From First to Last: The Life of William B. Franklin (The North's Civil War, 19)

__From First to Last__ is a complete life story of one of the most controversial yet least well known generals on either side during the Civil War. The number one graduate of the West Point class of 1843, William Buel Franklin served in the U.S. Army's Corps of Topographical Engineers and contributed greatly to the building of the nation's internal improvements, including a stint as chief engineer in charge of construction of the U.S. Capitol's dome and extension from 1859 to 1861. During the Civil War Franklin ascended rapidly in rank and command authority, from command of a Union brigade at Bull Run, to leadership of the Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula and during the Maryland Campaign, to command of the Left Grand Division, of that army at the terrible Battle of Fredericksburg. In the wake of Fredericksburg, Franklin was unjustly blamed for the Union army's defeat, not so much because of his generalship-or lack thereof-but because of his politics and the highly-charged political nature of high-level leadership in the Army of the Potomac. Censured by the notorious Joint Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War, Franklin was banished to the Department of the Gulf, where he participated in the ill-fated Sabine Pass Expedition and Red River Campaign. Wounded during the Red River Campaign and captured by Confederate partisan rangers Franklin would escape his captors but could not escape the wrath of the Lincoln administration, which refused to place him back in command even though his old West Point classmate-U. S. Grant-personally requested his services. Franklin resigned his commission in 1866 and began a highly successful post-war career as Vice President and General Manager of Colt's Firearms Company in Hartford, Connecticut. A respected citizen of that city, Franklin continued to serve his country in a number of public positions, including leadership of a government bureau that eventually became the U.S. Veterans Administration. Snell's study of Franklin is evenly balanced, correctly pointing out Franklin's flaws and lapses of judgment-such as the Battle of Crampton's Gap on September 14, 1862-but giving him credit where he received none in the past. Snell provides readers with a complete picture of Franklin: brilliant engineer, doting husband, respected businessman, and controversial Union general. From First to Last will change the way historians interpret this important figure of American history.

From First to Last is complete life story of one of the most controversial yet least well known generals on either side during the Civil War. The number one graduate of the West Point class of 1843, William Buel Franklin served in the U.S. Army's Corps of Topographical Engineers and contributed greatly to the building of the nation's internal improvements, including a stint as chief engineer in charge of construction of the U.S. Capitol's dome and extension from 1859 to 1861. During the Civil War Franklin ascended rapidly in rank and command authority, from command of a Union brigade at Bull Run, to leadership of the Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula and during the Maryland Campaign, to command of the Left Grand Division, of that army at the terrible Battle of Fredericksburg. In the wake of Fredericksburg, Franklin was unjustly blamed for the Union army's defeat, not so much because of his generalship-or lack thereof-but because of his politics and the highly-charged political nature of high-level leadership in the Army of the Potomac. Censured by the notorious Joint Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War, Franklin was banished to the Department of the Gulf, where he participated in the ill-fated Sabine Pass Expedition and Red River Campaign. Wounded during the Red River Campaign and captured by Confederate partisan rangers Franklin would escape his captors but could not escape the wrath of the Lincoln administration, which refused to place him back in command even though his old West Point classmate-U. S. Grant-personally requested his services.Franklin resigned his commission in 1866 and began a highly successful post-war career as Vice President and General Manager of Colt's Firearms Company in Hartford, Connecticuit. A respected citizen of that city, Franklin continued to serve his country in a number of public positions, including leadership of a government bureau that eventually became the U.S. Veterans Administration. Snell's study of Franklin is evenly balanced, correctly pointing out Franklin's flaws and lapses of judgment-such as the Battle of Crampton's Gap on September 14, 1862-but giving him credit where he received none in the past. Snell provides readers with a complete picture of Franklin: brilliant engineer, doting husband, respected businessman, and controversial Union general. From First to Last will change the way historians interpret this important figure of American history.

