Gone For Soldiers

Book Description

With his acclaimed New York Times bestsellers Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure, Jeff Shaara expanded upon his father's Pulitzer Prize-winning Civil War classic, The Killer Angels--ushering the reader through the poignant drama of this most bloody chapter in our history. Now, in Gone for Soldiers, Jeff Shaara carries us back fifteen years before that momentous conflict, when the Civil War's most familiar names are fighting for another cause, junior officers marching under the same flag in an unfamiliar land, experiencing combat for the first time in the Mexican-American War.

In March 1847, the U.S. Navy delivers eight thousand soldiers on the beaches of Vera Cruz. They are led by the army's commanding general, Winfield Scott, a heroic veteran of the War of 1812, short tempered, vain, and nostalgic for the glories of his youth. At his right hand is Robert E. Lee, a forty-year-old engineer, a dignified, serious man who has never seen combat.

Scott leads his troops against the imperious Mexican dictator, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana. Obsessed with glory and his place in history, Santa Ana arrogantly underestimates the will and the heart of Scott and his army. As the Americans fight their way inland, both sides understand that the inevitable final conflict will come at the gates and fortified walls of the ancient capital, Mexico City.

Cut off from communication and their only supply line, the Americans learn about their enemy and themselves, as young men witness for the first time the horror of war. While Scott must weigh his own place in history, fighting what many consider a bully's war, Lee the engineer becomes Lee the hero, the one man in Scott's command whose extraordinary destiny as a soldier is clear.

In vivid, brilliant prose that illuminates the dark psychology of soldiers and their commanders trapped behind enemy lines, Jeff Shaara brings to life the haunted personalities and magnificent backdrop, the familiar characters, the stunning triumphs and soul-crushing defeats of this fascinating, long-forgotten war. Gone for Soldiers is an extraordinary achievement that will remain with you long after the final page is turned.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Informative but too long.......2007-10-17

As a Civil War buff I enjoyed this historically accurate account of this little known war. Rightfully so, R.E. Lee and Gen. Scott occupy the central roles with minor roles being played by key characters that reappear during the Civil War. Santa Anna was a real buffoon and Shaara did a good job depicting him as such. The novel was a little too long and it did not quiet measure up to his Father's work with Killer Angels or with his own Civil War novels.

Mistitled.......2007-01-05

I can't say that this book was aptly named, as it was principly about two or three military officers; Winfield Scott, Robert E Lee, and Santa Anna. "Scott and Lee in the Mexican War" would have been a more descriptive title. "Gone for Soldiers" seems to have no connection to the contents. While it seems to contain mostly conjectural thoughts of the principals, the narrative about the progress of the war is a good, if sketchy description of that conflict, tho it takes 424 pages to do so. Two things it points out are that great leaders also can make great mistakes, and war is great excitement until you are killed or horribly maimed. But probably the best themes are how government partisan politics can readily screw things up, from the sensible to the absurd, even back before 1850, and the similarities between the politics of that day and the present, which are clearly evident.

Typically effective Shaara novel of war.......2006-12-27

In this work, Jeff Shaara explores the development of America's officer cadre in the Mexican War. Many Civil War generals got their first major wartime experience in this event. Indeed, Jefferson Davis, future President of the Confederate States of America, gained some renown for his use of a particular formation in battle.

The two major protagonists in this story are "Old Fuss and Feathers," General Winfield Scott, and a trusted engineering officer, the redoubtable Captain Robert E. Lee. Over and over, Lee's excellent scouting allowed Scott to befuddle the Mexican leader, General Santa Anna.

Other figures whom we meet who will play a role in the Civil War: Ulysses Grant, James Longstreet. Thomas (later "Stonewall") Jackson, George Pickett, and so on). We also learn of superannuated warriors such as General Wool.

All in all, the format developed by his father, in "The Killer Angels," taking a handful of key characters and using them to serve as "informants" in the development of the plotline and events, works well.

All in all, another good read and worthy of its place in the Shaara stable of war novels.

Awesome.......2006-11-10

The legacy of the Shaara name never ceases to amaze me. This book was great. The first Shaara books I read were Rise to Rebellion and The Glorious Cause since the American Revolution is my favorite part of United States historyand after those i had to read more. I am always floored by these books. Its the best of both worlds...History and reading all rolled into one. Now onto The Rising Tide

on the folly of preemptive attacks.......2006-04-16

Prequel to the civil war trilogy, this book follows the Mexican War thru two major characters, Robert E Lee, a young captain of engineers, and the aging veteran of the War of 1812, Winfield Scott. While well worth reading on its own, it was enhanced by reading it in the week following Bush's attack on Iraq -- Shaara presciently describes an amazingly close historical precedent [the book was published in 2000] -- an American president seeks to avoid difficulties with domestic politics by making a preemptive attack on a vastly inferior nation. Whether 'Manifest Destiny' or a new world order and a war on terror, the result is an invasion of a sovereign country. The initial invasion goes well, but is soon bogged down when the mismatched enemy forces refuse to come out in open field battle. Political decisions have as much to do with strategy as military ones. While the president talks of supporting the troops, there is inadequate supports in both guns and manpower, and no preparation for the aftermath. Initial forecasts of enthusiastic welcome as liberators turns to guerilla war as the army moves inland and Scott is forced to deplete his already small forces with numerous garrisons to contain and control his supply lines. Scott must keep casualties to a minimum knowing that public support for this war is thin, and relies on a risky campaign of maneuver against a numerically superior but technologically inferior enemy.

