Not Without Honor: The Life of John H. Reagan (review)

Abstract

Book Reviews215 As general-in-chief Halleck strove to increase the army's professional competence . He resisted attempts to include the army in the spoils system, improved the system for appointing volunteer officers and the system for mobilization of manpower, and helped reduce the size of die wagon trains of the field armies. "When die South finally conceded die struggle, she conceded to the finest army the United States had ever put in the field. Halleck, as much as anyone else, made that army" (p. 103). When Grant superseded Old Brains as general-in-chief, die latter loyally stepped down and took the new post of chief of staff. In this he performed the same duties diat he had as general-in-chief, and also acted as a channel between Lincoln and Grant, and between Grant and the department and field commanders. He processed and condensed a great many papers and relieved Grant of a heavy burden of detailed work. Halleck, concludes Professor Ambrose, was not a great captain, nor even a good field commander. Where he shone was as manager, planner, coordinator. This was Halleck's contribution, but it partly explains his unpopularity. To the Civil War generation, a general was still a romantic leader on horseback , not an office worker. The twentieth century can appreciate HaUeck better than his own generation. John Miller, Jr. Department of the Army Not Without Honor: The Life of John H. Reagan. By Ben H. Procter. (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1962. Pp. xiv, 361. $6.00.) John H. Reagan was one of the many Tennesseans who migrated to Texas in the early days, some to take part in the revolution against Mexico and to become outstanding leaders in die state and nation. Reagan arrived in 1839, fought in the Cherokee War, engaged in farming, studied law, became a judge and legislator, and was elected to Congress and served as a Representative from 1857 to 1861. Though having hoped to see die Union preserved, he finally resigned and joined the secessionists in Texas and went as a delegate to help organize the Confederate States of America. He was prevailed on by President Davis to accept die position of Postmaster General, and near die breakup of the Confederacy he served also as Acting Secretary of die Treasury. As Postmaster General he probably did as well as anyone could have done; but his difficulties were insurmountable, and die miserable postal service began early to undermine die public morale. Though not asserting himself as a military strategist, he strongly, even passionately, opposed the Gettysburg Campaign, and wanted Lee's army moved to save Vicksburg. At die end of die war he was arrested and imprisoned in Fort Warren for a few montiis. Advocating in a letter written in prison die acceptance of the results of die war (die freeing of die slaves and even if necessary Negro suffrage) , he returned to Texas to receive public scorn. Soon regaining his popularity, he helped redeem die state from Radical control. In 1875 216CIVIL WAR HISTORY he entered Congress again as a Representative and served continuously for die next dozen years; re-elected for another term, he resigned to accept election to die U.S. Senate. In 1891, he resigned to accept membership on die Texas Railroad Commission, of which he was chairman until 1903. Such in brief was the career of this outstanding Texan, who has waited until now for a biography—and well he might, for Ben Procter, of Texas Christian University, has written one (whedier definitive or not) which should be good for die next century. Procter writes widi skill and scholarship, and with a deep perception of his subject. No one can truthfully say that Reagan the man, as well as the statesman, fails to appear in these pages as a living figure. Reagan was able, honest, and courageous, and if Procter found littie to condemn in him, he was merely writing true to the record. Without belaboring the point, he shows that Reagan was the main force in Congress to keep alive the fight for railroad regulation, which finally resulted in the very significant Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. This book is heavily documented...