Lauded for gallantry at Antietam and demoted for professional discord after Fredericksburg, Major General William “Baldy” Smith remains a controversial figure of the Civil War. His criticism of the Union high command made him unpopular with both peers and superiors. Yet his insight as an officer and an engineer enabled him to offer effective solutions to challenges faced by fellow generals. In this first comprehensive biography, Smith emerges as a field commander with deep concern for his men and a fearless critic of the failures of the Union generalship, who was recognized for a strategic perspective that helped save Federal armies.

Stephen Nicholas Siciliano teaches American Civil War history and serves as the vice president for educational services at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan.

Stephen Nicholas Siciliano
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages:
Bibliographic Info: ca. 20 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2022
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8613-4
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4644-2
Imprint: McFarland

“a detailed story, and one of an often over-looked or mischaracterized Civil War general”—Jennifer M. Murray, teaching associate professor, Oklahoma State University