Gone for Soldiers: A Novel of the Mexican War

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Before they were enemies
Once upon a time..........
The Mexican-American War
excellent tale of the Mexican War
Shaara and the Mexican - American War

Gone for Soldiers: A Novel of the Mexican War
Jeff Shaara
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0345427505
Release Date: 2000-05-02

Amazon.com

Having chronicled the Civil War in Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure, Jeff Shaara casts his eye on the earlier proving ground of the Mexican War in his third novel, Gone for Soldiers. Although it secured the Southwest for a nation emboldened by Manifest Destiny, this two-year conflict has nearly faded into oblivion, eclipsed by the subsequent domestic dispute a dozen years later. Shaara's hallmarks--the deliberations of leaders and the brutal facts of battle--illuminate his engaging diversion into an oft-overlooked struggle in which men who would come to oppose one another fought under a single flag.

The veteran major-general Winfield Scott and an upstart Robert E. Lee anchor Gone for Soldiers. Headstrong, brilliant, and generally distrustful of his less able subordinates, Scott leads the U.S. troops slowly and inevitably toward Mexico City, imparting martial lessons along the way. "The worst consequence of fighting a war is not if you lose, Mr. Lee," he sighs. "The worst thing you can do is win badly." Lee distinguishes himself throughout the campaign, his meticulous scouting and shrewd inferences winning both Scott's admiration and the jealousy of officers whose ambition surpasses their experience. Lee, too, frequently assesses his place in the hierarchy, but he--like Scott--remains more bemused than seduced by the glitter of fame.

This sympathy between the two men grows as Lee observes Scott embroiled in the distracting politics of war: officers salivating for promotion, enemies more preoccupied with saving face than lives, distant legislators issuing directives. If Gone for Soldiers occasionally bogs down during its many lengthy battle scenes, unexpected and delightful small touches arise nearly as often--the "capture" of Mexican leader Santa Anna's wooden leg or the chance encounter between Lee and a young Ulysses S. Grant. Duty-bound and humble, Lee cultivates a perpetual stoicism. "Now we're out here in some place God may not want us to be. It's hard to believe He is happy watching us fight a war," he muses, a sobering coda to the grim calculations of victory. --Ben Guterson

Book Description

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In "Gone for Soldiers", Jeff shaara carries us back thirteen years before the momentous conflict he has so brilliantly chronicled, to a time when the Civil War's most familiar names are fighting for another cause, junior officers marching under the same flag in an unfamiliar land, experiencing combat for the first time in the Mexican-American War.

In March 1847, eight thousand soldiers land on the beaches of Vera Cruz, led by the army's commanding general, Winfield Scott -- a heroic veteran of the War of 1812, short-tempered, vain and nostalgic for the glories of his youth. At his right hand is Robert E. Lee, a forty-year-old engineer, a dignified, serious man who has never seen combat.

Scott leads his troops agaainst the imperious Mexican dictator General Atonio Lopez de Santa Ana, who arroganatly underestimates Scott and his army. The Americans soon learn about their enemy and themselves, as young men witness for the first time the horror of war. And while Scott weighs his own place in history, Lee the engineer becomes Lee the hero, the one man in Scott's command whose extraordinary destiny as a soldier is clear.

In vivid prose that illuminates the dark psychology of soldiers trapped behind enemy lines, Jeff Shaara brings to life the legendary characters, the stunning triumphs and soul-crushing defeats of this fascinating, long-forgotten war.

Customer Reviews:

Before they were enemies.......2007-09-09

Gone for Soldiers is a historical novel of a war most Americans know little or nothing about. Thirteen years before America's tragic Civil War, men who would soon be enemies fought side by side as brothers in arms. Gone for Soldiers follows the exploits of General Winfield Scott and his right hand man and engineer, Robert E. Lee. As in all of his historical novels, weaves historically accurate information along with deeply personal characterizations to create a page turning novel. It never ceases to amaze me how Jeff Shaara picked up the mantle of his father.

Once upon a time.................2007-08-04

.....we were all on the same side. This fine book looks at the Mexican War thru the eyes of, primarily, Winfield Scott and Robert E. Lee. Of course, we meet the same characters, again, 15 years later. [By then, Scott was too old for much of an active part, though the strategy he developed was quite valuable to the Union]. In some chapters, we get glimpses of others who would be heard from later, and, of course, the character was already evident; the intellegence, decency, and fundamental goodness of Joe Johnston; the brilliance [and lack of reticence] of PGT Beauregard; the tenacity and courage of Grant and Longstreet; the single-minded devotion of Jackson. One does get the hint that Stonewall, for all his greatness as a fighting officer, may not have been playing with a full deck....Gideon Pillow was a political General, though he did better here than he was to in Kentucky...Pickett was Pickett, a better soldier than the public gives him credit for.

Parallels have been drawn to our current situation, and there are some. BUT, we have to be careful. The current war in Iraq is about our own national survival; giving aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists is equivalent to state sponsored terrorism, and state sponsored terrorism is an act of war. The Mexican War was fought for lebensraum, but that doesn't make it wrong. If you would understand why we won, and why Mexico is still a third world country, look at the choice of leaders....Winfield Scott had his faults; he was gruff, vain, difficult...he was also brilliant, brave, fundamentally decent, and absolutely devoted to his country. Santa Anna was intelligent and brave; he was also an egocentric madman, totally devoted to himself. Winfield Scott saw himself as a servant of his nation; Santa Anna saw himself AS his nation...one can not read of him without thinking of the late, unlamented, leader of Iraq.

Particularly disturbing is the episode of the San Patricios...these were Irish Catholic American soldiers who deserted, and fought for the other side. Eventually, they were caught; Scott had the ringleaders shot, without hestiation. The rest were mostly hung, though Scott did spare some who repented. Those allowed to live were branded on the face with a large "D", and sent home, to what fate we can imagine. The motive of the San Patricios remains unknown...Irish Catholics have been some of America's greatest soldiers. There were brave Irish regiments on both sides of the Civil War, fighting under nearly identical flags. Confederate Chaplain Emmeran Bliemel was the first Priest ever killed in an American war. Conversly, Muslims fought with great honor in WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam. But...The presence of Muslim Chaplains in our Armed Forces, especially at Gitmo, in an invitation to problems. Indeed, there have been some. [Madison and, to a lesser extent, Jefferson, felt that the presence of any commissioned Chaplain violated the Constitution...but, no, that's off the track...].

