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Grant's Lieutenants: From Chattanooga to Appomattox (Modern War Studies)

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Doing a book of essays is challenging. Each essay needs to contribute to a central theme while being able to standalone. The essayists bring different perspectives and styles that need to mesh or the result is a mess. Weaving this into a recognizable intelligent book that contributes to the readers understanding of the main subject is no small accomplishment. Steven E. Woodworth once again demonstrates his ability to do just that. This is the second book of essays on Grant's Lieutenants he has edited. This book benefits from star power covering the campaigns where Grant deals with major Civil War figures. While covering Thomas, Meade, Halleck, Sheridan & Sherman, we see a number of obscure generals too. This approach gives us a balanced look what Grant faced and how he managed to handle this very mixed group of men.
Woodworth's essay on George H. Thomas is one of the best things written about Thomas. In 24 pages, he provides a balanced portrait and covers the difficulties of his relationship with Grant. The considerable Thomas fan club will find much here to be upset over but this is one of the fairest looks at the man I have seen.
Ethan S. Rafuse looks at George G. Meade in the longest essay in the book. This is the critical relationship during this period and gets the required space. This excellent piece captures the contentious, friendly and often difficult relationship. This is very factual, devoid of sentiment or blame detailing the command structure that wins the war in Virginia.
Earl J. Hess covers the always-difficult Franz Sigel and Grant's immersion in ethnic politics. Benjamin Franklin Cooling provides a different perspective on Jubal Early's 1864 Raid and the North's response looking at Hunter, Wallace and Wright. This leads us into Steven E. Nash's excellent look at Philip H. Sheridan. Grant was not always right about people and William B. Feis gives us an example of this with Edward O. C. Ord.
Mark Grimsley contributes two excellent views given Benjamin F. Butler he made the case that Henry W. Halleck had to be included. After getting them to agree, he got the assignment to write it. The happy result is two excellent essays that fairly cover these difficult generals.
You will not find a detailed in-depth analysis in 20-pages. It is not possible to produce something readable in that short a space. What you have is an excellent overview of these men. While not highly detailed, nothing important is omitted and many secondary items are considered. Each author is a respected historian with deep knowledge of the subject and excellent writing skills. The result is an enjoyable, informative read that completes the series on a high note.

If eight people went to a theatrical event staged in the round, depending on where they were seated, you may have eight slightly different descriptions of the same show that each just witnessed. By assembling each of these descriptions and forming them into a single narrative one is able to get a more complete, detailed and nuanced account of the show they have just seen.

As the editor of "Grant's Lieutenants," Steven E. Woodworth has done something very much similar. Picking up from where the first volume, "From Cairo to Vicksburg," left off, the second volume, "From Chattanooga to Appomattox," follows Ulysses S. Grant as he moves from the Western theater of operations to the Eastern theater, from his relief of the besieged city of Chattanooga Tennessee to accepting the surrender of Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Courthouse.

As with the first volume, this book is a collection of essays written by prominent historians. Each essay is a mini-biography, of one of Grant's subordinates and his relationship with them. Those of featured in the book, are William T. Sherman (making a 2nd appearance), George H. Thomas, George G. Meade, Franz Sigel, Benjamin F. Butler, David Hunter Lew Wallis, Horatio Wright, Philip H. Sheridan, Edward O. C. Ord and Henry Halleck. And the historians writing about them are John F. Marszaleck, Steven E. Woodworth, Ethan S. Rafuse, Earl J. Hess, Mark Grimsley, Benjamin F. Cooling, Steven E. Nash, and William B Feis.

Neither in the first, nor in the second volume, is there an essay dedicated to Ulysses S. Grant alone. Neither is there is no final essay tying all of the essays together. Mr. Woodworth has left his readers to put all the narrative pieces together and draw their own conclusions about the evolution of Grant's leadership style. Taken together both volumes form a biography in the round.

Good collection of essays on Grant's subordinates. Interesting interpretation of O.C. Ord's career, of which I knew nothing. Nature of the writing precluded much in depth analysis or tactical detail of the various officers' battles/operations. Combined with Grant's Lieutenants, Vol 1, the book provides a good introduction to the war under Grant.