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The Battle of Nashville: General George H. Thomas & the Most Decisive Battle of the Civil War
A dynamic Civil War book with a fresh angle from an award-winning writer. Bobrick profiles General George H. Thomas, an overlooked scion of the Civil War, and shows the military choices that saved the Union. Also examined are President Lincoln, the causes of the war and the various personalities who have shaped our understanding of the war today. This compelling book, rich with visuals including maps, photos, original documents, and more, offers new insights into a key topic for American homes and classrooms. A particularly exciting read for boys.
The Battle of Nashville is another contribution to Knopf's list of high quality nonfiction such as Children of the Dust Bowl by Jerry Stanley and Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Armstrong.
The Battle of Nashville is another contribution to Knopf's list of high quality nonfiction such as Children of the Dust Bowl by Jerry Stanley and Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Armstrong.
- GenresCivil War
144 pages, Hardcover
First published October 12, 2010
1 person is currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Benson Bobrick
30 books30 followersBenson Bobrick earned his doctorate from Columbia University and is the author of several critically acclaimed works. In 2002, he received the Literature Award of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. He and his wife, Hilary, live in Vermont.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 11, 2020
Admittedly, this book was disappointing to me. It was disappointing for a very specific reason, though, one that is well worth exploring and considering. Specifically, this book was disappointing because it had an interesting subject but failed to cover it in sufficient depth. This is not a book written for students of military history who want to know about an important battle better. That's what I assumed when I started reading it, but I was soon disabused of this notion as it became clear that this was a book written for people whose understanding of the Civil War is slight and who need or want a very superficial account of a lot of material before belatedly getting to the battle itself very quickly. And if that is not enough to make this a less than enjoyable work, there is the matter of the book's approach, which does not show but rather tells. Given that the book is superficial, the fact that it decides to tell the reader what is going on rather than give details and let the reader come to one's own conclusions is lamentable and makes this book a lot less enjoyable.
This book is just over 100 pages before its appendices, and only the last 25 pages or so deal with the battle itself. That is not a good ratio. The book begins with a discussion of Grant's impatience with Thomas as the need for horses and the problems of weather in December (1). After that the author discusses why the Civil War was fought (2) and the beginning of the war (3). A discussion of Thomas' background and how it influenced his loyalty to the Union despite being from a Virginian slaveowner background (4) and a discussion of the differences between the war in the Eastern and Western fronts follows (5). After this the author looks at the world of the soldier (6) as well as the problem of carnage (7) in the war, reaching nearly 75 pages before even getting to the context of the Nashville campaign itself. This context takes place in the last two chapters, which look at the prelude to the battle (8) and then the battle itself (9) and its aftermath. The postscript of this book includes Lincoln's two inaugural addresses (i) and then some selections to the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments (ii) before notes, some books about the Civil War, picture credits, and an index.
Overall, the book's flaws are not something that are isolated to this book. One of the characteristic problems of children's literature, especially when it comes to nonfiction, is that writers of children's nonfiction frequently do not feel it is enough simply to provide facts and evidence and let the reader come to conclusions. For example, quoting diaries and messages would be enough to convey a great deal of what this book outright says, and it would be better for people to learn how to understand things indirectly rather than have to be spoon-fed everything by an author whose knowledge is not that much more profound than the audience is. If this is not the worst book I have read on the Civil War, it certainly is a book that takes way too long to get to its point given how short the book is overall. An author should simply write what is necessary in order to explain the context, and this author does not do so, but rather thinks that the Battle of Nashville needs to be understood by referring to politics of the antebellum period, which is just excessive.
