Scan barcode
A review by richardiporter
Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara
3.0
Who should read it: people interested in Civil War History, who also know to take it with at least a grain of salt, as it is a work of fiction (albeit a well researched one.)
View my full review of the trilogy overall here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3646898637?
For this specific book: what I liked best was the coverage of the lives of the men before the war began. What was Lee up to? And Winfield Scott Hancock? Josh Chamberlain? Jackson?
It was fascinating to consider how Lee was a LtCol, was given command of the raid at Harpers Ferry against John Brown because he was the only nearby operational level commander near DC. How he was offered operational command of the entirety of the Army serving under a severely aging Gen Winfield Scott. How he chose his loyalty to Virginia and family over that to the union despite misgivings and concerns (though I think Jeff is a bit of a Lee apologist in a lot of ways.)
I really enjoyed thinking about the career of Winfield Scott Hancock, his duty as a supply officer in California and his stand off with six shooters in his belt against Spaniards who never accepted Mexican rule let alone the rule of the United States Government. How he traveled to DC expecting to be made a quartermaster and was suddenly promoted from Captain to Brigadier General by McClellan who remembered him as having led infantry in Mexico, and needing every experienced combat leader he could promote (and what luck for the Union he did so.)
Wondering what it would feel like to have a society crumble into civil war, to have military units in which loyalties split, discipline breaks down, the host states become hostile territory and options become escape and evasion, surrender or fighting. The plausibility of additional components to the war vs merely North and South but also East and West are very interesting and something I hadn't considered well.
I can absolutely believe the feelings these men experienced and consider them in a modern concept, and it is shocking to me to be able to do so.
I also found myself very angry with the parade of inept Chief operational Generals of the Union Army. McClellan, Pope, Burnsides, Hooker and to the lease extent Meade made me mad. What fortune for us all that despite superior leadership overall the traitorous forces didn't press their advantage early with operational offense and tactical defense as a mashup of the preferences of Jackson and Longstreet could have yielded.
3 Star reviews mean this was a solid book. I probably won’t read it again but I could. I do recommend it to people interested in this sort of topic. No argument from me if you love this book.
View my full review of the trilogy overall here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3646898637?
For this specific book: what I liked best was the coverage of the lives of the men before the war began. What was Lee up to? And Winfield Scott Hancock? Josh Chamberlain? Jackson?
It was fascinating to consider how Lee was a LtCol, was given command of the raid at Harpers Ferry against John Brown because he was the only nearby operational level commander near DC. How he was offered operational command of the entirety of the Army serving under a severely aging Gen Winfield Scott. How he chose his loyalty to Virginia and family over that to the union despite misgivings and concerns (though I think Jeff is a bit of a Lee apologist in a lot of ways.)
I really enjoyed thinking about the career of Winfield Scott Hancock, his duty as a supply officer in California and his stand off with six shooters in his belt against Spaniards who never accepted Mexican rule let alone the rule of the United States Government. How he traveled to DC expecting to be made a quartermaster and was suddenly promoted from Captain to Brigadier General by McClellan who remembered him as having led infantry in Mexico, and needing every experienced combat leader he could promote (and what luck for the Union he did so.)
Wondering what it would feel like to have a society crumble into civil war, to have military units in which loyalties split, discipline breaks down, the host states become hostile territory and options become escape and evasion, surrender or fighting. The plausibility of additional components to the war vs merely North and South but also East and West are very interesting and something I hadn't considered well.
I can absolutely believe the feelings these men experienced and consider them in a modern concept, and it is shocking to me to be able to do so.
I also found myself very angry with the parade of inept Chief operational Generals of the Union Army. McClellan, Pope, Burnsides, Hooker and to the lease extent Meade made me mad. What fortune for us all that despite superior leadership overall the traitorous forces didn't press their advantage early with operational offense and tactical defense as a mashup of the preferences of Jackson and Longstreet could have yielded.
3 Star reviews mean this was a solid book. I probably won’t read it again but I could. I do recommend it to people interested in this sort of topic. No argument from me if you love this book.