From First to Last

The Life of William B. Franklin

Mark A. Snell

$71.95 $60.78

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Fordham University Press
01 January 1999

Biography: historical, political & military; History of the Americas; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900; Civil defence

Series: The North's Civil War

From First to Last is a complete life story of one of the most controversial yet least well known generals on either side during the Civil War. The number one graduate of the West Point class of 1843, William Buel Franklin served in the U.S. Army's Corps of Topographical Engineers and contributed greatly to the building of the nation's internal improvements, including a stint as chief engineer in charge of construction of the U.S. Capitol's dome and extension from 1859 to 1861.

During the Civil War Franklin ascended rapidly in rank and command authority, from command of a Union brigade at Bull Run, to leadership of the Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula and during the Maryland Campaign, to command of the Left Grand Division, of that army at the terrible Battle of Fredericksburg. In the wake of Fredericksburg, Franklin was unjustly blamed for the Union army's defeat, not so much because of his generalship-or lack thereof-but because of his politics and the highly-charged political nature of high-level leadership in the Army of the Potomac. Censured by the notorious Joint Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War, Franklin was banished to the Department of the Gulf, where he participated in the ill-fated Sabine Pass Expedition and Red River Campaign. Wounded during the Red River Campaign and captured by Confederate partisan rangers Franklin would escape his captors but could not escape the wrath of the Lincoln administration, which refused to place him back in command even though his old West Point classmate-U. S. Grant-personally requested his services.

Franklin resigned his commission in 1866 and began a highly successful post-war career as Vice President and General Manager of Colt's Firearms Company in Hartford, Connecticut. A respected citizen of that city, Franklin continued to serve his country in a number of public positions, including leadership of a government bureau that eventually became the U.S. Veterans Administration. Snell's study of Franklin is evenly balanced, correctly pointing out Franklin's flaws and lapses of judgment-such as the Battle of Crampton's Gap on September 14, 1862-but giving him credit where he received none in the past. Snell provides readers with a complete picture of Franklin: brilliant engineer, doting husband, respected businessman, and controversial Union general. From First to Last will change the way historians interpret this important figure of American history.

By: Mark A. Snell
Imprint: Fordham University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Volume: No. 19
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 23mm
Weight: 604g
ISBN: 9780823221493
ISBN 10: 0823221490
Series: The North's Civil War
Pages: 392
Publication Date: 01 January 1999
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , General/trade , A / AS level , Further / Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Mark A. Snell is an associate professor of history and director of The George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He is a retired army officer who also taught U.S. history at West Point. Dr. Snell is the author or editor of four books, the most recent of which is Unknown Soldiers: The American Expeditionary Forces in Memory and Remembrance (Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 2008). He holds a Ph.D. in history and public administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.In 2008 he was the visiting senior lecturer of War Studies at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

Reviews for From First to Last: The Life of William B. Franklin

Snell's scolarship is excellent and his writing is clear. * -Journal of Southern History * The entire story is interesting, especially for someone really interested in Civil War history and its interpretations. * -Southbridge Evening News * The author moves the story along in a manner both easy and interesting to follow. (The book) will have appeal to both military history enthusiasts and scholars. * -Military History of the West, *