James L. McDonough

Finally, after two months I have finally finished the book. The book was very thorough and paints a very comprehensive portrait of Sherman. The reason it took me so long to read was I hit a reading slump (and a lot of terrible books) that made it reading a huge turnoff for a while. But I really wanted to read this because I knew so little about Sherman except for what I learned in American History in high school and that was too many years ago.

Lee is able to twine not just Sherman's life but events and issues that occurred at the same time into a coherent and seamless narrative. Granted, at times I felt I was studying for a history test but that probably had to do with the wealth of information which could be a bit overwhelming at times. That is not a criticism of the text. The author is an historian and his expertise shows. This is a book that cannot be read in a few sittings. You need time to savor (and to remember your Civil War history).… (mais)

A face reader can easily deduce from Sherman's photographs that here was a man who confronted life's challenges on each and every turn and roundly thumped them. The pursed lips, the intense gaze and the fiercely furrowed forehead speak volumes to Sherman's tenacity which outlives him even in death.

And this is what McDonough successfully captures in this Magnum Opus biography of Sherman. The life which William Tecumseh Sherman confronted and triumphed over to become the leader we immortalize today. His failings, his successes and his enigmatic family life posited Sherman on the path to glory through which he engraved a new milestone in military stratagem.

Given the subject, though, it is no surprise that Mcdonough's narrative is excessively prolonged with the book's size being enough to put off the lay reader alone.

However, for veteran readers this book will prove a savory triumph given that each chapter is carefully crafted and the prose is meticulous. For tacticians in all walks of life, this book is a must read.… (mais)

This is a rather pedestrian telling of one of the most important battles of the U.S. Civil War. It does use written accounts of the participants and the maps are extensive but it never really quite captures the horror. The background is good. The impact is fairly well outlined. Still, we never quite get into the heads of Grant, Sherman, Beauregard, or other significant leaders. That Grant and Sherman made serious errors is unquestionable. Nevertheless, it was early in the war and they both seemed to have learned lessons. Southern leadership, on the other hand, seems to present itself as if it ought to win. It is true that generalship means willing to spill blood but it has to be for a purpose. The waste of human life is very obvious in this battle, more by the South than the North since the South was the impelling force, at least on the first day.To see Shiloh Church today is to see a most tranquil setting which is probably how it looked before the battle.… (mais)

This is long book. The descriptions of the geography, troop movements, and other battle descriptions needed better maps to really follow along in any meaningful way. As a biography it was a rich, deep view of a complicated man. As a history book it was insightful, well balanced and thorough. The history and the man together, with a vast quoting of Sherman, was fascinating and enlightening expose. It kept me rapt and thinking about war, the military, politics, racism, marriage, economics and more on every page.… (mais)