Review by Bothofus07 -- “I Am a Soldier, First and Alw...
-
Bothofus07
- Posts: 29
- Joined: 13 Aug 2019, 17:03
- Favorite Book: Skills of the Warramunga
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 36
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bothofus07.html
- Latest Review: The Warramunga's Aftermath of War by Greg Kater
Review by Bothofus07 -- “I Am a Soldier, First and Alw...
[Following is a volunteer review of "“I Am a Soldier, First and Always”: The Distinguished Career of Winfield Scott Hancock" by James Harold Kelly.]
"I Am a Soldier, First and Always": The Distinguished Career of Winfield Scott Hancock by James Harold Kelly is the first of two books about this distinguished Civil War general. Kelly masterfully fleshes out the early life and Civil War experience of General Winfield Hancock while bringing a slice of 19th-century American history to life.
The book follows Winfield from his childhood in Pennsylvania, through his West Point education, and on to his military career. When he dutifully accepts his father's prompting to attend West Point, Winfield finds himself well suited to a military career. Winfield initially gains experience and a reputation as a skilled quartermaster across the western United States, before proving himself as a leader in the Mexican War. While stationed in Missouri, Winfield meets his wife, Allie, and begins his family. When news of southern states seceding from the Union reaches Winfield, many of his friends from those southern states must make heartbreaking choices about where their loyalties lie.
The bulk of the book tells of Winfield Hancock's experiences during the early battles of the American Civil War. His leadership and strategic skills make him a valuable general during key battles in Virginia. The book then settles into a detailed play-by-play account of the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1862. The narrative goes back and forth between the Union and Confederate armies, and offers thoughts and dialogues among the many officers involved. This was a particularly frustrating battle for the Union army during a time when President Lincoln had to make several changes in the command of the army.
This book provided an interesting insight into the inner workings of the Civil War through the eyes of General Winfield Hancock. Although I had not heard of Hancock before reading this book, he was clearly an impressive presence in the Union army. I greatly enjoyed the first third of the book as Hancock's early life unfolded. The rest of the book required much more concentration on my part to follow the play-by-play account of the Battle of Fredericksburg, although the detailed narrative elicited the feeling of watching history unfold.
What I liked most about this book was the realistic way the story was told, as if I were actually watching history happen. Each moment of the Battle of Fredericksburg was brought to life with dialogue and action. It was apparent that the author has done extensive research into the people, places and events of 19th-century American history. What I liked least about the book was the sheer number of individuals involved in the story, and feeling the need to follow each minute detail closely to understand each person's point of view and each event's significance.
This book presents an excellent biography of Winfield Scott Hancock as a significant participant in American history who may deserve more recognition. I rate it 4 out of 4 for a well-written slice of Civil War era history. While there is minimal profanity, there are graphic descriptions of the violence of war. I think history lovers would appreciate the detailed level of storytelling in "I Am A Solier First and Always", particularly readers who enjoy the complexities of war and the details of individual battles. Readers like myself who are accustomed to more character-driven biographies may find themselves mired in the the minute details of individual battles, but will most likely come away with a desire to learn more about Hancock and his fellow soldiers.
******
“I Am a Soldier, First and Always”: The Distinguished Career of Winfield Scott Hancock
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"I Am a Soldier, First and Always": The Distinguished Career of Winfield Scott Hancock by James Harold Kelly is the first of two books about this distinguished Civil War general. Kelly masterfully fleshes out the early life and Civil War experience of General Winfield Hancock while bringing a slice of 19th-century American history to life.
The book follows Winfield from his childhood in Pennsylvania, through his West Point education, and on to his military career. When he dutifully accepts his father's prompting to attend West Point, Winfield finds himself well suited to a military career. Winfield initially gains experience and a reputation as a skilled quartermaster across the western United States, before proving himself as a leader in the Mexican War. While stationed in Missouri, Winfield meets his wife, Allie, and begins his family. When news of southern states seceding from the Union reaches Winfield, many of his friends from those southern states must make heartbreaking choices about where their loyalties lie.
The bulk of the book tells of Winfield Hancock's experiences during the early battles of the American Civil War. His leadership and strategic skills make him a valuable general during key battles in Virginia. The book then settles into a detailed play-by-play account of the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1862. The narrative goes back and forth between the Union and Confederate armies, and offers thoughts and dialogues among the many officers involved. This was a particularly frustrating battle for the Union army during a time when President Lincoln had to make several changes in the command of the army.
This book provided an interesting insight into the inner workings of the Civil War through the eyes of General Winfield Hancock. Although I had not heard of Hancock before reading this book, he was clearly an impressive presence in the Union army. I greatly enjoyed the first third of the book as Hancock's early life unfolded. The rest of the book required much more concentration on my part to follow the play-by-play account of the Battle of Fredericksburg, although the detailed narrative elicited the feeling of watching history unfold.
What I liked most about this book was the realistic way the story was told, as if I were actually watching history happen. Each moment of the Battle of Fredericksburg was brought to life with dialogue and action. It was apparent that the author has done extensive research into the people, places and events of 19th-century American history. What I liked least about the book was the sheer number of individuals involved in the story, and feeling the need to follow each minute detail closely to understand each person's point of view and each event's significance.
This book presents an excellent biography of Winfield Scott Hancock as a significant participant in American history who may deserve more recognition. I rate it 4 out of 4 for a well-written slice of Civil War era history. While there is minimal profanity, there are graphic descriptions of the violence of war. I think history lovers would appreciate the detailed level of storytelling in "I Am A Solier First and Always", particularly readers who enjoy the complexities of war and the details of individual battles. Readers like myself who are accustomed to more character-driven biographies may find themselves mired in the the minute details of individual battles, but will most likely come away with a desire to learn more about Hancock and his fellow soldiers.
******
“I Am a Soldier, First and Always”: The Distinguished Career of Winfield Scott Hancock
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Warramunga's Aftermath of War by Greg Kater