Robert E. Lee should need no introduction to anyone reading this...General Scott proclaimed him the greatest soldier he ever saw. The next generation was to find out how right Scott was. Of course, others have written massively of General Lee [especially Dr. Freeman], but the essential greatness of the man is evident right here. [Indeed, the later war was to provide material for at least one full biography of many of these characters].

One could wish we had gotten to meet other characters from the Mexican War who were were heard from again...Jefferson Davis, Edmund Kirby Smith, Braxton Bragg...but this is a novel, and you can't include everything. All in all, a superb book about a little known war.

The Mexican-American War.......2007-08-02

Jeff Sharra's "Gone for Soldiers" concerns the Mexican-American War, and could be seen as a prequel for the Civil War trilogy that he and his father wrote, as it deals with some of the Civil War generals earlier in their career (Generals Longstreet, Grant, Jackson, ect.). But this story belongs to Major-General Winfield Scott and his favorite subordinate, engineering captain Robert E. Lee. Scott takes Lee under his wing and teaches Lee all the positive points of inspiring and leading an army, all the lessons that Lee will take with him into the next conflict thirteen years in the future. But for now the Army is in Mexico, and it is expressing America's Manifest Destiny, a series of laws and policies that allowed the U.S. to expand west, often just outright conquering Mexican territories. Scott is dubious at the policy, but carries it out as best as he can, he is after all a great soldier. He is constantly fighting not only the charismatic tyrant Santa Ana (here portrayed as paranoid) but also with his power mad and politically ambitious senior officers. This is a good fictional account (thought I think as close as real as possible) of the little known incident in American history. "Gone For Soldiers" has many rousing action scenes like the Siege of Veracruz, the battle at Cerro Gordo, and the Battle of Chapultepec, and the conquiring of Mexico City. (Some of Zachary Taylor's skermishes are discussed, but this was Scott's show). A thrilling adventure story that should entertain anyone and provide insight to the future Civil War leaders not often seen.

excellent tale of the Mexican War .......2007-04-14

Jeff Shaara combines history and story telling to bring a remarkable tale of the 1847 Mexican War. Gen Winfield Scott leads an assault at Vera Cruz to crush Santa Anna's uprising and finally put an end to his power in Mexico. The battle scenes are vidily written and explode across the page. What is so fascinating are the combining of Civil War generals Lee, Johnston, Grant and Jackson into this pre-civil war epic. Gen WInfield Scott, of course, was the leader of the Union Army at the start of the Civil War. A mere shell of the great general in this book.

Shaara and the Mexican - American War.......2007-02-13

In this novel, Jeff Shaara takes us back a dozen or more years to the period when US forces invaded Mexico. Many of the main military leaders in the Civil War underwent their individual and collective baptism of fire in the Mexican-American war. Lee and Grant first show the promise that they would later legitimately claim, on a much more bloody battlefield, in this largely forgotten war. Shaara continues to tell a good story well and doesn't seem to have become "bored" (as happens with many writers) with the niche that he seems to have developed so nicely.

Winfield Scott Hancock: A Soldier's Life

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Winfield Scott Hancock--The Superb
A Soldier's Life
Corps commander for the ages
Excellent Biography of an Overlooked General!
Hancock the superb.

Winfield Scott Hancock: A Soldier's Life
David M. Jordan
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0253210585

Customer Reviews:

Winfield Scott Hancock--The Superb.......2007-06-27

At the Battle of Williamsburg, as the Army of Potomac crept up the Peninsula toward Richmond, Virginia, General Winfield Scott Hancock attempted an aggressive flank attack on Confederate positions. At a moment when serious damage could have been wrought against the Confederate forces, a timid Union commander recalled him. Even at that, he was able to deliver one last serious sting to the southern forces. General George McClellan noted that "Hancock was superb yesterday." Hence, the nickname "Hancock the Superb."

This is a serviceable book on this talented Union general. There is not enough detail on the battles in which Hancock was engaged; much of the book is "underdetailed." Nonetheless, one gets a sense of why Hancock was held in such great respect.

The book covers his early years, his time in West Point, his service in the "Old Army" (with the capstone being the lugubrious final meeting after the firing on Fort Sumter among him and future Confederate generals Lewis Armistead and Albert Sidney Johnston in California).

Briefly, he was consigned to a desk job. Soon, however, McClellan got him a brigade command. Then, his service where he earned the sobriquet "The Superb." He did good service at one point at Second Manassas/Bull Run; he served well at Antietam, where he advanced to division command. Then, the dreary battles at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville where, once more, he served the Union well. After Chancellorsville, he earned command of the Second Corps.

It is at Gettysburg, though, where he may have had the best three days of generalship of almost any commander in the Civil War. He brought order out of chaos at the end of the First Day; he shuffled troops all over the place on the Second Day, providing "Hairsbreadth Harry" narrow escapes (think his ordering of the First Minnesota into a suicidal attack against vastly superior forces to buy a few moments time for reinforcements to get to the scene); his command of the center of the Union line on the Third Day, where he commanded the troops who destroyed the charge by Pickett's, Pettigrew's, and Trimble's attacking forces. He was also seriously injured, and the damage done to him hindered his physical ability throughout the rest of the war.

After a convalescence, he did well at the Wilderness (his flank was rolled up by Longstreet, but he rallied his troops and led them well); he led a massive in depth attack at the Muleshoe at Spotsylvania. Eventually, his Second Corps bled down and he gave up his command in front of Petersburg.

