Lee and Grant: Profiles in Leadership from the Battlefields of Virginia. Maj. Charles R. Bowery Jr. American Management Association. 262 pages; photographs; notes; $24.
On May 4, 1864, Ulysses S. Grant crossed the Rapidan River just south of Washington, D.C., to attack Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia, beginning a series of bloody battles collectively named the Overland Campaign. Although the names of the battles provide markers-Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna and Cold Harbor-this campaign was two months of nonstop combat. The author tells us that these battles were "unprecedented in their scale and ferocity, a titanic series of clashes that redefined the savagery of the Civil War. It was the largest, hardest-fought and most destructive military campaign ever waged on the North American continent, and it involved the opposing armies in combat on virtually a daily basis for the entire period." Talk about fertile ground for a study of leadership.
Maj. Charles Bowery is uniquely equipped to tell this story of combat leadership. He taught history at the U.S. Military Academy and is an Army officer with combat experience himself, bringing added credibility to the discussion.
The book begins with chapters introducing Lee and Grant-their backgrounds, values and the events that shaped them-followed by a chronological presentation of the campaign, using the different battles to highlight timeless leadership principles.
This book is an exceptional resource for leaders to read and discuss with their subordinates. Suggested subjects include:
* The impact of Lee's personal presence when the North was breaking through at both Wilderness and Spotsylvania.
* The impact of continuous combat on mental and physical fitness and decision making, especially at North Anna where sickness and exhaustion took a toll on the Confederates.
* The influence of a calm, cool and collected leader who stays focused on the overall purpose.
* The need to balance optimism with a realistic assessment of unit capabilities, especially taking into account the degrading impact of continuous operations.
* The need to shift leadership styles based on the situation and the unit's condition. Lee, for example, changed from a delegating style to a very direct style as the situation changed and less experienced officers were promoted by necessity.
* The art of reorganizing your team of leaders in the face of casualties.
If I were to make one suggestion, it would be to remove the occasional use of modern business and sports examples. They detracted from the exceptional story at hand.
Overall, this book is excellent. Bowery makes a significant contribution to Civil War history and, perhaps, an even greater contribution to the development of current military leaders who will be better equipped to lead in combat for having read and reflected on the experiences of Lee and Grant.
-Maj. Tony Burgess
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