Unforgettables: Some Winners, Losers, Strong Women, and Eccentric Men of the Civil War Era

John C. Waugh's book "Unforgettables: Winners, Losers, Strong Women, and Eccentric Men of the Civil War Era" presents forty memorable and impactful individuals from the American Civil War. Waugh's unique pen and style bring to life a mix of famous and infamous, little-known and unremembered, reintroducing us to Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanan. The book also includes military personalities, African Americans, women, and media mavens, and aims to rekindle passion and hook non-believers on the drama of history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2023
Publisher: Savas Beatie

John C. Waugh, the acclaimed author of the widely celebrated and prestigious The Class of 1846, unveils a captivating collection of forty remarkable individuals who left an indelible mark on his three-decade-long exploration and writing about the American Civil War. These captivating figures, whom Waugh affectionately refers to as his "Unforgettables," are brought to life through his unique penmanship and lively narrative style. Waugh's portrayal encompasses a diverse range of personalities, from the renowned and infamous to the lesser-known and forgotten. He reintroduces us to Abraham Lincoln, the accomplished writer, alongside Jefferson Davis, the defeated president, and their fascinating and influential wives, Mary and Varina. The book also juxtaposes Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel Webster, known as the "three for the ages," with Presidents Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanan, four chief executives who failed to prevent the impending war. Among the military personalities featured are U.S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, with a nod to their mentor, the nearly forgotten General Winfield Scott. Waugh's inclusive approach extends to encompass "the seekers of equality," such as African Americans Sojourner Truth and Lincoln's close friend Frederick Douglass. Additionally, he includes a half-dozen remarkable women, such as Maria Mayo, Kate Chase, and Anna Dickinson, who played pivotal roles in shaping our understanding of cultural issues. Furthermore, the author pays tribute to influential media mavens Horace Greeley and Adam Gurowski. Poet and political activist Muriel Rukeyser once observed that the universe is composed of stories, not atoms. If she had elaborated, she might have added that these stories are propelled by the passions of their characters and constitute the essence of history. In his Preface, Waugh expresses his hope that these sketches and word portraits will rekindle that passion and captivate a few non-believers, inviting them to delve into the rich tapestry of the Civil War era.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781611216653