Civil War Generalship: The Art Of Command - Softcover

Wood, William J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0306809737 ISBN 13: 9780306809736

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2000

Synopsis

In this unique examination of Civil War leadership, W. J. Wood looks at the tactical and strategic problems that threatened to overwhelm untried Civil War generals and the pragmatic strategies, born of necessity, that they developed to solve them. Focusing on three decisive battles involving six generals, Wood provides the background necessary to understand the problems confronting commanders on both sides of the war, then looks at the campaign of Cedar Mountain, directed by Stonewall Jackson and Nathaniel Banks; the battle of Chickamauga, where Confederate Army leader Braxton Bragg and Union General William Rosecrans faced each other; the battle of Nashville, where Jon Bell Hood led his Southern troops against George H. Thomas and his Union army. Deftly describing the art of war these men developed, an art that provides paradigms for military leaders to this day, Wood demonstrate why Civil War remains a topic of never-diminishing interest.

About this title

About the Author

W. J. Wood (19171501997), was a retired Army lieutenant colonel whose background included not only professional authorship but also combat experience in World War II and the Korean war, a decade spent in professional war gaming for weapons systems analysis at the Army Material Command, and a lifetime studying military history. His books include Battles of the Revolutionary War and Leaders and Battles.

Review

"Chronicles of Civil War battles are not always good military historians, and vice versa. W.J. Wood shows himself adept at both in this insightful study of six Civil War commanders and how they coped with the unprecedented problems they faced....Wood's prose is serious and scholarly yet clear and direct, enlivened by occasional wry quips. His analysis is sophisticated and thought provoking, and his book is an important contribution to our understanding of Civil War command."-Civil War History

"[W]ood is to be commended for providing clear, concise, and generally accurate descriptions of operations and backgrounds and personalities of the various commanders. The maps and illustrations are first rate and sufficient in number, and the publisher deserves praise for producing a handsome, sturdy book."-The Civil War News

"Wood...has produced an interesting study of the problems and methods of operational command in the Civil War... Wood believes the art of command is essentially pragmatic and highly personalized. He focuses on the strategic and tactical difficulties faced by the principal commanders in three major battles and gives a sharp analysis of their often-fascinating personalities... Highly recommended for Civil War collections."-Choice

"ÝW¨ood is to be commended for providing clear, concise, and generally accurate descriptions of operations and backgrounds and personalities of the various commanders. The maps and illustrations are first rate and sufficient in number, and the publisher deserves praise for producing a handsome, sturdy book."-The Civil War News

?[W]ood is to be commended for providing clear, concise, and generally accurate descriptions of operations and backgrounds and personalities of the various commanders. The maps and illustrations are first rate and sufficient in number, and the publisher deserves praise for producing a handsome, sturdy book.?-The Civil War News

?Wood...has produced an interesting study of the problems and methods of operational command in the Civil War... Wood believes the art of command is essentially pragmatic and highly personalized. He focuses on the strategic and tactical difficulties faced by the principal commanders in three major battles and gives a sharp analysis of their often-fascinating personalities... Highly recommended for Civil War collections.?-Choice

?Chronicles of Civil War battles are not always good military historians, and vice versa. W.J. Wood shows himself adept at both in this insightful study of six Civil War commanders and how they coped with the unprecedented problems they faced....Wood's prose is serious and scholarly yet clear and direct, enlivened by occasional wry quips. His analysis is sophisticated and thought provoking, and his book is an important contribution to our understanding of Civil War command.?-Civil War History

"Colonel William J. Wood has brought a fresh approach to writing on the Civil War. He has avoided giving us a long, superficial survey and instead has....made the battles real by analyzing the personalities of the principal commanders....as well as strategical and tactical problems that defeat even the best-laid plans. As a result, the reader develops a new understanding of how battles were really fought in that dramatic conflict. Bill Wood could easily be called the 'thinking man's military historian.'"-John SD Eisenhower, noted military historian

Edition details

• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0306809737
• ISBN 13: 9780306809736
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 5
• Number of pages: 288