Books in Review

John Washington’s Civil War: A Slave Narrative, edited by Crandall Shiflett. Soft cover, illustrated, bibliography, index, 128 pp., 2008. Louisiana State
University Press, Baton Rouge, LA. Meticulously edited by Virginia Tech University
history professor Crandall Shiflett, this memoir written in  1872 by a Virginia slave provides an unprecedented, firsthand account of the life and times of a slave in the Civil
War era. Unlike most slaves, John Washington learned to read and developed management skills, which led to a factory job, a position as steward of a hotel slave staff in Fredericksburg, Va., and eventually to become an aide and guide for a captain in the 30th New York Volunteers. Washington’s recollection of his tribulations growing up a slave and his adventures uncovering Confederate sympathizers in Union-occupied
Fredericksburg is thoughtful and revealing.  Professor Shiflett has significantly enhanced
Washington’s narrative by adding background information based on public records at the end of each chapter, which places events in the historical context of the broader
struggle between North and South. Washington’s vivid account and Shiflett’s excellent editing combine to make this volume an invaluable primary source in understanding
our nation’s history.

Lincoln’s Political Generals by David Work. Hard cover, photographs, bibliography, index, 320 pp., 2009.  University of Illinois Press, Champagne, Ill. Winner of the Hay-Nicolay Prize of the Abraham Lincoln Association and the Abraham Lincoln Institute, this volume by history writer David Work is a wellwritten assessment of how and why
Lincoln chose his cadre of generals to conduct the war effort. When the war
began, Lincoln was faced not only with a shortage of well-trained, experienced
military men, but also with the need to garner political support to build a national coalition. The author studies 16 generals, half Democrat, half Republican, appointed by
Lincoln for political reasons. Some succeeded; others failed and were eventually relieved of command. Work’s detailed, thorough study explores Lincoln’s political genius in making the controversial appointments and how these decisions ultimately influenced the
outcome of the war. In the end, the author concludes that, overall, the political generals were influential in shaping national politics and policies, including slavery, and made
a positive contribution toward winning the war.