The Class of 1846 - by John C Waugh (Paperback)

About the Book

This fascinating account chronicles the remarkable group of West Point classmates who fought each other on the battlefields of the Civil War. Two 8-page photo inserts.

Book Synopsis

No single group of men at West Point--or possibly any academy--has been so indelibly written into history as the class of 1846. The names are legendary: Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, George B. McClellan, Ambrose Powell Hill, Darius Nash Couch, George Edward Pickett, Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox, and George Stoneman. The class fought in three wars, produced twenty generals, and left the nation a lasting legacy of bravery, brilliance, and bloodshed.

This fascinating, remarkably intimate chronicle traces the lives of these unforgettable men--their training, their personalities, and the events in which they made their names and met their fates. Drawing on letters, diaries, and personal accounts, John C. Waugh has written a collective biography of masterful proportions, as vivid and engrossing as fiction in its re-creation of these brilliant figures and their pivotal roles in American history.

From the Back Cover

No single group of men at West Point -- or possibly any academy -- has been so indelibly written into history as the class of 1846. The names are legendary: Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, George B. McClellan, Ambrose Powell Hill, Darius Nash Couch, George Edward Pickett, Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox, and George Stoneman. The class fought in three wars, produced twenty generals, and left the nation a lasting legacy of bravery, brilliance, and bloodshed.

This fascinating, remarkably intimate chronicle traces the lives of these unforgettable men -- their training, their personalities, and the events in which they made their names and met their fates. Drawing on letters, diaries, and personal accounts, John C. Waugh has written a collective biography of masterful proportions, as vivid and engrossing as fiction in its re-creation of these brilliant figures and their pivotal roles in American history.

Review Quotes

"A splendid idea, carried through with grace, style, and insight. Altogether a wonderful read."
--STEPHEN E. AMBROSE

"A fresh and fascinating look at an extraordinary group of men who were literally in a 'class by itself.' A rich, rewarding biography, Waugh's astounding narrative brings history to life. I read it in one sitting."
--Jeff Shaara
Author of the New York Times bestseller
The Last Full Measure

"Finally and tragically, brothers became enemies in America's bloodiest conflict, a progression vividly traced in The Class of 1846. . . . [Waugh] has done his homework well, and has deftly translated his findings into a . . . compelling narrative that follows the fate of that class from plebe days to Appomattox and beyond. . . . The Class of 1846 belongs on the shelf of not only Civil War buffs but also students of all military history."
--The New York Times Book Review

About the Author

John C. Waugh is a veteran former newspaper correspondent and bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor, who has since turned historical reporter. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Civil War Times Illustrated, The New Republic, The Nation, and numerous other national publications. He has served on the senior staffs of a Republican vice president and a Democratic US senator. A lifelong student of the Civil War, he is also the author of Reelecting Lincoln, published in 1998. He and his wife, Kathleen Lively, live in Arlington, Texas.