In becoming "a useful man" on the maritime stage; Matthew Fontaine Maury focused on the ills of a clique-ridden Navy; charted sea lanes and bested Great Britain's admiralty in securing the fastest; safest routes to India and Australia. He helped bind the Old and New worlds with the laying of the transatlantic cable; forcefully advocated Southern rights in a troubled union; and preached Manifest Destiny from the Arctic to Cape Horn. And he revolutionized warfare in perfecting electronically detonated mines. Maury's eagerness to go to the public on the questions of the day riled powerful men in business and politics; and the U.S.; Confederate and Royal navies. He more than once ran afoul of Jefferson Davis and Stephen R. Mallory; secretary of the Confederate States Navy. But through the political; social and scientific struggles of his time; Maury had his share of powerful allies; like President John Tyler.
#2857582 in Books Mcfarland 2012-04-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.90 x .60 x 6.90l; .88 #File Name: 0786469137232 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Unique - Inspirational - Scholarly; yet emminently readableBy MylesThere are dozens of books about Gettysburg...books that detail troop movements and aggregate totals of men in regiments and brigades. There are dozens about the battles and tactics employed at Gettysburg. There are dozens about Generals who made the decisions that sent thousands to their fate.This book is different - this book puts faces on those young men; reminding us that each of them was someone's son; or husband or brother.Michael Dreese has done meticulous research in order to bring his subjects from their homes and then placing them on the battlefield during those July days of 1863. In the pages of "Torn Families" we read of about fathers and sons; such as Samuel and Bayard Wilkeson. Samuel was a New York Times war correspondent at Gettysburg struggling to document the news; even after having seen his son dead on the field. There is the remarkable story of young Andrew Gregg Tucker; whose mother was brought to the battlefield by a University President. We read of Gettysburg residents such as the Buehler family; who opened their home to wounded soldiers and then welcomed the wives of the men who came to nurse them back to health. The Powers family willingly spent their earthly fortune caring for the wounded; finding food whereever they could for those being treated inside their home.The book introduces us to the Cavada brothers; who were born in Cuba but went to fight for their adopted homeland. We read of Levi and Henry Walker; inseparable brothers with a strong resemblance to each other - a resemblance maintained when they both lost left legs at Gettysburg while fighting for the Confederacy. Dreese skillfully details the account of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul from nearby Emmitsburg MD - a group of Nuns who came to help the wounded in any way they could; and included two sisters who were not only Sisters in the convent but by blood as well.In these pages; we find stirring accounts of love; faithfulness; devotion and patriotism. This is unique among my collection of books about Gettysburg. I can only hope that more of Michael Dreese's writings are coming; and will be available on Kindle.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Very good book. In fact the Basset Brothers are my ...By JohnVery good book. In fact the Basset Brothers are my great; great ; great uncles. Their younger sister Francis "Frankie" is my great great grandmother. I have about 200 letters all three brothers wrote home to their parents while they were in the war; including several diaries and other artifacts ( their parents kept them and passed them down). Amazing how some families were on different sides during the war.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. GREAT READ!By JESSICA PUMAThis was a fabulous book. Detailed and extremely well researched. It was like seeing the battle from a totally new perspective. I am heading to the 150th at Gettysburg in a few weeks . I can't wait to share these amazing stories of courage with the people I am traveling with!
