Stephen W. Sears Books

From the best-selling author of Gettysburg, a multilayered group biography of the commanders who led the Army of the Potomac číst celé

Stephen Sears posits that "General McClellan's importance in shaping the course of the Union during the Civil War was matched only by that of President Lincoln and Generals Grant and Sherman." and yet the "Young Napoleon" has been relegated to the shadows by historians of that great conflict.The youngest in his class at West Point, McClellan was, by age thirty-five, commander of all the Northern armies; he fought the longest and largest campaign of the time and the single bloodiest battle in the nation's history; at thirty-seven, he was nominated for the presidency of the United States by the Democratic party but was soundly defeated by Abraham Lincoln, whom McClellan held in contempt. Believing beyond any doubt that Confederate forces were greater than his and that enemies at his back conspired to defeat him, he equally believed that he was God's chosen instrument to save the Union.Drawing entirely on primary sources, Stephen Sears has given u the first full picture of the contradictory McClellan, a man possessed by demons and delusions.

Focusing on the Peninsula Campaign of 1862, the narrative details General George McClellan's ambitious strategy to capture Richmond, the Confederate capital. As McClellan advances for three months, the arrival of Robert E. Lee shifts the momentum dramatically. In just seven days, Lee's leadership forces McClellan to retreat, altering the war's trajectory. This well-researched account offers a vivid portrayal of one of the Civil War's bloodiest confrontations, highlighting the complexities of military strategy and leadership during this critical period.

Combining brilliant military analysis with rich narrative history, Landscape Turned Red is the definitive work on the Battle of Antietam.The Civil War battle waged on September 17, 1862, at Antietam Creek, Maryland, was one of the bloodiest in the nation's history: on this single day, the war claimed nearly 23,000 casualties. Here renowned historian Stephen Sears draws on a remarkable cache of diaries, dispatches, and letters to recreate the vivid drama of Antietam as experienced not only by its leaders but also by its soldiers, both Union and Confederate, to produce what the New York Times Book Review has called "the best account of the Battle of Antietam." 

Exploring the intricacies of the Union's Army of the Potomac, this work delves into pivotal events and figures of the Civil War, such as General Charles Stone's alleged disloyalty and Fitz John Porter's court-martial. It highlights the command crises leading up to the Battle of Antietam, the infamous Lost Order, and the tumultuous actions of generals like Dan Sickles and Gouverneur Warren. Through these narratives, it offers a compelling portrait of the personalities and incidents that shaped the conflict from 1861 to 1865.

Eighteen eyewitness accounts chronicle the events of World War II and provide the viewpoints of officers, journalists, civilians, and others who offer their own interpretation of history