Generals in Bronze: Interviewing the Commanders of the Civil War Book

Styple has edited the 1000+ page memoirs of artist/sculptor James Kelly. Kelly was a noted illustrator and sculptor during the later part of the 19th and early part of the 20th Century. He is most known for illustrations of Civil War scenes and several bronze statues of Civil War generals. Kelly created his art from life, with most of his subjects sitting for him. What makes his memoirs valuable is the interviews he conducted during these sittings, most of which he wrote down immediately after. He interviewed most Union generals of note, including Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan. Unfortunately, much of the conversation was taken up with what type of hat they wore , the color of their horse, and so forth. Much of the remainder of the conversations revolved around who dislike who, and who was overrated, etc. Unfortunately, anytime anyone spoke poorly of someone Kelly was friends with (Sheridan) Kelly would cut them off and the conversation would turn to another topic. The first half of the book was a slog mainly due to the aforementioned hat questions, however after that it did pick up and I am glad I did not give up on it. [return][return]The sub-title of the book is somewhat misleading in that it includes only Union officers, with the brief exception of Fitzhugh Lee, and there are several interviews with individuals who were either not officers or were not connected with the war, these included photographer Matthew Brady, a number of actors from Ford's Theater, and Theodore Roosevelt. [return][return]The book assumes the reader has more then a passing knowledge of the Civil War. There are many references to the controversies surrounding Warren, Porter, and Sickles. This is not for the Civil War newcomer, but there is some interesting information here. I can only wonder what was left out.