Grant's Lieutenants: From Cairo to Vicksburg (Modern War Studies) (v. 1) [Hardcover]

Steven E. Woodworth (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2001 | Series: Modern War Studies

Ulysses S. Grant did more than any other single Union general to secure the North's victory in the Civil War, but he did not achieve that victory alone. Grant's ability to inspire and cultivate the talents of the officers serving under him was a key factor in his remarkable military success. Steven Woodworth and his fellow authors provide ample evidence for that in this first of a two-volume reassessment of Grant's officer corps from Cairo to Appomattox.

Covering the war's western theater through July 1863, Woodworth et al. highlight the character and accomplishments of these men and show how their individual relationships with Grant helped pave the way to Union victory. They demonstrate how each officer's service contributed to Grant's success and development as a general, how interaction with Grant affected each officer's career, and how the relationship ultimately contributed to the course of battle and the war's final outcome.

These portraits include the most important of Grant's lieutenants as well as some who are representative of various officer types. Here are William T. Sherman and Grant's other trusted commanders from the Army of the Tennessee, revered mentor Charles F. Smith, and difficult subordinate William S. Rosecrans. Here too are such citizen soldiers as Lew "Ben Hur" Wallace and Peter Osterhaus, de facto intelligence chief Grenville Dodge, and naval officers Andrew Foote and David Dixon Porter, whose relationships with Grant proved crucial to the war effort.

Full of revealing insights regarding military leadership and the special problems of Civil War command, Grant's Lieutenants adds a new dimension to our understanding of the Union road to victory and gives us the true measure of these dedicated men.

This book is part of the Modern War Studies series.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"In the long run, the relationships commanders forge with subordinates are no less important than the decisions they make on a battlefield. Informed, insightful and sometimes surprising, these eleven essays extend and revise our perspective on Grant during the first three years of the Civil War. Highly recommended."--Mark Grimsley, author of The Hard Hand of War: Union Military Policy Toward Southern Civilians, 1861-1865

About the Author

Steven E. Woodworth is associate professor of history at Texas Christian University and author of Jefferson Davis and His Generals, Davis and Lee at War, and While God is Marching On.

Contributors: Stacy D. Allen, Benjamin Franklin Cooling, Blake Dunnavent, William B. Feis, Lesley J. Gordon, Earl J. Hess, John F. Marszalek, Tamara A. Smith, Terrence J. Winschel, Steven E. Woodworth

Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: Univ Pr of Kansas; 1st edition, edition (July 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0700611274
• ISBN-13: 978-0700611270
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,735,034 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

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative & fun reading, October 5, 2009

By 

James W. Durney (Tampa Bay area) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Grant's Lieutenants: From Cairo to Vicksburg (Modern War Studies) (v. 1) (Hardcover)

Steven Woodworth has an excellent reputation as both author and editor. He has the ability to attract people, who can contribute excellent word portraits in about 20 pages. The format of the genre precludes an in-depth study but provides a great introduction, enjoyable reading or an excellent review. That the eleven articles manage to present an entertaining and insightful look is a credit to the editor and the authors. The time from Cairo to Vicksburg was difficult for Grant. This is not the great general that is winning the war. Starting as an obscure brigadier general, he rises to prominence overcoming numerous problems.

The selection of lieutenants is critical, Sherman of course. Terry Winschel contributes the essay on John A. McClernand, one of Grant's first real problems. Lesley Gordon handles the failed relationship between Grant and Rosecrans in a fair but pro Grant presentation. Benjamin Franklin Cooling covers Charles Ferguson Smith, Grant's old commander and friend. Grant was always ill at ease commanding Smith. The affection and esteem Grant had for him is well documented. Earl Hess did Peter Osterhaus and the ethnic complications these generals and their units introduced to command. Both William and Lewis Wallace appear, with James McPherson and Grandville Dodge. Admiral Potter and Foote get equal status with the generals, producing a well-balanced look at the important lieutenants during this time.

This can be a sit and read book or a pick up and read an essay book, either is informative and fun. This works equally well as a read alone or read in conjunction with the second book in the series. I read this book over a couple of months as a series of essays. The quality of the work is consistent, fully footnoted and a List of Contributors provides the reader with information about the authors.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing with scant new information, September 22, 2003

By 

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

This review is from: Grant's Lieutenants: From Cairo to Vicksburg (Modern War Studies) (v. 1) (Hardcover)

Woodworth is a proven, able civil war historian, but this is one of his weakest books. Instead of concentrating on Grant's relationship with his subordinates, he focuses on mini biographhies of people in Grant's orbit, such as Wallace, Baldy Smith, Sherman and Sheridan. The biographies themselves are no better than what you would find in an encyclopedia and contain absolutely no new or novel information. There is very little material on the personal dynamics between the commander and his minions.

Grant's famous feuds with Rosecrans, Pap Thomas and Smith are poorly presented and glossed over without inciteful comment. A golden opportunity is missed here, because these disagreements highlight the most interesting aspect of Grant's relationships throughout the war. In short, a slim and completely unpenetrating look at a subject that is well suited for a lengthy and interesting examination.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Biography In The Round - Part 1, January 23, 2011

By 

James D. Miller (Murfreesboro, TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grant's Lieutenants: From Cairo to Vicksburg (Modern War Studies) (v. 1) (Hardcover)

Pointillist paintings, when viewed close up, reveal themselves to be made up of thousands of tiny dots of color. Stepping back from the painting, the viewer's eye blends the spots of and the larger picture is revealed.

Editor Steven E. Woodworth has taken the same approach to biography, resulting in a two volume study entitled "Grant's Lieutenants," in which he has collected a series of essays by prominent historians. Each essay focuses on the relationships Ulysses S. Grant formed with his subordinates. Separately, each essay appears to be a mini-biography of the chosen lieutenant. But in a larger sense, when read as a whole, it is a retrospective portrait of Grant, the first Lieutenant General in the American army since George Washington.

The first volume, subtitled "From Cairo to Vicksburg," covers the first half of the Civil War from 1861 to 1863, and highlights Grant's relationships with William T. Sherman, William H. L. Wallace, Charles F. Smith, Lew Wallace, William S. Rosecrans, John A McClernand, James B. McPherson, Grenville M. Dodge, Peter Osterhouse and admirals Andrew H. Foote and David D. Porter. Historians who have essays in the book are, respectively, John F. Marszaleck, Steven E. Woodworth, Benjamin F. Cooling (with two essays, the first on Charles F. Smith, and the second on Andrew H. Foote), Stacy D. Allen, Lesley J. Gordon, Terrence J. Winschel, Tamara S. Smith, William B. Feis, Earl J. Hess and R. Blake Dunnavent.

The essays, read in chronological order, cover the battles of Belmont, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, the siege and battle of Corinth, and the Vicksburg Campaign. With the inclusion of admirals Foote and Porter, Grant's embracement of joint use of the navy in conjunction with his army, is also covered. Taken together, the essays demonstrate how Grant developed his leadership style over time grew into a competent and confident General.