This book tells the life story of William T. Sherman, one of the Civil War's most accomplished generals and an American military professional who changed how wars were fought. William T. Sherman: A Biography provides readers with a glimpse into the life of one of America's foremost military leaders and a top Union general in the Civil War. From his early life and military education, to his Civil War service and beyond, this book examines the career of a military professional who changed the way wars were fought. Prolific military history author Robert P. Broadwater follows Sherman's early development in the war and examines his most famous campaigns: the Atlanta Campaign, the March to the Sea, and the Carolinas Campaign. An engaging read, the book details how the iconic leader hailed as the first "modern" general achieved the military successes that enabled the North to achieve victory and bring the war to a close. Uses Sherman's own words to give readers insight as to what he felt and thought Provides easy-to-read commentary of events in Sherman's life Describes interaction between Sherman and his peers that contributed to the outcome of battles Analyzes Sherman's accomplishments and failures in a fair and balanced manner

Ulysses S. Grant was responsible for orchestrating the activities of all the Union armies into a single strategy, providing the leadership that eventually doomed the Confederacy and brought about the end of the Civil War. This book documents Grant's contributions to the Civil War as well as his early life and presidency. Ulysses S. Grant: A Biography takes an in-depth look at one of the most well-known figures to emerge from the American Civil War, the famed Union commander and 18th President of the United States who has become an iconic part of our nation's history. The book provides a balanced overview that encompasses all the major events of Grant's life as well as his ancestry, portraying him as a common man who endured defeats and setbacks instead of a flawless noble hero. It accurately chronicles his life as it took place and tells a story of perseverance that illuminates Grant's successes as a testimony to determination and pluck rather than the result of luck or raw talent. This work will be especially helpful to high school and college-age audiences, and can be enjoyed by anyone interested in the Civil War period. Contains photographs of Grant at various stages of his life or that depict important events Includes a comprehensive bibliography as well a timeline of Grant's life and career

Ralph Kiner (1922-2014) was one of the most feared power hitters of his era. Babe Ruth predicted Kiner would be the slugger most likely to break Ruth's single season home run record. While the left fielder from New Mexico missed that mark, he did break one of the Babe's records, leading his league in home runs for seven consecutive seasons-a record unbroken since. Kiner set his records while playing for some of the worst teams ever to take the field. With little support in the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup, pitchers were often able to pitch around Kiner, walking him dozens of times per season. Despite this, Kiner made them pay for their mistakes, sending towering flies over the fences. After just 10 years in the league, Kiner's career on the field was cut short by chronic back pain. At retirement, his 369 home runs placed him sixth on the all-time list. He didn't leave baseball, however, serving as general manager of a minor league team and later announcing for the newly formed New York Mets in 1962, where he would be the voice of the team for more than 50 years. This is his story.

This book chronicles the history of the Philadelphia Athletics, the first real dynasty in Major League Baseball. The focus of the book is the 1931 season, where Philadelphia, led by is superstar pitcher, Lefty Grove, had the best season in franchise history, leading to a third consecutive trip to the World Series. With a roster full of future Hall of Fame players like Al Simmons, Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, Connie Mack, and Lefty Grove, the Athletics were one of the best baseball teams of all time, and the 1931 season served as the apex of their success, as the financial restrictions of the Great Depression caused team ownership to break up the team.

At the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1775, the colonies faced the daunting task of creating the first American army, and its requisite leadership, capable of combating a global superpower whose standing army and generalship were among the finest in the world. Built largely from state and local militias, the colonial army performed surprisingly well and produced a number of fine generals. Some were experienced before the war, like George Washington of the Virginia Militia and the British-born Horatio Gates, while others were as green as the soldiers they led. This book presents basic biographical information about America's first generals in the Revolutionary War. Included are all generals of the Continental Army, along with those commissioned in the colonies' militias. Drawn from primary sources, including death and census records, records of the Continental Congress, and contemporary writings, each biographical sketch provides date and place of birth, prewar education and occupation, wartime service, date and place of death, and place of burial. Portraits of each general are included where available, and appendices display important statistics, including comparative ages; occupations; officers lost by death, resignation, murder or changing loyalty; and states or countries of origin.

In November 1861, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Townsend, adjutant general of the Army, sought to establish an award to motivate and inspire Northern soldiers in the aftermath of the early, morale-devastating defeats of the Civil War. The outcome of Townsend's brainstorm was the Congressional Medal of Honor. This reference book details and organizes information regarding the Civil War Medal of Honor and its recipients in an easily accessible, previously unemployed format. After a brief history of the medal, the book presents a traditional alphabetical list of medal recipients and details their acts of heroism. The work then organizes recipients by a variety of criteria including branch of service; regiment or naval ship assignment; place of action; act of heroism; state or country of nativity; age of recipient; and date of issuance. Also included is information about the first winners of the medal, the first recipients of multiple medals, posthumously awarded medals and civilian recipients.

