A Commitment To Honor A Unique Portrait Of Abraham Lincoln In His Own Words

Book Description

Book Description

The first major modern edition of the wartime correspondence of General William T. Sherman, this volume features more than 400 letters written between the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and the day Sherman bade farewell to his troops in 1865. Together, they trace Sherman's rise from obscurity to become one of the Union's most famous and effective warriors.

Arranged chronologically and grouped into chapters that correspond to significant phases in Sherman's life, the letters—many of which have never before been published—reveal Sherman's thoughts on politics, military operations, slavery and emancipation, the South, and daily life in the Union army, as well as his reactions to such important figures as General Ulysses S. Grant and President Lincoln.

Lively, frank, opinionated, discerning, and occasionally extremely wrong-headed, these letters mirror the colorful personality and complex mentality of the man who wrote them. They offer the reader an invaluable glimpse of the Civil War as Sherman saw it.

Customer Reviews:

A man of war, a man of letters...a magnificent collection of Uncle Billy's writings!!.......2007-07-19

William Tecumseh Sherman was a brilliant military genius and a true eccentric.
A fascinating and complex man, who found his destiny in war. Sherman revelled in war and owed much to it: he began it as an former officer of modest means and ended it hailed as the Union greatest general next to Grant. At the same time he loathed and despised war and was horrified by it. He was shocked by what the war did to his country, his people, his soldiers and to himself. At times he was appalled by his duties as an officer, but he was always highly resolved to perform these duties.

Everybody who has ever read his memoirs knows that Sherman was not only a great general but also a very talented writer. His memoirs are not a dry succession of events and his part in it, but they convey how he lived through the war and how and why he did what he did in it.
Now professor Brooks D. Simpson has edited a big volume of his Sherman's correspondence from the Civil War years. Again it is the quality of the Sherman's writing which catches the eye and pleases the mind. His letters, as are his memoirs, are a joy to read. This book offers an interesting perspective on Sherman and his part in the war. Reading the memoirs is like having Sherman telling his war experiences to you, long after the facts. This is interesting enough but reading his letters is even more so. It feels like being there with him in his tent, in some Union camp during the war, looking over his shoulder while events are shaping. A truly fascinating experience.
He pours his heart out to his brother John, to his wife Ellen, to his friend Grant and to many others.
So many aspects of his personality appear: his quicksilver intelligence, his warmth and humanity, his wicked and dry sense of humour, his fundamental decency and his military capability.
Read this book and look intro Sherman's mind: it is an interesting place.

The book itself is a big b*gger, but once you've started, you'll be grateful that is is so big: you'll hate to finish it. It looks great, which I like in books and it's very nicely turned out, with good quality binding , high grade paper, a pretty typesetting and a nice dust jacket design. Listings and indexes are clear and elaborate, which is useful in a book like this. So here's a big thumbs up to the publisher's (Chapel Hill North Carolina State University Press): very well done, a fine piece of work!!!

I can't recommend this too highly. A must for all those who are interested in history, in the American Civil War and/or in Sherman. Read and enjoy the letters uncle Billy wrote in those four years of war and enjoy the sight and the feel of this beautifully made book.

A great collection of primary documents.......2006-05-16

It's difficult to rate a collection of primary documents such as this one for several reasons. The quality of the documents themselves might be very good but the arrangement or editing of them might be very poor, in which case it becomes a question of whether you should rate the volume well for the documents themselves or poorly for the editing job. Fortunately this collection does not have that issue, as both the primary documents themselves and the editing of them are excellent.

This massive volume contains much of Sherman's correspondence during the war. Surprisingly, these letters are enjoyable to read, and the editors have done a great job of compiling and editing them. Reading these letters, orders, etc of General Sherman can give someone a very unique perspective of the Civil War as Sherman himself saw it, without the bias of authors who have written about it since and without the inevitable coloring of events that happens later when war heroes write about their experiences (and which certainly affected his memoirs, though I do believe they were very honest and straightforward). General Sherman is one of my heroes from the Civil War, and this collection of glimpses into his brilliant mind certainly fed my understanding and fascination of the man.

