Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders [Hardcover]

Ezra J. Warner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1964

More than forty years after its original publication, Ezra J. Warner’s Generals in Blue is now available in paperback for the first time. Warner’s classic reference work includes intriguing biographical sketches and a rare collection of photographs of all 583 men who attained the rank of general in the Union Army. Here are the West Point graduates and the political appointees; the gifted, the mediocre, and the inexcusably bad; those of impeccable virtue and those who abused their position; the northern-born, the foreign-born, and the southerners who remained loyal to the Union. Warner’s valuable introduction discusses the criteria for appointment and compares the civilian careers of both Union and Confederate generals, revealing striking differences in the two groups. Generals in Blue is that rare book—an essential volume for scholars, a prized item for buffs, and a biographical dictionary that the casual reader will find absorbing.

AUTHOR BIO: Ezra J. Warner (1910–1974) was also the author of Generals in Gray. A native of Lake Forest, Illinois, he lived in La Jolla, California, and was well known for his work in Civil War biography. His great-uncle was General James Meech Warner of the Union Army.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 680 pages
• Publisher: Louisiana State Univ Pr; First Edition edition (June 1964)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807108227
• ISBN-13: 978-0807108222
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,676 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Reference & Collections

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Generals In Blue -- Lives of the Union Commanders, January 13, 2000

By 

DANIEL E. WYATT (HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders (Hardcover)

Generals In Blue -- Ezra J. Warner's companion to Generals in Gray. Generals in Blue have the lives of all 583 men who wore stars in Lincoln's Army. Many were political appointees; less than half were West Pointers. Among the men in this book are: Grant, Sherman and Sheridan. Famous names like Winfield Scott and George A. Custer. Three men whose lives are shown became Presidents. This book is a must in the library of all Civil War buffs.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable reference work, February 12, 2001

By 

Candace Scott (Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders (Hardcover)

If you have even an ancillary interest in the American Civil War, this is essential to read and to own. I consult my copy on a weekly basis and I've owned it for twenty years. Warner writes well and succinctly about all of the Union Generals. Each biography is accompanied by a single photograph of the subject. The book is like a large biographical dictionary, easy to navigate and peruse at your leisure. If you are interested in in-depth material on any of these Generals, it's best to consult an individual biography of your chosen favorite. But if you have a casual interest or merely want an essential reference tool, this is a "must have."

Many historians have compiled lists of the most influential and indispensable civil war books of the 20th century. Invariably, Warner's book is included, along with the companion volume on Confederate Generals. It's not fancy, but it remains one of the preeminent biographical tools for any civil war historian.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference of the Union Generals!, March 27, 2004

By 

Michael Taylor "Michael Taylor" (Indian Trail NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders (Hardcover)

Like Generals in Gray, I have often referred to Generals in Blue as an excellent reference over the years.

Warner presents a brief biography of each general usually including the following information:

1. Birthplace and birthdate.
2. Prewar career.
3. Battles served in, promotions, wounding and death (if applicable).
4. Postwar career.
5. Relationships with other generals and officers.
6. Death and place of burial.
7. Mention of the officer's competency (or lack thereof).

Whether you are a serious student of the Civil War or a novice, I highly recommend the book as an excellent reference!