Welcome to a new season of the award-winning Hill Country Authors Podcast. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with authors who live in and write about the Texas Hill Country. In this episode, Tom visits with author Conrad Bibens, whose book The Best General of the Civil War was recently published by the Wimberly-based Stoney Creek Publishing.
In the inaugural episode of 2025, Tom and Conrad Bibens discuss his new book focusing on Union Army George Thomas. Conrad shares insights about his 40-year journalism career and his deep dive into the life of Thomas, a Southern-born general who fought for the North despite his Virginian roots and upbringing in a slaveholding family. They discuss Thomas’s remarkable military career, his unwavering integrity, and the various influences that shaped his legacy during and after the Civil War. Key themes include Thomas’s strategic prowess, his controversial position in Northern and Southern narratives, and the modern-day leadership lessons that can be drawn from his life.
Key highlights:
- Why George Thomas?
- Nat Turner’s Rebellion and Its Impact
- George Thomas in the Mexican War
- Artillery Expertise in the Civil War
- Comparing Civil War Generals
- Career and Legacy of George Thomas
- Leadership Lessons from George Thomas
Resources:
Conrad Bibens on Stoney Creek Publishing
The Best General of the Civil War on Amazon
The Best General of the Civil War on Texas A&M Press
Tom Fox
