Leaders of the North and South

The American Civil War tore the United States apart and left indelible marks on the collective psyche of the nation; its effects continue to influence the economic, social, and political landscape in America to this very day.

Written by Civil War historian Bill Sell, Leaders of the North and South concentrates on the military and political leaders who determined, by both their successes and their failures, the eventual course and outcome of this bloody conflict. Each chapter examines one of the notable leaders who played a significant role in the war. Presidents Lincoln and Davis each receive extensive treatment, as do twelve of the most important generals of the Union and Confederacy. You'll learn about the personal history that formed each leader, and about the battles in which his leadership was tested. The influence that each leader had on the outcome of the war is evaluated, using both contemporary accounts and modern research. In addition, like the other volumes in the series, Civil War Chronicles: Leaders of the North and South is beautifully illustrated, using contemporary portraits, battlefield photographs, colorful paintings, and genuine artifacts.

The personalities profiled include:

• Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, who earned his nick- name for the way his fortitude rallied the Confederate troops at the First Battle of Bull Run, but who ended up being killed accidentally by gunfire from his own men at the Battle of Chancellorsville.
• George B. McClellan, known to his men as "Little Napoleon" and to the public as "The Hesitating General." Although he was a brilliant tactician, he missed an opportunity to bring the war to an early close when, out of caution, he failed to capture Richmond during the Seven Days' Campaign. As a result, Lincoln removed him from general command of the Union armies.
• William T. Sherman, whose contribution to the Union's victory was decisive and terrifying. During his infamous March to the Sea, he set out to deprive the South of all possible resources, destroying everything of any use that he came across and finally burning the city of Atlanta. In the process, he introduced the concept of "total war" to the modern world.
• These and other significant leaders come vividly to life in the pages of Leaders of the North and South. The result is a comprehensive and informative vol- ume that no one with an interest in the Civil War and its pivotal characters should be without.