This book is just over 100 pages before its appendices, and only the last 25 pages or so deal with the battle itself. That is not a good ratio. The book begins with a discussion of Grant's impatience with Thomas as the need for horses and the problems of weather in December (1). After that the author discusses why the Civil War was fought (2) and the beginning of the war (3). A discussion of Thomas' background and how it influenced his loyalty to the Union despite being from a Virginian slaveowner background (4) and a discussion of the differences between the war in the Eastern and Western fronts follows (5). After this the author looks at the world of the soldier (6) as well as the problem of carnage (7) in the war, reaching nearly 75 pages before even getting to the context of the Nashville campaign itself. This context takes place in the last two chapters, which look at the prelude to the battle (8) and then the battle itself (9) and its aftermath. The postscript of this book includes Lincoln's two inaugural addresses (i) and then some selections to the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments (ii) before notes, some books about the Civil War, picture credits, and an index.
Overall, the book's flaws are not something that are isolated to this book. One of the characteristic problems of children's literature, especially when it comes to nonfiction, is that writers of children's nonfiction frequently do not feel it is enough simply to provide facts and evidence and let the reader come to conclusions. For example, quoting diaries and messages would be enough to convey a great deal of what this book outright says, and it would be better for people to learn how to understand things indirectly rather than have to be spoon-fed everything by an author whose knowledge is not that much more profound than the audience is. If this is not the worst book I have read on the Civil War, it certainly is a book that takes way too long to get to its point given how short the book is overall. An author should simply write what is necessary in order to explain the context, and this author does not do so, but rather thinks that the Battle of Nashville needs to be understood by referring to politics of the antebellum period, which is just excessive.
December 21, 2010
The title is not strictly accurate. Only about 20 pages deal with the battle directly; the rest provide background and a short conclusion. Also, Bobrick's actual main point is best summed up by this quote: "With the single exception of George Washington, George H. Thomas was the greatest patriot-soldier America had ever produced." Grant just stole his thunder, apparently. Bobrick's prose strays close to hagiography from time to time and the notes buried at the end of the book don't necessarily help figure out how he comes to his conclusions. I also get the feeling Bobrick is talking down to his readers and glossing over or greatly simplifying details.
Some samples:
"...the white Abolitionist John Brown, crazed by the recent murder of his son..." That's a hell of a statement to throw in without any context.
"...he trembled just once--when he received a standing ovation from Congress. That was the only time his hand was seen to shake." How does anyone know that?
"Rebel strongholds on the upper Mississippi were also overrun, even as Union gunboats battered their way up from the mouth of the river to New Orleans." That's not that far, actually. I have the feeling that was meant to be "from New Orleans."
"Some [prisoners of war] were literally eaten up by maggots." I'm not even touching this one--although a cursory Google search does suggest that literally is not the right word to use.
"As if Thomas didn't have enough to deal with! He had a Judas on his staff!"
The photos are very well chosen and the design is attractive, but this seems like an effort to distill his adult book about the General and somehow repackage it. As a straight up biography it probably would have been better.
Some samples:
"...the white Abolitionist John Brown, crazed by the recent murder of his son..." That's a hell of a statement to throw in without any context.
"...he trembled just once--when he received a standing ovation from Congress. That was the only time his hand was seen to shake." How does anyone know that?
"Rebel strongholds on the upper Mississippi were also overrun, even as Union gunboats battered their way up from the mouth of the river to New Orleans." That's not that far, actually. I have the feeling that was meant to be "from New Orleans."
"Some [prisoners of war] were literally eaten up by maggots." I'm not even touching this one--although a cursory Google search does suggest that literally is not the right word to use.
"As if Thomas didn't have enough to deal with! He had a Judas on his staff!"
The photos are very well chosen and the design is attractive, but this seems like an effort to distill his adult book about the General and somehow repackage it. As a straight up biography it probably would have been better.
April 5, 2014
Benson Bobrick's "The Battle of Nashville" is a superb, informative and fast-paced read.
It is at once both a biography of General George H. Thomas and a chronology of the American Civil War.
As Bobrick points out, General Thomas was is certainly one of America's "unsung heroes," and arguably the best military commander to fight in the Civil War.
Thomas was born in a slave-holding family in Virginia, but he rejected prejudice and taught his family's slaves how to read and write at night.
