Master of War: The Life of General George H. Thomas

This is the third book of Benson Bobrick's I have read. While not an assiduous student of history, I find in "Master of War" as well as "Wide as the Waters" and The Fated Sky" a brilliant gathering of information including the culture of the time and place and the physical environment. It so broadens my sense of humankind and its progress (or lack thereof) through time. Mr. Bobrick is masterful in bringing to life the complex aspects of the civil war, the physical, political, and human realities as they interplay. Above all, he describes a great man; great certainly as a military leader but great also in the level of his integrity and courage -- heartening. I can't say enough. At its least, it is a very good read and at it's best, the wealth of insights and descriptives act like a time machine. I highly recommend this book.

I read this book after reading all I could find on the internet about Thomas, as well as reading Cleaves' Rock of Chickamauga and Buell's The Warrior Generals. As an accidental discoverer of Thomas (leading to first time in-depth Civil War reading), I was intrigued to find out why such an amazing, "unknown" general, who exhibited brilliant and varied military skills countless times on and off the battlefield, a general who was so popular with his men and his country for a long period after his untimely death at age 54, could be so completely forgotten today. This book, although unabashedly shouting Thomas's praises throughout, begins to unravel that mystery, while giving us the only picture of Thomas available to the author: a picture formed from the spoken and written words of his admirers (of which there were many - and usually expressed in words of heartfelt reverence and awe), detractors (decidedly few, and always it seems, by those with some kind of ax to grind), and Thomas's and others' official correspondence. Bobrick accomplishes this in a fascinating, eminently readable, tale of duty, honor, and courage. Master of War deserves to be read. While weaving this absorbing story, Bobrick gives us a helpful mini-history leading up to the Civil War as well as a few detailed sidebars like the Nat Turner-led slave uprising (an episode Thomas experienced as a teenager). The quotes from other sources flow seamlessly and naturally with the author's own writing style, and I liked the fact that there were no intrusive numbers and footnotes. For a reader like myself, just interested in the story, the bibliography was sufficient. Finding minor errors and inaccuracies like what kind of guns were or were not used or the true meaning of the word Chickamauga was not my intent. What I got from the book was a what I hoped to get - a real sense and understanding of who George Thomas was (methodical with a purpose that saved countless lives, not stolid or slow), what made him tick (doing what's right for his men and his country, not making a name for himself), how others viewed him and why (he hated the political maneuvering and paid for it; the feathers he ruffled deserved to be ruffled - Schofield, Twiggs, and other self-serving, lesser talented leaders), and how such a man was denied his rightful place in our country's history (a concentrated effort). What I found surprised me - power, politics, and even grudges can shape what's written in the history books, regardless of the evidence, and most people are none the wiser. As for me, I'm grateful for the new knowledge. If I ever make it up to Troy, NY, I'll also make it a special point to visit George Thomas's grave - to pay my utmost respect and gratitude to a deserving national hero.

Benson Bobrick's book Master of War argues ever so validly that General George Thomas was the best Civil War general on both sides, and that Grant and Sherman not only were not, but actively and so far successfully worked to denigrate and downplay Thomas in order to build up their own reputations and cover their own failures. This is why Thomas is so little known today and is denied the credit he is due. The popular historians are much to blame for this and for perpetuating the myths of Grant and Sherman. There is way too much political correctness, or is it just plain laziness, from that quarter, and it is really unexplainable because the facts of the matter are indisputable. Why is it so often difficult to recognize the truth? Probably because the popular historians would have to admit their mistakes. Nobody is willing to take responsibility these days, it seems.

40 Years ago,I read a book by Bruce Catton. The title was This Hallowed Ground. It was the first time I heard about General George H.Thomas. He was a remarkable warrior. He destroyed two Confederate Armies in the field. What General north or south had done that? In every history I have read of this man, it showed that Grant disliked him very much, and Sherman talked behind his back. Late in life Bruce Catton came to believe that General Thomas might have been the best General in the Civil War on both sides. Give the author a break for a few minor errors. enough with all this nit-picking. This reminds me of all the grief General Longstreet took when he faulted Lee for Gettysburg. Lee was not God, nor are Grant and Sherman Gods. It's been a very long time for General George H.Thomas and Bobrick has given his due.

What a book! Heartbreaking and dramatic. Word for word, it may be the best book on the Civil War I've ever read. I kept thinking of the Sam Cooke song, "A Change Is Gonna Come," because it finally brings General George H. Thomas to the forefront of the war. Bobrick is severe on Grant and Sherman, but as you read you realize why. The story that unfolds is sometimes shocking. I knew something about a part of it, thanks to Albert Castel's excellent book, "Decision In The West," before I read Bobrick, and knew that Grant and Sherman had slandered Thomas. But I did not know that Grant tried to undermine him, and even ruin him--something omitted from standard texts. But the truth is, without the heroic Thomas, the war could not have been won. As generals, Grant and Sherman were pygmies beside him. If Thomas had been in command in the march on Atlanta, the army of Joe Johnston would have been defeated at the outset. The Nashville battle where Thomas did command was the most brilliant of the war. The story of that battle, even though I knew the outcome, had me on the edge of my seat. Another refreshing thing, Bobrick seems indifferent to what is now in fashion. The dreary series of puff-pieces that keep coming out about Grant and Sherman don't matter to him clearly. He's not afraid to give Lincoln a little flak, too, as a war leader, though he certainly admires him as a human being and statesman. As a Civil War buff, I say, "Bravo!"