Make no mistake, the Confederacy had the will and valor to fight. But the Union had the manpower, the money, the materiel, and, most important, the generals. Although the South had arguably the best commander in the Civil War in Robert E. Lee, the North's full house beat their one-of-a-kind. Flawed individually, the Union's top officers nevertheless proved collectively superior across a diverse array of battlefields and ultimately produced a victory for the Union.
Now acclaimed author Albert Castel brings his inimitable style, insight, and wit to a new reconsideration of these generals. With the assistance of Brooks Simpson, another leading light in this field, Castel has produced a remarkable capstone volume to a distinguished career. In it, he reassesses how battles and campaigns forged a decisive Northern victory, reevaluates the generalship of the victors, and lays bare the sometimes vicious rivalries among the Union generals and their effect on the war.
From Shiloh to the Shenandoah, Chickamauga to Chattanooga, Castel provides fresh accounts of how the Union commanders--especially Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Thomas, and Meade but also Halleck, Schofield, and Rosecrans--outmaneuvered and outfought their Confederate opponents. He asks of each why he won: Was it through superior skill, strength of arms, enemy blunders, or sheer chance? What were his objectives and how did he realize them? Did he accomplish more or less than could be expected under the circumstances? And if less, what could he have done to achieve more--and why did he not do it? Castel also sheds new light on the war within the war: the intense rivalries in the upper ranks, complicated by the presence in the army of high-ranking non-West Pointers with political wagons attached to the stars on their shoulders.
A decade in the writing,
Victors in Blue brims with novel, even outrageous interpretations that are sure to stir debate. As certain as the Union achieved victory, it will inform, provoke, and enliven sesquicentennial discussions of the Civil War.
"Castel is at his best in providing concise interpretations of his subjects strengths and weaknesses, offering balanced portraits."
Army History"The quality of generalship remained a critical factor, and Castel offers a five-point summary of his method of assessing generalship, which is itself a useful analytical tool for students of the Civil War.Civil War Monitor
Castels work is extremely well written and entertaining. It is one of those rare books that can be enjoyed by the novice and yet still offer a great deal to the professional.Register of the Kentucky Historical Society
"An important read for anyone interested in the Civil War."New York Military Affairs Symposium Review
"A valuable addition to anyones Civil War library and a treat to read. Mr. Castel argues persuasively that in the Civil War, the Union generals often found the greatest success when they were able to break free of the often contradictory micromanaging of Washington and he maintains his focus on what happened at the nexus when the first modern industrial war collided with modern mass politics; where winning at the election polls was as critical as a blind charge on a battlefield."Washington Times
"This is a book that Civil War scholars and buffs will much enjoy reading."John F. Marszalek in Civil War News
"The generals who most contributed to the Union war effort are examined critically, the war winning campaigns are discussed at a high level, and the author shows how a little bad luck can take a general from a potential war winner to a forgotten man in a backwater assignment. This book is written in an accessible format for readers of all stripes and should appeal to a wide range of Civil War students. Victors in Blue does what many readers enjoy in ranking the war winners and their contributions. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the military and political aspects of the Civil War."TOCWOC--A Civil War Blog
"Castel is at his best in providing concise interpretations of his subjects strengths and weaknesses, offering balanced portraits."Army History
Stimulating and controversial, Victors in Blue provides a pleasing narrative that is at once a clear overview of the wars military operations and a fascinating examination of its great commanders.Steven E. Woodworth, author of This Great Struggle: Americas Civil War
A succinct account, by an accomplished historian known for his common sense and perceptive insight, that provides an outstanding view of the leading Union generals amid the high drama of our Civil War.Wiley Sword, author of Confederacys Last Hurrah: Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville
Insightfully written with eloquence and wit, Victors in Blue is a pleasure to read.William C. Davis, author of Lincolns Men and Jefferson Davis
