The Art of Command in the Civil War [Hardcover]

Steven E. Woodworth (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1998

The military history of the Civil War has tended to focus on such issues as tactics, courage under fire, and which leader was capable of the bold stroke (Lee) and which one wasn’t (McClellan). Overlooked in these important issues is the matter of command itself: mastery of the resources required for successful military action. In this work seven experts examine particular instances of command problems—such as supply, military discipline, and effective relations with subordinate commanders—and show how a general’s handling of the problem illustrates an important feature of Civil War leadership.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jefferson Davis and His Generals: The Failure of Confederate Command in the West; Davis and Lee at War, and Six Armies in Tennessee: The Chicka-mauga and Chattanooga Campaigns (Nebraska 1998).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 193 pages
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press (December 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803247850
• ISBN-13: 978-0803247857
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,133,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steven E. Woodworth is a professor of history at Texas Christian University, and an acknowledged expert on the Civil War. He has written a number of well-received books on the topic, including Nothing But Victory. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Insight to Command, July 8, 2008

By 

William C. Allen "Civil War History buff" (Columbia, South Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Command in the Civil War (Hardcover)

In this book you will read several essays about Generals including, Bragg, Jackson, Grant, Pickett, and Rosecrans. These essays will go into detail that for a number of key decisions that they made in the war were influenced not only by the needs in the military and in the active theater by by politics as well. For Grant and Bragg especially will be hindered by things due to political generals. The rest of the essays attempt to get into the mindset of each General and help the reader to understand many of the decisions that they made and to "get in their shoes".