George Patton's reading list

This is
the note I sent yesterday to Fox's spokesman, who seems to be in charge of making
stuff up:

Mr. Clemente,

To clarify my comments for you: I did not apologize.

As it happened, I ran into Bret Baier as I emerged from
the interview. We know each other from working at the Pentagon. He asked if I
was serious in saying that Fox had hyped Bengahzi, and I said I was. We
discussed that. It was a cordial exchange. (I wouldn't mention this
private conversation except that you apparently are quoting my hallway
conversations as part of your attack.)

Later, as I was leaving, the booker or producer (I am
not sure what her title was) said she thought I had been rude. I said I might
have been a bit snappish because I am tired of book tour. This was in no way an
apology but rather an explanation of why I jumped a bit when the anchor began
the segment with the assertion that pressure on the White House was
building -- which it most clearly was not.

Best,

Tom

Mr.
Clemente has not responded, as is his right. While he stews, I'm looking forward to heading northward and diving back into my books.
Which brings me to today's subject. I've read a lot about Patton, but had never
come across his reading list before. My ex-boss Nate Fick sent it along.

It is a
good one, even though it was compiled by Patton's wife after his death as a
list of his favorites. It is as old school, as you'd expect, but reflects his deep study of war. Here 'tis:

Maxims of Frederick the Great
Maxims of Napoleon ,
and all the authoritative military biographies of Napoleon
Commentaries ,
Julius Caesar
Treatises by von Treitchke, and von
Clausewitz
Memoirs of General
the Baron de Marbot , and de Fezansec, a
colonel under Napoleon
Fifteen Decisive
Battles of the World , Creasy
Charles XII of Sweden, Klingspor
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire  (Vols 1, 2, 3)   (Vols 4, 5, 6) ,
Gibbon
Strategicon, Marcus and Spaulding
The Prince ,
Machiavelli
The Crowd ,
Le Bon
A History of the
Art of War in the Middle Ages , Oman
The Influence of
Sea Power Upon History, , Mahan
Stonewall Jackson ,
Henderson
Memoirs of U. S. Grant, and those of McClellan
Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, R.
E. Lee, and Lee's Lieutenants, Freeman
Years of Victory and Years of Endurance,
Bryant
Gallipoli, Hamilton
Thucydides' Military History of Greece
Memoirs of Ludendorff, von Hindenburg and
Foch
Genghis Khan, Alexander, Lamb
Alexander, Weigall
The Home Book of Verse
Anything by Winston Churchill
Kipling, complete
Anything by Liddle Hart
Anything by J. F. C. Fuller, especially
'Generalship: Its Diseases and Their Cure'
The Normans in Sicily, Knight
The Greatest Norman Conquest, Osborne
The History of the Norman Conquest of
England, five volumes by Freeman
Caesar's Gallic War
Infantry Attacks ,
Rommel