It’s always a pleasure to receive a book about military history that’s a bit outside of my primary focus because invariably I learn something that informs my study. The good folks at the University of Oklahoma Press sent me a review copy of a new book by Kenneth M. Swope, A Dragon’s Head and a Serpent’s Tail: Ming China and the First Great East Asian War, 1592-1598. The book becomes Volume 20 of the Campaigns & Commanders Series edited by Gregory J. W. Urwin from T... Read Full Story

Bombardment of Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, a color lithograph by Currier & Ives; (SCALA/Art Resource) Lincoln and McClellan In class, we’ve been discussing how the decisions of the two commanders-in-chief during the American Civil War impacted events at the operational level. Modern scholars have challenged the notion that Lincoln simply stayed involved in military details until he found the right general (Grant). Eliot Cohen posits that’s “Lincoln exercised a constant oversig... Read Full Story

The good folks at Oxford University Press recently sent me a copy of the new paperback edition of  James McPherson’s This Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War. First published in 2007, it comprises 16 essays in which McPherson attempts to answer the following questions: Why did the war come? What were the war aims of each side? What strategies did they employee to achieve these aims? How do we evaluate the leadership of both sides? Did the war’s outcome justify the imme... Read Full Story

I’ve made a number of new acquisitions over the past few weeks. I bought this book to assist with an assignment on the command skills of Abraham Lincoln. Author Eliot A. Cohen (left), also examines the records of Georges Clemenceau, Winston Churchill and David Ben-Gurion in an effort to synthesize why they stand above others as leaders in time of war. So far, after reading the first few chapters, I’m quite impressed. Full disclosure: I own the 2002 paperback version of this book p... Read Full Story

I’ve been catching the WWII in HD series running on The History Channel when I can today. Much of the footage has never been seen on television. Good study guide on History.com along with other supporting information. RECOMMEND! Tagged: History Channel, History Documentaries, History.com, World War II, WWII in HD Read Full Story

Hardcover: 256 pages Publisher: National Geographic (October 20, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 1426203470 ISBN-13: 978-1426203473 Product Dimensions: 13.7 x 10.7 x 1.1 inches The good folks at National Geographic sent me a review copy of their new Atlas of the Civil War: A Comprehensive Guide to the Tactics and the Terrain of Battle. I’m impressed. This is one of those books that as a kid I would spread out on the floor in front of the fire and lose myself in for hours. It̵... Read Full Story

I’ve decided choose as topic for the research paper I’m writing for my current class, the leadership of David G. Farragut during the New Orleans Campaign. I’m on the hunt for both primary and secondary sources. Let me know if you have recommendations. Portrait of Rear Adm. David G. Farragut, officer of the Federal Navy (Vice Adm. from Dec. 3, 1864) Source: Library of Congress LC-B813- 1561 A Tagged: American Civil War, Civil War Naval History, David G. Farragut, Library ... Read Full Story

STEVEN E. WOODWORTH. Jefferson Davis and His Generals: The Failure of Confederate Command in the West. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas. 1990. Pp. xv, 380. $16.95. Much has been written about the political and military genius of Abraham Lincoln and the successful leader he grew to be while Commander in Chief of a fractured union.  But as the country divided and civil war became a reality, a new leader was called upon to assume the role of Commander in Chief for the Confederacy, ... Read Full Story

The good folks at the University of Oklahoma Press forwarded a review copy of Jeremy Black’s new book, The War of 1812 in the Age of Napoleon. In my usual fashion, I am making an initial post about the book before a full reading. . ISBN: 978-0-8061-4078-0 Hardcover 288 pages 6″ x 9″ x 0″ 1 B&W Illus., 3 Maps Published: 2009, Oklahoma University Press Jeremy Black (Photo: athens.edu) The quick perusal reveals several compelling reasons for recommending the book. F... Read Full Story

A moment of celebration for the 200,000th view of Wig Wags that occurred sometime today. Many thanks to those who have stopped by. Ahem.  Carry on… OH and thanks to Gabriel Pollard for the photo. Tagged: Blogging, wigwags blog Read Full Story