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Civil War America
A Republic in the Ranks: Loyalty and Dissent in the Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was a hotbed of political activity during the Civil War. As a source of dissent widely understood as a frustration for Abraham Lincoln, its onetime commander, George B. McClellan, even secured the Democratic nomination for president in 1864. But in this comprehensive reassessment of the army's politics, Zachery A. Fry argues that the war was an intense political education for its common soldiers. Fry examines several key "crisis points" to show how enlisted men developed political awareness that went beyond personal loyalties. By studying the struggle between Republicans and Democrats for political allegiance among the army's rank and file, Fry reveals how captains, majors, and colonels spurred a pro-Republican political awakening among the enlisted men, culminating in the army's resounding Republican voice in state and national elections in 1864.
For decades, historians have been content to view the Army of the Potomac primarily through the prism of its general officer corps, portraying it as an arm of the Democratic Party loyal to McClellan's leadership and legacy. Fry, in contrast, shifts the story's emphasis to resurrect the successful efforts of proadministration junior officers who educated their men on the war's political dynamics and laid the groundwork for Lincoln's victory in 1864.
For decades, historians have been content to view the Army of the Potomac primarily through the prism of its general officer corps, portraying it as an arm of the Democratic Party loyal to McClellan's leadership and legacy. Fry, in contrast, shifts the story's emphasis to resurrect the successful efforts of proadministration junior officers who educated their men on the war's political dynamics and laid the groundwork for Lincoln's victory in 1864.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 3, 2022
This book focuses on a much neglected subject: political loyalty in the principal Union armies. I liked the way the author incorporated many quotes into the text. Also, the narrative flowed well; anytime I can read a book of this length in less than two sittings, I consider it well written. Although the book didn't present any radical theories, it still held my attention throughout its entire length.
July 8, 2020
Summary: A study of political loyalties in the Army of the Potomac, and the influence of junior officers and the experience of war among enlisted men, resulting in Lincoln's re-election in 1864 to a second term.
At one point, it was not at all certain that Abraham Lincoln would win re-election. The Army of the Potomac suffered defeats or at best partial victories against the Confederacy. There was a growing Copperhead movement of Peace Democrats pressing for a settlement that would restore the Union without resolving the issue of slavery--a return to the status quo. This was further complicated after Lincoln cashiered General George McClellan, a popular leader among his men despite his lackluster record. Eventually, he became the Democratic presidential candidate on the Copperhead platform. Many in the senior command of the Army of the Potomac still supported him. Yet in the end, the Army of the Potomac overwhelmingly voted for Lincoln.
In this work, Zachery A. Fry explores the hotbed of political discussion that was the Army of the Potomac, and how their votes ended up solidly in the Lincoln column. The Army was united by loyalty in its commitment to defeat the Confederacy and restore the Union. But there were two different ideas of loyalty. One group was loyal to the constitution, wanting to restore the Union, but without enforcing abolition and the emancipation of slaves. They favored a negotiated settlement and supported the Democrats. The other group was loyal to the Republican administration and its commitment to emancipation and hard war.
Fry traces the evolution of the political views in the ranks as the war progressed. At the beginning, most didn't have strong political views as much as a rage militaire response to Southern secession. The initial battle experiences, both defeats and victories, and the dashing figure of McClellan led to a divided Army, during the Peninsula Campaign, and especially after he was relieved during the extended pause after the Maryland campaign. Things began to shift as Joseph Hooker took command as more and more junior officers led their men in loyalty to the administration. A combination of being excluded from voting by many Democrat-led states and the realities of what they saw in the South fostered support for the administration. Democrat generals in the upper ranks continued to advocate for the constitution and peace with the South. While a number of veterans refused to re-enlist, tired of war, they continued to advocate back home for Lincoln. The endorsement by McClellan of the Copperhead platform cemented the loyalty to the Republican/Union ticket leading to their overwhelming support of Lincoln.
