You might consider publishing a piece devoted to Benjamin, who is a fascinating character in his own right, with or without the Jewish emphasis.

Subscribe Today

• Did you enjoy our article?
• Read more in Civil War Times magazine
• Subscribe online and save nearly 40%!!!
 

Harry A. Ezratty
Baltimore, Maryland

NITPICKING

In reviewing Brooks Simpson’s Ulysses S. Grant, David E. Long makes some condemning statements regarding Grant that do not hold up (”Reviews,” May). Long wrote that the “defeat at Cold Harbor, Virginia, in early June 1864 was possibly the most devastating setback inflicted upon the Army of the Potomac during the war.” What about the Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Fredericksburg?

Dr. Long blames Grant for the delay of truce negotiations at Cold Harbor and for downplaying casualty estimates. Historically, the underestimation of battle losses was as much a strategy as a naval blockade. To fault Grant for this is nitpicking. While I agree with Dr. Long that “the Cold Harbor tragedy was one of Grant’s worst moments of the war,” Long seems unable to give Grant any credit at all.

Long accuses Simpson of attempting “to convince us to adopt Grant as the Civil War’s other unstained hero (besides Lincoln).” If, however, in his book, which I admit I have not yet read, Dr. Simpson lauds such things as Grant’s campaign in Mississippi from Grand Gulf and Port Gibson through Jackson to victory at Vicksburg, he is only the latest of many admirers of a brilliant military campaign.

As much as Mr. Lincoln won the war in the halls and councils of government, General Grant won the war on the field of battle. He was the hero, at least in the North, of the Civil War. Mr. Long’s criticisms cannot change that.

Christopher J. Earle
Madison, Connecticut

ANOTHER SOUTHERN GAR HALL

The Grand Army of the Republic hall in St. Cloud, Florida, is certainly not the only existing GAR hall south of the Mason-Dixon Line (”Travel,” March). About 35 miles north of Tampa is the small village of Zephyrhills, in Pasco County, Florida. It was founded at about the same time as St. Cloud and for the same purpose. The original meeting hall still stands and remains a meeting place for veterans.

Charlotte Abell
Zephyrhills, Florida

©2000, Cowles History Group, Inc. d/b/a PRIMEDIA History Group, a division of PRIMEDIA Special Interest Publications.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express
written permission of PRIMEDIA is prohibited.

Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to