Nothing But Victory

[RebProf]

Woodworth, Steven E. Nothing But Victory: The Army of the Tennessee, 1861-1865. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. 760 pages.

This book is magisterial in scope and sweep. It truly deals with the Army of the Tennessee from its first day to its last. All the battles, campaigns, encampments, and bivouacs of the Ao/tT are covered here. The reader who wants a sweeping coverage of the major events of the war in the west can do no better than to get this book. This is a complete guide to the actions of one major Union army.

There are some warnings to be kept in mind. There is an absence of maps. This makes battle descriptions hard to follow, at least for me, and the author is forced to spend paragraphs describing geography when a simple map would have done the job much better. The lack of maps may be a decision made by the publisher since some houses don't like to pay the cost for including them. It may be that the publisher wanted to author to pay for producing the maps and Woodworth was unwilling. At any rate, maps would have been very helpful.
The great scope covered by the author demanded that some details be omitted. For example, I have just read Ballard's book on Vicksburg and found it interesting to compare "Victory" with "Vicksburg." While Woodworth gives an excellent description of the campaign and siege Ballard's book makes the events come alive because he is able to include the human elements which "Victory" omits. Sometimes painting on so large a canvas creates problems even while presenting a magnificent picture.

I was somewhat surprised that the same small sample of letters collections were cited so often.

The author is a great admirer of Grant, calling him "the greatest field general of the war." He also asserts that the Army of the Tennessee was the "best fighting force" on either side during the war. These conclusions will spark debate on many fronts, especially since the author regularly inserts personal opinions and interpretations without designating them as such.

Hefty books carry hefty prices but this one is well worth the dollars.

RebProf

[johan_steele]

This is indeed a superb book, well written and superbly researched. I wasn't so botherd by a lack of maps as a lack of a comprehensive Order of Battle... actually any kind of Order of Battle.

Regardless this is a book that is a MUST read for any interested in the war west of the Appalacians.

[30th_il]

I really liked this book very much. The first person sources were especially significant to my interesets as he cites the 30th IL and a David Poak (30th IL) very often in his sources of literature. (I wish I had known of his interest in first person sources because I own two diaries by Poak that give much insight to the AOtT.) I agree that the author had to skip some areas of the battle(s)/war and Chattanooga was one instance. I thought he skimmed over that event pretty quickly but on the other hand he gave space for the *******n Campaign, a very important and very overlooked warm-up for the March to th Sea. I could see a need for maps if one who was not familiar with the western theater were to read the book and perhaps a second edition will include these. I like the way Grabau had the majority of his maps in the back of his book, "Ninety-Eight Days", it doesn't disturb the flow of reading if one is familiar with the terrain and troop movements and affords a source of reference for those that need a visual. But in all, if Woodworth pens another book I will be there to buy it. Two thumbs up.

[blue_zouave]

I can recommend any of Dr. Woodworth's books. I used his Chickamauga book as my guidemap when I led the tour of the Chickamauga field for my online Civil War roundtable a few years ago. For a nice overview, you can't beat "Six Armies in Tennessee."

Zou

[ole]

Agree, Zou.

I first became acquainted with Woodworth through his Jefferson Davis and His Generals. Discussions on another forum led me to order every one of his books I could find. They are lined up -- waiting and waiting and waiting.
Ole