The Training Ground

Grant, Lee, Sherman, and Davis in the Mexican War 1846-1848

By: Martin Dugard

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Nearly all of the Civil War's greatest soldiers - Grant, Lee, Sherman, Davis, and Jackson - were forged in the heat of the Mexican War. This is their story.

The Mexican War has faded from our national memory, but it was a struggle of enormous significance. It was the first U.S. war waged on foreign soil, and it nearly doubled the size of our nation. At this fascinating juncture of American history, a group of young men came together to fight as friends - only, years later, to fight again as enemies.

Full of dramatic battles, daring rescues, secret missions, soaring triumphs, and tragic losses, The Training Ground is history at its finest.

©2008 Martin Dugard (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Just not as interesting

I think there's a reason the Mexican War isn't more talked about; it wasn't that interesting!
Dugard is a great researcher and writer but he should have decided to either write about one or two of the important generals or just written about the war.

History with an asterisk

This book, while entertaining, is pretty ridiculously biased. I've read enough about this time in history to repeatedly be frustrated by the author when he leaves out key information in order to frame the story to meet his opinion. I wouldn't say not to read this book, but understand you're only getting part of the story. Additionally it's hard to say that the book is pro-Mexican since while the author attempts to make the Mexican people sympatric he does very little outside of generalizing to make his points. Also the author repeated quotes Grant on the war, who, in case you didn't know, was anti-Mexican war. It would be like getting your Iraq war history from Nancy Pelosi -- well not that bad but just saying Grant was far from unbiased and wanted to use the war to politically hurt the Democrats so you always have to take everything he says with a grain of salt and understand it's opinion, not always fact. The author isn't blatantly anti-American on the conflict, certainly no more than Grant, but he just leaves out so many things, so many things.

As for how the author ties in Grant, Lee, Sherman, etc he generally does a pretty good job but it's pretty light reading -- very readable however and also the length of this book wouldn't allow for a tremendous amount of depth even if it's available.

The reader does a pretty good job -- I've heard him before on other books and it's the same here. I've heard a few better but I've heard a ton that are worse, so I'd put him in a solid 4-star category.

So in closing I would only say read more on this subject and don't rely on this to be your sole source of information on the conflict or the time period.

Grant Was A 92Y, What?

First I'll go over the reader. I usually intend to audios at 1.25 or higher depending on the density of the content. The book isn't saturated with dates and over details military maneuvers. so listening at 1.50 was doable. Everything was pronounced clearly and I had enough time to mentally place the dates of events and visualize people and senses.

Now for the content itself, I believe another reader said it best take the books account with a grain of salt. No saying the author is lying about stuff. However, his interpretation of the events and rolls played by these leaders (on both) comes with a level of bias.

Nonetheless, even with the author's fan boy moments over Davis, I still think it's a book worth reading. If you're in the military (even none- commissioned side of the house) I believe these background stories shed some light how every general has to start somewhere. And any war can be sold to the public with a good narrative they can believe in.

In addition there are definitely tons of insightful and trivial pieces of information that would make for a intense game night for the hard-core pre-civil and civil war history buffs. Like who knew now that Grant was basically a 92Y,

Flawed, but engaging nevertheless.

The title pretty much sums up the authors main thesis - that the Mexican War was unique in both molding the characters of many notable figures of the Civil War, as well as strengthening the bonds they'd already formed through their tenure at West Point.

His coverage of the war itself sometimes takes a back seat to the "characterizations" of Grant, Lee, Jefferson Davis and George Meade, but is still compelling - especially from a political perspective. However, there were some gaffes in offhanded comments about the War of 1812 and the Civil War. For example, characterizing Pickett's Charge as a "one of the great *cavalry* charges of the Civil War" left one scratching their head - especially given that George Pickett was one of figures highlighted (albeit only briefly).

Still, the book is worth the effort, if only to shed some light on an often-ignored chapter of American history.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book

This is THE best book I've ingested on the U.S./Mexican War period. It was SO engaging every step of the way. Everything was described with wonder and I loved hearing about Lee, Grant, Jackson, Davis, Lincoln et al years before they were involved in The Civil War. It also illustrates what genius Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott were.
Everything was perfect-- EXCEPT two small things I noticed right at the very end.
1-- The author said Zachary Taylor died in office during a celebration dedicating the newly completed Washington Monument. The 1850 celebration was a fundraiser. The Monument was never completed until 1885 and officially opened in 1888.
2-- The author also claimed James K. Polk died on June 15 1849 at the age of 53 just five months after leaving office. He did die in June-- but that was THREE months after leaving office. Back then, presidential terms ended in March-- NOT January.

Good Book but not what was expected

Overall I enjoyed the book very much. That being said it was a bit short of what I expected. Most of the material was on Grant, with much less on Sherman, Lee and Davis. The author did provide alot of good material on the Mexican war, appreciated for those of us who don't know alot about it. Overall I would recommend the book.

The Mexican-American war told from the perspective of US Civil War heros

I have always had interest in books covering the US Civil War and wanted to read more about the war in Mexico. This book was perfect as it told the story from the perspective of the men so well-known from the US Civil War.

The book is detailed enough to be educational but not so much that it becomes dry.

The narration was well done.

Interesting story and a pleasure to listen

This is a relatively brief audiobook that focuses on the role that a group of young West Point graduates played in the Mexican-American War, most of whom who would go on to lead on either side of the American Civil War - including Grant and Lee. The book both highlights a lesser-known conflict in American history and humanizes the real people who are its characters. The narration is very good, although a bit monotone, and the effort to give characters a distinctive "voice" perfunctory. Not meant to be a comprehensive history of the Mexican-American War, the book succeeds as stoey with personal conflicts, triumphs, and failures.

Excellent Story

Not a detailed history of the war, but a researched element of the conflict. For Civil War buffs, if you haven't read about the details of this conflict, you will miss the reason why your favorite General (blue or gray) is the way they were. The author keeps you focused on the reason for the story, not a diatribe on how the war was unjust. It will leave you wondering how this "band of brothers" could ever fight each other. Maybe there was something to 1860's state loyalty. Manifest Destiny has lost its meaning to modern scholars, but the future soldiers for and against slavery were trained for the horrific clash of the Civil War. The American character had been established 150 years before, but it was clearly demonstrated during the short 18 months war as told by the author. Even our enemies today would do well to study this American way of fighting before starting any future conflicts against the US.

The author would do well to write a definitive account of the Battle of Monterrey and/or Mexico City. Not one about the Campaigns, these have been done. No revisionism typical of modern histories, but recognizing the validity of Manifest Destiny of 1846. The bravery of both the American and Mexican soldiers deserve any detailed accounting of the war.

Another great Mexican War Book

Thne author did a great job of following the life of Lee. Grant Davis and Longstreet. The book also covers the politics of Polk and the leadership of Taylor and Scott. Anyone how is interested in the Civil War will love this book