After the war, he served in the South, against the Indians, and had a long career as a general officer. He even ran for President of the United States. This book introduces us to Hancock; I wish that there had been more exploration of his character and more detail in a number of the chapters. But for those who want to learn more about "Hancock the Superb," this is a good starting point.

A Soldier's Life.......2006-03-09

A well written biography of a mostly forgotten soldier. Hancock was in many battles and his influence was felt long after the Civil War.

Corps commander for the ages.......2006-02-25

"On each of the three days of the (Gettysburg) battle (Hancock) played a significant role - rallying the beaten forces on July 1 and selecting the battlefield, redressing the Sickles blunder the next day and saving the left wing of the army, and finally beating back the last and greatest assault of the Army of Northern Virginia. ... Gettysburg was Hancock's field." - author David Jordan

It was these three days in July, 1863 that established Winfield Scott Hancock as perhaps the best corps commander to serve in the Army of the Potomac. Yet, his career of loyal service to his superior officers, his Commanders-in Chief, and his country extended for a multitude of years on either side of his command of the Second Corps, which encompassed the relatively brief period from June of 1863 to November 1864, and which included the battles at Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and skirmishes around the Petersburg entrenchments.

Hancock's Civil War generalship earned him the affection of his troops and the country's citizenry and the respect of his fellow officers, all of which were sustained and flourished during his post-war career as a Reconstruction military administrator, a Great Plains Indian overseer, commander of the Military Division of the Atlantic (states), during which time he earned the gratitude of the nation in quelling labor violence, and, finally, as a three-time seeker of the Democratic nomination for President (1868, 1872, 1880) and his party's nominee for that office in the 1880 election.

David Jordan's WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK is an extensively referenced, solid, immensely readable biography and work of popular history. Jordan obviously thinks highly of the man. Even Hancock's less than illustrious stint as commander of the Military Department of the Missouri from August 1866 to August 1867, during which he stumbled around the Great Plains without a clue as to the nature and culture of the Indian tribes he was tasked with controlling, goes pretty much uncriticized. After all, Hancock was only following the orders of his superior, General Sherman. And that's what Winfield did best all his life - follow orders.

If there's a failing to this volume, it's that it suffers from a limited photo section, and helpful maps are either absent or rudimentary. Beyond that, the book is a fine tribute to an American for whom much honor is due in the nation's history.

Excellent Biography of an Overlooked General!.......2003-05-19

Jordan's book is an excellent biography of an overlooked and almost forgotten general of the Civil War. While Hancock was an excellent fighter and tactician, he is often overlooked in favor of Lee, Grant, Sherman, and Jackson. Thankfully, Hancock's important contributions to the Union are chronicled in Jordan's interesting text.

The book is full of interesting anecdotes of the following periods of Hancock's life:

1. Early childhood and life leading up to West Point.
2. West Point years.
3. Service in the Mexican War and just before the Civil War.
4. Excellent leadership at the Civil War battles of Antietam, Williamsburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Petersburg.
5. Role during the Reconstruction Period.
6. Political aspirations and almost presidency.
7. Final years.

As I read Jordan's book, I came to appreciate Hancock more and more. Jordan is able to keep the reader's interest throughout the text. For instance, while I was much more interested in Hancock's Civil War service instead of his politics, Jordan was able to keep me interested in Hancock's run for the presidency.

The only reason I did not give the book 5 stars is because the maps were few and of mediocre quality. When reading a Civil War book, I like several maps to enable me to better understand troop movements. Adding more high-quality maps would have done much to better clarify Hancock's movements during a certain battle.

Despite this minor complaint, I highly recommend this book as the definitive biography of and excellent leader!

Hancock the superb........2002-07-25

There is little doubt that Winfield Scott Hancock should get far more press than he gets. In reading about the Civil War in the east one time and again runs into the name Hancock. He was there for most of the major battles and he and his men could almost always be counted on when most of the rest of the army could not be. Between the movie "Gettysburg" and this fine book maybe Hancock will get some of the credit that should be his.

David Jordan has put together a book that is both informative and very easy to read. In fact, I would call it a real page turner.

Since Hancock's politics without a doubt held him back both during and after the war Jordan handles that early on by introducing the reader to Hancock's father, an avid Democrat. Hancock's views were set early on and he stuck by his beliefs in spite of Republican domination of both the government and the army. The reader is led through hancock's life and is also treated to many funny stories about Hancock many of which include his close friend Harry Heath who would lead his Confederates toward Gettysburg and kick off the great battle. We also find out that Hancock was one of the best cursers in the Union army and that he and General Zook could be counted on to lighten the mood of the second corps every so often with a heated exchange of some of the finest swear words known to man.

Jordan does a good job of recounting Hancock's performance in battle without getting to stuck in the mire of names and regiment numbers. He also manages to handle Hancock's political campaigns both for the Democratic Presidential nomination and as his party's candidate without getting his reader lost in the jungle of politicans most of which the average reader would not have heard of.

It is very hard to paint a picture of Hancock's contribution to a battle without getting the reader lost in detail or simply putting them to sleep. Jordan walks that fine line as well as most and better than many but he does fall a little short of giving us enough detail. Just a little bit more information on some of these battles would have made this a far better book. Still, if one must fall to one side of that fine line or the other Jordan picked the right side to land on.

The lack of detail by itself did not cost this book a star and in spite of this problem I would probably awarded Jordan five stars if he had not repeated the old myth that Harry Heath was on his way to Gettysburg looking for shoes. A man who could turn out this superb book should have known better.

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A Great Little Book!

Bloody Angle: Spotsylvania (Battleground America Guides)
John Cannan
Manufacturer: Da Capo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Crater: Petersburg

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Marye's Heights : Fredericksburg (Battlegound America Series) (Battlegound America)

Bloody Roads South: The Wilderness to Cold Harbor, May-June 1864

Burnside's Bridge : Antietam (Battleground America Series) (Battleground America)

ASIN: 0306811510

Book Description

On the morning of May 12, 1864, the site of the daring Union assault on the center of the Confederate line became the scene of the fiercest hand-to-hand combat of the Civil War, and thereafter was known as the "Bloody Angle."