Fry takes us from the big picture to the unit level, citing unit resolutions and the advocacy of individual officers. What is clearly apparent is that junior officers closest to the men had much greater influence that the senior officers who inclined toward McClellan. He offers a chronological bibliography of unit resolutions that document the political evolution in units. He also provides an appendix with unit-by-unit election returns beginning with 1863 gubernatorial races.
This is a valuable work for all Civil War buffs and scholars as well as those who study the impact of political beliefs inside the military and how those beliefs are formed. The role of junior officers is especially important. It seems that, equally, the alignment between battlefield realities and administration policy was significant. Soldiers would not accept politics that undermined the significance of their efforts or rolled them back. Fry helps us understand the political dynamics within the Army of the Potomac, and why Lincoln was re-elected despite the efforts of Peace Democrats.
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
At one point, it was not at all certain that Abraham Lincoln would win re-election. The Army of the Potomac suffered defeats or at best partial victories against the Confederacy. There was a growing Copperhead movement of Peace Democrats pressing for a settlement that would restore the Union without resolving the issue of slavery--a return to the status quo. This was further complicated after Lincoln cashiered General George McClellan, a popular leader among his men despite his lackluster record. Eventually, he became the Democratic presidential candidate on the Copperhead platform. Many in the senior command of the Army of the Potomac still supported him. Yet in the end, the Army of the Potomac overwhelmingly voted for Lincoln.
In this work, Zachery A. Fry explores the hotbed of political discussion that was the Army of the Potomac, and how their votes ended up solidly in the Lincoln column. The Army was united by loyalty in its commitment to defeat the Confederacy and restore the Union. But there were two different ideas of loyalty. One group was loyal to the constitution, wanting to restore the Union, but without enforcing abolition and the emancipation of slaves. They favored a negotiated settlement and supported the Democrats. The other group was loyal to the Republican administration and its commitment to emancipation and hard war.
Fry traces the evolution of the political views in the ranks as the war progressed. At the beginning, most didn't have strong political views as much as a rage militaire response to Southern secession. The initial battle experiences, both defeats and victories, and the dashing figure of McClellan led to a divided Army, during the Peninsula Campaign, and especially after he was relieved during the extended pause after the Maryland campaign. Things began to shift as Joseph Hooker took command as more and more junior officers led their men in loyalty to the administration. A combination of being excluded from voting by many Democrat-led states and the realities of what they saw in the South fostered support for the administration. Democrat generals in the upper ranks continued to advocate for the constitution and peace with the South. While a number of veterans refused to re-enlist, tired of war, they continued to advocate back home for Lincoln. The endorsement by McClellan of the Copperhead platform cemented the loyalty to the Republican/Union ticket leading to their overwhelming support of Lincoln.
Fry takes us from the big picture to the unit level, citing unit resolutions and the advocacy of individual officers. What is clearly apparent is that junior officers closest to the men had much greater influence that the senior officers who inclined toward McClellan. He offers a chronological bibliography of unit resolutions that document the political evolution in units. He also provides an appendix with unit-by-unit election returns beginning with 1863 gubernatorial races.
This is a valuable work for all Civil War buffs and scholars as well as those who study the impact of political beliefs inside the military and how those beliefs are formed. The role of junior officers is especially important. It seems that, equally, the alignment between battlefield realities and administration policy was significant. Soldiers would not accept politics that undermined the significance of their efforts or rolled them back. Fry helps us understand the political dynamics within the Army of the Potomac, and why Lincoln was re-elected despite the efforts of Peace Democrats.
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
June 26, 2025
The particular value of this monograph is that Fry is able to get down to the granular level of how the rank and file of the Army of the Potomac changed over time; from being enamored of George B. McClellan in 1861, to seeing him as something of a sell-out by the general election of 1864.
This was largely facilitated by how these men went from being civilians in uniform, to being hardened veterans who wanted to see the job they commenced in 1861 finished on their terms, and if that took emancipation to do the job, well, the "union as it was" would have to go by the by.
To a large degree, Fry finds the agents of this change to be the company and field level commanders of the army, the men who would be in daily contact with the rank and file. These were a group of men who, if they were worth their salt, would be trying to maintain the motivation of their subordinates, while at the same time expressing their own politics. It is never to be forgotten that many of these men were highly ideological, and were quite willing to try and leverage ideology to gain advancement.
However, these efforts might have been, if not suppressed, at least muted, without the periodic reorganizations of the field armies of the Union. This is particularly when General Pope's Army of Virginia, which was heavily larded with Republican sentiment, was merged with George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac. While this led to the rampant command intrigue that the new formation was notorious for, it also created an ongoing argument which eventually saw a collective focus develop when personal loyalty became centered on the person of President Lincoln, with George McClellan losing a great deal of attraction once he gritted his teeth and made his deal with the "Peace" Democrats. One can argue over how strong an influenced the so-called "Copperheads" were during the war, but many of the Union soldiers, in the fine American tradition of conspiracy politics, saw them as simply being traitors.
Having finished this book, I find myself wishing that I had first read John Matsui's "The First Republican Army," which examines that formation's influence as a force for radicalizing Union war aims 1861-1865, and upon which Fry seems to lean on heavily.
This was largely facilitated by how these men went from being civilians in uniform, to being hardened veterans who wanted to see the job they commenced in 1861 finished on their terms, and if that took emancipation to do the job, well, the "union as it was" would have to go by the by.
To a large degree, Fry finds the agents of this change to be the company and field level commanders of the army, the men who would be in daily contact with the rank and file. These were a group of men who, if they were worth their salt, would be trying to maintain the motivation of their subordinates, while at the same time expressing their own politics. It is never to be forgotten that many of these men were highly ideological, and were quite willing to try and leverage ideology to gain advancement.
However, these efforts might have been, if not suppressed, at least muted, without the periodic reorganizations of the field armies of the Union. This is particularly when General Pope's Army of Virginia, which was heavily larded with Republican sentiment, was merged with George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac. While this led to the rampant command intrigue that the new formation was notorious for, it also created an ongoing argument which eventually saw a collective focus develop when personal loyalty became centered on the person of President Lincoln, with George McClellan losing a great deal of attraction once he gritted his teeth and made his deal with the "Peace" Democrats. One can argue over how strong an influenced the so-called "Copperheads" were during the war, but many of the Union soldiers, in the fine American tradition of conspiracy politics, saw them as simply being traitors.
Having finished this book, I find myself wishing that I had first read John Matsui's "The First Republican Army," which examines that formation's influence as a force for radicalizing Union war aims 1861-1865, and upon which Fry seems to lean on heavily.
February 9, 2025
A Republic in the Ranks: Loyalty and Dissent in the Army of the Potomac by Zachery A. Fry
.
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This one takes a close look at the political landscape in the Army of the Potomac during the civil war. The author argues that while the majority of the senior officers, mostly West Pointers, were of the conservative democrat persuasion, the junior officers who were mostly volunteers helped the Lincoln administration achieve its goals of winning the war and freeing the slaves. The volunteer officers tended to be more republican thinking than their career army counterparts and as the war progressed, the junior officers worked their way through the ranks and earned the respect and trust of the men that were in the ranks below them. Also as the war went on the officers that tended to show sympathy toward the south (i.e. McClellan, FJ Porter, William Franklin, etc…) and antipathy toward any pro emancipation feelings ended up losing sway with their men as they failed to decisively defeat the confederates on the battlefield. The rank and file men ended up voting overwhelmingly for Lincoln in his second term over the democrat McClellan. The Lincoln administration and radical republicans in DC also worked extremely hard to dismantle any copperhead democrat sentiment in the Army command, actively working to remove them from command and replace them with pro administration Generals such as Joe Hooker and Burnside, and eventually bringing Grant east to finish the job. This book is overloaded with firsthand examples of how the junior officer corps felt and voted during the war and the author argues his case well. I found that there were almost too many examples and I ended up getting bogged down with too much information, but interesting overall and a cohesive and interesting premise.
