5 comments about The Brave: A Story of New York City's Firefighters.

1. I finished "The Brave" this weekend; I closed the book with a tear in my eye and a lump on my throat. I was deeply moved by the story and it was sad to see a 20 year chapter of your life end on such a sour note with the inappropriate accusations from that Chief. The book did a wonderful job of revealing all of the different emotions, triumphs and defeats that you and many others were faced with on a day-to-day basis. It showed the deep compassion that the fire fighters have for those they could and could not save while enduring the jeers and lack of respect from the very people they were charged to protect.
   
   I, and I am sure the public in general, was truly unaware of how little rest these men really get and how often they are hurt, only to rush back into the fight and be chastised at any point when they failed to be absolutely perfect. I can see where you, the fire fighters would truly be a "Band of Brothers".
   
   "The Brave" would make an excellent movie; in fact you could make a movie out 1/3 rd of the material in the book.
   
   Thanks for enlightening me,
   
   Joey Lee



2. The Brave takes you right into the Heart of Firefighting in 70's New York. As a fellow Firefighter who loves to put pen to paper I am always keen to read the experiences of other Firefighters in this vastly underrepresented market.
   
   Every book shelf these days seems to be full of Celebrities, Politicians, Soldiers or sports personalities telling us their stories. It make a refreshing change when a Firefighter, Medic or Policemen puts pen to paper, these people are fighting a never ending war every day on the Streets of our Countries.
   
   The Brave tells the story of Life in a Firehouse on the Lower East Side of New York City in the 1970's, a period now remembered by the Veterans of those days as 'The War Years'. Recession, social unrest, poverty and crime were the catalyst for may Fires in many run down cities in the World. Very Few Cites saw the Fires that New York saw in that period and fewer Still Firemen saw the Fire Duty that the Men of the FDNY saw at this time.
   
   George Pickett has an ability to drag the reader down the stinking burning hallways of the tenements. You can feel the heat searing your skin and the smoke choking your lungs. Time and again you follow page after page wondering will the heroes of the FDNY reach the victim before the room erupts all around them, more often than not they do...frequently with seconds to spare.
   
   I finished this book in 24 hours, such was the draw of the story unfolding before me. I found every possible excuse to pick the book up and start reading again. If action is what you want then give the jungles of South America or the Desert of the Middle East a rest..opt instead for the action in the Blazing sweatshops, tenements and flop houses of New York City in the 70's.



3. WOW!! The Brave is full of action from start to finish and would make a great movie! The Brave keeps your attention and makes it hard to set the book down. It gives a great picture to how challenging life is as a NYFD firefighter. The storey is compelling and truthful and I'm sure will be around for a long time. Congratulations to George Pickett on this GREAT book!



4. Few books have captivated my attention as much as George Pickett's "The Brave: A Story of New York City Firefighters". Both as a native New Yorker growing up in the 60's and 70's in the Bronx, and a volunteer firefighter in Westchester County, NY, I can rerlate to the many references in this action packed book.
   Pickett brings the reader into every fire call, every dark smokey hallway and heat searing room. The reader is there, holding the irons, the nozzle or climbing the ladder.
   Above all the book is truthful. Clearly, the author;s integrity and honest is eveident during each story-both the flattering and humiliating. George Pickett should be proud of his career, family and work on the compelling effort to document the life of a New York City Firefighter. Bravo!!!
   -Michael J. Deegan



5. A page turning account of life as a New York City firefighter. A little slow at the start, but captivating and exciting by the second chapter. George Pickett does a great job of taking you along on the big red trucks, down the burning halls and into the mindset of the men, who New Yorkers call The Brave. Not only a great story but an important history lesson for anyone who wants a better tomorrow for us all. A Great read! 5 Stars!!! Thanks George!!

5 comments about John Burroughs: An American Naturalist.

1. I first got turned on to Ed Renehan when I saw him on C-SPAN discussing the book he wrote about the family of Theodore Roosevelt, entitled THE LION'S PRIDE. After enjoying LION'S PRIDE, I purchased and learned a lot from Renehan's beautifully written account of John Brown and the Harpers Ferry raid, entitled THE SECRET SIX. Then, although I'd never heard of John Burroughs, I moved onto this excellent biography of a fascinating but neglected figure of American history, and am glad I did. Now I will turn to some of Burroughs's own writings, if I can find them!



2. Ed Renehan has put together an exquisite, instructive review of the long life of John Burroughs. The old lion emerges in all his splendor in these pages -- intellectual, literate (he knew Emerson and Whitman among others), worldly (he had a mistress who was a New York psychiatrist), and above all, a sympathetic observer of the natural world. We need his perspective as never before. -- John Hanson Mitchell, author of CEREMONIAL TIME, LIVING AT THE END OF TIME, and other books



3. Edward Renehan has restored John Burroughs to his rightful place in the history of American literature and conservation. -- Frank Graham, Jr., author of SINCE SILENT SPRING, THE AUDUBON ARK, and other books



4. "Renehan's biography does precisely what it sets out to do: it provides the thorough, responsible, readable biography which has so long been wanting in Burroughs scholarship." -- Ameican Nature Writing, 1993 edition



5. At the tag end of our scarred century, we grasp, almost in desperation, for a new purchase on nature. To assist in this restorative effort, we can look back on the work and the way of life of earlier naturalists who tried to hold our neglectful attention. Edward Renehan, with this affectionate, critical biography, has given us back John Burroughs, one of the best of that surprisingly contentious (and interesting) breed. ------ William S. McFeely, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning GRANT: A BIOGRAPHY, and other books.

5 comments about Love and Valor : Intimate Civil War Letters Between Captain Jacob and Emeline Ritner.

1. As I read this remarkable volume I felt I was being transported back to those Civil War days, telling me how it was both in the war zone and back home in Iowa. Jacob Ritner is a remarkable figure, inspiring admiration and eminently worthy of emulation. His accounts of the battles he was in are vivid and immediate, and the editor of this volume has performed a most worthwhile service in resurrecting from the buried past this correspondence to inspire all who value patriotism and fidelity to duty and to one's marriage vow. One cannot but be enriched by following Captain Ritner and his wife thru those perilous years from 1861 thru 1865.



2. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!. Some times, historical correspondance can be dry. However, these letter are not! They are very readable, offering a interesting insight into the real lives of people during the turbulent era of the Civil War. Charles Larimer has done excellent research and his annotations add to the context of when the letters were written. Highly recommended. I look forward to reading his Scottish Stories from Loch Ness.



3. I am not a reader of books nor a student of the civil war. However, I found this book to be fascinating. The horrors of war and the loneliness of soldiers are universal, and the insights into this particular war and historical era are compelling. It is very easy to read, and is both educational and entertaining. Please give me more by this writer!



4. As an amateur war historian, I find that all too rarely do we see the war on both sides. The hardships of everyday Americans during the Civil War were not only occurring on the battlefield, but in the homes left behind in the cornfields of Iowa. This unique perspective is presented in the heartfelt correspondence between Jacob and Emeline. A rare opportunity to behold the searching meditations of a man gripped by both love, and patriotism.



5. What a splendid work of Civil War history! Hats off to Charles F.Larimer. I couldn't have imagined there was so much historical data in intimate letters. The details are all here. What trials and tribulations our forefathers and mothers went through to perserve our nation. I now find myself becoming a Civil War buff after reading this book, and it only took me three days! As I read on, I found myself in my great-great grandfather's shoes fighting along the side of Cpt.Jacob Ritner and the boys from the 25th. How involved you become. I enjoyed the little jousting that Jacob and Crane had. Buy it today and enjoy a sentimental piece of Civil War history..........

2 comments about Lincoln's Legacy: Ethics and Politics.

1. I found my irritation level rising as I read this short collection of essays. I know that the Lincoln industry cranks out book after book each year. But let's face it: not everything written about Lincoln ought to be printed. I'm afraid that this book is a case in point. The essays, with one possible exception, are uninteresting and underdeveloped. This is especially sad, because each of the four authors has produced quite fine work elsewhere.
   
   In both the book title and the Introduction written by editor Phillip Shaw Paludan, this volume claims to offer reflections on Lincoln's political and ethical legacy. Paludan admits that trying to figure out how Lincoln might respond to specific 21st century issues is probably impossible, but he does think that Lincoln's example can provide general direction. In fact, "without [Lincoln] in the conversation modern solutions, modern understanding, would be impoverished" (p. viii).
   
   The problem is that none of the essays make even the slightest explicit effort to demonstrate the applicability or relevance of Lincoln to contemporary ethical and political issues. Paludan's essay on Lincoln's views of democracy comes closest, but even then only indirectly. William Lee Miller's essay on presidential virtues, Mark Summers' on Lincoln's handling of the spoils system, and Mark Neely's on freedom of speech and the judiciary don't even try.
   
   That's the first cause of my irritation: the book isn't what it claims to be. But I could live with this if the essays themselves were good. But they're not--hence irritation #2.
   
   Paludan's and Miller's essays stress Lincoln's fidelity to the rule of law and the morally binding nature of his oath of office to uphold the Constitution. But neither of them ask the interesting (and obvious) question of why Lincoln the war president cherry-picked when it came to both the law and the Constitution. Moreover, Miller's essay, a listing of seven "virtues" supposedly displayed by Lincoln the president, seems pointless. At best, it embarrassingly reads as if it's an inspirational talk given at a leadership workshop: "7 Lincolnian Steps to Becoming an Effective Leader." Perhaps I'm expecting too much from Miller because, like him, I'm a professional academic philosopher. But his essay really does strike me as too thin to deserve publication.
   
   Mark Neely's essay is both the longest and the most arcane of the four essays in the collection. But it's also utterly boring to anyone who's not fascinated by questions of constitutional law, the relationship between judgments handed down by federal and Supreme courts, and the duties of grand juries. The one essay in the book that's genuinely worth reading is Mark Summers' account of Lincoln's escape from the mess of patronage and spoils. But its value is exclusively historical, and sheds no (promised by the editor) light on contemporary ethical or political issues.
   
   As we approach the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth, we can expect to be flooded with books on the president by opportunistic publishers. Some, I'm sure, will be quite good. But most, I suspect, will be either mediocre or quite bad. Lincoln's Legacy, I fear, is the advance spray from that coming tidal wave.



2. A slim volume of four essays by noted experts on President Lincoln. Will be good for readers interested in certain aspects of his time in office, such as his relationship with the judiciary and the awarding of jobs to office-seekers. I thought the strongest of these four essays was the one on democracy.
   
   I question the selling price of this book. $30 seems stiff, compared to the many full biographies of this great man to be had for a similar price.

5 comments about Edward Albee: A Singular Journey: A Biography.

1. I have not finished, but am completely enjoying the life story of one of America's finest playwrights. I became intrigued by something on the internet and then purchased this book. Before long I needed to read some
   of his plays. I began with his Pulitzer Prize winning "Who's Afraid of
   Virginia Woolf?" I am really getting a deep picture of Edward Albee and
   highly recommend "A Singular Journey" for anyone who loves the whole process of writing and sharing our life stories. This book was written by
   Mel Gussow, thanks to him and the wonderful Edward Albee, readers will
   travel for a time through the life and mind of one incredibly brilliant
   individual.



2. I received this book as a gift from the author's son and daughter-in-law. It's simply an amazing story, perhaps the only thing more amazing than Gussow's writing is the man that he writes about. Gussow captures Albee's natural speaking wit and amazing story in an absolutely brilliant way.



3. Gussow admires and likes Albee and one supposes that is a good thing, but one wonders if that is enough to recommend this author for the job of writing Edward Albee's biography. Many will say so, of course, because of Gussow's credentials as a theater buff. If you see playwriting as a branch of the show biz trade, then surely Gussow is your man, but if prefer to speak of Ibsen and Chekhov in the same breath as Zola and Turgenev, that is, if one sees plays as part of literature, and wishes to speak of the theater beyond box office receipts and stardom, then maybe this star-gazing journalist could be bettered. I got tired of Gussow's praise for Albee's so-called political consciousness coupled with his admiration for Albee's talent for making real estate deals. Hypocritical radical chic seems so very yesterday. Albee's career follows more or less the course of Tennessee Williams and Noel Coward; early fame was followed by years of critical scorn and popular indifference. Unlike them, Albee has had a late-term come back. Revivals open annually as do new works. Yet, what somebody has to do is evaluate their worth. Saying it is all wonderful simply will not do.



4. Albee is without doubt my favorite living playwright, so I'm a little biased, but I read and enjoyed this book, and felt like I got to know Albee a lot better in the process, without losing any of my respect for him.
   Since his plays are so much about family and the pursuit of "success", it's worthwhile to know about how Albee--who was adopted--grew up. I recommend this to anyone who admires Albee's plays, and also to sceptics who want more insight on the ideas and the man behind them.



5. This is a very good biography of Albee, and the best book available on the great playwright, but for those who consider 'The Zoo Story' and 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf' to be his sole significant works should look for lighter reading. The book refuses to be salacious, sticks to the facts and offers very to-the-point criticism on Albee's plays. Albee emerges as a figure of some mystery and extraordinary talent. The book does not find any powerful new insight as in, for example, Tom: The Unknown Tennessee Williams, but the book does move along nicely and is highly informative.
   Overall, a good read for Albee's fans.
   (By the way, what's up with all of the short 1-star reviews of the book, does someone have a personal vendetta against the author?)

No comments about Abraham Lincoln and the Union (Library of American Biography Series) (Library of American Biography).

3 comments about Storms, Floods, and Sunshine: Isaac Monroe Cline : An Autobiography With a Summary of Tropical Hurricanes.

1. After reading several books about the Sept. 8th, 1900 hurricane that decimated Galveston, Texas (The Windows of Heaven, Weekend In September, The Great Galveston Disaster, Death From The Sea, Isaac's Storm and Through a Night of Horror) I found this book, an autobiography of Isaac Cline. It is an interesting look at a man who was at the forefront of understanding the need to accurately predict weather phenomenon in order to protect people whose lives could otherwise be lost and whose homes and businesses were imperiled.
   Isaac Cline was born in a log cabin on a small farm in Tennessee. His favorite book to read was the Bible, followed soon after by the writings of Jules Verne. Isaac wanted to one day write a great book on a matter of science, although in what area he was not then certain. He attended college through a combination of hard work and generosity, and was encouraged to become a preacher but realized that this was not truly in his heart.
   He flourished in the science and math classes. In 1871 the U.S. Weather Service was formed and this gave rise to the opportunity to chose a scientific career where he could indulge his passion for science and research. Isaac Cline would eventually be known as the Weather Service man on Galveston who realized what was happening and put himself in danger to warn residents to flee. His personal losses were high.
   He was also sent for a time to New Orleans where he realized that the potential for disaster from a hurricane in that region was all but inevitable.
   His research into tide tables, wind velocities, the storm surge, and figuring out the spiraling pattern of hurricanes are just a few of the advancements that can be credited to this fascinating man.
   Isaac Cline was also a collector of art in several forms, having some personal collections that were at times unrivaled for their quality and quantity.
   Some of the chapters in this book have a provincial feel to them, due to the fact that they were written in a different era, but the wide variety and experiences that Isaac Cline relates show his unique personality and depth of character.



2. Isaac Monroe Cline, writing of a storm he weathered off the coast of Veracruz, Mexico, made the prescient comment that "This was my first experience in a tropical cyclone, but it was not to be my last." Prescient, that is, for native Galvestonians who have listened to stories of the fateful, terrible Great Storm of 1900 from their forebears. I myself am a descendant of a survivor of an event that binds people together like Pearl Harbor survivors. Every B.O.I. (Born On the Island), it seems, had someone in the family or knew someone who made it through the night on September 8 one century ago.

   Storms, Floods and Sunshine is one book that will be indispensable to storm descendants and Texas history aficionados. It is the autobiography of Isaac Cline, the weatherman who followed the storm as it crossed the Gulf of Mexico after its birth under the sweltering West African sun, traveling thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean, cutting a swath of destruction across Cuba before turning its fury directly on the industrious city of Galveston, the Wall Street west of the Mississippi and number one cotton port in the nation.

   The chapters are short and the sentences are spare of the sentimental, flowery rhetoric one might expect of a Victorian-age Southerner born at the cusp of the Civil War in 1861. His life was one of Masonic diligence, Franklin-like in his pursuit of science and the betterment of mankind, shunning distractions like strong drink, gambling, even the company of women, until he could convince himself that perhaps the soft touch of a woman's hand could help him in social advancement.

   Predictably, the longest chapters concern the development of weather technology, from its infancy under the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army., the political undercurrents, the infighting, and the agricultural aggrandizement. There are some snippets of humor, such as one forecaster who typed up the forecast for the week, submitted it to the newspaper, and took off fishing.

   "History does not record a greater disaster in the United States, than that which occurred at Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900."

