Letters

Abstract

favor narrative over analysis. Throughout the book, brief attempts toplace Sharon's story in broader historical perspective and to engage the current historical literaturegenerally remain undeveloped. For example, Makley startshis seventh chapter on "The Ophir Debacle" with the observation that American economic devel opment had longdepended on government aid and thuswas rarelyan example of the laissez faireindividualismmen likeSharon supposedly characterized (p. 103). True enough. Yet, the chapter actually saysalmost nothing about the federal government's role in thedevelopment of theComstock. These brief nods toward the broader historical context often feel like later additions to the book, leaving them poorly integrated into the overall narrative. Indeed, contrary to Makley's assertion,Rockefeller and Carnegie arguably created a typeof corporate capitalism that was a significantdeparturefrom Sharon's largely traditional, ifhypertrophied, approach tobusiness. Ifhis evidence indicates otherwise, thenhe fails tomake the case here. Nonetheless, Makley has some good stories to tell.The book provides a detailed picture of how an emigrant from Smithfield,Ohio, with few means but considerable daring and energy was able to consolidate control over a good portion of one of the richest silver strikes in American history. Makley isequally thorough inhis tellingof the crisis that almost scuttled William Ralston's seemingly invulnerableBank of California in 1875. Sharons role in salvag ing the bank, and thus avoiding widespread economic calamity, was typical of theman ? Sharon managed to enrich his own bank account while doing an indisputable public service. Makley's penchant forstorytellingover analysis also serveswell in the laterchapters of thebook,which aremostly devoted to Sharon's somewhat bizarre attempts toavoid sharinghis wealth with a formermistress claiming to be his legalwife. Academic historians, though,will find the lackof analysis of such topics as Sharon's term as a U.S. senator more than a little frustrating. Why would aman so obviously bent on power make so littleuse of a Senate seat forhis own ends, actually deigning tovote in less than one percent of all roll calls?Makley does not really tellus. Still, thisbook will be useful to academics specializing in the histories of theComstock, Nevada and California, western business, and, of course, Sharon himself. Likewise, a popular audience will enjoyMakley's tales of power, corruption, and scandal. Historians interested in the broader history of theAmerican West, though, will probablybefrustratedby thebook's narrow focus and lack of analytical depth. Timothy J.LeCain Montana State University,Bozeman _LETTERS To theEditor: Your biographical sketch of Isaac Stevens, which introduces the fall 2005 issue, while necessarily short, does not do justice to this brave soldier,who played such an important role in the settlement of the West in the days leading up to thenation's CivilWar. Stevens graduated at the top of his class at West Point and served as an army officerdur ingthe Mexican War. In 1853, hewas appointed governor of the Washington Territory and in 1857was elected as the territory'sdelegate to Congress. As theCivilWar commenced, Stevens returned to army lifeserving as colonel, then brigadier general, and finallymajor general of the 79th New York Highlanders. The article concludes simply: "On September 1,1862, he died at thebattle ofChantilly."While accurate, not all ofyour readers maybe familiar with that battle or of General Stevens's bravery. In thefinal days ofAugust 1862,the armies of theNorth and the Southmet in the Second 638 OHQ vol. 107, no. 4 Battle of Bull Run, fought near Manassas, Virginia, less than fifty miles from Washing ton, D.C. The battle raged back and forth throughout theday ina driving rainstorm,and by nightfall on August 30 the drenched and demoralized Union armywas in retreat and fellback about tenmiles to a fortifiedridge above Centerville, a key crossroads connecting northernVirginia to Washington, D.C. The next day,Confederate General Stone wall Jackson organized his troops and began tomarch around thenorth side ofCenterville. In thebattlefieldconfusion, neither armyknew where the otherwas positioned or what they planned to do next. General Stevens led his New York Highlanders north and east from Centerville looking for theConfederate army. On the afternoon ofMonday, September 1,he found themon the south slope ofOx Hill inan area known as Chantilly. With no more than four thousand troops under his command, Stevens ordered a sur prise attack against Jackson'sfifteenthousand...