.
.
This one takes a close look at the political landscape in the Army of the Potomac during the civil war. The author argues that while the majority of the senior officers, mostly West Pointers, were of the conservative democrat persuasion, the junior officers who were mostly volunteers helped the Lincoln administration achieve its goals of winning the war and freeing the slaves. The volunteer officers tended to be more republican thinking than their career army counterparts and as the war progressed, the junior officers worked their way through the ranks and earned the respect and trust of the men that were in the ranks below them. Also as the war went on the officers that tended to show sympathy toward the south (i.e. McClellan, FJ Porter, William Franklin, etc…) and antipathy toward any pro emancipation feelings ended up losing sway with their men as they failed to decisively defeat the confederates on the battlefield. The rank and file men ended up voting overwhelmingly for Lincoln in his second term over the democrat McClellan. The Lincoln administration and radical republicans in DC also worked extremely hard to dismantle any copperhead democrat sentiment in the Army command, actively working to remove them from command and replace them with pro administration Generals such as Joe Hooker and Burnside, and eventually bringing Grant east to finish the job. This book is overloaded with firsthand examples of how the junior officer corps felt and voted during the war and the author argues his case well. I found that there were almost too many examples and I ended up getting bogged down with too much information, but interesting overall and a cohesive and interesting premise.
February 6, 2022
A wonderfully detailed book which highlights the evolution of political beliefs and political education within the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War.
The author uses primary sources throughout the narrative so we can read the political engagement and political shifts from 1861 to 1864 when service members helped to reelect President Lincoln. Junior officers and non-commissioned officers were the primary catalyst for the newly political Army in direct conflict with primarily Democratic senior leaders early in the Civil War.
While a detailed, well researched, and sourced book, the overall narrative remains interesting, engaging, and relevant especially as we discuss the importance of a non-partisan military today.
As a slight aside, I had Dr. Fry as an instructor last year during my ILE course and I bought this book because I thoroughly enjoyed his teaching style and insights.
The author uses primary sources throughout the narrative so we can read the political engagement and political shifts from 1861 to 1864 when service members helped to reelect President Lincoln. Junior officers and non-commissioned officers were the primary catalyst for the newly political Army in direct conflict with primarily Democratic senior leaders early in the Civil War.
While a detailed, well researched, and sourced book, the overall narrative remains interesting, engaging, and relevant especially as we discuss the importance of a non-partisan military today.
As a slight aside, I had Dr. Fry as an instructor last year during my ILE course and I bought this book because I thoroughly enjoyed his teaching style and insights.
August 31, 2020
A fascinating look at the political battle that was fought inside the Army of the Potomac. This book only briefly touches on the battles and exploits of the Army, and focuses on the attitudes of leadership, and every soldiers. Studying this allows for a greater understanding of why various decisions were made, or not made, and how an evolving shift in soldier thinking coincided with an evolving way of war, public sentiment, and the re-election of President Lincoln.
This book is especially valuable in the current era of degraded civil-military relations, and sparks a lot of critical thinking about the affect of partisanship on a military and national strategy.
Very well organized, researched, and enjoyable to read book.
This book is especially valuable in the current era of degraded civil-military relations, and sparks a lot of critical thinking about the affect of partisanship on a military and national strategy.
Very well organized, researched, and enjoyable to read book.
January 15, 2022
A fairly detailed look at the political culture of junior officers and the rank and file of the Army of the Potomac. It chronicles the transition of soldiers who were ready to march on Washington in 1862 to crown McClellan president to denouncing him in the 1864 election.
In addition to a good narrative, there are several indexes that are filled with great data!
In addition to a good narrative, there are several indexes that are filled with great data!
January 17, 2022
An excellent, well researched account of the changing political attitudes in the Federal Army of the Potomac over the course of the Civil War. The author delves into the soldiers letters, proclamations, diaries and voting records to piece together their collective political attitudes. A very good read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews