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Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War
Corps Commanders in Blue: Union Major Generals in the Civil War
The outcomes of campaigns in the Civil War often depended on top generals having the right corps commanders in the right place at the right time. Mutual trust and respect between generals and their corps commanders, though vital to military success, was all too Corps commanders were often forced to exercise considerable discretion in the execution of orders from their generals, and bitter public arguments over commanders' performances in battle followed hard on the heels of many major engagements. Controversies that arose during the war around the decisions of corps and army commanders-such as Daniel Sickles's disregard of George Meade's orders at the Battle of Gettysburg-continue to provoke vigorous debate among students of the Civil War. Corps Commanders in Blue offers eight case studies that illuminate the critical roles the Union corps commanders played in shaping the war's course and outcome. The contributors examine, and in many cases challenge, widespread assumptions about these men while considering the array of internal and external forces that shaped their efforts on and off the battlefield. Providing insight into the military conduct of the Civil War, Corps Commanders in Blue fills a significant gap in the historiography of the war by offering compelling examinations of the challenges of corps command in particular campaigns, the men who exercised that command, and the array of factors that shaped their efforts, for good or for ill.
436 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 23, 2014
A mixed lot of Union corps commanders from the Civil War are profiled here. We have the good (Winfield Scott Hancock, James McPherson, George Meade), the bad (Charles Gilbert), and the ugly (William Franklin). One can quibble about who is or is not included. For instance, I am intrigued by A. J. Smith, who rose the corps command later in the Civil War. He faced down Nathan Bedford Forrest and was a stalwart in a n umber of venues. I would love to know more about him!
At any rate, the generals profiled here include the above as well as Joseph Mansfield (who did not survive long enough to allow an assessment of his skills) and Joseph Hooker (the focus being on his campaigns in the West--not with the Army of the Potomac) and Fitz John Porter. One gets a sense of the politics of command (Porter a prime example of someone who suffers because of politics).
The criteria for selecting these commanders and the segment of their careers spotlighted are not always apparent. For instance, Hancock is examined AFTER Gettysburg and Hooker after his earlier work as corps commander in the Army of the Potomac.
But it is fascinating to see the variation among corps commanders, their shortcomings and their accomplishments.
An interesting book, despite the unevenness in coverage of corps commanders.
At any rate, the generals profiled here include the above as well as Joseph Mansfield (who did not survive long enough to allow an assessment of his skills) and Joseph Hooker (the focus being on his campaigns in the West--not with the Army of the Potomac) and Fitz John Porter. One gets a sense of the politics of command (Porter a prime example of someone who suffers because of politics).
The criteria for selecting these commanders and the segment of their careers spotlighted are not always apparent. For instance, Hancock is examined AFTER Gettysburg and Hooker after his earlier work as corps commander in the Army of the Potomac.
But it is fascinating to see the variation among corps commanders, their shortcomings and their accomplishments.
An interesting book, despite the unevenness in coverage of corps commanders.
January 30, 2015
Corps Commanders in Blue is a collection of essays edited by Ethan S. Rafuse which analyzes some of the major figures given the chance to command corps during the Civil War. Some of the commanders analyzed in this essay are Fitz John Porter, Joseph Mansfield, George Meade, James McPherson, William Franklin, Joseph Hooker, Winfield Scott Hancock and Charles Champion Gilbert. Each essay takes a look at a specific point in their career, instead of their career as a whole, and looks into their influence in the campaigns which are showcased. Throughout this collection, the readers gain a better view into some famous parts of the war and many obscure parts of these commanders lives.
This book includes essays written by John J. Hennessy, Thomas G. Clemens, Kenneth W. Noe, Christopher S. Stowe, Steven E. Woodworth, Mark A. Snell, Ethan S. Rafuse and Brooks D. Simpson. The editor himself, Ethan S. Rafuse, is a professor of military history at the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He is also the author of eight books on the American Civil War including Robert E. Lee and the Fall of the Confederacy, and Manassas: A Battlefield Guide. This collection of essays is also part of the Conflicting Worlds series published by the Louisiana State University Press which brings about new views on the Civil War by printing scholarly works and excellent academia.
Each essay offers new looks into the world of the corps commanders highlighted and not only do they bring new information to already well known information, but they add to the study on a whole. The opening work analyzes General Fitz John Porter, written by John J. Hennessy. This essay describes the works of the general instead of looking into the constant criticism thrown at the commander. Hennessy states that no one general was written about more during the war and decades afterward than did Porter. Hennessy writes more about the accomplishments and the works of the man and his influence on the war as a whole, especially during the year of 1862. Thomas G. Clemens’ essay on Joseph Mansfield at Antietam gives the reader a whole look into what happened to him and his corps during the Battle of Antietam instead of a mention of the general’s untimely death on the field. One of the more interesting essays in the work was Christopher S. Stowe’s work on Meade from December of 1862 until June of 1863 before he received army command. One thing I noticed as I read through the essay was that there were steps which presented itself in Meade’s life that prepared him for the army command. One thing which general Civil War readers tend to forget about the Battle of Fredericksburg was that General Meade was one of the few commanders to break through the Confederate line that day. Steven E. Woodworth’s essay about James McPherson gives attention to an aspect of the Siege of Vicksburg which is usually not covered as much as other portions of the field. Many works on the siege tend to focus on the tension between Pemberton and Johnston along with Grant and the press. But this essay shows that there are still new things to learn about the siege which opened up the Mississippi. Ethan S. Rafuse’s essay also brings to light many of the aspects of Joseph Hooker’s career which are not well known. It seems that history has placed a final nail in the coffin with the Chancellorsville Campaign when it comes to General Hooker’s career, but Rafuse details the campaign in North Georgia from May to June of 1864. The details in this essay will not only inform new Civil War readers of the continued career of Hooker, but will inform accomplished Civil War readers as well. Rafuse has shown great use of sources and used them to create another level of research.
