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Symbol, Sword, and Shield: Defending Washington During the Civil War
Cooling, Benjamin Franklin; SYMBOL, SWORD, AND SHIELD; Defending Washington During the Civil War; White Mane Pub; 1991; 305 Pages;
305 pages, Hardcover
First published May 28, 1975
8 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Franklin Cooling III
43 books4 followersAlternate names:
B. Franklin Cooling
Benjamin F. Cooling
Benjamin Franklin Cooling III served as Chief Historian and Research Director with the Department of Energy and as a historian with the Army, Air Force, and National Park Service, and elsewhere. He has taught at numerous universities and is currently a Professor of History at the National Defense University in Washington DC. Cooling has authored or edited 16 books on the Civil War and modern warfare and has written several hundred articles, essays and reviews on aspects of military, naval and other history.
B. Franklin Cooling
Benjamin F. Cooling
Benjamin Franklin Cooling III served as Chief Historian and Research Director with the Department of Energy and as a historian with the Army, Air Force, and National Park Service, and elsewhere. He has taught at numerous universities and is currently a Professor of History at the National Defense University in Washington DC. Cooling has authored or edited 16 books on the Civil War and modern warfare and has written several hundred articles, essays and reviews on aspects of military, naval and other history.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 6, 2016
A good general history of the military effort to defend Washington during the war. Cooling argues for the city’s symbolic importance and covers the Union troops and defenses in detail.
Cooling describe show the defending troops and fortifications were built from scratch when the war began and how the city was threatened by secessionists and even by feuds between rival militia units stationed in the district. Although the threats were never too serious, Cooling argues that the efforts spent on the city’s defense were well worth it.
Still, the maps and appendices were somewhat unhelpful. Coverage of the artillery, engineering, and garrison units also seems a bit too general. But, a well-written work.
Cooling describe show the defending troops and fortifications were built from scratch when the war began and how the city was threatened by secessionists and even by feuds between rival militia units stationed in the district. Although the threats were never too serious, Cooling argues that the efforts spent on the city’s defense were well worth it.
Still, the maps and appendices were somewhat unhelpful. Coverage of the artillery, engineering, and garrison units also seems a bit too general. But, a well-written work.
September 27, 2018
Fairly interesting book on the defense of Washington during the war, and the role of the Army of the Potomac in defending the city. However, much of the information on the city's defenses is simply listing the building of fortifications and the number of men in the Department of Washington; these sections tend to be a bit dry.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews