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Three Years With Grant: As Recalled by War Correspondent Sylvanus Cadwallader
Sylvanus Cadwallader, a war correspondent for the Chicago Times and later for the New York Herald , was attached to General Grant’s headquarters from 1862 to 1865. He enjoyed rare access to personalities (Lincoln, Sheridan, and Lee) and events (Vicksburg, Chattanooga, City Point, and Potomac), and he makes them come alive here. Cadwallader also includes information about his own role in constraining and concealing Grant’s drinking. Through his pages the real Grant emerges. The manuscript of Three Years with Grant was edited and annotated by Lincoln biographer Benjamin P. Thomas and first published nearly a century after the Civil War.
362 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
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February 19, 2015
“Three Years With Grant” Sylvanus Cadwallader, University of Nebraska Press, 1955
Sylvanus Cadwallader was a newspaperman who became an “embedded” correspondent with the Army of the Tennessee under the command of a somewhat obscure but rising General, Ulysses S. Grant. He was to become a civilian member of Grants staff and followed him from the fall of 1862 through to the 1865 surrender at Appomattox at which he was present.
In the 1800s newspapers were the only medium for information. However, the standards of professionalism were not at all universal in the press of the age. Many Civil War correspondents were as apt to report; rumor, inference, gossip, favoritism and conjecture, as they were fact. Worst of all, it seems that at times the press had little compunction for revealing sensitive military information. This was important because newspapers circulated between the North and South. For these reasons newspaper reporters were generally mistrusted if not reviled by professional military leaders.
Sylvanus Cadwallader was the opposite of the typical newspaper correspondent. He was intelligent, affable, honest, discrete, accurate and professional. Because of his integrity and his competent writing Cadwallader was quick to earn the respect, trust and friendship of General John Rawlins, Grant’s Chief of staff, and subsequently of the General himself.
Cadwallader was a colleague, close friend and an important member of General Grant’s staff with unlimited access. This book tells the story of General Grant’s war from the view of a trusted insider at his headquarters.
During his time with Grant and especially his tenure with the Army of the Potomac, Sylvanus Cadwallader almost single handedly made the New York Herald the premiere newspaper in the Nation with a circulation 10 times that of other newspapers. He did this by orchestrating a group of hand picked professional correspondents of the highest skill and integrity, and by setting up a network to deliver their supremely accurate reports very rapidly to the Herald offices allowing the newspaper to scoop the competition by days. The New York Herald reigned supreme for swift, accurate information about the war.
Cadwallader’s access and skill in recording the persons and events in Grant’s command make for a lively, informative and educational read. Although not very technical on the strategies and nuances of the battles, Cadwallader’s insight makes this the best book I have read on Grant the man. Three Years with Grant is a lively and thoroughly enjoyable book.
It should be noted that Sylvanus Cadwallader completed the manuscript for this book in 1896, however the book was never published. Much later the original manuscript was discovered and edited for publication by Benjamin Thomas (in 1955). Thomas must take much credit for the “flow” of the finish work. This said, the content and the words are Cadwallder’s alone. This book is a delight, 5 stars.
Sylvanus Cadwallader was a newspaperman who became an “embedded” correspondent with the Army of the Tennessee under the command of a somewhat obscure but rising General, Ulysses S. Grant. He was to become a civilian member of Grants staff and followed him from the fall of 1862 through to the 1865 surrender at Appomattox at which he was present.
In the 1800s newspapers were the only medium for information. However, the standards of professionalism were not at all universal in the press of the age. Many Civil War correspondents were as apt to report; rumor, inference, gossip, favoritism and conjecture, as they were fact. Worst of all, it seems that at times the press had little compunction for revealing sensitive military information. This was important because newspapers circulated between the North and South. For these reasons newspaper reporters were generally mistrusted if not reviled by professional military leaders.
Sylvanus Cadwallader was the opposite of the typical newspaper correspondent. He was intelligent, affable, honest, discrete, accurate and professional. Because of his integrity and his competent writing Cadwallader was quick to earn the respect, trust and friendship of General John Rawlins, Grant’s Chief of staff, and subsequently of the General himself.
Cadwallader was a colleague, close friend and an important member of General Grant’s staff with unlimited access. This book tells the story of General Grant’s war from the view of a trusted insider at his headquarters.
During his time with Grant and especially his tenure with the Army of the Potomac, Sylvanus Cadwallader almost single handedly made the New York Herald the premiere newspaper in the Nation with a circulation 10 times that of other newspapers. He did this by orchestrating a group of hand picked professional correspondents of the highest skill and integrity, and by setting up a network to deliver their supremely accurate reports very rapidly to the Herald offices allowing the newspaper to scoop the competition by days. The New York Herald reigned supreme for swift, accurate information about the war.
Cadwallader’s access and skill in recording the persons and events in Grant’s command make for a lively, informative and educational read. Although not very technical on the strategies and nuances of the battles, Cadwallader’s insight makes this the best book I have read on Grant the man. Three Years with Grant is a lively and thoroughly enjoyable book.
It should be noted that Sylvanus Cadwallader completed the manuscript for this book in 1896, however the book was never published. Much later the original manuscript was discovered and edited for publication by Benjamin Thomas (in 1955). Thomas must take much credit for the “flow” of the finish work. This said, the content and the words are Cadwallder’s alone. This book is a delight, 5 stars.
Displaying 1 of 1 review