Hymns of the Republic : the story of the final year of the American Civil War
(Spoken CD)

Compact disc.

Title from web page.

Read by Robert Petkoff.

The fourth and final year of the Civil War offers one of that era's most compelling narratives, defining the nation and one of history's great turning points. Insights on the war that will surprise many listeners. Robert E. Lee, known as a great general and southern hero, is presented here as a man dealing with frustration, failure, and loss. Ulysses S. Grant is known for his prowess as a field commander, but in the final year of the war, he largely fails at that. His most amazing accomplishments began the moment he stopped fighting. William Tecumseh Sherman, Gwynne argues, was a lousy general, but probably the single most brilliant man in the war. We also meet a different Clara Barton, one of the greatest and most compelling characters in wartime. And proper attention is paid to the role played by large numbers of black Union soldiers, most of them former slaves. They changed the war and forced the South to come up with a plan to also use black soldiers.