Customer Reviews

Sherman Invades Georgia: Planning the North Georgia Campaign Using a Modern Perspective

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When I first took a look at this small book, I wondered what new such a slim volume could contain; and thought to myself, "who needs another short synopsis of the Atlanta Campaign?" Well, don't judge a book by its cover- or by its girth. The author, John Scales, has given us something quite different, so different in fact that the Naval Institute Press chose to publish a book about the Army.

Author John Scales rose to the rank of captain while serving in the army during the early 1970's. After leaving active duty, he remained in the National Guard where he rose to brigadier general. What he has done here is to take Sherman's invasion of Georgia and analyze it as a modern soldier. In so doing, he gives anyone who is not a professional soldier a solid, quick course in a soldier's approach to planning and conducting a major military campaign. I do mean "course." The book is a textbook. It comes complete with forms and sheets the reader can use to apply the analytical methods the author teaches here. These are used to dissect and prioritize the tasks that need to be done to carry the campaign to a successful conclusion. He teaches you how to "wargame" various scenarios, how to test various ideas about how to proceed.

The book is thin because it deals only with the opening phase of the campaign, the actual invasion of Georgia, and Sherman's choice of Snake Creek Gap as the best place to attack in hopes of an early and swift victory. But, to anyone curious about the application of modern methods to test the viability of Civil War planning and execution, this book is a real treat. I learned a lot. Even if you are a professional soldier, General Scales's book will give you great insight into the problems faced by Civil War commanders.

I find this review hard to believe. "Civil War Buffs Beware?" Are you kidding me? You gave this book, which you admitted you haven't read, the lowest possible score because it didn't cover what YOU wanted it to cover. This particular quote says it all:

"Unfortunatey this is not that book. But in fairness to the author, it is not the book he set out to write. This is essentially a training manual for military professionals. As such it may be a fine book. Of that I am not qualified to judge. (Therefore, I found it impossible to give it a meaningful numerical rating.)"

If you are not qualified to judge, have not read the book and find it impossible to give it a numerical rating, then DON'T. Your commentary is essentially worthless, which i'm glad you finally get to toward the end of the review. Oh, also, learn how to spell skirmish. Thanks.

And a nice read it was! The author writes in a conversational style I found very easy to follow.

The book is an analysis of Sherman's thinking in preparing for his Atlanta campaign using modern military planning techniques. The author pauses to allow the reader to make his or her own plans, then presents his (the author's) plans, and finally states what Sherman adtually decided. The Confederate situation is discussed, but mostly from the viepoint of how it affected Sherman's thinking. There are plentiful maps, all very useful as they do not try to show too much, nor to leave out essential locations.

So while the book is not a history of the Atlanta campaign (though the full campaign is outlined), I found it a very interesting and useful, but not lengthy, read.

I will be buying this book based on seeing the author on CSPAN on November 18. I am writing this review to give a little balance to the other reviews. I read a lot of civil war books (at least one or two a month) and am currently a member of two Civil War round tables and have attended meetings at seven round tables throughout the country over the last 12 years. For someone like myself, a book that approaches concerns that would be of interest to professional soldiers adds another dimension to my knowledge. Scales said that he calculated the various amounts that could have be delivered by means available to Sherman. This information is not available everywhere. He admits that some of his book will be difficult for people who are not familiar with logistics. He also said that civil war generals were geniuses for the vast amount of information they needed to understand and synthesize. I look forward to reading this book. Even if in the end it does not deserve 5 stars, it will certainly increase my knowledge of the civil war.

Mr. Keck is incorrect as to the history of the Atlanta Campaign. The battle started in front of Dalton, Georgia.

As to the definative book about the Campaign that is usually defined in the "eye of the beholder (reader)". I think Castels "Decision in the West: The Atlanta Campaign of 1864" is definitive. It describes the action and the problems that existed with it's commander Sherman.

As to not enough books written, Google "books about the atlanta campaign" no Quotes) and get out your checkbook.

Slowtrot

In a field which has produced multiple in depth studies of virtually every campaign, battle and skirmish during the entire course of the Civil War there remains one campaign that has been almost totally neglected: Sherman's 1864 invasion of north west Georgia from Chattanooga, Tennessee to the Chattahoochee River on the outskirts of Atlanta. Most historians pick up the story with the seige of Atlanta followed by Sherman's "March to the Sea." Largley ignored - or given only cursory treatment - are the hard fought battles that preceeded that seige and brought Sherman's army from southeast Tennessee to the gates of Atlanta: Dalton, Resaca, Alatoona Pass, and Kennesaw Mountain to mention only the most significant encounters. These battles cry out for updated historical treatment in a full length book by a modern Civil War historian.

Unfortunatey this is not that book. But in fairness to the author, it is not the book he set out to write. This is essentially a training manual for military professionals. As such it may be a fine book. Of that I am not qualified to judge. (Therefore, I found it impossible to give it a meaningful numerical rating.)

But as a student of history and of the Civil War I can only say that I was disappointed in this treatment of the war in north west Georgia. I am still waiting for the definitive historical study of that campaign.