Yes the writing style of that era is hard to read. I have a book, “Berdan’s Sharpshooters in the Army of the Potomac”, which was agonizing for this reason.
I have several Civil War diaries and memoirs. Some were edited for publication and are easier to read, but “raw” material can be difficult.
I suppose someone will say the same thing 150 years from now if my diaries are published! My 16-year-old calls them “Mama’s books of dark magic.”
Trying to read Hamilton’s Federalist Papers in their original version is like trying eat a bowling ball. You have to take one bite, and then chew and digest before you can take the next bite.