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Sickles the Incredible: A Biography of Daniel Edgar Sickles

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If Daniel Sickles doesn't represent the master politician in this outstanding book about him, I don't know what would. This book definately gets to the details about the man's polictical and military careers. Swanberg writes about Sickle's early polictical organizing in Washington, his affairs with women, family, constructing a New York brigade and leading it to battle. If that is not intriguing enough, Sickle's story is also covered when it came to killing the man who was having an affair with his wife and how Sickle's polictical clout sets him free from prosecution. As much as his personal and polictical career is covered, his military career is as well. Swanberg's coverage how he organized, fought and defended his positions regarding his III Corp movement at Gettysburg is excellent which seemed to only cloud this already controversial character. As I read this very informative book, I couldn't believe the amount of lies, deception and self-importance this man had. His master plundering of others and fouled attempts to mask his true character is wrenching yet fascinating at the same time. Swanberg captured me in this book and I couldn't let it down. I feel it is probably the best book on Daniel Sickles out there.

Sickles the Incredible, by W.A. Swanberg is a book that explores the life and times of Daniel Sickles. Swanberg writes about Sickles because of the interesting and sometimes unbelievable events surrounding his life. Though out his life, Sickles was a Civil War general, a diplomat to Queen Victoria, and a very controversial politician. Swanberg believes that Sickles led an extraordinary life and needs to be remembered for his involvement and actions. The time frame of the book is 1819-1914. The story line covers most of Sickles' life with main focus dealing with the his political maneuvers, his trial for murder, his civil war achievements, and his post war experiences. Swanberg shows attempts to show Sickles as he sees him, an incredible man. The narrative goes from New York, to Washington, to Pennsylvania, to England, and to Spain. The places named essentially follow Sickles' movements throughout his career. The other important characters in the book besides Sickles include his wife, Teresa, Phillip Barton Key, as well as five United States Presidents. Swanberg uses their personal accounts as well as other people's for his sources. It is his sources are what make this book exceptional. Swanberg uses a good balance of primary and secondary sources for his research. He used the primary sources to better understand what other people thought about Sickles, and he uses secondary sources to comprehend what people thought about his actions at a later date. Swanberg used newspapers that both favored Sickles and opposed him. As far as actual numbers go, Swanberg used 23 manuscripts, 11 newspapers, and at least 160 books. However impressive Swanberg's sources are they could be considered unsatisfactory. It would be impossible to say that Swanberg's book is free from bias. The bias however may not be Swanberg's. Swanberg uses Sickles' personal accounts, supporter's statements and antagonist archives to complete his image of Sickles. It is in these sources where personal opinions may distort history unbeknownst to the author. Another point, which needs to be noted, is that at one point in the book Swanberg makes a mistake and gives the wrong date of an event. That event was the end of the Civil War. Swanberg writes that Lee surrendered on April 2, 1865, but he really surrendered on April 9. This little detail which is so easily researchable is wrong. This causes the reader to wonder if more in depth and controversial issues are also misrepresented and wrong. If the book is flawed and biased it is not at the complete fault of the author, nor does it stop him from fulfilling his thesis. Swanberg's thesis, though not stated, is to show the accomplishments of the controversial Mr. Sickles as being incredible. This conclusion is drawn from the title of the book. Swanberg writes a good case for incredibility, but he fails to answer one question. Is Sickles incredible or is incredible Sickles? Webster defines incredible as too extraordinary and improbable to be believed. Swanberg's story of Sickles definitely fits that definition. The book is well focused most of the time and the author is constantly proving his thesis by showing the reader Sickles' extraordinary life. One of the reasons that Swanberg may have written about Sickles is because of his infatuation with war and battles. William Andrew Swanberg was born in 1907 in Minnesota. While he was born quite a ways from the location of this story he most likely heard stories of the Civil War from grandparents or older acquaintances in his youth. It is obvious that Swanberg had an infatuation with the Civil War by looking at some of his other work. He a book about Ft. Sumter and a collection of narratives called "The Image of War." Also, by looking at some of Swanberg's other works he also like to write about controversial misfits. He wrote a book called, Jim Fisk: The Career of an Improbable Rascal. He was a resident of Connecticut from 1945 until he passed away in 1992. It was during these years that he focused his life of being a full time writer. Before he was a full time writer though, Swanberg was an editor and a writer for U.S. office of War Information in Europe. It is his lifetime devotion to writing that makes his style very unique and interesting. Swanberg writes his book in a descriptive, colorful narrative. The book flows incredibly well and is not hard to read. A good example of his style is: Actually, Old Buck was eyeing the White House with the fervor of a knight-errant viewing the Holy Grail, and Sickles was at his elbow enthusiastically promoting the crusade.

Although it may take sometime to figure out that Swanberg has devoted the first 76 pages to capture the reader's attention. Instead of footnotes, Swanberg or his publisher decided to use endnotes. These endnotes not only reference the source of information, but the also note interesting information which was not necessary to the book. To the true academic historian this could be seen as a turn off to his style, but some readers appreciate not having to deal with notes if they do not desire to. As far as the historical writing goes, many paragraphs are followed by endnotes. He also incorporates other historical events, which take place at the same time, as Sickles is hard at work. The book reads like a story and is written with a breezy style, but it is historically grounded. It is a shame that historians might criticize him for its sensation storytelling nature. Sickles the Incredible approaches the life and times of Dan Sickles from a very academic standing. It focuses on the unbelievable story of man's life who was not the biggest history maker of his time, but was flamboyant enough to add mythology and excitement to the pages of antiquity. In studding this man, Swanberg was able to show how incredible a life of Sickles lived. This was the book's most glorious triumph. The book is historically solid. While the some of author's historical data may be challenged, it would be hard to challenge all the `incredible' aspects in the book. Swanberg has contributed a well-written account of an American who possessed "a truly adventurous spirit" and symbolized all the characteristics of a young prosperous country. This book can not be overlooked when trying to understand and make sense of the people who helped shape the United States today.

This biography of Gen. Dan Sickles is one of the most important books of this century. There are three reasons why. 1. The first temporary insanity plea was successfully defended in his favor and got away with cold blooded murder. 2. Was instrumental in the outcome of the Greatest Battle of the Civil War-Gettysburg on July 2,1863. 3. A close friend of FIVE U.S. Presidents and influenced their decisions. This book must be read by every student of history and human nature.

Daniel E. Sickles was born in New York City 20 Oct 1819, served three terms in the House of Representatives, and died May 3, 1914. This account of his life, tho it has no footnotes and no bibliography, is written in a breezy style that easily captivates. I was tremendously caught up by the story. It begins with the account of how Sickles killed Francis Scott Key's son on Feb 27, 1859, then goes back to the beginning and tells the whole fantastic, incredible story of his life, with lots of attention to his Civil War career, including his role at Gettysburg. As Horatio King wrote in Sickles' old age:
"I see him on that famous field,/ The bravest of the brave,/ Where Longstreet's legions strive to drive/ The Third Corps to its grave./ The fight was bloody, fierce and long,/ And Sickles' name shall stay/ Forever in the Hall of Fame/ As he who saved the day."
Sickles was a despicable character and yet his life is a fantastic saga. An excellent book.