Towards Gettysburg: A Biography of General John F. Reynolds

Rating:
Summary: Carefully researched and entertaining biography.
Review: Nichols has presented a well researched biography of a man who commanded the respect and the admiration of an army. The men who fought under him called him "Old Common Sense." They were willing to follow him into Hell itself, and they did. John F. Reynolds was professionally remote, militarily a genius, and personally a shy quiet man. Nichols brings Reynolds to warm life once again in this entertaining and well written biography. You will feel as if you know this general who turned down command of the entire Army of the Potomac, only to die a month later leading a regiment into combat because "that's where he was most needed." You will stand beside the Confederate prisoners of war who rose to their feet in silent respect as the dead Reynolds was carried past them. An inspiring picture of a man whose death made an army pause to weep.