U. S. Grant and the American Military Tradition (review)

Book Reviews441 reap where others had sown and faded as a result. For these faUures, Mr. Nevins argues, both Fremont's associates and die American people as a whole must share much of die responsibUity. The new chapter in die 1955 edition includes 38 pages bearing on many phases of Fremont's life. For the most part, this new material simply corroborates or amplifies interpretations to be found in die preceding narrative. Almost half die chapter is devoted to a reconsideration of Fremont's mibtary operations in Missouri, and Mr. Nevins argues that this phase of the general's career "offers a more comphcated, difficult and creditable story tìian most writers have supposed." There is no question but diat die 1955 version of Fremont is a good biography . Mr. Nevins' skiU as a biographer is generaUy acknowledged, and this book ranks among his better efforts. WeU written, it foUows a fascinating figure in a period of great national stress. We may stiU ask, however, if die author exaggerates Fremont's importance in American history or excuses him excessively for his mistakes and failures. The reviewer believes diat he is guüty in die second degree. At times die reader is swept along in die tide of facts to the point where Fremont's ultimate responsibiUty is forgotten. Aldiough Mr. Nevins presented the essentials of his case in 1939, historians of die Civil War have BOt gready modified die old picture of a western department in which the headquarters was administered widi excessive pomp and red tape, in which war contracts were wastefuUy aUocated and where the commanding general handled his troops inepdy while embarrassing the president by his decision to confiscate die property and to free the slaves of Confederate supporters in Missouri. "Inefficiency and faUure marked every phase of Fremont's conduct of affairs in Missouri," wrote T. Harry Williams in Lincoln and His Generals (1952). Perhaps some eager miUtary historian wiU soon devote his efforts to resolving this conflict in interpretation. Allan Bogue Iowa City, Iowa U. S. Grant and the American Military Tradition. By Bruce Catton. (Boston : Little, Brown and Company. 1954. Pp. 201. $3.00.) one of the fascinations of historical study is watching die evolution of the concepts of great personaUties, from the first flush of contemporary appraisal through the increasingly detached scrutinies of later years. Presendy in scholarly evolution is the character of Ulysses S. Grant The popular, Schoolbook conception of Grant has been that of a phlegmatic plodder who drank more than was good for him, a man of courage and tenacity but whose military success was due as much to luck as to talent and who dtoroughly demonstrated his limitations when he was elected President in 1868. Some of these attributes remain in die revised picture, but a man of more heroic dimensions has emerged. The new Grant does not look like a hero, a leader, or even a soldier. He slouches, dresses carelessly, and does not talk very much — but it is observed diat his words are to the point. He does not strut or pose, but he gets things done. He does not howl diat he is being short- 442CIVIL WAR history changed from Washington, but he does the best he can witìi what he has. In short, he emerges as a soUd personality and one which a man — or a nation — can tie to. Such recent works as Harry WiUiams' Lincoln and His Generals, Kenned» WiUiams' stiU uncompleted Lincoln Finds a General, Bruce Catton's A StUlness at Appomattox have contributed greatly to the new concept Lloyd Lewis was weU on die way to diis revised evaluation widi Captain Sam Grant, die first portion of an extensive biographical project which was cut short by diat author's untimely death. More recendy, Earl Schenck Miers' The Web of Victory: Grant at Vicksburg has achieved much in iUuminating Grant's generalship . And finaUy, no study has been more influential than die book under present consideration, again by Bruce Catton. This work is not a biography. It is a character study, a reflective scrutiny of a man and his talents, placed accurately within the framework of his times. Odier reviewers...