"This is a complete life story of one of the most controversial yet least well known generals on either side during the Civil War. Graduating first in his class at West Point, William Buel Franklin went on to serve in the Army's Corps of Topographical Engineers and contributed greatly to the building of the nation's internal improvements; at one point, he was chief engineer in charge of construction of the U.S. Capitol's dome and extension. During the Civil War, Franklin rose rapidly, commanding a brigade at Bull Run, moving up to leadership of the Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac in the Peninsula and Maryland campaigns, and going on to command of the Left Grand Division at Fredericksburg. In the wake of that terrible battle, Franklin was unjustly blamed for the Union defeat - largely for political reasons. Censured by the notorious joint Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War, Franklin was banished to the Department of the Gulf, where he participated in the ill-fated Sabine Pass Expedition and the Red River Campaign. Wounded during the latter campaign, Franklin was captured during his convalescent leave. He would escape his Confederate captors, but he could not escape the wrath of the Lincoln administration. Franklin resigned his commission in 1866 and began a highly successful postwar career as vice president and general manager of Colt Firearms in Hartford, Connecticut. Franklin continued to serve in various public positions, including leadership of a bureau that eventually became the U.S. Veterans Administration.". "This study of Franklin's life points out the flaws and lapses of judgement - such as at the battle of Crampton's Gap - but illuminates his previously ignored strengths. From First to Last may well change the way historians interpret this important period of American history."--BOOK JACKET.

Snell (director, George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War, Shepherd College) chronicles the life of Civil War general Franklin, heavily relying on recently discovered personal correspondence and private papers. The Union general, often much derided for his military performance during the Civil War, is given a more sympathetic treatment than usual. The bulk of the material consists of a reevaluation of the general's military performance during the conflict, but consideration is given to Franklin's youth and his post-war stewardship of Colt's Patent Firearms. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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Snell (director, George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War, Shepherd College) chronicles the life of Civil War general Franklin, heavily relying on recently discovered personal correspondence and private papers. The Union general, often much derided for his military performance during the Civil War, is given a more sympathetic treatment than usual. The bulk of the material consists of a reevaluation of the general's military performance during the conflict, but consideration is given to Franklin's youth and his post-war stewardship of Colt's Patent Firearms. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

A Terrible Fascination: The Portrayal Of Combat In The Civil War Media / Earl J. Hess -- A Thrilling Northern War: Gender, Race, And Sensational Popular War Literature / Alice Fahs -- From Necessary Evil To National Blessing: The Northern Protestant Clergy Interpret The Civil War / Peter J. Parish -- Let The Nation Be Your Bank: The Civil War Bond Drives And The Construction Of National Patriotism / Melinda Lawson -- Freedom, Union, And Power: The Ideology Of The Republican Party During The Civil War / Michael S. Green -- Beyond Politics: Patriotism And Partisanship On The Northern Home Front / Adam I.p. Smith -- A Monstrous Doctrine? Northern Women On Dependency During The Civil War / Rachel Filene Seidman -- Joseph Henry's Smithsonian During The Civil War / Michael F. Conlin -- Civil War Church Trials: Repressing Dissent On The Northern Home Front / Bryon C. Andreasen -- A White Man's State In New England: Race, Party, And Suffrage In Civil War Connecticut / Lex Renda -- The Confiscation Acts: The North Strikes Back / John Syrett -- Modernization And The Federal System: The Example Of Kentucky And Its War Claims Against The United States Government / Kyle S. Sinisi. Edited By Paul A. Cimbala And Randall M. Miller. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cimbala (history, Fordham U., New York) and Miller (history, Saint Joseph's U., Philadelphia) introduce a dozen contributions on the Civil War battlefront's effects on the Northern homefront. Authors (some from the Northern US) explore the war's impact on such areas as journalism, popular literature, bond drive-construction of patriotism, Republican ideology on race, women's growing sense of entitlement, the Smithsonian Institution, dissent, laws on the return of slaves to the South, and the Federal system. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR These original essays bring fresh perspectives to our understanding of the impact of the Civil War on daily life in the northern states. From family, race, religion, and popular culture to political organization and party ideology, the essays chronicle the many dimensions of the "uncommon time" of the North's Civil War.