• 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
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (260 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Training Ground  By  cover art

The Training Ground

By: Martin Dugard
Narrated by: Robertson Dean
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.90

Buy for $17.90

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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.

More from the same

What listeners say about The Training Ground

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    152
  • 4 Stars
    78
  • 3 Stars
    26
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    127
  • 4 Stars
    37
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    113
  • 4 Stars
    43
  • 3 Stars
    18
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

colourful context to parabolic tales

Not quite sure what the original contribution of this book is - more of a played out re-telling - doesn't have a compelling or unique perspective.

As a social studies book report, which draws on Grant's memoir, and probably a bunch of soldierly love letters are primary sources I would give it a C+, as a work of historical fiction I would give it a D+.

The narrative arch is weak, it's hard to understand if he's going by events/battles, or by person ~ seems like a mixture of both.

Why is Sherman on the cover - he hardly features in the book at all.

This dude is a mega fanboy of Jefferson Davis, which is interesting 'cause people usually use Jefferson Davis as a scapegoat and make everything he ever did seem stupid AF ~ so that was kind of interesting - to hear the story of Buena Vista told in such a way as to highlight Davis' positive contribution.

Many of the stories are well-known parables of the pre-civil war, e.g. Grant's Kamanchii style horse ride, but he added some interesting contextual information - which I hadn't remembered hearing before.

So many quotes from Grant's memoirs.

The best thing about this book is the narration of Robertson Dean ~ 9 hour movie trailer - in a good way.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An Interesting Look at the Mexican War

Grant, Sherman, Lee, Longstreet. These are all names familiar to people who have studied the CIvil War. These were the men who fought each other in the most devastating war in United States History. In Training Ground Martin Dugard reminds us that these men were not always enemies. In the war with Mexico these men and many others fought side by side. Training Ground is not a full history of the Mexican War, it is more of a history of the men who fought the war together as young officers and would later command opposing armies. Dugard traces the early biographies of US Grant, James Longstreet, William Sherman, and Robert E. Lee. We see how these men went to West Point and entered into an army that promised very little in the way of a career and promotion.

The primary character in the story is a young US Grant. Each chapter is introduced with a quotation from Grant’s Memoirs. In his later life Grant was highly critical of the actions of the US Government in both provoking a war and then in the way that the Democratic leadership sought to run the war in a highly politicized manner. Of course the young Grant that we meet in these pages is less concerned with the political implication of the war. He is far more interested in getting back home to his love Julia.

The Mexican War was indeed the Training Ground for the Civil War. If you are familiar with the history of the Civil War you can’t help but feel a little sad as you read this book. You know the history of these young, anxious, promising young officers. You know how they will end up opposing each other. Reading this book I couldn’t help but wonder what the US Army would have looked like had the Civil War not occurred. What would have happened if an army commanded by Lee with Grant, Longstreet, Jackson, Sherman, and the others have been able to do. With that much brilliance they could have stood against any army in the world. Instead they were forced by political forces to fight each other.

Training Ground gives a good overview of the Mexican War. It also gives an insight to men who would shape history only thirteen years later. This is something that a lover of American History or the Civil War should enjoy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing Read!

Martin Dugard wrote this book so well I felt like I was transported back in time and watched all the action from the bleachers! The Mexican American War has been a afterthought in our forgotten history. Thank you for your tasteful and deliciously written depictions of these events! Your book has inspired me to look for my truth!! Bravo! Martin!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must listen for the fans of the ACW

Well written and very enlightening. The stories of the young Mr Grant and Lee are fascinating. I'm a bit shocked that their roles in the Mexican American war aren't better known. his was exactly the background I was looking for after finishing several American Civil War Novels. Very satisfied.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

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,

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!