In 1862, the Confederacy launched a campaign to sway the indecisive border state of Kentucky. Full of blunders and missed opportunities, this operation served only to convince the Kentuckians of what they suspected all along: The Confederacy, for all its braggadocio, was incapable of holding the state against determined Union forces. Among the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, Perryville was also one of the most decisive regarding Southern hopes to take the war into Union territory. Compiled from firsthand sources such as letters, diaries and regimental histories, this book tells the story of the South's ill-fated attempt to bring Kentucky into the Confederacy. From planning to completion, it details the military movements of both Union and Confederate forces, including the battles of Richmond and Mumfordsville. The main focus of the work, however, is the biggest battle of the campaign--Perryville. Here, inexperience on both sides and the lack of cohesive Confederate action turned what could easily have been a Southern victory into a disheartening retreat, forever relegating General Braxton Bragg, who had the makings of a Confederate hero, to the annals of military mediocrity. Appendices include detailed lists of Confederate and Union commands, strategic placement of the inexperienced regiments and Perryville casualties. Contemporary photographs and an index are also included.

This is an examination of reminiscences of the primary leaders in the battle of Gettysburg and a comparison to the historical record. Many generals presented statements written decades after the Civil War, when the Gettysburg Campaign was the topic of historical research and personal controversy. This comparative history illuminates how history is shaped as well as how the famous battle unfolded.

One of the Civil War's most successful generals is heralded by military historians but never achieved the lasting fame of Grant, Lee, Jackson or Sherman. George Thomas's Southern birth, the ambition of fellow officers, and his action in the less-publicized Western Theater combined to keep him from attaining recognition. This comprehensive biography focuses on the military career that covered such battlegrounds as Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Nashville, as well as the political maneuvers that kept Thomas out of the spotlight.

The author seeks to challenge the long-held perceptions of the politics of the American Civil War. He presents the argument that the Civil War was fought, not to preserve the Union or free the slaves, but rather to establish the political power of the Republican Party within the federal government. The author argues further that Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party manipulated events to bring about the Civil War in the first place and used the war as a pretext for the establishment of the modern central government.

The best way to bring an event from the past into vivid life is to see it through the eyes of someone who lived it. In this book the reader sees the Civil War through the eyes of four Union soldiers who, although they were all from south central Pennsylvania, experienced the war in radically different ways. The journals of the four - Lt. William Glison of the 6th Ohio Infantry, Sergeant Will Duncan of the 2nd Pennsylvania Militia Battalion, John M. Kelly of the 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry and Private George Schmittle of the 13th Pennsylvania Calvary - give the reader a glimpse into the daily life of the soldier. Written primarily during 1863 and 1864, entries are in each soldier's own words (including idiosyncrasies of grammar and spelling). Commentary is added when necessary to elaborate or clarify as well as to fix each experience on the canvas of the war as a whole. A capsule history and muster roll are included for each company along with an appendix listing all the corps of the Federal army and giving a brief history of each corps' service.

When the Civil War began in 1861, Florida - although the third state to secede from the Union - was of little strategic importance to North or South. By the end of 1863, this position had changed dramatically. For the struggling Confederacy, Florida had become a crucial source of supplies, most especially for the troops in Savannah and Charleston. President Lincoln, soon to be seeking re-election and facing immense dissatisfaction due to the course which the war had taken, was desperately seeking some method of remedying his political situation. Bringing a reconstructed Florida back into the Union, with delegates who he hoped would be friendly to the Republican cause, seemed to be an ideal solution. Thus the Union launched a last-minute endeavour to regain control of Florida, an effort that culminated in the Battle of Olustee. Compiled from primary sources such as diaries and journals, this work tells the story of the failed Union attempt to wrest control of eastern and central Florida away from the Confederacy. From the legislature to the battlefield, it details manoeuvres military and political that went into the Florida campaign. The main focus of the work is the Battle of Olustee, or Ocean Pond, as it was known in the South. One of the bloodiest battles of the war with inordinately high casualties (17-1/2 percent for the Confederates, 35 percent for the Union), this conflict took place in February 1864 between troops commanded by Union General Truman Seymour and Confederate General Joseph Finegan. Little more than a bloody stalemate between generals who lacked significant military experience, the battle nevertheless decisively ended Union hopes of regaining Florida. Appendices provide details on the opposing armies, a list of casualties by unit and enlistment of black troops by state. Contemporary photographs and an index are also included.