More Important Than Good Generals

Jonathan Engel's book, published by Kent State University Press, examines the regimental officer corps of the Army of the Tennessee, focusing on captains, lieutenants, majors, and colonels. Engel critiques the lack of studies on these mid-level officers, although he acknowledges that several recent works have already addressed similar questions. His sample of 481 officers, based on letters and diaries, presents biases that may skew his conclusions about their moral and political worldview. Despite these limitations, the book provides a useful yet uneven approach to this neglected subject.