Dismissed from the U.S. Naval Academy in early 1861; William Barker Cushing nonetheless emerged from the Civil War as one of the Navy’s greatest heroes. Cushing transformed his reputation from a rabblerouser into a living legend; because he embodied the special qualities that the Navy demands of the men in whom it entrusts its most hazardous and secret tasks: a readiness to volunteer for dangerous assignments; an unflagging devotion to duty; and more than a fair share of good fortune. As Robert J. Schneller observes; "He was patriotic; aggressive; tough; and recklessly bold." Before embarking on his most daring mission-his celebrated destruction of the Confederate ironclad Albemarle-he bragged that he would "come out victorious or ‘toes up.’" By the end of the war he had amassed four commendations from the Navy Department and the thanks of Congress and President Lincoln. "All this for a man;" Schneller writes; "who was only twenty-two years old when Lee surrendered at Appomattox." Employing his customary readable and entertaining style; Schneller focuses on Cushing’s naval career and those aspects of his personality that affected it.
#2871535 in Books White Mane Publishing Company 1999-09-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.33 x 1.01 x 6.24l; 1.38 #File Name: 1572491647270 pages
Review
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful. A must read for Civil War buffs.By A CustomerWhen one starts reading Stopping Pickett; you immediately notice the author has a very comfortable and easy to read writing style. He easily sets the mood in the proper time frame for the reader to fully appreciate; enjoy and sympathize with the men who made up the Philadelphia Brigade. Gottfried's use of quotes; gleamed from diaries; letters and official battle reports; makes the book come alive. As you read the quotes you are transported back in time to Gettysburg; Fredericksburg; Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor to name but a few. Additionally; Gottfried offers an unbiased presentation of the performance of the Philadelphia Brigade during the War that allows the reader to make up his own mind about the Brigade's sometimes controversial performance. Lastly; I heartily recommend this book to anyone; be he or she novice or veteran Civil War aficionado; if they wish to learn about this exciting and pivotal brigade.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. STOPPING PICKETT: THE HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADEBy Robert A. LynnSTOPPING PICKETT: THE HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADEBRADLEY M. GOTTFRIEDWHITE MANE PUBLISHING; 1999HARDCOVER; $29.95; 270 PAGES; MAPS; ILLUSTRATIONS; APPENDICES; NOTES; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX; PHOTOGRAPHSLike many units formed at the outbreak of The War Between The States; the ranks of the Philadelphia Brigade was filled with soldiers with limited military experience. The Philadelphia Brigade (consisting of the 69th; 71st; 72nd; and 106th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiments) differed from others because the majority of men hailed from one small geographic area. Despite this fact; the Brigade had the distinction of being initially mustered into service under the banner of a distant state-California.From its baptism of fire; the brigade participated in every campaign involving the Army of the Potomac; until it was mustered out during the siege of Petersburg in the summer of 1864. The Philadelphia Brigade occupies a prominent place in the history of the Battle of Gettysburg. Under command of General Alex S. Webb; it held that particular point on the line which is familiar in U.S. history as "the high-water mark of the Rebellion." This position was the focus of a concentrated fire during the unprecedented artillery combat of the third day; and when the storm of missiles was followed by Pickett's Charge; the Confederate's made their most daring and desperate thrust against the point of the line which was held by Webb and his men. It was also here that Cushing's Battery made its gallant fight and General Armistead; the leader of the charge; fell dead at the muzzle of one of Cushing's guns. The Brigade captured four battle flags during the Battle of Gettysburg-the 3rd; 9th; 53rd; and 56th Virginia Infantry Regiments.The 69th (2nd California) entered Gettysburg with 258 officers and men and held the stonewall in front of the Brigade; it would loose 40 killed; 80 wounded; and 9 missing; Colonel Dennis O' Kane and Lt. Colonel Tschudy being among the killed. At Antietam; it was in Sedgwick's Division; and fought at the Dunker Church where it sustained 19 killed; 58 wounded; and 15 missing. The 69th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment; like the 69th New York Infantry Regiment; was composed mostly of Irish blood; and fully sustained the reputation of the Irish soldier for gallantry in battle. It was recruited in Philadelphia and served continuously in the Second Division of the II Corps.The 71st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment (1st California or California Regiment) was also recruited in Philadelphia in May; 1861 and also participated in many of the engagements that the 69th did as well. At Gettysburg; it was stationed at the angle of the stonewall against which General Armistead and his brigade made their famous charge. Prior to Gettysburg; their strength was 421 officers and men of which they would sustain 21 killed; 58 wounded; and 19 missing. This regiment would muster out on 9 July 1864; its term of service having expired.The 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment (3rd California or Baxter Zouaves) was recruited in Philadelphia as a "Fire Zouave" regiment in August; 1861. It comprised fifteen companies of which five were disbanded in 1862 and distributed throughout the other ten companies. It received its baptism of fire at Fair Oaks; Virginia while being assigned to Sedgwick's Division. It also fought at Antietam and Gettysburg where it occupied an exposed position during the terrible artillery shelling on the third day in which it took a conspicuous part in repulsing Pickett's Charge. The regiment began Gettysburg with 473 officers and men and sustained 44 killed; 145 wounded; and 2 missing. In August; 1864; it received the order to muster out.The 106th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment (5th California) was recruited from Philadelphia as well as Lycoming and Bradford Counties between August and October; 1861; with the exception of Company K; which was transferred from the 27th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. Its first action was at Ball's Bluff followed by the Seven Days' Battles; Antietam; and Gettysburg. Those who weren't discharged and sent home were consolidated into a battalion of three companies-F; H; and K. They fought through the Appomattox Campaign and all were discharged on 30 June 1865.This book STOPPING PICKETT: THE HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE is more then merely a history of the actions of this Brigade-it is the story of how civilians were forged into an effective fighting unit that gained lasting fame on the Gettysburg battlefield. The illustrations and maps as well as the appendices complement this excellent and well-researched account of one of the least written about units of the Army of the Potomac. The chapters are listed below:Chapter 1-Organizing The 1st CaliforniaChapter 2-Organizing The Remainder Of The California Brigade And Its First CampaignChapter 3-Ball's BluffChapter 4-Winter of 1861-62Chapter 5-YorktownChapter 6-Fair OaksChapter 7-The Seven DaysChapter 8-Relief Of PopeChapter 9-The Antietam CampaignChapter 10-The Fredericksburg CampaignChapter 11-Winter Quarters And ChancellorsvilleChapter 12-The March To GettysburgChapter 13-Gettysburg: The Second DayChapter 14-Gettysburg: The Third DayChapter 15-The Fall 1863 Campaigns And Winter QuartersChapter 16-The Wilderness And SpotsylvaniaChapter 17-North Anna; Totopotomoy; And Cold HarborChapter 18-Petersburg And Disbanding The BrigadeChapter 19-AnalysisLt. Colonel Robert A. Lynn; Florida GuardOrlando; Florida