Da Capo's new "Battleground America" series offers a unique approach to the battles and battlefields of America. Each book in the series highlights a small American battlefield-sometimes a small portion of a much larger battlefield-and tells the story of the brave soldiers who fought there. Using soldiers' memoirs, letters and diaries, as well as contemporary illustrations, the human ordeal of battle comes to life on the page.

All of the units, important individuals, and actions of each engagement on the battlefield are described in a clear and concise narrative. Detailed maps complement the text and illustrate small unit action at each stage of the battle. Then-and-now photographs tie the dramatic events of the past to the modern battlefield site and highlight the importance of terrain in battle. The present-day historical site of the battle is described in detail with suggestions for touring.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Little Book!.......2003-04-18

This is a great, great little book. One of the better ones in the Battleground America Series. The narrative is compelling and exciting, and gives a good detailed overview of the battle without being too technical and boring and reading like a textbook. This is a good account of the Bloody Angle battle, without having to read about the entire Spotsylvania campaign. The suggested reading chapter at the end also lists a valuable resource of references for further reading and learning and more technical volumes. Gettysburg perhaps steals a lot of the thunder of the other Civil War battles as compared to exposure and popularity, but the Spotsylvania battle, specifically the Bloody Angle fight, deserves a lot more attention and exposure than it gets. The Bloody Angle is important to Civil War history in that it ushered in a level of ferocity and brutality in Civil War combat that had never been seen prior to the Spotsylvania Campaign. It remains a unique and very exciting battle and hopefully there will be more written about it in the future.

Agent of Destiny: The Life and Times of General Winfield Scott

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EXCELLENT HISTORY AND USEFUL
Brilliant
Excellent Introductory Bio about General Scott
Not What We've Been Waiting For
Fascinating Personality.

Agent of Destiny: The Life and Times of General Winfield Scott
John S. D. Eisenhower
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0806131284

Amazon.com

It's about time somebody wrote a biography of Winfield Scott, and reading this fascinating account by accomplished military historian John S. D. Eisenhower, you'll wonder why nobody did it sooner. Scott's career spanned an astonishing 54 years and he spent most of it as a general. He was one of the few American heroes to emerge from the War of 1812; he launched a daring and successful invasion of Mexico in 1847; and he defended a vulnerable Washington, D.C., during the first months of the Lincoln administration in 1861. Scott was a profoundly courageous man with a flair for the organizational side of military life. Yet an unseemly amount of ambition and vanity marred his character, even as these qualities help make him an interesting subject for Eisenhower (who is, you guessed it, the son of Ike). Agent of Destiny is a skilled portrait of a man who is often overshadowed by the generation of Civil War leaders following him. Eisenhower deserves our thanks for writing this magnificent book about a vital figure.

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT HISTORY AND USEFUL.......2007-04-24

Agent of Destiny: The Life and Times of General Winfield Scott by John S. D. Eisenhower is, while a bit misnamed, an excellent introduction to both the history and culture of the 19th century army and General Winfield Scott.

Most Americans remember Winfield Scott as the General who made an amphibious landing on the east coast of Mexico and marched to Mexico City. Since that is about the sum of what is taught in 11th Grade American History class, that is where most reasonably well read American's knowledge of Winfield Scott stops. Reading this book is a good first step in rediscovering the man who defined the culture and professional competency of the 19th Century American Army.

While this book has some glaring weaknesses, it does introduce the casual reader to some interesting ideas and arguments.

First, the near complete destruction of the U S Army under Gen "Mad" Anthony Wayne by Shawnee Indians in the early 1790's. While I knew that the nomative War Chief of the Shawnees - believe his name was Simon Gurdy, but my memory may be off - was a white man who held a reserve commission in the British Army, I did not realize that this was one of the incidents that led to the War of 1812. The idea that as recent as the 1790's some of the Indian tribes had enough firepower and resources to crush the bulk of the U S Army in a single battle both shows the relative strength of those particular Indian tribes and the grotesque incompetence of most American military leadership of the time.

Second, America is a country that is at its best when it is a country of second chances that believes in forgiveness as much as accountability. Winfield Scott started off his military career by being courts martialed for calling a senior general a traitor. Even though this was probably a true statement, this was not an auspicious beginning. Likewise, from the book it appears as if Winfield Scott actually led his brigade into a slaughter at the battle of Lundy Lane. Yet, he retained his rank as a Brigadier General. That combined with his youth almost ensured that at some point in the future he would become the commanding general of the
U S Army. That somewhat fortuitous set of facts turned out to be pretty beneficial for the United States in not only Winfield Scott's peacetime efforts, but also in his skillful handling of the Mexican American War. Clearly, the Winfield Scott who led his brigade to slaughter in 1812 was not the one who skillfully defeated an Army in a foreign land when outnumbered three to one.

Third, there are a series of important ideas and debates that have shaped and, to a certain extant, continue to shape the U S Army. All of these debates are touched upon - although Eisenhower does not elaborate - in this book. What sort of military does America need when all of its peer competitors are so distant in terms of space and time? What is the role of conventional forces and special forces, this question first comes to light in the various Indian campaigns in Florida and Georgia. What is the proper role of "regular" forces versus "reserve" or "volunteer" forces? Perhaps the last is an important question today in Iraq. Indeed, Eisenhower's discussions of "red legged" infantry in Florida made me think about modern day Iraq where Armor and Artillery soldiers are serving in counter-insurgency missions.