Wonderful glimpse into the mind of Sherman.......2000-12-31

William T. Sherman was an irascible, unpredictably brilliant man and his letters bring out these myriad traits. He was a fascinating man and his own words illuminate his fiery personality. Sherman's own 1875 memoirs are a mixed bag, marred by an over-abundance of wartime correspondence and ancillary material. This collection of his letters actually makes for more engrossing, instructive reading. We hear his opinions on the major players of the Civil War: Grant, Halleck and Lincoln. We gain an understanding of his tortured relationship with his wife, Ellen, to whom many of the letters are addressed. His visceral hatred of the press and reporters is well represented.

The collection is expertly edited by Brooks Simpson, someone who thoroughly understands both Sherman and the civil war era. The notes are instructive and unobtrusive and the introduction lays the groundwork for appreciating Sherman and his correspondence. This is an outstanding book for anyone who wishes to get to know the erratic and intellectual General who was second only to Ulysses S. Grant in ability and results.

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Great Personal Recollection of Honest Abe

The True Story

REVIEW OF WILLIAM H. HERNDON'S LINCOLN BY JOHN CHUCKMAN

Interesting Perspective of Lincoln

One and Only

Herndon's Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life (History & Personal Recollections of Abraham Lincoln)
William Henry Herndon
Manufacturer: Digital Scanning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements about Abraham Lincoln

ASIN: 1582181365

Book Description

My long personal association with Mr. Lincoln gave me special facilities in the direction of obtaining materials for these volumes. Such were our relations during all that portion of his life when he was rising to distinction, that I had only to exercise a moderate vigilance in order to gather and preserve the real data of his personal career. Being strongly drawn to the man, and believing in his destiny, I was not unobservant or careless in this respect. It thus happened that I became the personal depository of the larger part of the most valuable material in existence. Out of this store the major portion of the materials of the following volumes has been drawn.

In determining Lincoln's title to greatness we must not only keep in mind the times in which he lived, but we must, to a certain extent, measure him with other men. Many of our great men and our statesmen, it is true, have been self-made, rising gradually through struggles to the topmost round of the ladder; but Lincoln rose from a lower depth than most of them - from a stagnant, putrid pool, like the gas which, set on fire by its own energy and self-combustible nature, rises in jets, blazing, clear and bright. I should be remiss in my duty if did not throw the light on this part of the picture, so that the world may realize what marvelous contrast one phase of his life presents to another.

The object of this work is to deal with Mr. Lincoln individually and domestically; as lawyer, as citizen, as statesman. Special attention is given to the history of his youth and early manhood, and while dwelling on this portion of his life the liberty is taken to insert many things that would be omitted or suppressed in other places. The endeavor is to keep Lincoln in sight all the time, to cling close to his side all the way through - leaving to others the more comprehensive task of writing a history of his times. I have no theory of his life to establish or destroy. Mr. Lincoln was my warm devoted friend. This is a facsimile reprint of the 3 volume set “As Published in 1888”.

Customer Reviews:

Great Personal Recollection of Honest Abe.......2006-02-26

Book is true of facts and shows the true Abraham Lincoln. One of the best books on honest Abe. Takes you back to a time long passed and puts you in the mind of one of the true patriots of America.

The True Story.......2005-06-19

I had long wanted to own a hardcover edition of Herndon's famous book on Abraham Lincoln and the purchase of this one by Digital Scanning, Inc. fulfilled my desire perfectly.

Everyone with a serious interest in Mr. Lincoln's life should read this book. Originally published in 1888, it is one of the main starting points for all subsequent works devoted to understanding this complex man. It remains a great book for reading after all of these years.

REVIEW OF WILLIAM H. HERNDON'S LINCOLN BY JOHN CHUCKMAN.......2005-02-25

With a certain group of American historians, largely those concerned with preserving images of America's founders and luminaries as saintly figures in white plaster togas, this book remains controversial.

