The Union Forever: Lincoln, Grant, and the Civil War

by John Y. Simon, Glenn W. LaFantasie (Editor), Harold Holzer (Foreword by), Frank J. Williams (Foreword by)

Overview

John Y. Simon was a giant in the field of Civil War-era history whose groundbreaking work on Grant was at the forefront of his generation's reevaluation of Grant's wartime acumen and his controversial presidency, earning him a lifetime achievement award from the Lincoln Forum in 2004 and a Lincoln Prize in 2005. In The Union Forever: Lincoln, Grant, and the Civil War, editor Glenn W. LaFantasie brings together some of Simon's most significant work on two towering figures of their era.

The essays in The Union Forever explore the relationship between the two leaders and their influence on each other as well as their individual accomplishments and struggles. Simon illuminates Lincoln's emancipation policy and his struggles as commander in chief. Other essays explore General Grant's military career and leadership as well as the influence his wife had on his life. Drawing from Simon's most prominent work as well as his lesser-known writing, The Union Forever allows veteran scholars to revisit classic works and makes available to new generations of readers Simon's perspectives on America's greatest leaders during a time of crisis and change.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813134444
Publisher:	University Press of Kentucky
Publication date:	06/22/2012
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

John Y. Simon (1933–2008), editor of the multivolume Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, was professor of history at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and executive director of the Ulysses S. Grant Association. Glenn W. LaFantasie, Richard Frockt Family Professor of Civil War History and director of the Institute of Civil War Studies at Western Kentucky University, is the author and editor of several books, including Twilight at Little Round Top. He is also a Contributing Writer on history and politics for Salon.com.

Table of Contents

Foreword ix

Editorial Note xiii

Introduction 1

Part 1 Abraham Lincoln

1 House Divided: Lincoln and His Father 19

2 Abraham Lincoln and Ann Rutledge 37

3 Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, and Fort Sumter 53

4 "Freeing Some and Leaving Others Alone": Lincoln's Emancipation Policy 65

5 Lincoln and "Old Brains" Halleck 77

6 Lincoln's Despair: The Crisis during the Summer of 1864 89

7 The Personal Sentiments of Mr. Lincoln 101

Part 2 Ulysses S. Grant

8 Ulysses S. Grant One Hundred Years Later 111

9 The Paradox of Ulysses S. Grant 123

10 A Marriage Tested by War: Ulysses and Julia Grant 135

11 From Galena to Appomattox: Grant and Washburne 153

12 That Obnoxious Order 169

13 The Road to Appomattox: The Generalship of Ulysses S. Grant 179

Part 3 Lincoln and Grant

14 Lincoln, Grant, and Kentucky in 1861 193

15 Grant, Lincoln, and Unconditional Surrender 207

Acknowledgments 233

Notes 237

John Y. Simon: A Bibliography 271

Index 287

Editorial Reviews

"John Y. Simon was a towering figure in Civil War scholarship, a world-renowned authority on U.S. Grant, and a Lincoln scholar of no mean distinction. His prose, like his personality, is scintillating."—Michael Burlingame, Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies, University of Illinois at Springfield, and author of Abraham Lincoln: A Life

From the Publisher

Everything needed to convince the reader of what made John Y. memorable, and even adorable, is safely ensconced in these pages.

The Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society - Allen Car Guelzo

In conclusion, this book brings together the interesting essays by a historian who spent his life devoted to the study of the Civil War. Although much of this material has been published before, this book allows Simon's essays to be available to a broader audience. For those wanting a readable, interesting book on the two men who did the most to preserve the Union, this is it. — Blue & Gray Magazine

Blue & Gray Magazine - Robert Grandchamp

The Union Forever will be rewarding reading for anyone with an interest in the Civil War, and of particular value to specialists in Lincoln, Grant, and civil military relations.

The NYMAS Review

The Union Forever allows veteran scholars to revisit classic works and makes available to new generations of readers Simon's perspectives on America's greatest leaders during a time of crisis and change. — McCormick Messenger

McCormick Messenger - Bob Edmonds

Simon offers a masterful portrayal of Grant's personal life. — Northwest Ohio History

Northwest Ohio History - Zachery A. Fry

In several essays, Simon cherishes the opportunity to set the record straight regarding myths about Lincoln and Grant...The Union Forever is an outstanding tribute to John Y. Simons, who was one of the nation's leading Civil War historians.

The Journal of Southern History - Leonne M. Hudson

The volume performs a valuable service by making available essays from a wide range of publications (from museum brochures to the pages of Civil War Times Illustrated)...

Indiana Magazine of History - Chandra Manning

For military historians, the collection is a mixed bag, but eminently readable an thoroughly enjoyable, it will appeal to CAMP's readership. — The Journal of America's Military Past

Russel K. Brown

In The Union Forever, Professor Glenn LaFantasie of Western Kentucky University has brought together fifteen of John's finest essays. Seven deal with Lincoln, six with Grant, and two with Lincoln and Grant. Taken together, they provide the best and most concise distillation of the character of the two men who saved the Union. — Civil War Book Review

Civil War Book Review - John Edward Smith