From First to Last is a complete life story of one of the most
controversial yet least well known generals on either side during the
Civil War. The number one graduate of the West Point class of 1843,
William Buel Franklin served in the U.S. Army's Corps of Topographical
Engineers and contributed greatly to the building of the nation's
internal improvements, including a stint as chief engineer in charge of
construction of the U.S. Capitol's dome and extension from 1859 to 1861.
During the Civil War Franklin ascended rapidly in rank and command
authority, from command of a Union brigade at Bull Run, to leadership of
the Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula and during
the Maryland Campaign, to command of the Left Grand Division, of that
army at the terrible Battle of Fredericksburg. In the wake of
Fredericksburg, Franklin was unjustly blamed for the Union army's
defeat, not so much because of his generalship-or lack thereof-but
because of his politics and the highly-charged political nature of
high-level leadership in the Army of the Potomac. Censured by the
notorious Joint Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War,
Franklin was banished to the Department of the Gulf, where he
participated in the ill-fated Sabine Pass Expedition and Red River
Campaign. Wounded during the Red River Campaign and captured by
Confederate partisan rangers Franklin would escape his captors but could
not escape the wrath of the Lincoln administration, which refused to
place him back in command even though his old West Point classmate-U. S.
Grant-personally requested his services.
Franklin resigned his commission in 1866 and began a highly successful
post-war career as Vice President and General Manager of Colt's Firearms
Company in Hartford, Connecticut. A respected citizen of that city,
Franklin continued to serve his country in a number of public positions,
including leadership of a government bureau that eventually became the
U.S. Veterans Administration. Snell's study of Franklin is evenly
balanced, correctly pointing out Franklin's flaws and lapses of
judgment-such as the Battle of Crampton's Gap on September 14, 1862-but
giving him credit where he received none in the past. Snell provides
readers with a complete picture of Franklin: brilliant engineer, doting
husband, respected businessman, and controversial Union general. From
First to Last will change the way historians interpret this important
figure of American history.