In fact, it is perhaps the greatest biography of an American historical figure ever written. It is recommended highly to all lovers of good biography. It is indispensible to serious students of American history.

The official defenders of America's Civic Religion dislike this book because it captures some raw and awkward aspects of Lincoln, but Lincoln was rather raw and awkward and self-taught. It is the rise of such a man to such heights, plus his great natural eloquence, that make Lincoln remarkable.

Such historians love to cite this or that relatively insignificant error (in a 500-page book replete with details) to discredit Herndon, but Herndon's own detail and sense of honesty make him the best argument against such foolishness.

No one was better qualified than Herndon to record the life of Lincoln, having been his friend and business partner for many years. Herndon also conscientiously compiled a large archive of letters and memorials after Lincoln's death.

Herndon focuses on the personal Lincoln, and it is especially his observations about Lincoln's religious skepticism and family life that so disturb those who would have Lincoln embalmed like Lenin. Herndon gives us a vivid Lincoln, and if you like good biography, you will be impressed. The book was clearly a labor of love, and that fact still comes through more than a century after it was written.

Interesting Perspective of Lincoln.......2002-10-25

You know its funny to be writing a review about a book that was written so long ago, but I think this review may help encourage others who haven't already been acquainted with this wonderful book to take a look at it. It offers a very human view of Lincoln before he became the president of the United States. I agree with the fact that it doesn't reveal a lot about the civil war, but you know what, that was the authors intention. William Herndon, Lincoln's Law partner for about 20 years, knew that other people were going to focus on the war years far better than he could (Like John Hay and John Nicolay who worked for Lincoln in the White House) therefore, his focus is to reveal Lincoln as he was as a young man, but mostly during his years living in springfield, illinois. Its really quite entertaining, and at times comical to read how quirky he was back in those days. Sure, Herndon has been criticized about his biography over the past 100 plus years its been out in circulation, particularly his whole take on the Ann Rutledge affair and attitude on Mary Todd Lincoln. Regardless of that, I think he honestly attempts to provide an accurate portrayal of Lincoln without holding back any details. He wants to reveal Lincoln the way he viewed the man through his own eyes--as an ordinary man who had faults like anybody else--who went through tough, turbulent, and dark times--had a sense of humor--had insecurities--but in the end remained an honest to goodness human being who struggled to make his mark in this world. Trust me folks, this is a fascinating read. You will have a difficult time trying to stop reading.

One and Only.......2002-10-07

There are, it is said, more books about Lincoln than there are about anybody but Jesus. Every man setting out to write about Lincoln has an idea of him, a shadow to look for Lincoln in and the huge weight of tradition and history on his back while writing. Even Nicolay and Hay, his secretaries, and authors of the voluminous collected papers which are probably the best source on the Presidency, only knew the man in office, once he had enfolded himself, if you will, inside his great ambition. Herndon knew the man. He shared his office with him, a law practise which consisted of Lincoln throwing the case notes and money into his hat before putting it on to his head, and splitting all the money down the middle. Herndon also went around talking to everyone who knew Lincoln while he was alive before they died.

Book Description

Once revered as one of the finest officers in the U.S. Navy, Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont is now, when remembered at all, criticized for resisting technological advancement and for half-heartedly leading the disastrous all-ironclad Union naval attack on Charleston. Although his reputation appeared unshakable after he won the first major Union victory of the Civil War in South Carolina, the failed attack on Charleston brought his career to an abrupt end. Relieved of his command, he was also maligned in the press. In Lincoln's Tragic Admiral: The Life of Samuel Francis Du Pont, Kevin J. Weddle challenges this reduction of Du Pont's legacy, combining new and known sources to uncover a thoroughly modern, though flawed, Du Pont.

Despite the fact that Du Pont's name has become intertwined with the ironclad due to the catastrophic battle that brought shame on both the man and the machine, Weddle reveals that the admiral was the victim of a double irony: although Du Pont championed technological innovation, he outspokenly opposed the use of the new ironclads to attack Charleston. Only when his objections were overridden did his use of these modern vessels bring his career to a tragic end. Weddle exposes this historical misunderstanding, while also pinpointing Du Pont's crucial role in the development of United States naval strategy, his work in modernizing the navy between the Mexican War and the Civil War, and his push for the navy's technological transition from wood to iron.

In his examination of key documents from Du Pont's life and career, Weddle unveils the life-long partnership that Du Pont shared with his wife and confidante, Sophie, who served as an immediate counsel to many of his decisions, while also tackling larger historical questions such as civil-military relations, attitudes toward slavery, innovations in military strategy and organization, and the introduction of new military technology in wartime. Both enlightening and moving, Lincoln's Tragic Admiral will appeal to scholars interested in American, technological, and military history, as well as the general reader interested in the Civil War.

Customer Reviews:

For lovers of history, a marvelous book!.......2006-02-19

A fascinating book! I particularly appreciate the way the author integrates Du Pont's human strengths and frailties with the bureaucratic, logistical, and armament systems of the time. He provided just enough background information on Du Pont's family, peers, and related events for readers to appreciate their impact without being taken off track. Ultimately the reader sees the guy as very much a real man with skills, challenges, successes and failures that are just as relevant today as 150 years ago. (Anyone who doubts the relevance of history to modern events need only read this book.) Finally, I greatly enjoyed learning about the technological advances of the day in the context of the times. It's easy for us today to look back at the Civil War as being an "old-style war" like that of 1812, but in reading Weddle's book I was enlightened to the fact that from a technological attitudes standpoint, the Civil War was much more of a "modern" war than I had previously realized. What kid isn't fascinated by the battle of the Monitor and the Virginia (Merrimack), for example? In history books that event is always presented as an isolated incident, but thanks to this book I now realize that steam-powered vessels and ironclads were the wonder weapons of their day -- they captured the public imagination (and those of military planners) just as tanks, jets, and nuclear weapons have in more recent times. It has been a truly delightful read and I've learned a lot. Incredible the peers Du Pont rubbed elbows with at the time -- legendary heroes like Stephen Decatur and Matthew Perry. If you like history, you will love this book. Not only does it offer fascinating facts and insights into a man and his times, but it reads like a novel. Don't miss it!

Much More Than a Great Biography.......2005-10-03

For those of you who eagerly await the one book on Civil War naval history for every fifty released concerning the land war, you will not be disappointed. Not only is this book an exceptional biography of Admiral Du Pont, but it also provides a thorough look at the Navy during the service's formative years prior to the Civil War. This is possible because Du Pont's influence proved instrumental during this period; he authored the first comprehensive national maritime strategy (which provided guidance for transforming the Navy from a coastal defense force into a "Blue Water" service with offensive capability), as well as catalyzed much-needed personnel reform. Du Pont's at-sea adventures in the Mexican War and during a hazardous voyage to the Far East also make for great reading. What sets this book apart from any good biography, however, is the insightful discussion of civil-military friction and ill-conceived reliance on technology that characterize Du Pont's 1863 attack on Charleston, SC. Du Pont was against this operation (believing it to be an unnecessary peripheral enterprise that would siphon off valuable - and limited - resources from the all-important blockade), but Lincoln, Navy Secretary Welles, and Assistant Secretary Fox all though the capture of Charleston had important symbolic value. Since civilian leadership sets policy and related strategic objectives, Du Pont saluted smartly and began planning the operation. Friction arose when the admiral tried to persuade Welles and Fox that Charleston could only be captured via a joint Army-Navy operation. Welles and Fox (demonstrating blatant service parochialism) favored an all-Navy operation, and instructed Du Pont to proceed without Army assistance. Despite evidence to the contrary (Drewry's Bluff, VA and Fort McAllister, GA), Welles and Fox were convinced that monitor ironclads alone could destroy Charleston's forts and capture the city; as a result, they confidently assured Lincoln that the monitor technology would prevail. Of course, Du Pont was correct and the operation tragically ended in failure. Civil-military friction and technology as a military panacea are familiar themes throughout American military history - and we see them still in the current global war on terrorism. Colonel Weddle, therefore, does the reader a great service by providing such a thought-provoking discussion and analysis of these crucial issues. Superbly written, thoroughly researched, and well organized, this book was a pleasure to read and I highly recommend it.

