This Mighty Scourge

May
01
2009

Interview with Benson Bobrick – Author of “Master of War”

I have read several hundred books on the U.S. Civil War. Biographies on significant figures from the war have always fascinated me. Name just about any general officer, and I can probably tell you the things I liked about him, and those qualities I found undesirable. I might even be able to throw out some of their quotes.

U.S. Major General George H. Thomas, “Rock of Chickamauga,” has always captivated me. Having read many conflicting things about him, I have always wanted to learn who he really was. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of biographies on him. The last biography that I had read, “Rock of Chickamauga: The Life of General George H. Thomas,” by Freeman Cleaves, was originally published 61 years ago. While well written, this book did not provide much information that I did not already know. You can imagine how excited I was when I learned that Benson Bobrick had released the new title, “Master of War: The Life of General George H. Thomas.” I have been a fan of Mr. Bobrick since reading “Angel in the Whirlwind: The Triumph of the American Revolution,” shortly after it was released, in July 1997. I acquired my copy of “Master of War” when it was released, on February 10, 2009. I always like to read the author recommendations, on the back of the dust cover. Here is a recommendation from one of my favorite authors, Jay Winik.

“With his customary flair and keen insights, Benson Bobrick has written yet another splendid book. Master of War indispensably belongs on your Civil War bookshelf, right next to the biographies on Lee, Grant, Sherman and Stuart. Bravo!” – Jay Winik, author of “April 1865: The Month That Saved America” and “The Great Upheaval: America and the Birth of the Modern World”

When I received “Master of War,” I was working on some other projects, and book reviews. I was excited, when in mid-March, I was able to start reading the book. I was immediately impressed with Mr. Bobrick’s prose. The book read easily, and kept me captivated until the last page. I also quickly recognized that this book was much different then the last Thomas biography, I read. There was plenty of new material, that I had not read before. Additionally, the relationships that Thomas had, with other commanders, were revealed under a different light. Thomas’ style, actions and emotions were painted with a broad brush, helping me better understand the man behind those calculating eyes. His presence on the battlefield, and the controlled methodology of his command clearly shone through in Bobrick’s writing. More than this, the book challenged me to think differently about this great American hero. I no longer knew Thomas only as Ulysses S. Grant, Henry Halleck, George T. Sherman or Edwin Stanton portrayed him. He was no longer just “Old Slow Trot.” He was a master battlefield tactician that commanded the respect, and loyalty, of his troops. In the closing chapter of the book, “The Noblest Figure,” Bobrick, like a high profile defense attorney, makes a strong argument that George H. Thomas was the best independent commander in the Federal service. While there were many great Federal commanders, while I sat in the “jury box” reading the “closing argument,” many of my long held beliefs had been changed, or been altered. Now, there is little doubt in my mind that George H. Thomas holds a very high place in American military history. I would encourage all Civil War enthusiasts to add this book to your collection. You many very well find yourself challenged, like I was.

This week, I had the opportunity to speak with Benson Bobrick about his new book. The interview was recorded for your enjoyment. It is 36 minutes of insight into Mr. Bobrick’s thoughts on Thomas, his methods of research and his motivations for writing this great book. I have split the interview into six parts, so you can listen to them over a period of time.

Benson Bobrick Interview – Recorded on April 28, 2009

Part 1: