John F. Marszalek

"In the summer of 1862, President Lincoln called General Henry W. Halleck to Washington, D.C., to take command of all Union armies in the death struggle against the Confederacy. For the next two turbulent years, Halleck was Lincoln's chief war advisor, the man the President deferred to in all military matters. Yet, despite the fact that he was commanding general far longer than his successor, Ulysses S. Grant, he is remembered only as a failed man, ignored by posterity." "In the first comprehensive biography of Halleck, historian John F. Marszalek recreates the life of a man of enormous achievement who bungled his most important mission. When Lincoln summoned him to the nation's capital, Halleck boasted outstanding qualifications as a military theorist, a legal scholar, a brave soldier, and a California entrepreneur. Yet in the thick of battle, he couldn't make essential decisions. Unable to produce victory for the Union forces, he saw his power become subsumed by Grant's emergent leadership, a loss that paved the way for Halleck's path to obscurity." "Harnessing previously unused research, as well as the insights of modern medicine and psychology, Marszalek unearths the seeds of Halleck's fatal wartime indecisiveness in personality traits and health problems. In this dissection of a rich and disappointed life, we gain new understanding of how the key decisions of the Civil War were taken, as well as insight into the making of effective military leadership."--BOOK JACKET.

A stubborn man of deep principles, Andrew Jackson always reacted violently to what he saw as political or social injustice. The rumors surrounding the timing of his marriage, which had devastating effects on his wife Rachel - she died after the election and before his inauguration - drove him to distraction. But nothing tested Jackson's resolve - and eventually his presidency - quite so much as the scandals surrounding Margaret "Peggy" Eaton, the brash and unconventional wife of his secretary of war. Branded a "loose woman" and snubbed by Washington society, Margaret lived a public life that was considered inappropriate for any woman: she was combative and outspoken, the daughter of a Washington innkeeper who socialized with her father's guests. Margaret attributed the scandals surrounding her name to the small-minded jealousy of other women. Andrew Jackson, however, saw it as conspiratorially motivated: by defending Margaret's honor he was also defending his choice of John Henry Eaton for secretary of war and, ultimately, defending himself and his presidency. Unfortunately, Jackson's quixotic actions turned a social scandal into an extraordinary political catastrophe. Before it was over, Jackson forced the resignation of his entire Cabinet, duels were threatened, assassinations were alleged, and Vice President John Calhoun's hopes for the White House were dashed. Andrew Jackson's first term was nearly a failure. The Eaton imbroglio was a model scandal, complete with media manipulation, quicksand coalitions, and rumors piled so high that their airy density became crushing. In dramatic detail, John Marszalek recreates every step of this gripping plot, and of an era when even the most powerful politicians ceded to an honor code that could not be broken.

This biography of General William Tecumseh Sherman aims to reveal the motives underlying his often controversial actions. As well as Sherman's role in the Civil War, the book covers other aspects of his life - West Point, the Gold Rush, the construction of the transcontinental railway and more.

"In this new short biography of Ulysses S. Grant, leading scholars provide an accessible introduction to Grant and his legacy. Grant led Federal forces to victory in the Civil War, was the first modern American President, and authored his memoirs, which would eventually become one of the greatest books of non-fiction by an American author. The authors present the latest scholarship on Grant, providing the necessary insight to appreciate Grant and correct the myths which for too long clouded his true importance. They highlight specific moments or relationships in Grant's life--including his connection to key figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain--and elaborate on the more controversial elements of Grant's legacy, such as his alcoholism and corruption during the Grant presidency. Not to overlook his military accomplishments, they devote time to the study of Grant's war strategy and military career, beginning as early as his reluctant enrollment into West Point. From humble birth to tragic death, this new take on Ulysses S. Grant instills readers with a deeper understanding of the military legend's nuanced personal history and an appreciation for the late president's tragic and triumphant story." -- Provided by publisher.