Students who are interested in the first two years of the Civil War in the western theater may find Engle's account of Buell's dilatory tactics rewarding. . . . The best part of Engle's book is his comparison of Don Carlos Buell with George B. McClellan.—The Journal of American History

This outstanding book, the first on the life of Union General Don Carlos Buell, will endure as the standard biography. . . . A valuable, clearly written, analytical study that explains Buell's strengths and weaknesses and gives us greater appreciation for the audacity of commanders like Grant.—Filson Club History Quarterly

Lucidly written and well researched, this book admirably fills one of the last major voids in Civil War biography. Don Carlos Buell was one of the North's most important commanders in the war's early years. His experience is critical to understanding the shifting nature of the conflict.—Mark Grimsley, author of The Hard Hand of War: Union Military Policy Toward Southern Civilians, 1861-1865

Engle's Don Carlos Buell: Most Promising of All is, surprisingly, the first biography of this significant Union field commander. . . . A thoroughly researched and clearly written account of a most challenging subject.—Journal of Southern History

Engle has filled a void in the literature of the American Civil War, not only in the life and career of Buell, which has been largely ignored, but with his willingness to deal critically, even severely, with his subject. . . . Engle's scholarship is enviable, revealing prodigious research and close analysis. The bibliography itself could stand alone as a valuable addition to one's library. The result is an important work that has a place of honor on my bookshelf.—Civil War History

Don Carlos Buell finally has his biographer, and readers now have a detailed account of a general whose innate weaknesses kept him from his promise of military success. Steve Engle's book provides new information on a major Civil War figure and gives new insight into the war itself. Must reading.—John F. Marszalek, author of Sherman: A Soldier's Passion for Order

Buell's story tells us much about the war and how and why it changed in 1862. The implications for America were enormous. This study will be of great value to all seeking to understand the meaning of the Civil War.—Richard M. McMurry, author of Two Great Rebel Armies: An Essay in Confederate Military History

Engle's book has not only filled a void, but also has added to our comprehensive understanding of the war in the west. . . . A marvelous addition to a growing body of research which claims that the study of the war is no longer simply North versus South but also East versus West.—Journal of Military History