A Wealth of Personal and Naval History.......2005-08-31

Great read! Easy, smooth flowing syntax and text. Almost reads like a novel. A nice mixture of text, maps, and images. Substantial research has brought together the personal man as well as the public man and his concern for United States protection and the well being of his naval forces.
Coming from a naval family, I was very interested in seeing the evolving history of the US Navy. I was also interested to follow the interaction of husband and wife and her influence on DuPont. Highly recommend this book.

Naval biography at its best!.......2005-08-29

Kevin Weddle has blazed new trails in this long-overdue look at one of the U.S. Navy's most important but little-known leaders. He has tapped into the extensive resources of the Du Pont family to capture the essence of a complex figure who stood tall at the cusp of a critical period of American history. The book is a quick read and Samuel Francis Du Pont's story is told with balance, style, and accuracy.
The best biographies hold relevance for for present and future leaders - and this one is no exception. Du Pont plays key roles as mariner, technological innovator, personnel reformer, diplomat, strategist, combat commander, and family man. Through it all, he remains a man of steadfast principle.
Kevin Weddle has spun a superb yarn and created an impressive work that shines a contemporary lamp on a long-neglected giant of the U.S. Navy. This volume is a worthy addition to the library of those with an interest in naval history, the Civil War, or leadership.

A review of Lincoln's Tragic Admiral.......2005-08-14

Before I read this book, I didn't know alot about this period of our nation's history. What I especially enjoyed was learning about Samual DuPont's personal life and how it affected some of his decisions in war time. I can now say I have learned something and was entertained in the meantime.

Herndon's life of Lincoln,: The history and personal recollections of Abraham Lincoln as originally written by William H. Herndon and Jesse W. Weik; (The Living library)

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Herndon's life of Lincoln,: The history and personal recollections of Abraham Lincoln as originally written by William H. Herndon and Jesse W. Weik; (The Living library)
William Henry Herndon
Manufacturer: World Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Dare to Defy: Conquering Fear with Active Faith

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The postmodern Kierkegaard
Reasonable... Balanced

Dare to Defy: Conquering Fear with Active Faith
Lincoln Swain
Manufacturer: Atomic Quill Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

Dare to Defy: Conquering Fear with Active Faith is the inaugural publication of Divine Liberation, the spirituality imprint of Atomic Quill Press. In a snaggle-toothed epistle delivered from the muddy trenches of human existence at the dawn of the 21st century, Reverend Dr. Lincoln Swain mounts a counter-insurgency against "the purpose driven life." Swain suggests that a committment to values, combined with a vigilant nurturing of those values, allows one to confront the responsibility of free will, God's gift to us. Through benevolent action imbued with love, one can confront the fears of life and death while making your witness for the Lord.

Customer Reviews:

The postmodern Kierkegaard.......2005-06-07

First things first: I am not in the habit of reading "Christian pamphlets." But I picked up this book based on its well-balanced and irresistible design. What I found inside, after only a quick peek, was the wisdom of an existential philosopher schooled equally on Jean Paul Sartre and the Detroit gospel temple. Swain's tough and ultra-real journey through life in a postmodern world--from the pimped-out Cadillac to the tennis club--speaks not only to readers of "Christian pamphlets," but also to readers of serious philosophy and cultural studies. From page one I was taken with the "powerful Swain self-confidence," and I went along for the ride as he professed a new dogma of "agape": "a secret agent against hate, fear and isolation."

