln and his generals by clarence edward macartney.
Harry williams concentrated on telling the story of lincoln as commander in chief during americas greatest and most devastating war. Lincoln and his generals digital file from original print. Dale carnegie wrote this book in 1932, when there were still some people alive who had met abraham lincoln. I will send a barrel of this wonderful whiskey to every. This compelling story of lincolns challenge to form a competent fighting force is handsomely complemented by the books luxurious appointments. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Lincoln and his generals is a book that was written over fifty year ago. Lincoln s mother, nancy hanks, died when lincoln was still a boy, and the next year his father, thomas remarried to sarah. Harry williams dramatizes lincolns long and frustrating search for an effective leader of the union army and traces his transformation from a politician with little military knowledge into a master strategist of the civil war.
Abraham lincoln was born in rural kentucky in 1809, to parents of low social standing and little education. Probably the clearest expression of lincolns views came in a letter to buell and halleck as he prodded the generals to move. Buy a cheap copy of lincoln and his generals book by t. Harry williams dramatizes lincoln s long and frustrating search for an effective leader of the union army and traces his transformation from a politician with little military knowledge into a master strategist of the civil war. Probably the clearest expression of lincoln s views came in a letter to buell and halleck as he prodded the generals to move. This book doesnt get bogged down in the boring minutiae of every little statistic along the way. It delves in to the issue of who will lead the army of the north. To illustrate that evolution, it focuses on lincolns relationship with, and management of, the united states navy. Title lincoln and his generals summary print showing president abraham lincoln sitting on a rock talking with his generals, from left. The general tone of the book is that each general chosen had their good and bad points. Why the confederacy lost, 1992 assembles five essays by top specialists in the field, exploring the relationship of wartime commanderinchief lincoln to his leaders on the. Evaluates lincolns ability as a director of war and his influence on the development of a modern command system.