Fourth, Winfield Scott was a much better peacemaker than war maker. I lost count of the number of times that Winfield Scott negotiated away potential conflict between the United Kingdom and the U S. The last was after he had retired when RADM Wilkes - famous from the U S Exploring Expedition - had initiated an international incident by seizing two British diplomats from a Confederate ship. Moreover, Winfield Scott's role in diffusing the "Nullification Crises", perhaps, shaped the nature of American history forever. If South Carolina had left the Union in the 1820s, it is possible that the Civil War might have happened three decades earlier. It is likely that without those thirty years of industrial development and the various crises in 1840s Europe to feed Northern population growth, the South just might have won that hypothetical Civil War.

None of these topics are really expanded upon. However, this is a good book for a basic introduction to Winfield Scott and 19th Century U S Army. I highly recommend it as a primer to begin to learn more.

Brilliant.......2005-09-15

I must say that Eisenhower's biography of "Old Fuss and Feathers" was truely incredible. I absolutely loved this biography so much that I read it in about 2 days. Eisenhower researched Scott very well and did a great job portraying this great American Hero. At the end of the book you really feel like you know Winfield Scott personally and you feel sorry for the fact that old age finally overtook him when his country needed him most.

Eisenhower particularly did a good job portraying Scott's relationship with his contemporaries and the politicians. He spends an entire chapter on the Scott-Andrew Jackson feud and describes it very well, quoting the exact letters sent back and forth between the two, including Jackson challenging Scott to a duel. Eisenhower deserves special congratualations for doing the Scott-Polk relationship so well. You really feel bad for Scott with how Polk and the administration treated him before, after, and especially during the Mexican War.

Scott really was an American Hero. He can easily be considered the Father of the American Army. He led the United States military for half a century(even if not officially). He achieved one of the greatest military triumphs in World History by taking Mexico City. He gave up a supply line and was outnumbered 3:1 by Santa Anna. You can't help but admire Scott and particularly dislike Polk after reading about Scott in the Mexican War.

When you think of Scott you think of primarily warrior but Eisenhower does a great job showing that Scott was also a peace maker. He travelled across the country to mediate potential crises all the time. He helped prevent war with Britain and Canada more than once and did his best to help the Indians even though the government could care less about them.

Scott is a true American Hero and Eisenhower makes this perfectly clear with his outstanding biography of this great American.

Excellent Introductory Bio about General Scott.......2005-06-16

This is an excellent introduction to one of the United State's greatest military leaders. It is not an exhaustive account but it never claims to be one. I think this book is perfect for the military history buff who wants to find out who Scott was and what his accomplishments were. The book is less than 500 pages long so Eisenhower's treatment of Scott's over 50 years of Military service is concise. However, it highlights many (if not all) of Scott's successes and failures during his tenure. The book has whetted my appetite to find out more about this illustrous man. Read Eisenhower's book on the Mexican War, "So far from God" for a more in-depth examination of General Scott's masterful campaign to capture Mexico City and force the Mexican government to capitulate to the U.S.

Not What We've Been Waiting For.......2004-04-04

"Old Fuss and Feathers", Winfield Scott, is one of the most important soldiers in American history. He was breveted a Brigadier General during the War of 1812, his shadow passes across all of the American Army's actions during the first half of the 19th Century, and before retiring he came up with "The Anaconda Plan" as a strategy to win the Civil War.

But there is no decent biography of this great historic figure. And AGENT OF DESTINY falls far short of the mark.

Sure, it is meticulously researched. In fact, it is more researched than written. Eisenhower wrote SO FAR FROM GOD about the Mexican War; AGENT OF DESTINY seems to be an expansion of that research project.

The presentation is very episodic. They read like they were all written separately, and no real cohesive thread runs through the book.

There is just no real sense of proportion. A Scott court martial is covered in little more than a page, with the juicy details buried in footnotes, and then it goes on forever with the intriguing and fueding for positions.

And a critism that applies to much modern military history -- there are way too few maps.

Fascinating Personality........2003-12-13

This man's life is very much worth knowing about. Serving 14 Presidents, 13 as a general officer, he is the person who executed the military policies and directions of his civilian superiors.

He became a military officer almost by accident. He did this at a time when the United States was a mere concept, a thought process whose liberties and freedoms were undeveloped, untested and subject to interpretation by men who were not completely sold on the United States as a unified country.

His time coincided with the concept more popularly known as Manifest Destiny and he lived to see the United States evolve from an aggregation of discordant, fractious, sovereign States to a Nation that filled a continent. He was a man that avoided more wars than he fought and when he fought them you had best get out of the way.

The military was his life, the tool through which he made his contribution to America. Because he made his contributions in our country's formative stages, he has largely been forgotten. But he once strode across the evolution of the American stage with very big boots, a set of shoes which very few military men have since been able to fill.

Customer Reviews:

An in-depth, balanced biography.......2004-07-14

Winfield Scott And The Profession Of Arms is the true story of Winfield Scott (1786-1866), who is perhaps best known for his role in bringing professionalism to the U.S. Army during his long military career (1807-61). He served his duty as general in the War of 1812, commanded U.S. forces in the final campaign of their war with Mexico, and was the general in chief at the beginning of the Civil War. History professor emeritus Allan Peskin draws upon research in the National Archives to unearth a comprehensive portrait of General Scott as a visionary managerial officer, who anticipated drastic changes in technology and business principles for the military and adapted in response. An in-depth, balanced biography of a remarkable figure and his lasting legacy.

Gods and Generals: The Paintings of Mort Künstler

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Beautiful work of a master artist
A Beautiful Book of Beautiful and Educational Paintings
For the beautiful art, alone...

Gods and Generals: The Paintings of Mort Künstler
Mort Künstler , Jr., James I. Robertson , and Ron Maxwell
Manufacturer: The Greenwich Workshop Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0867130849

Book Description

America's premier Civil War artist, Mort Künstler, is joined by the nation's leading Civil War historian, Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr., in this extraordinary visual history of the Civil War's dramatic first two years. A companion history to the motion picture of the same name, Gods and Generals is based on the best-selling Jeff Shaara novel, and surveys a crucial period in the War Between the States through incomparable art-work and a matchless narrative.

