American Civil War Commanders (1): Union Leaders in the East (Elite 73)

Osprey's study of the commanders of the American Civil War (1861-1865). When the War Between the States broke out in 1861, the US Army had only four line generals - and only one of them was not a septuagenarian veteran of the War of 1812. With about one-third of all professional officers choosing to offer their swords to the South, the government's urgent need to find commanders for the vastly expanded Federal army put generals' stars on the shoulders of men of very varied backgrounds and talents. In time the shock of war would separate the born leaders from the over-promoted and the political opportunists. This first of four volumes examines the careers and often colorful personalities of nearly 30 Union generals whose service was mainly in the Eastern theater of war. The American Civil War was one of the last wars in which generals led from the front. It was a war of larger-than-life characters, generals who earned colourful reputations. This book outlines the careers and characters of famous Union commanders who fought in the eastern theatre of operations. This book details the careers, personalities and appearance of Confederate commanders who made their names mainly with the Army of Northern Virginia in the Eastern theater of war Rapidly promoted to colonel, he led the 61st throughout the Peninsula campaign.