Allen H. Mesch

Teacher of Civil War Generals

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

From West Point to Fort Donelson, General Charles Ferguson Smith was a soldier's soldier. He served at the U.S. Military Academy from 1829 to 1842 as Instructor of Tactics, Adjutant to the Superintendent and Commandant of Cadets. During his 42-year career he was a teacher, mentor and role model for many cadets who became prominent Civil War generals, and he was admired by such former students as Grant, Halleck, Longstreet and Sherman. Smith set an example for junior officers in the Mexican War, leading his light battalion to victories and earning three field promotions. He served with Albert Sidney Johnston and other future Confederate officers in the Mormon War. He mentored Grant while serving with him during the Civil War, and helped turn the tide at Fort Donelson, which led to Grant's rise to fame. He attained the rank of major general, while refusing political favors and ignoring the press. Drawing on never before published letters and journals, this long overdue biography reveals Smith as a faithful officer, excellent disciplinarian, able commander and modest gentleman.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: McFarland and Company, Inc.
• Seitenzahl: 344
• Erscheinungstermin: 14. Juli 2015
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 254mm x 178mm x 19mm
• Gewicht: 648g
• ISBN-13: 9780786498345
• ISBN-10: 078649834X
• Artikelnr.: 42023605

Autorenporträt

Allen H. Mesch is an author, educator, and historian from Plano, Texas. He taught at the University of Texas at Dallas, Southern Methodist University, and Texas Woman's University.

Inhaltsangabe

Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface: "Regular Army to the shoe-soles" Part One: West Point to Texas: 1820-1845 1.
"Grant him a warrant as a cadet" 2.
"Thirteen years of service" 3.
Commandant of Cadets 4.
"At West Point always" 5.
"Riot raging in Kensington" Part Two: Corpus Christi to Mexico City: 1845-1848 6.
"A tussle with the Mexicans" 7.
"War at last sure enough!" 8.
"The brilliant coup de main" 9.
"A political war" 10.
"Off for the far famed City of Mexico" 11.
"This glorious army hoisted the colors" Part Three: Between Wars: 1848-1861 12.
"The most perfect soldier in the Army" 13.
"Courage and Fidelity" 14.
"A war must be waged" Part Four: Disunion and Reunion: 1861-1862 15.
"The storm will blow over" 16.
"The war in Kentucky has commenced" 17.
"Make demonstrations with your troops" 18.
The Incident at the Tilghman House 19.
"They are false in every particular" Part Five: Fort Henry and Fort Donelson: February 1862 20.
"Take and hold Fort Henry" 21.
"I Shall take and destroy Fort Donelson" 22.
"You must take Fort Donelson" 23.
"Unconditional and immediate surrender" Part Six: Triumph and Turmoil: March-July 1862 24.
"Take command of the expedition" 25.
"Hold his position" 26.
"Does not set easy on me yet" 27.
"The devils own day" 28.
"His great worth as a soldier and friend" Appendices A.
Biographical Sketch from the Cullum Register B.
Notable Cadets During Smith's Term as Commandant C.
Fort Donelson Union Order of Battle D.
Chronology Chapter Notes Bibliography Index