Synopses & Reviews
"Happiness Is Not My Companion"
The Life of General G. K. Warren
David M. Jordan
The valorous but troubled career of the Civil War general, best known for his quick action to defend Little Round Top and avert a Union defeat at Gettysburg.
Gouverneur K. Warren, a brilliant student at West Point and a topographical engineer, earned early acclaim for his explorations of the Nebraska Territory and the Black Hills in the 1850s. With the start of the Civil War, Warren moved from teacher at West Point to lieutenant colonel of a New York regiment and was soon a rising star in the Army of the Potomac. His fast action at Little Round Top, bringing Federal troops to an undefended position before the Confederates could seize it, helped to save the Battle of Gettysburg. For his service at Bristoe Station and Mine Run, he was awarded command of the Fifth Corps for the 1864 Virginia campaign.
Warren's peculiarities of temperament and personality put a cloud over his service at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania and cost him the confidence of his superiors, Grant and Meade. He was summarily relieved of his command by Philip Sheridan after winning the Battle of Five Forks, just eight days before Appomattox. Warren continued as an engineer of distinction in the Army after the war, but he was determined to clear his name before a board of inquiry, which conducted an exhaustive investigation into the battle, Warren's conduct, and Sheridan's arbitrary action. However, the findings of the court vindicating Warren were not made public until shortly after his death.
For this major biography of Gouverneur Warren, David M. Jordan utilizes Warren's own voluminous collection of letters, papers, orders, and other items saved by his family, as well as the letters and writings of such contemporaries as his aide and brother-in-law Washington Roebling, Andrew Humphreys, Winfield Hancock, George Gordon Meade, and Ulysses S. Grant. Jordan presents a vivid account of the life and times of a complex military figure.
David M. Jordan, a native of Philadelphia, a graduate of Princeton University, and a practicing attorney, has previously published biographies of New York political boss Roscoe Conkling, Union general Winfield Scott Hancock, and pitcher Hal Newhouser, as well as a history of the Philadelphia Athletics.
May 2001
400 pages, 13 b&w photos, 11 maps, 6 1/8 x 9 1/4, index, append.
cloth 0-253-33904-9 $35.00 t / £26.50
Contents
Cold Spring and West Point
Topographical Engineer
Into the West with Harney
The Black Hills
The Explorer Becomes a Soldier
On the Virginia Peninsula
Second Manassas to Fredericksburg
With Hooker
To Little Round Top
The Aftermath of Gettysburg
Second Corps Interlude
Fallout 1863-1864
Into the Dark Woods
Bloody Spotsylvania
Around Lee's Right
Standoff at Petersburg
The Mine and the Railroad
West to Peebles' Farm
To the End of 1864
Beginning of the End
To the White Oak Road
All Fools' Day
A Soldier's Good Name
An Engineer, Again
Newport
The Court Begins
The Court Resumes
The Lawyers Have Their Say
The Frustration of Waiting
Where Malevolence Cannot Reach
Synopsis
Happiness Is Not My Companion
The Life of General G.K. Warren
David M. Jordan
The valorous buttroubled career of the Civil War general, best known for his quick action to defendLittle Round Top and avert a Union defeat atGettysburg.
Gouverneur K. Warren, a brilliant student at WestPoint and a topographical engineer, earned early acclaim for his explorations of theNebraska Territory and the Black Hills in the 1850s. With the start of the CivilWar, Warren moved from teacher at West Point to lieutenant colonel of a New Yorkregiment and was soon a rising star in the Army of the Potomac. His fast action atLittle Round Top, bringing Federal troops to an undefended position before theConfederates could seize it, helped to save the Battle of Gettysburg. For hisservice at Bristoe Station and Mine Run, he was awarded command of the Fifth Corpsfor the 1864 Virginia campaign.
Warren's peculiarities oftemperament and personality put a cloud over his service at the Wilderness andSpotsylvania and cost him the confidence of his superiors, Grant and Meade. He wassummarily relieved of his command by Philip Sheridan after winning the Battle ofFive Forks, just eight days before Appomattox. Warren continued as an engineer ofdistinction in the Army after the war, but he was determined to clear his namebefore a board of inquiry, which conducted an exhaustive investigation into thebattle, Warren's conduct, and Sheridan's arbitrary action. However, the findings ofthe court vindicating Warren were not made public until shortly after hisdeath.
For this major biography of Gouverneur Warren, David M.Jordan utilizes Warren's own voluminous collection of letters, papers, orders, andother items saved by his family, as well as the letters and writings of suchcontemporaries as his aide and brother-in-law Washington Roebling, Andrew Humphreys, Winfield Hancock, George Gordon Meade, and Ulysses S. Grant. Jordan presents a vividaccount of the life and times of a complex military figure.
DavidM. Jordan, a native of Philadelphia, a graduate of Princeton University, and apracticing attorney, has previously published biographies of New York political bossRoscoe Conkling, Union general Winfield Scott Hancock, and pitcher Hal Newhouser, aswell as a history of the Philadelphia Athletics.
May2001
400 pages, 13 b&w photos, 11 maps, 6 1/8 x 9 1/4, index, append.
cloth 0-253-33904-9 $35.00 t / 26.50
Contents
Cold Spring and WestPoint
Topographical Engineer
Into the West withHarney
The Black Hills
The Explorer Becomes a Soldier
Onthe Virginia Peninsula
Second Manassas to Fredericksburg
WithHooker
To Little Round Top
The Aftermath ofGettysburg
Second Corps Interlude
Fallout 1863--1864
Intothe Dark Woods
Bloody Spotsylvania
Around Lee'sRight
Standoff at Petersburg
The Mine and theRailroad
West to Peebles' Farm
To the End of1864
Beginning of the End
To the White Oak Road
AllFools' Day
A Soldier's Good Name
An Engineer, Again
Newport
The Court Begins
The CourtResumes
The Lawyers Have Their Say
The Frustration ofWaiting
Where Malevolence Cannot Reach
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
About the Author
David M. Jordan, a native of Philadelphia, graduate of Princeton University, and a practicing attorney, has previously published biographies of New York political boss Roscoe Conkling, Union general Winfield Scott Hancock, and left-handed pitcher Hal Newhouser, as well as a history of the Philadelphia Athletics.
Table of Contents
Preliminary Table of Contents
Preface
1. Cold Spring and West Point
2. Topographical Engineer
3. Into the West with Harney
4. The Black Hills
5. The Explorer Becomes a Soldier
6. On the Virginia Peninsula
7. Second Manassas to Fredericksburg
8. With Hooker
9. To Little Round Top
10. The Aftermath of Gettysburg
11. Second Corps Interlude
12. Fallout 1863-1864
13. Into the Dark Woods
14. Bloody Spotsylvania
15. Around Lee's Right
16. Standoff at Petersburg
17. The Mine and the Railroad
18. West to Peebles' farm
19. To the end of 1864
20. Beginning of the End
21. To the White Oak Road
22. All Fools Day
23 A Soldier's Good Name
24. An Engineer, Again
25. Newport
26. The Court Begins
27. The Court Resumes
28. The Lawyers Have Their Say
29. The Frustration of Waiting
30. Where Malevolence Cannot Reach
Bibliography