Corps Commanders in Blue is a great collection of essays which is a great continuation of Civil War academia throughout this sesquicentennial celebration. I highly recommend this collection and hope that another collection of other corps commanders comes about from this study. While only a few essays were mentioned above, all of the works are excellent and should be considered the standard of study when looking into the realm of the high command. These essays have proven that there is more to understand of these men than what history has deemed their most important feat. Highly recommended.
Matthew Bartlett - Gettysburg Chronicle
This book includes essays written by John J. Hennessy, Thomas G. Clemens, Kenneth W. Noe, Christopher S. Stowe, Steven E. Woodworth, Mark A. Snell, Ethan S. Rafuse and Brooks D. Simpson. The editor himself, Ethan S. Rafuse, is a professor of military history at the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He is also the author of eight books on the American Civil War including Robert E. Lee and the Fall of the Confederacy, and Manassas: A Battlefield Guide. This collection of essays is also part of the Conflicting Worlds series published by the Louisiana State University Press which brings about new views on the Civil War by printing scholarly works and excellent academia.
Each essay offers new looks into the world of the corps commanders highlighted and not only do they bring new information to already well known information, but they add to the study on a whole. The opening work analyzes General Fitz John Porter, written by John J. Hennessy. This essay describes the works of the general instead of looking into the constant criticism thrown at the commander. Hennessy states that no one general was written about more during the war and decades afterward than did Porter. Hennessy writes more about the accomplishments and the works of the man and his influence on the war as a whole, especially during the year of 1862. Thomas G. Clemens’ essay on Joseph Mansfield at Antietam gives the reader a whole look into what happened to him and his corps during the Battle of Antietam instead of a mention of the general’s untimely death on the field. One of the more interesting essays in the work was Christopher S. Stowe’s work on Meade from December of 1862 until June of 1863 before he received army command. One thing I noticed as I read through the essay was that there were steps which presented itself in Meade’s life that prepared him for the army command. One thing which general Civil War readers tend to forget about the Battle of Fredericksburg was that General Meade was one of the few commanders to break through the Confederate line that day. Steven E. Woodworth’s essay about James McPherson gives attention to an aspect of the Siege of Vicksburg which is usually not covered as much as other portions of the field. Many works on the siege tend to focus on the tension between Pemberton and Johnston along with Grant and the press. But this essay shows that there are still new things to learn about the siege which opened up the Mississippi. Ethan S. Rafuse’s essay also brings to light many of the aspects of Joseph Hooker’s career which are not well known. It seems that history has placed a final nail in the coffin with the Chancellorsville Campaign when it comes to General Hooker’s career, but Rafuse details the campaign in North Georgia from May to June of 1864. The details in this essay will not only inform new Civil War readers of the continued career of Hooker, but will inform accomplished Civil War readers as well. Rafuse has shown great use of sources and used them to create another level of research.
Corps Commanders in Blue is a great collection of essays which is a great continuation of Civil War academia throughout this sesquicentennial celebration. I highly recommend this collection and hope that another collection of other corps commanders comes about from this study. While only a few essays were mentioned above, all of the works are excellent and should be considered the standard of study when looking into the realm of the high command. These essays have proven that there is more to understand of these men than what history has deemed their most important feat. Highly recommended.
Matthew Bartlett - Gettysburg Chronicle
August 17, 2016
Corps Commanders in Blue consists of a series of essays on selected U.S. Army corps commanders during the American Civil War. The subjects include Fitz-John Porter in 1862; Joseph K. F. Mansfield at Antietam; Charles C. Gilbert at Perryville; George Gordon Meade, December 1862-June 1863; James B. McPherson during the Vicksburg Campaign; William B. Franklin in the Trans-Mississippi, 1863-1864; Joseph Hooker in the West, 1863-1864; and Winfield Scott Hancock in the Overland Campaign. All are of very high quality. I thought that John J. Hennessy's essay on Porter, focusing on his role in attempting to influence the definition of Union war aims was positively brilliant.
October 15, 2023
It has its ups and downs. The enjoyable was in learning new things on Our Heroes from the viewpoint of little-used angles. We see Hancock the Not So Superb in the trying Overland Campaign when he and dam' near everyone else were going through Hell on Earth and he, due to his wound, just couldn't perform as brilliantly as past performance led others to expect. Porter didn't seem to learn that the better part of valor is discretion and he was in the same company as Hooker. Franklin wasn't as bad as we may have thought during Fredericksburg, but that was a millstone he wasn't going to shake. Mansfield, a splendid engineer, earned his command finally. Too bad he couldn't keep it. The narratives blew hot and cold with me in many spots. I could've used George Skorch's touch on the maps when the writers were going over the play-by-plays.
July 7, 2016
Overall a good collection of essays on the general topic. Rafuse's essay on Hooker and Simpson's essay on Hancock did the best job of addressing the issues of corps command within the context of operations. Hennessy's Porter essay and Stowe's Meade essay focused more on the political relationships and were just a notch lower.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews