Run With the Bulls Without Getting Trampled: The Qualities You Need to Stay Out of Harm's Way and Thrive at Work

Book Description

"[ Run With the Bulls Without Getting Trampled shows] us how success in the workplace can be something more-but is never less-than the sum of our experiences, emotions, and intelligence. I really liked this book."
- Marcus Buckingham, International speaker and best-selling author, Now Discover Your Strengths and First, Break All the Rules

" Run With the Bulls Without Getting Trampled is one of those books that really makes you want to be a better manager, a better leader, a better person. The stories are powerful, the anecdotes are right on the money, and the wisdom is so evident and clear."
- Pat Lencioni, Author, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, and President, The Table Group

" Run With the Bulls Without Getting Trampled grabbed me from page one and never let go. It's one of those rare business books full of fresh, original stories that inspire us to take a look at our three Cs: commitment, character, and competence."
-Ken Blanchard, Coauthor, The One Minute ManagerÂ® and Leading at a Higher Level

"As a member of the senior White House staff and a veteran in banking and the executive search fields, I have interviewed thousands of highly successful people. In Run With the Bulls Without Getting Trampled, Dr. Tim Irwin nails the essential differences between those who do well and those who don't. If you want to know what it takes to make it in any endeavor, read this book!"
- J. Veronica Biggins, Senior Partner, Heidrick & Struggles

"In this inspiring and adventure-filled book, Tim Irwin creatively weaves in stories from his own experiences with hard-hitting corporate examples. It's a great read for those willing to do the work required to experience their own spectacular results and enjoy success."
- Roger Staubach, Chairman/CEO, The Staubach Company and Super Bowl MVP
_____________
Run With the Bulls Without Getting Trampled features Tim Irwin's seven critical success factors as well as six common career derailers. With compelling real-life stories to launch each chapter, Irwin distills not only his experiences as a successful corporate psychologist but also what he has learned from others in thousands of interviews with senior executives. Inside you will also find how you can access free online self-assessment exercises and developmental resources.

Customer Reviews:

Commitment, Character, Competence.......2007-07-31

The advice in this book extends beyond the professional world and echoes in everyday life. This makes sense; we don't live double-lives, and there exists no magic, secret formula for success in business, medicine, or raising kids. It comes down to basic human virtues.

Commitment. Character. Competence. These attributes fuel the engines of success in life.

It boggles the mind how many books or programs offer axiomatic platitudes such as "it's not what you know but who you know" or "success is what makes you happy, so be true to yourself."

None such wasteful advice finds its way into this book. Rather, Dr. Irwin points out the objective, observable standards that exist in life, and our need to continually evaluate ourselves and measure our choices against those standards.

As the book says; it's simple, but it isn't easy. I highly recommend this book.

Run with the Bulls Without Getting Trampled.......2007-07-08

Tim Irwin's book, "Run with the Bulls," is by far the most insightful business book I have read this year. It causes you to take a look beneath the surface and determine how you can lead a life of significance and find meaning in your work. There are very few business books that take you to this level of personal reflection. "Run with the Bulls" is one of them.

run with the bulls.......2007-04-19

"Run with the Bulls" offers a practical approach to finding meaning and fulfillment in our careers. Tim Irwin uses straightforward language to express complex ideas. He has an engaging way with personal anecdotes that serve both to clarify his themes and share aspects of his family life. One of the book's many pleasures is its frequent use of cultural references. Dr Irwin's interests range from "New Yorker" cartoons to TS Eliot to popular movies like "Groundhog Day." His experience as a psychologist has given him unique insight into the complex issues that so often derail our attempts to pursue excellence.

If you are running your career you need this book.......2007-03-08

The best complete compilation and illustration of the keys to a great life and career.

Great Stories with a Powerful Message.......2007-01-31

"Run with the Bulls" is hard book to put down. I savored each chapter. The author tells real life stories as the foundation for a powerful message on principles of leadership. After reading the book I passed it on to my 18 year-old son who read it in a week. I wish I had known the principles which Irwin sets forth so clearly when I began my career! The stampeding bulls will trample the energy and enthusiasm out of many young professionals. I ordered six copies for my family members to help them avoid that fate.

Average customer rating:

D.S's Review
C.T'S REVIEW OF BULL RUN
Z.A.K.'s Review
JC's Review of Bull Run
DM Bull Run Review

Bull Run
Paul Fleischman
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064405885

Book Description

A Civil War drama told in sixteen voices, this `is a heartbreaking and remarkably vivid portrait of a war that remains our nation's bloodiest conflict.… Fleischman's artistry is nothing short of astounding.' —Publishers Weekly. `Fleischman has done what he does best—create a unique piece of fiction with echoes of his poetry throughout.' —H. `Outstanding… unforgettable as historical fiction… an important book for every library.' —SLJ.

Notable Children's Books of 1994 (ALA)
1994 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
1994 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
Best Books of 1993 (SLJ)
1993 Books for Youth Editors' Choices (BL)

1994 Teachers' Choices (IRA)
Notable 1994 Childrens' Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
1994 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
1994 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Children
1993 Choices: The Year's Best Books (Publishers Weekly)
Children's Books of 1993 (Library of Congress)
1994 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
100 Books for Reading and Sharing 1994 (NY Public Library)

1994 Silver Medal for Literature (Commonwealth Club of California)
1994 Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Award Winner (Westchester, NY Library System)

Customer Reviews:

D.S's Review.......2006-12-16

You've read Bull run right? This book is about 8 Northern and 8 Southern people during the Civil War time.
I'll introduce you to the 16 people. There is Colonel Oliver Brattle which is very cheery in the first couple entries. Next there is Lilly Malloy who is very dull and glum all the time saying how mean here father can be. Now I'll introduce you to Shem Suggs. He is an Orphan that loves horses. Up next is Gideon Adams, he is a negro that wants to start up a military for black people because blacks couldn't join the army. Now there is a women named Flora Wheelworth and she has three daughters. Her three son in laws are leaving to go to war. Next is a very creative drawer called James Dacy, he goes with the soldiers and draws things for the New york Illustrated News. Next there is a 11 year old boy called Toby Boyce. He has always wanted to kill a Yankee, but he couldn't join the army because he is to young. Then he heard that he could join a band, so he did. He told the people that he could play the fife which was a lie, so they wanted to see if he really could so they gave him one and told him to play. He did and he could play it well. He also always wanted you to read on because he leaves off right at the best part. Now there is a guy named Vergil Peavey who is always right full of energy. Up next is a person named Nathaniel Epp. He is always looking to make money, he is very self centered. Now there is a guy named Dietrich Herz. He's a person that came from Germany to join the army. Next there is a very dull doctor. He hates doing his job but he has to keep the army healthy. Next there's a boy named Judah Jenkens, he usually doesn't have much to say. Up next there's a general that's called General Irvin McDowell. Up next there's a man called A.B. Tilbury, he's a Mainer but he's never met a Southerner or he's never been across the Kenebec. Now there's a very spunky slave called Carlotta King. She is always happy and joyful. Next there is a man named Edmund Upwing. He's a very wierd cab driver. He drives people to watch the war. That is all the characters so I would like to tell you what I thought about this book.
I like this book because it really explains the characters in the first couple entries then they talk about whats happening during that time. If you want to know what happens at the end than you got to read it. It's a really good ending because all the little things come together. During the book many of the characters are really up and going, they want you to keep reading to see what happens in the next passage. I will say that some of them are kind of dull and dreary all the time, but most of them want you to read on. So if you want to see what the ending is like than you have to read the book.

C.T'S REVIEW OF BULL RUN.......2006-12-15

This book Bull Run is about different people, telling their story about the same subject, war. There are many characters in this book, even though they are not the real people, they are based on the real people, and what happened to them during this time of war. These people are either Northerners or Southerners, and you will be able to tell when you start to read.
Bull Run is a novel of different events, and the life of others, and what it is like for them in this time of war. This book is a novel of happiness, sadness, good times, and bad times.
You will find that this book is very amusing and very interesting. You will be able to relate yourself and others to these characters. These characters are just like us. Some are very funny, while others are just normal every day people. For me, the type of person I am, I think that Bull Run is a very funny book. I especially like the way they use their expressions, when something funny or bad happens.
The characters are very thorough, and descriptive when they tell their story. They are also very convincing, and will make you want to read more as you go through the book.
Through this story many things happen, like at the beginning it starts out with "The booming jerked me out of my sleep". That is very expressive, and gives the reader an idea of what's going to happen next. All of the characters tell about what's happening around them wherever they are.
My favorite character is Charlotte King. She tells it like it is. She is very outspoken, and is not afraid to say what she wants. I can relate to one of the characters, Shem Suggs, with my friend Amber. They both are horse lovers, and the horses have been there for them when they needed a friend.
There are sixteen characters in this story and not one of them is at all boring. If your a person who likes adventure, I would soooo recommend this book for you to read. I also recommend this book for people interested in wars, because this is what the book is mostly about. If your a loving and caring person, this would be a great book to read, because this book has a lot of different emotions to each character and loving and caring is one of them.
If I chose a book to be my favorite, this would be the one I would chose, because it is a book that many people can relate to, and not have a problem about understanding what they are trying to share with others about what war was like for people in those days.
I cant spoil the ending or any of the story, So if you want to know what happens in the book, you will have to find out by reading it. This book will have an impact on your life like it did mine. This impacted my life on a different prospective of how war is now, and how it was for people back in the days.

Z.A.K.'s Review.......2006-12-15

As america entered the civil war, 16 men and women must survive as they and their loved ones go off to war. This compelling tale by Paul Fleischman talks about the hardships that had to be taken during the time of the Civil War. The story starts out with Colonel Oliver Brattle, a Southerner who is in the midst of battle. Then the story goes on to talk about Lily Maloy, a northerner whose brother had gone off to war. And the story goes on to talk about other characters, from the north and south, men and women, black and white. Also in the beginning it talks about the attack on Fort Sumter, and the movement of troops to Bull Run.
You will notice that most of the story revolves around the march of troops to Bull Run. There are a lot of battles in this book. The battles usually revolve around the battles between the attack on Fort Sumter and the battle at Bull Run.
Characters like Colonel Oliver Brattle, Shem Sugs, and Carlotta King were from the south. Other characters like Lily Malloy, Gideon Adams, and A.B. Tilbury were from the north. Though these characters were seperated by the north and the south they had some of the same interests of either to stop war or going into war.
As you read through the book you start to see the personality of each character, some of the personalities you can relate to. Dr. William Rye has a careless personality in some of the story. Toby Boyce has a independent personality along with a kids personality. Hopefully you will find a character that has a personality that best fits you. I think that Im most like Virgil Peavey.
In my own opinion this novel is a good buy. Its my favorite book of 2006 and maybe 2007. It has great detail of the battle of Bull Run and is great for schools, but that is my own opinion. The characters use a lot of additives, and similes. This is a great book for silent reading at home or at school.
This book also contains information on what it was like for the soldiers who fought during the civil war, and what it was like to have a family member in the civil war. Not only does give that information but it gives information on famous leaders of the Civil War and information on famous battles during that time.
One thing about the book that makes it so special is that it can be used in a readers theater. You can have certain people do certain parts. Another reason why this book is so special is because after you read even a sentence, it will make you want to read on until you reach the end of the book.
If you don't like to read about the Civil war, this is still a good book to read. It still relates to recent wars, and problems that must be overcome everyday. An example of this is when Toby Boyce said he could play a fife, though he didn't know how, just because he wanted to enter the war. That example talks about how sometimes we lie to get what we want most.
Just to encourage your buying of this book I have decided to add some text entries from the book. Toby Boyce: "I was eleven years old and desperate to kill a yankee before the supply ran out." Gideon Adams: "To be a Negro living in the midst of whites, unknown to them, is to be a ghost spying among the living." Hopefully this entries encourage you to buy this book.
If you do not want to buy this book, check out other books by Paul Fleischman like the Borning, Saturnalia, and Joyful Noise. Thank you for reading my review.

JC's Review of Bull Run.......2006-12-15

When I first started reading this book I thought that it was boring and I felt like I could fall asleep, but then it started turning out to be really interesting and enjoyable.
In this novel, war hasn't started yet but it soon does, after. This book has many different characters but the subject is all the same. Some of the characters were sometimes convincing, but sometimes the story got boring because at times they just talked aboutwhat there children did or what the characters were worrying about, like war. I really liked the way that Lily Malloy would describe things such as, mother wailed or other type of describing words she used. The book was really interesting here and there.
Northerners and Southerners were talked a lot about in this book. Pretty much all the characters were either from some state in the South or from some state in the North. The theme to this book was war. This book really isn't my kind of reading because I like books that have a little bit of love or romance in them, but I sort of liked this novel. I can relate to this book with my friend Ann, because in this book Shem Suggs loves horses and so does my friend Ann. I don't like books that talk about historical facts or anything like that. I guess in school that's what you would read, books like that.
Bull Run was a Newbery Award-winning book, which the author wrote. I feel that if your are an adventurish person you'll enjoy this book. This book, kind of left me hanging, becuase of the end . I'm not going to ruin the end of the book for you though! Read the book and then you'll find out how I felt. Very touched and agervated at times. It made me feel like I was hanging on to the edge of my chair.

DM Bull Run Review.......2006-12-15

I think this is the best book that I have ever read. I thought that the Civil War was very, very boring but when our class started to read Bull Run I knew that I was wrong. The way that Paul Fleischman writes he would leave you wanting to read more. From the way Paul Fleischman described the characters to the words that Paul Flesichman use to set the tone of the characters he just seem to draw a cool picture of what is going on in your minds eye. Each character has a different story of the war and of life. I would suggest this book to anyone who is learning about the Civil War. It supplies you with a lot of information you might not get in the history book and tells it in a way that makes you want to learn. This book was excellent from the first page I read. Even though this novel is very brilliant, some people might not like it. If they can not wait to know what happens to a favorite character, like one of my favorite characters Dietrick Herz. He had the funniest voice I ever heard. When Paul Fleischman leaves you hanging he really leaves you hanging. But the only way to find out the ending is to read the entire book and find out what happens for yourself. And trust me it will be worth your while this truly is a magnificent book. The best that I have ever read and if I liked it then for surely you will love it too, trust me. Before I read Bull Run I had only read books with one or two characters and this type of book was really, really new to me. I had to get use to it a little but since it wasn't very hard to read it only took a short time to adjust to the Bull Run story by Paul Fleischman. Some of the characters that I really liked was Toby Boyce because he had a good attitude on trying to learn how to use the fife. Another was Carlotta King because she had a very spunky voice in this story like how the Yankees would get rid the of the law so that the slaves could be free and be in control of there own religion and what I mean by that is they can practice there own religion. Another one of my favorite characters is Vergil Peavy. I think that he was my favorite character because of the way he sounds in the story. In the story he sounds like he's from Texas also the way how he talks about the war like they were the big war heroes. And my last favorite character is Shem Suggs because he was the lonly one who likes to talk about horses and to horses also what they are like who they should be with. Shem Suggs is the person who takes care of all the horses, that he watches pretty much like baby sitting the horses. But the reason I really really like him is because he minds his own business and doesn't talk to people about the war and the politics all he talks to are his friends which are the horces. That is the reason why I like Shem Suggs the best out of all the other characters the best because he is smart.

Average customer rating:

Disappointing....
Rebel is weakest in series but builds to a great finale
Old plot - fails to take into account new era
An Amazing Story
Interesting Beginning to the Starbuck Chronicles

Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles #1)
Bernard Cornwell
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060934611
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Book Description

When Richmond landowner Washington Faulconer snatches young Nate Starbuck from the grip of a Yankee-hating mob, Nate is both grateful and awed by his idealistic rescuer. To repay his generosity, he enlists in the Faulconer legion to fight against his home, the North, and against his abolitionist father. When the regiment joins up, ready to march into the ferocious battle at Buff Run, the men are prepared to start a war . . . but they aren't ready for how they—and the nation—will be forever changed by the oaths they have sworn for their beloved South.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing...........2007-07-06

As a Cornwell fan, and a Civil War enthusiast, I believed that I would enjoy the Nathan Starbuck series, of which "Rebel" is the first. I was disappointed. First there are certain inaccuracies concerning the time period and the conflict. This in itself is not fatal, but is somewhat surprising coming from such an accomplished and proven author. Second, I found it hard to route for the main character. He is simply shallow and boring. At the end of the first book, I was only beginning to understand his primary motivation. Then I found I could not sympathize with him. That is fatal in my thinking.

Cornwell does a good job in describing the conflict at Bullrun, yet is a little short with the important role that "Stonewall" Jackson played. Still. the author is a master in describing battles and armed conflict.

I have read five of Cornwell's books. This is the only one so far I would not have given 4 or 5 stars.

Rebel is weakest in series but builds to a great finale.......2006-12-28

I love this series. Rebel is the weakest in the series, but ends with the first Battle of Manassas in true Cornwell form - feels like I'm there with bullets whizzing and cannon thundering. I have the entire series read by Tom Parker - excellent reader! These are the voices of my childhood that I haven't heard in decades. I never realized how many Civil War battlegrounds I have lived and/or worked around in northern and western VA and Washington, D.C. And the villains are just as disturbing as Obediah was in the Sharpe's series. Mr. Cornwell just needs to write more books in this series. It's already been 10 years since the last one! I feel like I'm stuck in a time warp at Antietam.

Old plot - fails to take into account new era.......2006-08-20

Mr. Cornwell is most famous for, I believe, the Richard Sharpe series of books, which I must say I enjoyed very much. But as I am a Civil War Reenactor and hold the War, the South, and those who fought in the War, very close to me heart, I can not compliment this book on the basis that it is unoriginal and fails to take into account not only new motives for fighting as it does the difference in combat of the era.

This is Richard Sharpe all over again, man comes up from the bottom of society with the helo of some powerful people and the Army and is in a constant battle with people who want to put him down, its the 1800's all over again and it simply wont do for a completely different era of combat and culture.

This notion of an officer coming up from the ranks was great for early 19th century British army, as it was a career Army. But the Civil War lasted 4 years so this whole notion of an Officer coming up from the ranks and still using a musket and not being able to shake his old enlisted style, is rather absurd. Especialy in the South, this could possibly happen in Northern Armies but not in the South, officers WERE Gentlemen and most of the time vice-versa.

Its not only that the notion, as stated, is absurd, but the fact that Cornwell glorifies it is even worse. Now I know he's just playing on our like of the underdog, but in the South and Officer was a Gentlmen and should act like one, so this refusal to act like a proper Southern gentlemen, event hough he is from the North, just doesn't work for me. And we wonder why all his supieriors try to put him down.

The combat scenes also just don't work for me. New style of combat, and through the war it gets progresivly bloodier and more horrible (Wilderness anyone?) so this early 1800's aproach to combat just doesn't work in the world of 1860's warfare.

To be fair though, Mr. Cornwell provides a good read, Its just me being the big CW guy that I am I can't stand to see it misrepresented, maybe its because he's a Brit? Or a Bostonian (I think) for that matter (just kdding kind of....) I just personaly think Cornwell should stick to what he writes best - British Historical fiction mainly.

An Amazing Story.......2006-02-14

I picked up this book after reading Cornwell's pre-history "Stonehenge." I did not put the book down for three days. The novel is extremely well written and very very entertaining. I went on to read all four of the novels in the Civil War series and each one is better than the next. I was very disappointed when the last one ended and there were no more to read. Definitely go read this book!

Interesting Beginning to the Starbuck Chronicles.......2005-03-17

Rebel is the first book in Bernard Cornwell's acclaimed Starbuck Chronicles. Rebel follows the adventures of Nate Starbuck the son of a radical Bostonian abolutionist in Virginia at the beginning of the Civil War. Nate ran away from home with an actress, arrived in Virginia and was promptly dropped by the woman. He is saved from a tar & feathering by one George Washington Falcouner a wealthy member of the Virginia aristocracy. From there, Nate joins the Confederate Army and is involved in the Battle of Bull Run. During the course of this book, Nate goes from being a timid PK to becoming an able soldier and officer. Despite it's difference in time period, the Starbuck Chronicles follow a pattern in Cornwell's writing. Most of Cornwell protaganists are men (and women) who don't fit in with the company they find themselves keeping. Richard Sharpe is a common man who becomes an officer to the chagrin of the aristocracy, Derfel from the Warlord series is a Saxon keeping company with Britons, Thomas of Hookton from the Grail Quest series is the illegitamate son of a priest, and Starbuck is a northerner fighting for the South. If one were to just pick up Rebel and read it, the taut battles scenes and interesting characters are certainly worth it, but if you have read all of Cornwell's books, the character seems a little redundant. Overall however, Cornwell keeps his excellent attention to historical detail and writes a book that is interesting and enjoyable.

Battle Flag (The Starbuck Chronicles, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Great book for fans
glorified yankees
THROUGH GRAY WOLFISH LIGHT, THE MINIE BALL FLIES
Another Interesting Addition to the Starbuck Chronicles
Entertaining historical fiction

Battle Flag (The Starbuck Chronicles, Book 3)
Bernard Cornwell
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

War | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060937181
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Book Description

Distinguished at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Confederate Captain Nate Starbuck's career is jeopardized once again by the suspicion and hostility of his brigade commander, General Washington Faulconer. The outcome of this vicious fight drastically changes both men's fortunes and propels AX into the ghastly bloodletting at the Second Battle of Manassas.

Evocative and historically accurate, Battle Flag continues Bernard Cornwell's powerful series of Nate's adventures on some of the most decisive battlefields of the American Civil War.

Customer Reviews:

Great book for fans.......2007-04-11

I must admit that the Starbuck series doesn't grab me quite the way that some of the other Cornwell books do, but they are still very good in their own right. Cornwell manages to create suspense and great battle scenes as usual. He also finds a few great historical details to give a real period flavor to his descriptions. The way that the fog of war and the shock of violence are portrayed are stock Cornwell and they still always hit home.

One of the uneven things about this series is that the character development is slightly uneven, on the other hand the characters are all interesting and have very realistic elements.
Highly recommended for Cornwell fans and Civil War buffs. Others will still enjoy it but for your first Cornwell book it might be better to start with something else.

glorified yankees.......2006-01-23

I only give one star to this book for its very dramatic, realistic, and wonderfully written battle scenes. In all four books of the Starbuck Chronicles, Cornwell offers these great scenes to the reader that cannot be found in any other Civil War Novel. In this alone do I wish that the Starbuck Chronicles continue (for the last book stops short of the battle of Fredricksburg ).
However, the plots, characters, and historical value are not to be desired by a serious reader of historical fiction. First of all in the battle scenes Starbuck, an officer is seen fighting among his men with a musket and without rank insignia on his collar. There is no proof that an officer would behave this way except in one or two instances when an officer would pick up a rifle on the field. I believe that Cornwell was trying to make the Starbuck and Confederate officer figure look more edgy and above military tradition and ritual. However, this is not from historical fact.
Also Cornwell does little to give the reader understanding of what Starbuck and indeed all the South is fighting for. The cause is always victory, victory, victory. For what though? For the northerners in the book, however he delicately outlines the cause of freeing the slave. In fact, in one scene, Starbuck asks his free black friend, Lucifer, why he wants to fight the "people who want to free him." However, this too is historically inaccurate. Not only was all the Starbuck Chronicles based before the Emancipation Proclamation was issued but also even after it was issued, the primary cause of the Union soldier was to keep the Southern states in the Union. Historical data reflects that very few Northerners favored the destruction of slavery. When the Civil War ended, 19 of 24 Northern states did not allow blacks to vote. Nowhere did they serve on juries before 1860. However, as wonderful as Cornwell wanted to paint the Northerners, he could now leave out the fact that General Pope of the Union army issued an order that would not hold Northern soldiers accountable for sacking and destroying Southern homes and raping their women. So to disguise this black moment in Northern history, Cornwell uses Billy Blythe, a native of the South wearing blue to do all this dirty work promoted by General Pope. It is sad that the only way for Cornwell to show Northern brutality against Southern citizens was to use a Southern man wearing the blue coat.
For all the good in these chronicles I am saddened that it stenches of the same politically correct and fairy tail lies that have ruined North and South and other wise good Civil War fiction.

THROUGH GRAY WOLFISH LIGHT, THE MINIE BALL FLIES.......2005-05-05

There's a scene toward the end which brilliantly captures the brutal necessarily of following an order, and the unfortunate circumstances for failing to act. Such is the amazingly realistic world of battle that Bernard Cornwell creates time and time again. This outing is by far my favorite & sets the stage perfectly for the epic battle of Antietam - the only complaint is that the war continues after book 4, but the series doesn't. As a Civil War reenactor (PA23rd - Birney's Zouaves!) I can't recommend this series enough for accuracy and detail! Enjoy

Another Interesting Addition to the Starbuck Chronicles.......2005-03-17

Battle Flag is the third installment of Cornwell's Starbuck Chronicles. This book covers a battle that always springs up in Civil War history but is often overlooked, Second Manasas. I found this story interesting and fun to read, but if anyone has read Sharpe before there are many similarities to it. Stupid commanding officers to concerned with their authority, evil soldiers who believe war is an excuse to rape, pillage and plunder. Starbuck is the commander of the Legion, but his authority is tenuous. The battle itself is well written and I enjoyed it. I found the introduction of Starbuck's father intriguing considering in many ways he is the catalyst in the series. Once again I don;t really care for the Adam Falcouner story, although at least he is showing more guts instead of the previous books. One issue I had with this story is that Cornwell does seem to be unfair to Longstreet. Longstreet was held up before Manassas by Union cavalry under Buford, the same man who would later hold the high ground at Gettysburg. Most historians concur that the exact moment that Longstreet struck the Union flank was the most crucial moment to attack so I believe that Cornwell gives him a bit of a short shaft.

Entertaining historical fiction.......2004-12-23

The 3rd installment of the Starbuck Chronicles continues to follow the experiences of Nathaniel Starbuck and in my opinion is an entertaining read.

I love to read fictional history and I love to read Bernard Cornwell. His stories contain excellent battle descriptions and loveable (and dislikeable) characters.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, I wholeheartedly recommend most-anything by Cornwell. Battle Flag probably could have been better, but it kept my attention, it entertained me, and even taught me.

"We Shall Meet Again": The First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run), July 18-21, 1861

Average customer rating:

The history of the first battle of Manassas.
History Club Writing
On the battlefield at Bull Run...
A good overview of the first battle of Manassas
Nice scholarly work

"We Shall Meet Again": The First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run), July 18-21, 1861
JoAnna M. McDonald
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas

ASIN: 0195139380

Book Description

The First Battle of Manassas claimed the lives of approximately 878 soldiers and wounded another 2,489. With a battlefield stretching nearly five miles, 15,000 Union and 14,000 Confederate soldiers clashed for four fateful days, many of them young and terrified and receiving their first taste of a long and bitter war. Their courage, military skill, and brute strength were tested, leading some brigades and many individuals to receive reputations that followed them into history. Now, for the first time, this extraordinary work brings the Battle of Bull Run to life by featuring over two hundred photographs of the individual soldiers and forty-five highly detailed maps. Written by a noted military historian, it provides all the necessary background information to understand the minutiae of the military action, yet it also personalizes the horrors of those few destructive days. Through poignant, often disturbing, excerpts from diaries and letters, this book offers readers a rare glimpse at the tragedy of war. Moreover, it portrays with realism and compassion the significance of the first battle of the bloodiest war in American history. Private John Casler, 33rd Virginia, found his best friend dead, shot through the heart. Overcome with grief, he recalled, "I sat down by him and took a hearty cry, and then thinks I, 'It does not look well for a soldier to cry,' but I could not help it." As Private Berrien Zettler, 8th Georgia, walked among the mutilated bodies, he thought to himself, "Surely, surely, there will never be another battle. I felt sure there would never be another."

Customer Reviews:

The history of the first battle of Manassas........2006-08-23

I believe this is the first book of its kind that I read. It details the battle in a series of steps and shows the individuals and how they reacted. McDonald certainly put a lot of effort into showing how this battle developed. There are numerous maps in this book and the personalities involved are also pictured. Some of the pictures were repetitive, since they show the same person over and over again. Still, this is rather a unique way of detailing the order of battle.

I learned a lot of the history of this battle from the book. There is a lot of information here. The interest level was not heightened by reading through this book. It is a stage by stage development of the battle. There were some human interest stories in this book. Mainly it was the history of the battle.
Burnside is shown as bumbling even at the beginning of the war. Other than that, this is an OK history of the battle.

History Club Writing.......2003-08-23

This book looks and reads like a local historical society publication, but it does collect some useful facts and memories. For serious military analysis, though, find another source.

On the battlefield at Bull Run..........2002-08-06

Joanna McDonald has created an excellent account of the first battle at Bull Run Creek...I've not read a more comprehensive and at the same time extremely readable Civil War battle summary anywhere. Ms. McDonald combines detailed battle tactics with short "vignette" diversions that make this book a real treasure...and I don't think that you'll read any better battle description that puts you right into the fray...I was exhausted by the time I got to the federal retreat from Henry Hill. Each stage of the battle is covered in detail, but not overkilled, and is expertly supplemented by an extensive number of maps...I was initially a bit overtaken with all the maps, but later came to depend on them to cover the latest maneuver being discussed. McDonald does an excellent job at covering troop movements and strategy and then, just at the right time, interjects these short vignettes (little stories about the "everyday" soldier or group) that adds just the right perspective to give a poignant vision of that stage in the battle. To top it all off, Ms. McDonald closes the book with an effective epilouge that places the battle in the proper military and political context. In the final analysis, I would have to place this book into the "essential" Civil War reading category...certainly essential to understanding what happened at First Bull Run. I'm told that books by William C. Davis and John Hennessy on First Bull Run are the gauge by which all accounts of the battle are measured...I haven't read either of these, but I would be amazed if these are any better than this book and I enthusiastically recommend it!

A good overview of the first battle of Manassas.......2000-07-19

In September of 1999 I visited the battlefield of Manassas. Prior to that I'd done a little bit of research to give me a clearer idea of what I would be seeing and how it fitted into the wider picture that was the Civil War. JoAnna McDonald's book was a great help in piecing together the events that were to become know as the First Battle of Manassas (or Bull Run depending on your preference).

"We Shall Meet Again" certainly gives an excellent overview of the battle, breaking down the different troop movements into stages that the reader is able to clearly follow. However, before the account of the battle itself, McDonald presents a useful introduction entitled 'Ways and Means' covering such aspects as weapons, flags and uniforms and the initial strategies and battle plans of First Manassas. Although only giving selective and limited information this initial section of the book acts as a useful backdrop for the events that were to come.

"We Shall Meet Again" essentially provides a step by step account of the battle. It does not provide nor does it attempt to provide an in-depth history. However, it is not to the detriment of "We Shall Meet Again" that it's remit is one of focus on the battle itself and not historical analysis of it. For such an analysis I would direct the reader to "Battle at Bull Run" by William C. Davis.

The maps and illustrations in the book are limited and could have done with expansion and further detail. Certainly they offer enough clarity to allow the reader to visually follow the action but I would have appreciated a little more.

An aspect of the book I found interesting were the photographs/drawings and writings of some of those involved in the fighting. Both these elements helped to humanise the events, reminding us that although the battle is now seen as an historical occurrence those that fought there were very real. If this is an area that interests you, "First Manassas - Voices of the Civil War" would be an ideal addition to your library.

"We Shall Meet Again" offers a good introduction to the First Battle of Manassas. Although the subject matter is quite specific - it's about one battle at the start of the war - it provided me with an insight into the not only the details of the battle but also the naivety of it's participants.

Nice scholarly work.......1999-12-06

This is a good book to become familar with the first battle of Manassas. It has a good overview of the actions of the battle in chronilogical order, as well as who the main commanders were and the obsticles they faced. It also does a good job with information about those who fought in the battle -- the privates, sergents, and how they felt. The vignettes are very good, and allow you to understand exactly what it must of felt like to be there. The only things I didnt like abot the book was the lacluster emphasis on the illustrations. The drawings of the uniforms and flags look like "napkin" sketches photocopied for the book. The maps can be somewhat confusing, trying to follow the faint arrows and hash marks. Better labeling of the maps would have really helped. The only other nuisance was the censoring of a couple of curse words. I think, as adults, that we can handle history, uncensored. Other than that, it is a fine, play by play account of the first major battle of the Civil War,

Battle-Fields of the South: From Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; With Sketches of Confederate Commanders, and Gossip of the Camps (Collector's Library of the Civil War)

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Battle-Fields of the South: From Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; With Sketches of Confederate Commanders, and Gossip of the Camps (Collector's Library of the Civil War)
English Combatant
Manufacturer: Time Life Education
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 0809443910

Tramping With the Legion: A Carolina Rebel's Story

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Grandpa Scrugg's Civil War Stories
Surviving Elmira
amazing research
Tramping with the Legion

Tramping With the Legion: A Carolina Rebel's Story
C. Eugene Scruggs
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1425102336

Book Description

The Carolina Rebels of Company K, Holcombe Legion, were true sons of the Upstate. Brothers, cousins, and neighbors- all were well-suited for service in the independent brigade commanded by Olâ€™Shanks (Brig. Gen. Nathan Evans). The â€œboysâ€ of Company K wore out many a set of boots â€œtrampingâ€ with the Legion wherever the regiment was needed- Charleston, Richmond, Malvern Hill, Rappahannock Station, Manassas Junction, Kinston, Wilmington, Jackson, Savannah and Petersburg.

One member of Co. K tells the story of his adventures with the legion, his capture at Stony Creek, his dramatic escape from the infamous Union prison in Elmira, New York, and his harrowing trek back to Virginia through the mountains of Pennsylvania and Maryland, helped along the way by copperheads, Dunkards and Dutch.

Customer Reviews:

Grandpa Scrugg's Civil War Stories.......2007-02-02

I enjoyed reading Grandpa Scruggs' account of his experiences in Company K, Holcombe Legion of South Carolinians fighting for their state's freedom from the tyranny of the Union. The format of night time stories told by Grandpa Scruggs to his grandchildren kept a dramatic tension in the book that helped keep me reading. We learn about the courage and commitment of Judd and other soldiers to their cause. We learn of the hardships, boredom,and horror of life as a foot soldier. The ways captured soldiers were treated changed as the war progressed. Judd experienced both ways. Because of the personal focus of this book, we also learn how the war caught up extended families and effected them. We also get glimpses of life back at home while the men were at war. I highly recommend Eugene Scruggs' book.

Surviving Elmira.......2007-02-01

Eugene Scruggs has made a valuable contribution to the history of the War Between the States with his account of the exploits of his great grandfather, Judson Puryear Scruggs, as an enlisted man in the Holcombe Legion, South Carolina Volunteers. To be sure, Scrugg's book is another in the "Johnny Reb and Billy Yank" tradition of oral history accounts from the point of view of the ordinary foot soldier. However, it is given context by a body of historical research, and a truly insightful introduction to some of this conflict's enduring themes. For many readers, the most interesting parts of the narrative will be those about life under horrible conditions in the POW camp at Elmira, NY, Judson's resourceful escape therefrom, and his traverse through enemy territory to Virginia.
In my opinion, however, as an avid student of the conflict rather than a professional historian, Scrugg's finest achievement was in his reconstruction of Judson's narrative within a quasi-fictional framework, in which he recreates not only the voice of his great-grandfather, but also that of the grandchildren who are auditors of the story. This teachnique not only creates a sense of immediacy in the flow of the narrative, but instills a kind of novelistic suspense which makes it enjoyable for the reader. This approach also permits Scruggs to render narrative as a truly "oral history," in that he has recreated the language of the period --- the regional dialect of 19th century Southerner. His handling of the artistic problem of the use of "eye dialect," moreover, is deftly handled: instead of generating pages of mangled orthography, Scruggs includes only occasional phonetic spellings, opting instead for the dialectal phrase, the idiom, and the speech rhythmns of his people. Professional historians may take issue with Scrugg's decision to treat his material in this way; other readers may enjoy it as thoroughly as I did.

Roger Cole
January 29, 2007

amazing research.......2007-01-29

I thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Scruggs' book. It is written in such a manner that it draws the reader into the family circle while providing an amazing amount of detail into the history of the Legion and the personal recollections of Jud, the author's great grandfather.

Tramping with the Legion.......2007-01-16

With the help of his older relatives, Gene Scruggs has gathered together the oral history left by his great grandfather, Sergeant Judson Scruggs, who served in South Carolina's Holcombe Legion during most of the Civil War.

Almost nothing has been written about this effective fighting unit which was organized early in the war by Peter F. Stevens, a former superintendent of The Citadel. 'Shanks' Evans, whose brigade included the infantry regiment of the Holcombe Legion, regarded it as his best fighting unit. During Lee's 1862 campaign, the accomplished Stevens often led Evans' entire brigade on the many occasions when Evans was posted to the divisional level.

In his stories, Judson recalls training camps around Charleston, the battles of Malvern Hill, Rappahannock Station, Second Manassas, Lee's First Maryland Campaign, Kinston (NC), and Jackson (MS). In the summer of 1864, the Holcombe Legion was detailed to guard the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad and (luckily) was not with Evans' Brigade at the Battle of the Crater. However, Judson was captured while guarding the Stoney Creek (VA) station and bridge and sent to the infamous Elmyra (NY) Prison. Perhaps Judson's most interesting stories recount his tunnelling out of prison in October 1864 and his experiences of running, hiding, and working his way home by late May of 1865.

Gene Scruggs includes glimpses of the daily lives of his Spartanburg District ancestors as he fashions the war stories as if his great-grandfather was telling them to his grandchildren in nightly installations. This is a "good read" for anyone interested in this troubled time in American history.

Dissonance: The Turbulent Days Between Fort Sumter and Bull Run

Average customer rating:

Disappointing
Another Detzer Hit
Excellent

Dissonance: The Turbulent Days Between Fort Sumter and Bull Run
David Detzer
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Book Description

For two weeks in 1861, Washington, D.C., was locked in a state of panic. Would the newly formed Confederate States of America launch its first attack on the Union by capturing the nation's capital? Would Lincoln's Union fall before it had a chance to fight?

Wedged between Virginia and Maryland-- two states bordering on secession--Washington was isolated; its communications lines were cut, its rail lines blocked. Newly recruited volunteers were too few and were unable to enter the city. A recently inaugurated Lincoln struggled to form a plan-- defense or attack? Intelligence rumors and incendiary headlines revealed Norfolk and Harpers Ferry fallen to rebels, and the notorious "mobtown" Baltimore ignited by riots.

David Detzer pulls the drama from this pivotal moment in American history straight from the pages of diaries, letters, and newspapers. With an eye for detail and an ear for the voices of average citizens, he beautifully captures the tense, miasmic atmosphere of these first chaotic days of war.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2007-08-14

The author's obvious feelings as to the relative merits of the North and South justifications for conflict heavily color the narrarative. Also my taste does not run to the many "what if" scenarios included. I gave 2 stars instead of fewer since a book on this subject was long overdue.

Another Detzer Hit.......2007-03-30

His newest book may be the best. Everything you wanted to know about the in between days of the early civil war. This is an area typically skipped by most historians. Excellent treatment.

Excellent.......2006-06-09

April of 1865 has been referred to as the month that saved America but April of 1861 may have been just as vital if not more so. It was during this time that Washington DC sat completely surrounded by two states that were teetering on the verge of secession. Once Virginia did leave the Union only Maryland provided the federal government with a connection to the rest of the nation and it was a tenuous connection at best.

Abraham Lincoln was clearly out of his league in this early stage of the game and he leaned heavily on General Winfield Scott. For his part, Scott was keenly aware of the danger facing Washington and began to immediately call for any militia units that could get to DC quickly from loyal northern states. The problem was that these militia units would have to travel through Maryland, a slave state that might well consider these Yankee troops to be invaders and could easily be pushed into the Confederacy by such an affront to state sovereignty. It was also distinctly possible that these militia units might be attacked by not only the people of Maryland but also ultimately by the state militia.

In the meantime Virginia forces had seized the federal armory at Harper's Ferry and the Gosport navy yard near Hampton Virginia. Rumors are rampant in DC that the Virginia militia that had taken Harper's Ferry was preparing to move on Washington and many in the Federal City were in a state of panic.

The questions that arise from this drama involve the decision making process on both sides and the ultimate question is of course whether Washington DC was ever in any real danger. Did the Confederacy in fact lose it's only real chance for ultimate victory during this time period? David Detzer has done an admirable job in this book of not only bringing this evolving drama to life but also of answering these questions in a clear and concise manner.

This book reads much like a great historical drama and the author's writing style is superbly readable. It is rare for the author of a history book to achieve such a sense of drama since the reader usually already knows the outcome. Detzer has accomplished this however and although I was keenly aware of what was about to happen at every turn I had a tough time putting the book down. This invigorating writing style is often derisively referred to as popular history but Detzer blows the sides off of that old mold by not only offering new information but also keen observations that cut directly to the heart of this eventful period of American history. No hero of American history is spared criticism when criticism is due and conversely even Ben Butler is praised when his actions merit it.

This is the story of those fateful days of April and May of 1861 and it is a story that is well told by this supremely able author. This book is well researched, very well written and the story is told from the point of view of both governments as well as the lowliest private in the Pennsylvania militia. It is a story upon which the fate of the United States once turned.

Bull Run: Wall Street, the Democrats, and the New Politics of Personal Finance

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Informative, invaluable reading for do-it-yourself investors
A Feast of a Book
informative and amusing

Bull Run: Wall Street, the Democrats, and the New Politics of Personal Finance
Daniel Gross
Manufacturer: PublicAffairs
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Economic Conditions | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1891620290
Release Date: 2000-04-04

Book Description

During the historic bull market of the last decade, a series of powerful tremor rocked the financial world: global economic crises; the Internet explosion and day trading craze; the 401k boom. Perhaps the most seismic shift of all was the "democratization" of the stock market, as middle class investors joined the party and the Democrats followed suit, effectively ending a century-old tradition in which Republicans, never Democrats, were the party most solidly aligned with Wall Street. These developments have defined the last decade and will help set the political agenda for the next. We are entering an era when the personal finance is the political.

In Bull Run, journalist Daniel Gross outlines these important changes and explores their implications for our country, our pocketbooks, and our two major parties. His fresh take on Wall Street, his provocative opinions on the new relationship between politics and finance, and a wealth of enlightening stories and examples make this book is a must for Wall Streeters, business leaders, and anyone who wants to understand what's happening in the market-and what might happen next.

Customer Reviews:

Informative, invaluable reading for do-it-yourself investors.......2000-08-06

There have been major shifts and changes in the American financial world over the past two decades driven by the aging baby boom generation, the Internet and computerized day trading, global economic crises, and the "democratization" of the stock and markets. In Bull Run: Wall Street, The Democrats, And The New Politics Of Personal Finance, Daniel Gross examines how the changes in attitudes and policies of the Democratic party under the influence of the Clinton administration has led to an unprecedented period of sustained stability and growth in the American financial community, the rapidly increasing percentage of Americans owning stocks and mutual funds, with the result that today a majority of citizens have a personal stake in public equity and debt markets. Gross offers provocative opinions backed with true-life stories illustrating the new relationship and interdependence of politics and finance, Wall Street, Main Street, and Washington. Bull Run is highly recommended, informative reading for do-it-yourself investors seeking to understand American financial markets -- and what the on-coming decade might bring.

A Feast of a Book.......2000-06-17

No Bull. Anyone with even a passing interest in national politics will find this book invaluable. The author, clearly a Jack of many trades, brings a wealth of evidence to show a shift in the political landscape that may well affect the outcome of the next election and certainly clarifies positions taken by each party. The stories, facts and humor made it eminently readable.

informative and amusing.......2000-04-15

This book was a quick read and explained in an entertaining manner with wit and stories about the public policy issues and players in today's economy. There was a laugh a paragraph and it was a quick read. I enjoyed the characterization of his parents as academics who accrued wealth through TIAA-CREF.

Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas

Average customer rating:

Responsibility
Worthy Effort of a Great Campaign
Excellent Book
Cant imagine a better rendition of this campaign
A must have for Civil War enthusiasts

Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas
John Hennessy
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0671793683

Customer Reviews:

Responsibility .......2007-01-21

At first glance, John Hennessy provides an excellent account of the Second Bull Run campaign. He draws on copious primary and secondary sources and crafts a very readable narrative, often clarifying what can be a very confusing campaign to follow. While not absolving the Lincoln administration, Henry Halleck and George McClellan for the Union fiasco, Hennessy believes the chief responsibility for the failed campaign rests on John Pope.

But there is one huge problem here. Hennessy ignores almost everything John Pope wrote about the campaign. This is very odd. Hennessy looked at an impressive number of primary sources. He looked at a number of articles from the "National Tribune." Oddly enough he never looked at any of Pope's articles from the Tribune. While Pope often refered to the OR, he did offer some insight on his motives and decisions. This undermines a great deal of Hennessy's book. For example, Pope wrote a great deal about Banks attacking Jackson at Cedar Mountain and what the exact orders were. Hennessy blithely ignores this and much other material.

Since Hennessy goes out of his way to trash Pope, this is a major factor in evaluating the book. Pope may well have been a scoundrel full of bravado. He may well have been an incompetent commander. But Pope, like all other commanders, deserves to have his say. The fact that Hennessy feels compelled to ignore Pope's records is disturbing to say the least.
Can you write an account of the Overland campaign without consulting the assorted writings and musings of Grant or Lee? Of course not and the fact that Hennessy chose to ignore the writings of the chief Union commander of the Second Manassas campaign is appalling and frankly undermines the credability of the book.

Worthy Effort of a Great Campaign.......2006-12-30

Rarely in the past few years has a campaign study been published that has been as good as John Hennessy's "Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas." Expertly researched and well written the author knows his subject, and draws the reader in with the first page. This was one of the most interesting campaigns in the eastern theater. High drama prevailed from the very start. Jackson's performance is well documented and Hennessy does a very good job of describing his effort and those of his men as they marched around Pope's flank. Freeman's Ford, the attack on Mannassas Junction, Brawner's Farm, the railroad cut, the annihilation of the 5th New York, it's all here and extemely well done. A very fine book in every way.

Excellent Book.......2006-08-08

I was impressed by this book's flowing description. One time I sat down to read a bit, and next thing I knew, three hours had passed!
I would highly reccomend this to anyone interested in the Second Manassas campaign.
On a downside, the maps, though common, are hard to read in places, and it is hard to tell the woods from the open land....

Cant imagine a better rendition of this campaign.......2004-12-27

This is the quality of book that will make anyone wishing to write a book on this campaign/battle drop the idea.
Hennessy has blended the facts, personal accounts, maps, and analysis splendidly....one is never over served in any area.
Being detailed work, regimental positioning (something I enjoy)is here for the taking. The maps are of a quality that in conjunction with the regimental movement information, this book could serve as a guide for a battlefield visit. Having read this book after reading Kricks "Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain", I am thankful that we can draw on the workmanship of such fine students of the WBTS.
This battle sets up the Antietam Campaign and this book should be read previous to that study. The North doesnt want to talk much about this battle, understandably, and perhaps this is why it hasnt received much attention. Lee makes his largest charge of the war (Longstreet on 8/30/62) which reveals the magnitude of this battle.

A must have for Civil War enthusiasts.......2004-10-25

There are a lot of books out that deal with specific Civil War battles but few can match Hennessy's Return to Bull Run for it's scholorship and fine writing.

Of Lee's battles in the early Civil War, Second Bull Run likely gets the least amount of attention. Sandwiched between the Peninsula Campaign and Antietam it is simply overlooked. Hennessy however in Return to Bull Run shows not only why the battle may be one of Lee's finest but also how the battle severely hurt Lee's campaign into Maryland.

One of the things I like about this book is Hennessy tackles some of the big myths surrounding the battle with solid research. He does a great job from going from the big picture with discussing the overall strategy down to the tactical with interesting stories of the experiences of individual soldiers.

Also Hennessy really impressed me with his writing skills. I wish every Civil War author had Hennessy's talent for keeping the narrative going without getting bogged down once they get into the battle itself. To often authors get so stuck in describing the Xs and Os of the regimental movements that they forget the men involved but Hennessy keeps the story flowing nicely all the way through.

This is a book that any Civil War buff will greatly enjoy reading and will be the definitive book on the battle for a long time to come.

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