By S. C. Gwynne
The fourth and final year of the Civil War offers one of
that era’s most compelling narratives, defining the nation and one of history’s
great turning points. Now, S.C. Gwynne’s Hymns of the Republic addresses
the time Ulysses S. Grant arrives to take command of all Union armies in March
1864 to the surrender of Robert E. Lee at Appomattox a year later. Gwynne
breathes new life into the epic battle between Lee and Grant; the advent of
180,000 black soldiers in the Union army; William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to
the Sea; the rise of Clara Barton; the election of 1864 (which Lincoln nearly
lost); the wild and violent guerrilla war in Missouri; and the dramatic final
events of the war, including the surrender at Appomattox and the murder of
Abraham Lincoln.
Hymns of the Republic offers angles and insights on the war that will
surprise many readers. Robert E. Lee, known as a great general and southern
hero, is presented here as a man dealing with frustration, failure, and loss.
Ulysses S. Grant is known for his prowess as a field commander, but in the
final year of the war he largely fails at that. His most amazing
accomplishments actually began the moment he stopped fighting. William Tecumseh
Sherman, Gwynne argues, was a lousy general, but probably the single most
brilliant man in the war. We also meet a different Clara Barton, one of the
greatest and most compelling characters, who redefined the idea of medical care
in wartime. And proper attention is paid to the role played by large numbers of
black union soldiers—most of them former slaves. They changed the war and
forced the South to come up with a plan to use its own black soldiers.
Popular history at its best, from Pulitzer Prize finalist S.C. Gwynne, Hymns
of the Republic reveals the creation that arose from destruction in this
thrilling read.
About the Author
S.C. Gwynne is
the author of Hymns of the Republic and the New York Times bestsellers
Rebel Yell and Empire of the Summer Moon, which was a finalist
for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. He spent
most of his career as a journalist, including stints with Time as bureau
chief, national correspondent, and senior editor, and with Texas Monthly as
executive editor. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife.
ISBN 978-1501116223, Scribner, © 2019, Hardcover, 416 Pages,
Photographs, Illustrations, Maps, End Notes, Bibliography & Index. $32.00. To
Purchase the book click HERE.
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