He narrowly escaped Nat Turner's slave rebellion--a fortunate event for slaves, in the long run. Rather than resenting the slaves for rebelling, however, Thomas was only reassured that every man should be able to pursue freedom.
Studying at Westpoint, Thomas was friends with the Union's General Sherman as well as his neighbor Robert E. Lee. When the war broke out, though, Thomas found his loyalty was to the Federal Government and black freedom.
Thomas was not only a brilliant strategist (the only general of the Civil War not to lose a battle) but also a fighter for equality. In the war, in his most decisive battle, he employed black soldiers as equals in the fight and secured a key victory.
President Lincoln called Thomas one of the greatest generals in the world.
Even after the war, Thomas served in the south in an effort to see that Reconstruction went smoothly and was an early enemy to and fighter against the Ku Klux Klan.
Bobrick provides plenty of information to make a novice at Civil War history keep pace with the events and provides witty and inspiring quotes from Thomas, Lincoln, Sherman and others.
Historical speeches as well as constitutional amendments are included in the back of the book.
Time it took to read: about 3 hours.
It is at once both a biography of General George H. Thomas and a chronology of the American Civil War.
As Bobrick points out, General Thomas was is certainly one of America's "unsung heroes," and arguably the best military commander to fight in the Civil War.
Thomas was born in a slave-holding family in Virginia, but he rejected prejudice and taught his family's slaves how to read and write at night.
He narrowly escaped Nat Turner's slave rebellion--a fortunate event for slaves, in the long run. Rather than resenting the slaves for rebelling, however, Thomas was only reassured that every man should be able to pursue freedom.
Studying at Westpoint, Thomas was friends with the Union's General Sherman as well as his neighbor Robert E. Lee. When the war broke out, though, Thomas found his loyalty was to the Federal Government and black freedom.
Thomas was not only a brilliant strategist (the only general of the Civil War not to lose a battle) but also a fighter for equality. In the war, in his most decisive battle, he employed black soldiers as equals in the fight and secured a key victory.
President Lincoln called Thomas one of the greatest generals in the world.
Even after the war, Thomas served in the south in an effort to see that Reconstruction went smoothly and was an early enemy to and fighter against the Ku Klux Klan.
Bobrick provides plenty of information to make a novice at Civil War history keep pace with the events and provides witty and inspiring quotes from Thomas, Lincoln, Sherman and others.
Historical speeches as well as constitutional amendments are included in the back of the book.
Time it took to read: about 3 hours.
January 22, 2016
Bobrick gives a brief overview of the Civil War, including the succession of the Southern states and the incompetence of many of the Union generals and highlights General George H. Thomas, who actually won all of his battles during the Civil War. Thomas did things differently than a lot of the other generals, avoiding many of their mistakes and even thinking ahead of his time. Resisting pressure from General Grant to advance at Nashville before his troops were ready, Thomas raised a cavalry unit and trained new soldiers, certain that rushing things would cost them the battle; his patience and preparation paid off and his army was triumphant in a battle that proved to be a turning point in the war.
I'd never actually heard of General Thomas, but this was a very informative and interesting read, if slightly biased (the author clearly didn't like Generals Grant and Sherman).
October 13, 2010
The author makes a strong but not entirely convincing case that the Battle of Nashville was THE decisive battle of the Civil War and that General George H. Thomas, the Union commander, was the greatest of all Union generals. Bobrick also has some compelling criticisms of Grant and Sherman. Accessbile and abundantly illustrated.
February 10, 2014
Not just the Battle of Nashville, but a summary of most of the Civil War with a strong bias toward Gen. George H. Thomas, apparently best general ever. The book was not a difficult read and does make the war quite accessible if you allow for some obvious bias.
July 8, 2011
Lots of good historical information.
May 22, 2016
A brief, but important look at The Battle of Nashville and the role that General Thomas, a much overlooked general.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews