Rock of Chickamauga: The Life of General George H. Thomas

by Freeman Cleaves

Book Overview

General George H. Thomas, the "Rock of Chickamauga" of the history books, was a Virginian who chose the northern side in the Civil War. While Thomas was considered a traitor by his family, his military superiors regarded him with a certain mistrust because of his southern background. Nonetheless, Thomas was prominent in the battles of Mill Springs, Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, and Nashville, and was immortalized at Chickamauga, where he tenaciously...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806119780
• ISBN13: 9780806119786
• Release Date: March 1986
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
• Length: 364 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Five stars for George Thomas

When I first started studying the civil war nearly 30 years ago, one of my first thoughts was: "Why haven't I heard of George Thomas?'' There are those who argue, including Cleaves in several sections, that he was the most important Union general _ one list, in fact, makes him one of the five men (and the only military figure) most important in the North's victory. In the prewar Army, he served with Lee, another Virginian who wavered, and was close to being considered Lee's equal.The reasons for Thomas' relative obscurity have been well stated in other reviews _ his southern heritage; his self-effacing disposition except (as Cleaves points out) when he felt he had been done an injustice. It didn't help that Sherman, one of his sponsors and Grant, his classmate at West Point, shut him out of the post-war glory and that he died in 1870, too early to establish a reputation.Is the subtitle ("The Man who Save the Union?'') justified? Look at it this way: There's no question that Thomas' stand at Chickamauga made Sherman's campaign through Georgia possible. And if that hadn't happened, Lincoln might not have been re-elected in 1864, perhaps leading to a truce that would have left the nation split. That in itself is reason enough to celebrate Thomas.But as Cleaves emphasizes, Thomas was more than that. Military historieans consider him one of the best defensive generals ever, a man who would have stood out in any war. And unlike many of our heroes, he was a decent man.We could use more like him.This 55-year-old book could use more readers.

Refreshing

Written over 52 years ago, this book is a ground breaking contribution to the Civil War's saga. It really is a must read for understanding the intricacies of the Union high command. Union loyalists of Southern birth like Thomas, Buford, etc. were just as alone and alienated in their army as Southern loyalists of Northern birth like Pemberton. They suffered an ostracism, a fundamental distrust that really reached its peak in this country when we sent thousands and thousands of Japanese Americans to concentration camps in California in World War II while concurrently having their sons fight and die in Europe. Thomas' story is really no different and every bit as unfair.This type of unfortunate, `protective tuck' is a natural reaction during a national emergency. Fortunately, leading edge historians like Freeman Cleaves have left us a record of one man's sacrifice for the country of his birth.George Thomas was not treated properly by anyone, North or South. Lincoln treats him as a political liability and pawn, Stanton fundamentally distrusts everyone of Southern heritage, and the Union troika of Grant, Sherman and Sheridan have much to be ashamed of: Grant for his smallness, Sheridan for the desertion of someone who must have been his mentor and Sherman for betraying a long standing friendship. The South simply refused to acknowledge his existence. When Thomas was down, everyone kicked. Being Southern born, he was an easy competitive target for both sides both during and after the war. He simply had no mentor anywhere.Yet this courageous fighter survives much political intrigue to not only save a complete Union army from annihilation, an army by the way that he did not personally command but could have, but also completely destroys the South's Army of Tennessee and possibly, just possibly, pulled Sherman and Grant's chestnuts out of the fire with his victories at Nashville and Franklin. Playing a key and fundamentally pivotal role in Grant and Sherman's grand strategy, after his success he is simply thrown aside like an old shoe and not just forgotten but treated miserably, like his very existence, success and support was an embarrassment to the Union military and political High Command.Read this book! It is about an American patriot who sacrifices everything, his reputation, home, family and pre and post war friendships for the ability of the United States to develop into the world example it is today. It is the kind of story all Americans appreciate: doing the right thing while succeeding against all odds, foreign and domestic.

well worth reading. More to this war than Grant & Sherman.

A brilliant leader of men, a brilliant tactician. Grant & Sherman had this mutual admiration relationship which did not allow them to give Thomas the credit he most justly deserves. This book sets the record straight, that's what history is all about..

One of the four best Union generals - a Southerner!

Mistrusted by many in Washington, D.C., George Thomas proved to be deserving of his rank. Shortly after the union defeat at Bull Run, Gen. Thomas rekindled Northern hopes with his victory at Mill Springs. The "Rock of Chickamauga" held his ground at the battle by the same name enabling a beaten union army to retreat without being shattered. His forces at Chattanooga were responsible for the charge up Missionary Ridge that broke the confederate line and won the day. Wishing desparately for the opportunity to mold an army into an efficient fighting body, Gen. Thomas relinquished command as senior officer in charge of union forces (having replaced Grant after Shiloh) in order to hone the largely volunteer-infested Army of the Cumberland. His heart served him and his country well, as he became the only union general to destroy a confederate army on the field of battle (Nashville), rendering it useless for the war's duration.