   The one chapter that stands out, of course, is the one which changed the lives of thousands of residents and the course of a city. It materially changed Cline's life as well--he lost his wife in the disaster. Curiously, he is very silent about her other than a short description of how they met. Perhaps the memory of her death was too painful to relate in the wake of a hurricane that took at least 6,000 lives.

   Some of the asides and anecdotes may strike the modern reader as a little bizarre. To put it in perspective, the writer is, after all, a devout Methodist who put aside a promising career as a preacher to study medicine and the weather. For example, a whole chapter is devoted to the novel idea that the ark was actually built in America--near the swamps of Florida and North Carolina, to be exact. Yet even here he marshals evidence he considers scientific, such as wood type and ocean currents. Plausible, maybe. Unusual, certainly.

   It is a firsthand account of someone who helped a neglected branch of science become an essential part of our understanding of the natural world today. As Cline writes, "The slow progress made in the study of weather is surprising. The barometer was not invented until 1643, and the special study of weather and its changes did not receive much attention until two hundred years later."




3. In a field of science where writing can be used more as a weapon than as a tool for understanding, Isaac Cline still shines as a meteorologist who knew how to write in a way most anyone can understand, without "dumbing up" the prose. The only thing missing are pictures, charts, and diagrams, if for no other reason than as a necessary break from all the text. His short chapters work to the book's advantage.

   Even after 49 years, the spirit of the author comes alive in his writings. He was in a unique situation - witnessing the birth of the National Weather Service, and leading to its eventual acceptance from a public unable to believe anyone could make a one hour forecast, let alone one for two days!

   He expanded the role of the NWS in his 55-year career, and now has an award named after him, long after his demise. He lived to a ripe old age, doing what he loved most. His personality is in full effect - he comes across arrogant at times, and uses shameless self-promotion in order to get everyone to know all the contributions he has made to meteorology and Early American Art. It was, and still is, well deserved, however.

   He goes over his role in the Galveston Hurricane, the 1915 New Orleans Hurricane, and numerous Mississippi River Floods, including the great crevasse of 1927. He put most of the pieces of the hurricane puzzle together, and advanced the science significantly. He raised a family, and still found time to restore old paintings and make great contributions to his community in Galveston and New Orleans throughout his life.

   The lessons he learned in life were hard, but it helped make him the man he was. His story is still fresh, even after all these years. This book is well worth owning, and is valuable in its historical information. Meteorologists and local historians could do worse than do read/own this work.

5 comments about How Robert E. Lee Lost the Civil War.

1. The whole premise of this book is thrown out the window by the fact that Robert E. Lee was not promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate Forces until 31 January 1865, before that he was the Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia thus defending Virginia. Before that it was President Jefferson Davis who was calling the statragic maneuvers of the war. If Lee had been promoted earlier, things might have been different.



2. The book is sloppily researched and uses too much uneducated opinion. Bonekemper is certainly no military theorist or tactician. The author allows for no discussions of alternate opinions and presumes too much. I new look at Lee and his generalship is long overdue, but I owuld not waste your money on this. Try Emory Thomas or if you hate Lee this much, read Connelly's the Marble Man. At least Connelly's was well researched even if I do not agree with the opinion. That so many here pile on the praise of this book I would suggest taking a basic course in military theory.
   
   A couple of thoughts for you to ponder. What would the Confederacy have done if Richmond had fallen? That the author claims that Lee bled his army white shows his lack of knowledge about other contemporary battles, particualrly Solferino and the Napoleonic Wars.
   
   If Longstreet was not wounded at the Wilderness, Grant would have beeen forced back across the Rapidan.
   
   The author makes a better case with his book on Grant, but this is garbage.



3. Bonekemper has written a book that many Civil War history buffs will find outrageously controversial. His thesis, that Gen. Lee lost a winnable war through incompetent leadership, is broken down into the following claims:
   
   1) By taking the war into the North, Lee followed an ill-conceived strategy that had no chance of ultimate success. He could not maintain himself in supply at that distance from his base. He would eventually have to retreat, making it seem like he had been defeated, whether he had been or not. Further, he was making poor use of the two strategic advantages that the South had: a) they did not have to conquer the North in order to win the war, they only had to outlast them; and b) with their internal lines of communication, they could shift men and resources to the places where they most needed them.
   
