Little Phil :
a reassessment of the Civil War leadership of Gen. Philip H. Sheridan /
Eric J. Wittenberg ; foreword by Jeffry D. Wert.
| Main Creator: | |
|---|---|
| Contributors: | |
| Summary: | "In Little Phil, historian Eric J. Wittenberg reassesses the war record of a man long considered one of the Union Army's greatest leaders." "Throughout his life, Phil Sheridan was by all accounts a lucky man. He was fortunate to receive merely a suspension, rather than an expulsion, when as a West Point cadet he attacked a superior officer with a bayonet. During the Civil War, he was ultimately rewarded for numerous acts of insubordination against his superiors, while he punished his own officers for similar offenses. In his first effort as a cavalry commander with the Army of the Potomac in the spring of 1864, he gave a performance that has long been overrated. Later that year in the Shenandoah Valley, where Sheridan gained fame by making his legendary ride to Cedar Creek, he benefited greatly from the tactical ability of his subordinates and from a huge manpower advantage against the beleaguered Confederate troops of Lt. Gen. Jubal Early. Further, in his after-action combat reports and postwar writings, Sheridan often manipulated facts to depict himself in the best possible light. Thus, he ensured himself an exalted place in his own version of history." "Wittenberg has written a thoroughly researched and cogently argued study that explodes the mythical image of Philip Sheridan and exposes the human frailties that bedevil the art and science of military leadership."--Jacket. |
| In collection: | Stephen Griffin Collection |
| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published / Created: |
Washington, D.C. :
Brassey's,
©2002.
|
| Edition: | 1st ed. |
| Subjects: | |
| Notes: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 233-241) and index. The title may suggest the opinion Wittenberg has of "Little Phil." He accuses Sheridan of mediocrity, disobedience, a cavalier destruction of lives and careers, and mendacity. "The conclusion can only be that, while Phil Sheridan had a few positive attributes, he does not deserve the lofty reputation bestowed upon him by history." Physical description: xxi, 250 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm more |
| ISBN: | 1574883852 (acid-free paper) 9781574883855 (acid-free paper) |