[ebooks] Upper Mississippi River at Winona (Images of America) by Walter Bennick at Arts-Photography

Description

Between 1817 and 1898; New York City evolved from a vital Atlantic port of trade to the center of American commerce and culture. With this rapid commercial growth and cultural development; New York came to epitomize a nineteenth-century metropolis. Although this important urban transformation is well documented; the critical role of select Union soldiers turned New York engineers has; until now; remained largely unexplored. In Designing Gotham; Jon Scott Logel examines the fascinating careers of George S. Greene; Egbert L. Viele; John Newton; Henry Warner Slocum; and Fitz John Porter; all of whom studied engineering at West Point; served in the United States Army during the Civil War; and later advanced their civilian careers and status through the creation of Victorian New York.These influential cadets trained at West Point in the nation’s first engineering school; a program designed by Sylvanus Thayer and Dennis Hart Mahan that would shape civil engineering in New York and beyond. After the war; these industrious professionals leveraged their education and military experience to wield significant influence during New York’s social; economic; and political transformation. Logel examines how each engineer’s Civil War service shaped his contributions to postwar activities in the city; including the construction of the Croton Aqueduct; the creation of Central Park; and the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. Logel also delves into the administration of New York’s municipal departments; in which Military Academy alumni interacted with New York elites; politicians; and civilian-trained engineers. Examining the West Pointers’ experiences—as cadets; military officers during the war; and New Yorkers—Logel assesses how these men impacted the growing metropolis; the rise of professionalization; and the advent of Progressivism at the end of the century.