   2) Lee's strategical viewpoint was influenced by his focus on the war in the East, and particularly the war in Virginia. He demanded and received the best of everything the South had to offer, and used it to fight for Virginia rather than for the South as a whole. He ignored important developments in the West, and denied that theatre resources that might have prevented its collapse. This myopia eventually allowed his own forces to be cut off and surrounded.
   
   3) Lee's strategy was made even worse by his preference for being on the offensive tactically. He failed to grasp that technological changes in weaponry had made massed charges on well-prepared defensive fortifications tantamount to suicide. He sent his soldiers into numerous assaults on Northern positions, that, even when they succeeded in driving back the enemy, were using up his manpower resources at an unsustainable rate.
   
   4) Compounding the above errors, Lee was not good at managing his army. He failed to provide himself with an adequate staff that could oversee the carrying out of his orders. His orders themselves were often vague, discretionary, and delivered verbally so that they were subject to misinterpretation and distortion.
   
   Anyone who is not wed to the image of Lee as a brilliant military commander will probably find himself being swayed by Bonekemper's arguments. Although born and raised in the South, my opinions on the Civil War make me an honorary Yankee. Therefore, I was entirely open to reading criticism of Lee, in spite of his iconic status. I found that at some point, though, I began to lose confidence in Bonekemper's objectivity. No possible objections to his viewpoint are presented or answered. He sets up the facts he want the reader to focus on, and ignores everything else. Nowhere does he mention that the idea of an invasion of the North was promoted by Johnston before Lee ever took command, or that it was also floated by Jackson at the end of his Valley campaign. Nowhere does he mention that the weight of public opinion in the South was completely opposed to a defensive war, and would probably have forced the resignation of any general who attempted to fight in that manner. (Lee could hardly have argued in favor of a defensive war using the prestige that he only enjoyed due to his willingness to go on the offensive.) Nor does Bonekemper mention the material advantages in resources and advanced weaponry enjoyed by the North that would have made a defensive war unlikely to succeed. Although weaponry made great technological advances during the war, the South did not possess the advanced weaponry as soon or in the same quantity as the North. For example, the South's retreat in the face of McClellan's advance during the Peninsula campaign was necessitated by their lack of long range guns that could respond to an artillery bombardment by Northern batteries.
   
   That said, I think there is some truth in Bonekemper's book, even if he does overstate his case. The South did not lose solely because of the decisions of one man, but Lee does bear some of the responsibility for the loss (not that I would have wanted the outcome to be different). Had Bonekemper tempered his arguments and taken into account some of the possible objections, this would be a much stronger book. Even so, I think it is worth reading for those who already have some knowledge of the issues. It is not a good book to start with in learning about the Civil War, though, and it is definitely not the last word on its subject.



4. This is a very thought provoking look at Lee's career. Read with THE REASON THE SOUTH LOST and WHY THE NORTH WON, it gives one a very different view of the relative capabilities of the generals involved and the constraints placed on both sides -- both physical and emotional. Lee undoubtedly has to bear the major blame for the South's defeat -- Bonekemper details and quantify's Lee's shortcomings in his grasp of strategy and the South's resources. I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it whether you agree with his argument or not.



5. Calling Robert E. Lee myopic in any context of the war he fought is crazy. Lee followed a strategy that was highly tuned to Southern desires. His strategy was well calculated to exert influence in the North and the crowned thugs in Europe. Lee could see a truth in the war nobody else could see, the war could be lost in either the east or west but only won in the east. Lee knew his men in the east were superior to the generals in the west, this however gave Lee no satisfaction but he did know it. As far as Lee being too aggressive is out of play as well. The southerners demanded aggressiveness and clamored for one thing, more war! Lee's style was exactly what southern temperment required. Look at what he achieves during the war and any one can see that because he was not successful does not mean he was wrong. At Seven Days he saved Richmond, at second Manassas he gave Lincoln a true emergency and at Chancellorsville, with the exception of Grant, haunts all other generals in the North during the rest of the war. Lee alone gave the Confederacy its only chance of victory and lived a life that was a vibrant heritage to everyone. So all of you on the Robert E. Lee myopia train need to get off, quit playing Monday morning quarterback and start studying a piece of history that can hold some water.

No comments about Maryland Line Confederate Soldiers' Home and Confederate veterans' organizations in Maryland.

No comments about Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (Unabridged Classics in Audio).