American General Lib/E: The Life and Times of William Tecumseh Sherman

From respected historian John S. D. Eisenhower comes a surprising portrait of William Tecumseh Sherman, the Civil War general whose path of destruction cut the Confederacy in two, broke the will of the Southern population, and earned him a place in history as "the first modern general." Yet behind his reputation as a fierce warrior was a sympathetic man of complex character. A century and a half after the Civil War, Sherman remains one of its most controversial figures-the soldier who brought the fight not only to the Confederate Army, but to Confederate civilians as well. Yet Eisenhower, a West Point graduate and a retired brigadier general (Army Reserves), finds in Sherman a man of startling contrasts, not at all defined by the implications of "total war." His scruffy, disheveled appearance belied an unconventional and unyielding intellect. Intensely loyal to superior officers, especially Ulysses S. Grant, he was also a stalwart individualist. Confident enough to make demands face-to-face with President Lincoln, he sympathetically listened to the problems of newly freed slaves on his famed march from Atlanta to Savannah. Dubbed "no soldier" during his years at West Point, Sherman later rose to the rank of General of the Army, and though deeply committed to the Union cause, he held the people of the South in great affection. In this remarkable reassessment of Sherman's life and career, Eisenhower takes readers from Sherman's Ohio origins and his fledgling first stint in the Army, to his years as a businessman in California and his hurried return to uniform at the outbreak of the war. From Bull Run through Sherman's epic March to the Sea, Eisenhower offers up a fascinating narrative of a military genius whose influence helped preserve the Union-and forever changed war.

About the Author :
John S. D. Eisenhower, a graduate of West Point, a retired Brigadier General in the Army Reserve, and the former American ambassador to Belgium, is also the author of seven books, including the bestseller The Bitter Woods, Agent of Destiny: The Life and Times of General Winfield Scott, Yanks: The Epic Story of the American Army in World War I and General Ike about his father, former US President, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Jack Garrett's voice is immediately recognizable from his work in commercials and as a personality on radio stations in the West and Southwest. In addition to guest appearances on television, he has performed in dozens of theater productions on regional and New York stages, including Guys and Dolls, Hallelujah Breakdown, Prelude to a Kiss, Cast a Spell, and Bongo Fever.

Review :

"A sympathetic look at the Union general with an eye toward correcting inaccuracies in the record...In his unadorned prose, Eisenhower conveys the stalwart, no-nonsense nature of this dedicated soldier...[and] tempers criticism of Sherman's supposed ruthlessness with accounts of his fairness toward civilians and his saving of Savannah. A readable, evenhanded work that would be appropriate for younger readers as well."

"Historian Eisenhower brings a unique perspective to his subject in this posthumously published biography as their lives had remarkable parallels...Eisenhower's experiences enabled him to probe the available resources on Sherman to provide valuable new insights into Sherman's actions during the war...Should be read by anyone interested in the Civil War."

"John S. D. Eisenhower, who knows something about generals and soldiering, has written a marvelous biography of a much misunderstood man. Yes, Sherman did say 'war is hell' and made it so waging 'total war' against the South. But he was at the same time a shrewd, colorful, brave man, and Eisenhower brings him vividly to life."

"The blood-and-thunder of the Civil War comes alive in John S. D. Eisenhower's American General, a brilliantly written and researched biography of William Tecumseh Sherman. Eisenhower's delineation on Sherman's Scorched Earth strategy is a must read. Highly recommended!"

"This biography...is ably narrated by Jack Garrett. Eisenhower gives both a historian's and a general's perspective on Sherman, who may still be the most controversial general in American history. The author doesn't break any new ground, but his writing and perspective make this an accessible and interesting biography for the lay reader. Garrett's slightly rough but clear baritone is more than sufficiently expressive to match the text."