Gods and Generals chronicles the momentous events of 1861 through early 1863 by following the lives of four principal figures from the Civil War, Robert E. Lee, "Stonewall" Jackson, Winfield S. Hancock and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. On fields of fire and glory, like First and Second Manassas, the Seven Days Battles, Antietam and Chancellorsville, the epic American struggle of brothers-against-brother unfolds in this exceptional work.

Among the Americans caught in the flame of battle, none were more remarkable than Lee, Jackson, Hancock and Chamberlain. Lee, known for the caliber of his character as much as the mettle of his military genius, saved the South from what appeared to be almost certain defeat in mid-1862, and molded his rag-tag troops into a fighting force that at times seemed invincible. "Stonewall" Jackson, meanwhile, rose from a mediocre professor at VMI to become Robert E. Lee's invaluable "right arm," but in mid-spring of 1863 his greatest success would be earned at a terrible price for the South. Facing Lee's army—and often failing—was the Army of the Potomac. Despite the discouragement of defeat, the army's common soldier remained determined to fight and was dedicated to victory—led by officers like Winfield S. Hancock, a gifted West Pointer, and Colenel Joshua L. Chamberlain, a college professor-turned-soldier.

The glory and the tragedy of the American Civil War—and the fascinating figures from its history—are depicted in Gods and Generals with unique depth and emotion. The classic art of Mort Künstler and the captivating narrative by James I. Robertson, Jr. capture this pivotal period in America's bloodiest war unlike any other work of art and history.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful work of a master artist.......2003-03-31

Gods and Generals: The Paintings of Mort Kunstler rivals its previous companion book to Gettysburg. Kunstler tells the story leading up to the battle of Gettysburg using his masterful brush to translate history into color paintings. The text and the paintings weave the tale of how America eventually tore itself asunder in the Civil War. Its an excellent collector's piece and great introduction into the Civil War.
I also found Kunstler did not paint as many movie scenes in this book, instead capturing the actual historical looks of these "Gods and Generals" of the Civil War. Any lover of history or military art will appreciate his attention to detail and riviting scenes. Enjoy!

A Beautiful Book of Beautiful and Educational Paintings.......2003-01-23

Mr. Kunstler has provided us with another book of his arrestingly beautiful paintings. Art, of course, is largely a matter of taste and proverbially in the eye of the beholder. Mr. Kunstler, however, even from as objective a standpoint as possible, has no peer as a chronicler of the Civil War. I have been interested in that period of history for about half a century, but it has been Mr. Kunstler's paintings over the past dozen or more years that have brought that war to life for me, and, I am sure, for many others. Although he is a prolific artist, he never compromises with quality, and the quality of his work is unsurpassed.

The subjects of Mr. Kunstler's paintings are invariably interesting, and he does not like to paint scenes or events that have been done previously by other artists. This book is the companion to, and illustrative of, the events and people of the novel "Gods and Generals" by Jeff Shaara, soon to be made into a motion picture of the same name. It follows four exceptional soldiers through the first two years of the war: Robert E. Lee, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, Winfield S. Hancock, and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.

In this book, there are many new paintings not yet published elsewhere, but whether you are an old Kunstler aficionado or newly introduced to his work, you will find this book unequaled. The reproductions of the paintings are eye-catching, displaying each painting in vibrant, striking colors, true to Mr. Kunstler's originals. I say above that his paintings are educational, and so they are. I urge you to look closely at every work of art. If you do, you will not only see an astonishing amount of detail, but also learn much about the people, the times, the objects people used, and the war. Again, we have Mr. Kunstler's constant striving for perfection to thank for paintings which are correct in every detail. He is the quintessential perfectionist, who painstakingly researches every detail, no matter how small, to provide his audience with true, as well as beautiful, depictions of people, places, and things. He consults with knowledgeable historians, such as Professor Robertson, who wrote the text for this book, on even such matters as the weather on the particular day that he wants to depict in a painting. All of the accouterments are true, as well as the animals, the uniforms, the weapons, the landscapes, the battlefield situations, the lighting -- everything. Rarely does one find, in one individual such as Mr. Kunstler, artistry to the point of genius coupled with an unceasing demand for perfection in all of the details of his art.

I admit that I am no connoisseur of art and that I can claim no expertise or experience in art. Even someone such as I, however, can at least partially appreciate the artistic techniques used by Mr. Kunstler. His positioning of people, animals, buildings, and other objects to lead the observer's eye to the main subject of the painting, his extraordinary use of light to play on this or that subject in the picture in greater or lesser brilliance in order to accentuate or subordinate that subject, and his use of color, always precise, to delineate bright sunshine or dark shadow, or to emphasize or minimize, are all techniques that even such as I can note and admire. His paintings are so life-like as to defy the observer to differentiate them from photographs. But no photographs could depict such wonderful color and the precise instants in time which Mr. Kunstler so deftly chooses to picture.

Mr. Kunstler has, with every book he has introduced, been able to obtain the very best in historians/commentators to draft the texts. He has obtained the services of, for example, Henry Steele Commager (for the book "The American Spirit: The Paintings of Mort Kunstler"), James I. Robertson, Jr. (for "Jackson and Lee: Legends in Gray," "The Confederate Spirit: Valor, Sacrifice and Honor," and the current work), James M. McPherson (for "Gettysburg"), and Dee Brown (for "Images of the Old West"). Dr. Robertson's text in "Gods and Generals: The Paintings of Mort Kunstler" is, as always, the perfect complement to the paintings. As with Mr. Kunstler's art, so also with Dr. Robertson's narrative, one can learn much, whether one is a novice or an experienced hand.

Thus, whether you are a "Civil War buff" or simply interested in exceptional art and edifying prose, you will enjoy this book (and you would do well to consider obtaining Mr. Kunstler's previous books, named parenthetically above). You cannot go wrong with the team of Kunstler and Robertson.

For the beautiful art, alone..........2002-11-17

This book is worth 5 stars!! My 8 year old son is just beginning to discover what it means to be born in the south. I want him to have an accurate picture of what the civil war was all about. It is hard to find civil war books with enough pictures to keep him interested. This book has plenty of high quality art for him to see and includes text that we can read together! I highly reccomend it based on those gorgeous paintings.

Winfield Scott Hancock: Gettysburg Hero (Civil War Campaigns and Commanders Series)

Average customer rating:

Great book for everyone
Excellent Edition
New Hancock Biography Examined

Winfield Scott Hancock: Gettysburg Hero (Civil War Campaigns and Commanders Series)
Perry D. Jamieson
Manufacturer: McWhiney Foundation Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1893114392

Customer Reviews:

Great book for everyone.......2003-12-27

An outstanding volume in the "Civil War Campaigns and Commanders" series. The book is extremely well written; however, it must be remembered that it is not intended to be a complete biography of the general, but of his military leadership abilities during the Civil War. Perry Jamieson briefly touches on General Hancock's life before and after the war, including his years spent as an Indian fighter and his Democratic run for the presidency. The author goes into much greater detail concerning the general's role in the battles he fought in during the civil war, which is the intention of this series. There are many maps, including an outstanding one on page 20 showing the major railroad routes from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, and short biographies of other Civil War generals. He has included much detail on the battles: for example, each day of the Gettysburg battle requires it's own chapter. It is the perfect book for the beginner as it covers the high points of General Hancock's life. The more knowledgeable civil war reader will also find the book entertaining with many little known facts of General Hancock, his staff and family. I have read many military history books, and this one was a pleasure to read. Highly recommended.

Excellent Edition.......2003-11-15

Perry Jamieson's Winfield Scott Hancock: Gettysburg Hero is an enjoyable edition to the Campaigns and Commanders Series, published by the McWhiney Press. Jamieson tells of Hancock's remarkable career in entertaining and exciting prose and remarks on his legacy and current reputation among historians.

Although this biography would appear brief to those not acquainted with the series, it is actually one of the longest yet published in it. This series is meant to give a shortened yet informative account of Civil War figures and events to those not yet familar with them. Jamieson gives an outstanding portrait of Hancock as a geniune military hero and analyzes the role he played in saving the Union. For those who would want to learn more, he lists several extensive and acclaimed biographies of "Hancock The Superb."

The maps and biographical sketches included are a great aide to those without prior knowledge of Civil War figures. Jamieson tells not only of Hancock's role in the war (although he does, of course, focus on it) but also recounts his admirable postwar service on the frontier as well as his failed presidential campaign. Also of note is the mention of the history behind the most famous Hancock monuments and memorials, including both the statue atop Cemetery Hill and in Washington DC, as well as others.

In conclusion, this book is an excellent introuction to one of the finest commanders in American miltary history. It combines solid research and storytelling in an effective manner and does justice to the man and his memory.

New Hancock Biography Examined.......2003-09-06

Perry D. Jamieson's new biography, Winfield Scott Hancock - Gettysburg Hero, is a somewhat cursory examination of one of the most notable Americans of the 19th century. While providing a competent introduction to the basic facts of Hancock's life and career, the author omits a wealth of information on his subject.

The narrative text covers less than 180 pages. Included in these pages are ten maps and seventeen separate sidebar biographies and photographs of major Civil War figures, including Thomas J. Jackson, Richard Ewell, John Sedgewick, and Phil Sheridan. These sidebar bios may be helpful to readers unfamiliar with Civil War history, but they distract from the subject of the book and interfere with the flow of the narrative. Mysteriously, of all the photographs included in the book, there is not one photograph of Hancock himself, other than the cover illustration.

Readers interested in Hancock's early years will find the book disappointing. The first sixteen years of his life are covered in three paragraphs, and his lengthy prewar military career takes up less than seven pages. While it is the obvious intention of the author to speed through this period in order to examine Hancock's Civil War actions, the years from 1840 until 1861 were the most formative in shaping Hancock's performance as a battlefield commander.

Jamieson handles well the details of Hancock's wartime rise to fame as "Hancock the Superb," as he does the rest of the general's Civil War service. Naturally, there is an emphasis on Hancock's role at Gettysburg, where the corps commander truly performed superbly. Jamieson devotes four chapters - nearly one-fifth of the entire book - to the Gettysburg campaign.

For some reason, Jamieson persistently refers to Hancock as a "War Democrat," even in descriptions of combat. For example, in his account of the Wilderness fighting, Jamieson writes on page 95, "The War Democrat immediately directed this unit [Carroll's brigade] into the bloody turmoil around the crossroads." While Hancock was a lifelong Democrat with firm political beliefs, he was always a soldier first. The repetition of the label War Democrat seems out of place in the narrative, especially in the battle action.

Jamieson's sidebar bio of Hancock's friend and Confederate brigadier Lewis Armistead says that Armistead's "genial personality made him one of the most popular commanders in the Army of Northern Virginia." Such a statement seems based more on actor Richard Jordan's sympathetic portrayal of Armistead in the film Gettysburg than on the historical record. In the 1994 booklet, Trust in God and Fear Nothing - Lewis A. Armistead CSA, author Wayne Motts used his extensive research to reveal Armistead as a tough, hard-bitten military professional who could be harsh with soldiers and subordinates, not unlike Hancock himself. Jamieson also records the date of Armistead's death incorrectly on pages 85 and 89 - Armistead died on the morning of July 5th, not early in the afternoon of July 4th.

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