“THE BOTTOM IS OUT OF THE TUB”
In which we continue to lay out the background to McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign.
Our book recommendation for this episode is “McClellan’s War: The Failure of Moderation in the Struggle for the Union” by Ethan S. Rafuse.
“MEANWHILE, BACK EAST…”
In which we start to set the stage for McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign.
Our book ecommendation for this episode is “Lincoln and His Generals” by T. Harry Williams.
THE PURSUIT OF VICTORY
In which we discuss the Confederate and Union war aims & strategy at the beginning of the Civil War. Plus, we look at the Union’s move in May, 1861 to seize Alexandria, Virginia- just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.
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| Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth (1837-1861) |
Our book recommendation for this episode is The Grand Design: Strategy and the U.S. Civil War by Donald Stoker.
“Donald Stoker’s book offers a new way of looking at both the military and political history of the Civil War, and does so from a strategic vantage point far above that to which we have been accustomed. The Grand Design represents an important advance in our understanding of this momentous event.” ~ Steven E. Woodworth
Listen to Episode 41: PursuitOfVictory
WAR WITH MEXICO (Part the Third)
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| Winfield Scott (1786-1866) |
In which we continue our discussion of America’s war with Mexico. We follow along as Major General Winfield Scott makes the dramatic decision to cut loose from his supply lines and march on Mexico City. We also continue putting the spotlight on some American officers, almost all West Point graduates, who fight in Mexico & then go on to some measure of fame in the Civil War. Plus, a fellow named Abraham Lincoln makes his first appearance in the podcast.
Our book recommendation for this episode is The Class of 1846: From West Point to Appomattox- Stonewall Jackson, George McClellan, and their Brothers by John C Waugh. In this collective biography, Waugh follows this class of West Pointers from the U.S. Military Academy to Mexico to the Civil War. The West Point class of 1846 graduated 59 men: 10 of them- including Stonewall Jackson- became Confederate generals; 12- including George McClellan- wore the stars for the Union.
Listen to Episode 7: MexicanWarPartThird