Upton and the Army [Paperback]

Stephen E. Ambrose (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1993

This book is a biography on Emory Upton's career from a commissioned second lieutenant in the Fifth United States Artillery to his death by suicide in 1881.

Product Details

• Paperback: 190 pages
• Publisher: Louisiana State Univ Pr (April 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807118508
• ISBN-13: 978-0807118504
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #924,052 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Stephen Ambrose was a renowned historian and acclaimed author of more than 30 books. Among his New York Times best-sellers are: Nothing Like It in the World, Citizen Soldiers, Band of Brothers, D-Day - June 6, 1944, and Undaunted Courage.He was not only a great author, but also a captivating speaker, with the unique ability to provide insight into the future by employing his profound knowledge of the past. His stories demonstrate how leaders use trust, friendship and shared experiences to work together and thrive during conflict and change. His philosophy about keeping an audience engaged is put best in his own words: "As I sit at my computer, or stand at the podium, I think of myself as sitting around the campfire after a day on the trail, telling stories that I hope will have the members of the audience, or the readers, leaning forward just a bit, wanting to know what happens next." Dr. Ambrose was a retired Boyd Professor of History at the University of New Orleans. He was the Director Emeritus of the Eisenhower Center in New Orleans, and the founder of the National D-Day Museum. He was also a contributing editor for the Quarterly Journal of Military History, a member of the board of directors for American Rivers, and a member of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council Board. His talents have not gone unnoticed by the film industry. Dr. Ambrose was the historical consultant for Steven Spielberg's movie Saving Private Ryan. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks purchased the film rights to his books Citizen Soldiers and Band of Brothers to make the 13-hour HBO mini-series Band of Brothers. He has also participated in numerous national television programs, including ones for the History Channel and National Geographic.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, September 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Upton and the Army (Paperback)

As a student of the Civil War, I have read many books about the subject, and this one to me ranks as among the best.

Steven Ambrose is America's best historical biographer and proves it in this outstanding study of Emory Upton, a hero of the Civil War and a brilliant tactician who was the first to recognize the need for new army tactics brought about by the changing technology of the Civil War.

Ambrose covers Upton's full life story, his brilliant tactical evolutions of the War, and his struggle to modernize the Army manual of tactics.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book because it reveals a little known chapter of American Military history and the life of a figure who played a deep, and perhaps not fully appreciated role in it.

Perhaps the best line from the book is General Sherman's description of Emory Upton: "Thoughts are ephemeral, deeds substantial. To unite both requires genius."

The same can be said of Mr. Ambose's work.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant man who was gone before he could be appreciated., January 19, 2009

By 

Shawn Marchinek "McDonald" (Washington State, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Upton and the Army (Paperback)

Upton and the Army by Stephen E. Ambrose is an excellent biography of a truly remarkable man. Emory Upton came from a poor New England family yet attended West Point Military Academy. He graduated at the start of the Civil War and in 4 years was a Major General at the age of 26. He was a brilliant tactician and helped not only reform tactics of the Army but also toured the world's Armies, wrote a book about it and had served in all 3 main branches of the Army; Calvary, Artillery and Infantry by the age of 40. Unfortunately he suffered from extreme headache, a possible tumor, and felt he was a failure due to slow promotion and lack of recognition in the post Civil War Army. He ended his life while posted to command at the Presidio in California at the age of 42.

Emory Upton was not appreciated for his writings and recommendations during his lifetime but now he has earned the place as one of the Fathers of the amazing Army we now have in America. Mr. Ambrose states the facts and puts his life before us in this easy reading book. A great book for Civil War historians or those looking for a life of leadership.