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11 Works 728 Members 7 Reviews 3 Favorited

About the Author

Wiley Sword is the author of several Civil War histories, He has won the Fletcher Pratt Prize for the best book of Civil War history and has been nominated for the Pulitzer, Parkman, Bancroft, and Western Heritage prizes. He lives in Bloom-field Hills, Michigan.

Includes the names: Wiley Sword, Willey Sword

Image credit: C-Span

Works by Wiley Sword

Tagged

Common Knowledge

Birthdate
1937-12-07
Date of death
2015-11-09
Gender
male

Members

Reviews

Before visiting the battlefield, the McGavock house,cemetery and other historical parts of Franklin, I wanted to know more details surrounding the actual battle itself. The Order of Battle, the physical placements of regiments, brigades and divisions, as well as a better understanding of the decisions made by General Hood while in Spring Hill, were subjects of personal interest to me. My great grandfather (17th Al.Infantry, Walthall’s Division) was shot in his left temple as they approached the hedges/ cotton gin area. He survived the head wound, graduated from Mobile Medical College, and was a country physician in rural south Alabama by age 23. He practiced medicine for 54 years and had nine children, my grandmother being one. She shared many fond memories of riding with him on house calls while he delivered babies, set bones, etc. in exchange for turnip greens if they could not pay. Not one time did he ever speak of the war or the day of 30 November, 1864.
Wiley Sword’s well-researched account of these historic few days in Tennessee was one of my two text books and guides as I walked the battlefield in the vicinity of my great grandfather’s regiment and brigade. The owner of a small independent book store in downtown Franklin recommended this book, along with the McDonough/Connelly “Five Tragic Hours”, which was an excellent companion to the Sword book. I would highly recommend both of these for anyone interested in a superbly detailed accounting of the senseless tragedy of the Battle of Franklin.
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farrargirl1. | 2 other reviews | Feb 23, 2018 |
British-made Enfield rifles were so valued by the South during the American War Between the States that blockade runners continued to deliver shipments of them right up until the very end. Mr. LeMat's unique and technically advanced revolvers (imported from Europe) were also highly sought-after firearms used by Confederate soldiers. Sir Joseph Whitworth's famous long-range sniper rifle (named after him) was also used with great effectiveness by Southern marksmen. Without the Yankee blockade, widespread use of these and other superior weapons might have given victory to the C.S.A..… (more)
 
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FreeUlsterman | Feb 10, 2016 |
Along with an expected standard rhetoric and bias, there were some interesting and different, but sometimes unfocused wandering points of view.
 
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Newmans2001 | Apr 9, 2012 |
1479 Shiloh: Bloody April, by Wiley Sword (read 25 Feb 1978) This is an account of the battle, fought on April 6 and 7, 1862. It is not a well-written book. It is just a combination of accounts, really, and is really boring. The author is not a trained writer and it shows. Only a specialist could really appreciate this book. O, it shows what a mess the battle was, but I couldn't help but think a single chapter on the battle would have been more interesting.
 
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Schmerguls | Jan 16, 2009 |

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Statistics

Works
11
Members
728
Popularity
#34,885
Rating
3.9
Reviews
7
ISBNs
24
Favorited
3

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