Posted on 11/23/2016 6:01:04 PM PST by Loud Mime
I am studying our Civil War; anybody have any recommendations for reading?
Uncle Toms Cabin comes to mind. Read between the lines and discover the seeds of white guilt.
West Point Atlas of Civil War
I found the Grant Biography by H.W. Brands excellent reading. You come away with a good sense of why he was a great general.
You would think that this is true. It certainly makes sense. What it doesn't do is to explain why they did not do this, because it's pretty clear that they didn't. For whatever reason, they relied on New York/New England controlled ships and shipping. I think this point needs further scrutiny, because I don't really understand why they didn't do this either.
They didn’t. The Navigation Act did NOTHING to stand in their way.
It precluded them from buying foreign ships or crew. If the US shipbuilders wouldn't sell to them, or would only sell to them at ridiculously exorbitant prices, then that navigation act did in fact stand in their way.
As a living historian, I rely mostly on diaries and other first person accounts. I prefer the works of the people who lived at the time to those written at a later date. Too often newer books view the events of the past from a 21st century perspective.
Ping
You need to loosen your tinfoil hat.
Am currently reading the newly-released biography of Ulysses Grant by Ronald White. Available on Amazon - both Kindle and hardback. Fascinating reading. He was one tough dude.
I have Allen Nevins 8 volume work on the Civil War - “ Ordeal of the Union”. I devoted a year to read it 20 years ago. It was worth it!
I recommend that you begin with this set of commemorative pamphlets recently done by the US Army Center of Military History on the history, by campaign, of the American Civil War. All are available online and each one gives a short list of recommended books for further reading.
Campaigns of the Civil War: http://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/collect/cwcb.html
The Center’s full Civil War Homepage:
http://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/civil_war/index.html
One new book I recommend is The Last Generation: Young Virginians in Peace, War, and Reunion by Peter S. Charmichael
Bruce Catton’s works are very good.
John Singelton Mosby’s memoirs is also good.
Found it.
Morgan’s Raiders By Dee Alexander Brown
Dee Alexander Brown, other works...
.
The greatest story about one man in the Civil War in my opinion is about it’s best fighting General, Nathan Bedford Forrest. Even as a General, he rode at the front of his attacking cavalry and is credited with some 20 kills of Union Soldiers in hand to hand combat. A rich man at the beginning of the war he spent his own money to exhaustion equipping his troops. All this with no formal education.
There are about a half dozen or so good books about him. Some Union Generals after the war credited him with being the best General on either side. You will be amazed about this man if you read his books. He was the closest to being absolutely fearless as any man that ever lived. He survived the war and some 160 engagements and died in his fifties of diabetes.
For a libertarian view, look at Jeff Hummel, “Emancipating Slaves, Enslaving Free Men.” The best remains the traditional “Civil War and Reconstruction” by James Randall
but if you’re up for a lot of reading, Allan Nevins 8 volume
“Ordeal of the Union” is fantastic.
Personally, I thought that one was tedious, and not original at all.
Are you perchance, sir, referring to the War of Northern Aggression? Or the War Between the States?
My two favorites: "Company Aytch" by Sam Watkins and "Hardtack and Coffee" by John Billings.
Also good are "The Life of Johnny Reb" and "The Life of Billy Yank" by Bell Wiley, and "All For The Union" by Elisha Hunt Rhodes.
hey..thanks for that.
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