Recently I read one of your Starbuck books about the Civil War. It was wonderful how you made General George Maclellan come to life for me. I have read so many contemporary accounts about him but could never rally fathom the man and his personality. Your account of his interaction with Pinkerton and how he took counsel of his fears rang true. He must of had many sources of information but somehow always believed his huge Army was outnumbered and needed reinforcement. He dithered when decisive action could have brought victory or at the least heavily attrited the Army of Northern Virgina. Did george Maclellan really che tobacco? It seems so unlike this fastidious man. I would be interested in a similar fictional portrayal by you of US Grant. I see him as someone who had no fear about his army’s destruction by the enemy. Bob Long