Swain will remind you of the terrible reality that you are indeed free to do as you please. This is the terror of freedom, which can only be relieved (or repressed) once you adhere to this or that belief system. But if you keep your wits about you, you will get the gist of Swain, and choose to live in the terror of freedom, finding relief from your own benevolent actions.

Long live Swain.

Reasonable... Balanced.......2005-05-23

I really liked the preface by the author. "Forget Lincoln Swain. Think about Jesus." In this small book, he tried to cover various aspects of Christial life, and the attempt was successful. The author's view on many issues are strikingly balanced and very logical. In this age, such a logically balanced view is quite imiportant and - I feel - quite rare to find in Christian community.
Well, being logical itself is not against Jesus.

He has done all of those efforts to be a true witness of the LORD. To be a 'True' witness, we have to know many things, at least. What are they? Read this book.

The Every-day Life of Abraham Lincoln (Large Print Edition): A Narrative and Descriptive Biography with Pen-Pictures and Personal Recollections by Those Who Knew Him

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The Every-day Life of Abraham Lincoln (Large Print Edition): A Narrative and Descriptive Biography with Pen-Pictures and Personal Recollections by Those Who Knew Him
Francis Fisher Browne
Manufacturer: BiblioBazaar
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Book Description

New and thoroughly revised edition from new plates With an entirely new portrait of Lincoln from a charcoal study by J.K. Marble.

Herndon's Life of Lincoln: The history and personal recollections of Abraham Lincoln

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The granddaddy of Lincoln biographies
The real Lincoln?
A Very Human Portrait of Lincoln

Herndon's Life of Lincoln: The history and personal recollections of Abraham Lincoln
William Henry Herndon
Manufacturer: World Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: B0008886K0

Customer Reviews:

The granddaddy of Lincoln biographies.......2007-08-24

This folksy treatment occasionally stumbles (often due to ghostwriter Jesse Weik rather than Lincoln's law partner Herndon), but is a rewarding read. It is a wonderful collection of stories and memories. Its strength resides in Herndon's account of Lincoln's life in Illinois. Herndon did extensive interviews with persons who knew the young Lincoln, supplemented by correspondence with them.

The real Lincoln?.......2007-01-31

This is a interesting book from the perspective of someone who knew Lincoln personally. The only area's of the book that I didn't like were the drawn out speeches and letters that Herndon places within the book. I also wish that Herndon would have written more about Lincoln's time as President, which Herndon ends the book just shortly after Lincoln takes Office. Other than that I found the book to be very enjoyable to read and I reccomend it to anyone that loves to read about Abraham Lincoln.

A Very Human Portrait of Lincoln.......2006-06-21

This book should be an essential part of anyone's study of America's sixteenth president. William Herndon was Lincoln's law partner for nearly two decades. He presents a very human portrait of his friend and colleague. Herndon spent many years gathering the information offered in this volume. The book itself has its place in history: it was here that the legend of the youthful Lincoln's romance and supposed engagement to the sweet and lovely Ann Rutledge was first published in book form. Fact or myth? Decide for yourself. Herndon had his prejudices. He was definitely anti-Mary Todd, for instance. Yet his efforts--to which he dedicated much of the latter part of his life and which nearly impoverished him--are worthy of praise, and his deep and abiding affection for his lost friend comes through the pages. Highly recommended.

The life and public services of Abraham Lincoln: Together with his state papers, including his speeches, addresses, messages, letters, and proclamations; ... personal reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln,

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The life and public services of Abraham Lincoln: Together with his state papers, including his speeches, addresses, messages, letters, and proclamations; ... personal reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln,
Henry J Raymond
Manufacturer: Derby and Miller
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Life of Lincoln;: The history and personal recollections of Abraham Lincoln (Forum books)

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Life of Lincoln;: The history and personal recollections of Abraham Lincoln (Forum books)
William Henry Herndon
Manufacturer: World Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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