Lincoln's Lieutenants: The High Command of the Army of the Potomac

Mr. Sears has created a marvel of history, combining trenchant narrative with intimate correspondence, superb maps, photographs, cartoons, drawings, all focusing on not just the battles fought by the Army of the Potomac, but more on how it achieved victory despite incredible infighting, jealousy, bickering and finger-pointing in its high command. One is left amazed that the North won at all, despite advantages in population and manufacturing. Grant and Meade and Hancock come through as heroes, McClellan as a disaster, other generals mendacious or utterly incompetent—Sickles, Burnside, Siegel. The more you know of Civil War history, the more this book will capture you in its detail. Y highest recommendation.

No one has written or researched more details about the Army of the Potomac and General McClellan that Stephen Sears. If you have read many of his books, the content will be very familiar to you yet still a worthwhile read since he gives you the total experience of the Army from start to finish. The benefits of this extensive over 700 content page book is a continuous profile of the Army's many commanders and key subordinates as well as the capabilities of the men in the field that are extraordinary tested by the time they reach Petersburg. The ghost of McClellan hangs over the Army extensively with every failure and haunts the administration as well worried about McClellanites still in the Army. Sears seems to give stronger opinions in this book particularly in General Howard that includes an interesting reference to his Western Army promotion. Not great details on the battles but efficient telling to concentrate on the commanders and their decisions. The complications between Grant and Meade with specific subordinates like Burnside, Warren, the mercurial Sheridan with informing Smith make the Overland campaign awkward and clumsy at Petersburg. Well written as usual by Sears and a compliment to your CW library.

Overall this is a very good history of the Army of the Potomac's leadership (generally down to brigade level though at occasionally leadership at the regimental level is presented). The author writes very well and provides a good overview of key events. If you are familiar with the author's work on other civil war battles/campaigns (Antietam, the peninsula, Gettysburg, etc) then this is simply a short review (not a bad survey but as another reviewer mentioned little new information). The author has an interesting writing style and if you enjoyed his other works then you will appreciate this work. I think this is pitched at the general reader, not a specialist and this does provide a good one volume history of this most political of union armies.I rated this a four instead of a five for the following reasons. Overall most of the maps were very poor (often this was a too light print being used for the map and often a map scale that was generally not detailed enough. (a few maps also suffered from the staple in the middle trick which makes it hard to see). In general fold out maps would have been a better solution, I think. Most of the photographs were good and I enjoyed some of the reprinted drawings and cartoons from the contemporary publications. (some of these also suffered from too light a print). The author at times went into laundry lists of commanders, I think a wiring diagram or a table format would have been a better (and clearer way) to present this information. I disagree with the author on the treatment awarded Gen Porter and Gen Warren -- in my humble opinion both received what they deserved though apparently later administrations did a Chelsea Manning on their conduct. The author also seems to be a bit inconsistent in treatment of western generals serving in the Army of the Potomac -- at one time chastised for being too cautious and a few paragraphs later chastised for being impatient. At times I wondered if the author was coordinating a team of writers working on the project.Regardless, this book is well worth reading and while I might quibble over some items I believe it is a credible job providing a look at the leadership of the Army of the Potomac. I must say I enjoyed reading the book and the style of writing makes for a quick read which given the subject the author is to be commended for providing. I recommend the book and it is worth the time to read.

I highly recommend this book to any Civil War enthusiasts. Its a great read with plenty of facts presented in the way that a historian like Stephen Sears can grab your attention and hold it from start to finish. I count this book as a valuable addition to my Civil War library.

Well written, Thorough. Great companion to DS Freeman's "Lees Lieutenants."

Arrived on time, in excellent condition.

This is a lucid, well written and engaging account of some of the principal players in the army of the Potomac and how they performed in Lincoln's efforts to put up an effective response to Lee, Longsteet, Jackson, etc,The author pulls no punches, and while it might seem he has made up his mind in advance about some of them McClellan primarily, his reasoning is well documented and he does add some balance.I have read a lot about the American Civil War but this revealed stuff l did not know, particularly about the conversations, tensions and comments between fellow officers in the High Command.My only slight criticism is the maps are not very clear and it was confusing to try to follow some of the manoeuvres - and l am a bit of a geek and like to do that.But a great read for a student of this aspect of the war.

This book covers in depth the commanders of the union army and is a great reference point

Masterful

Great book. Concentrating on president lincolns commanders against general lee.