US Civil War reading Recommendations?

Free Republic ^ | 11/23/2016 | Loud Mime

[Loud Mime]

I am studying our Civil War; anybody have any recommendations for reading?

[rockrr]

Never happened.

[oldplayer]

“I Rode With Stonewall.” A true memoir of Henry Kyd Douglas, who was a young college student who became the adjutant to Gen. Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson early in the war. Fascinating. He survived the war and became a Senator from Maryland.

Absolutely fascinating. Highly recommended as it brings to life classic histories like Shelby Foote, etc.

Oldplayer
Cushing, OK

[lurk]

Lee’s Lieutenants by Freeman

[thecodont]

“I can’t let them go. Who would pay for the government?”

Tell that to California. (smile)

[georgiarat]

The best material I read about a specific area were the daily correspondence reports of union and confederate officers during Sherman’s March to the Sea. The campaign came to life with the views of both sides while it was occurring. Much different perspective than what was and certainly is taught today.

The fighting and skirmishes are not as important as the logistical and human aspects.

[Tax-chick]

I agree, that’s a very vivid book. However, I think it’s useful, from our perspective, to balance contemporaneous memoirs such as Mr. Douglas’s with the most recent objective scholarship. You can get the on-the-spot color, but also get the best effort at objective factuality.

I’ve used this procedure in studying lots of different historical events: the Boer War, for example, and the Indian Mutiny.

[DiogenesLamp]

I'll give you a further insight, and one that took me a long time to realize.

If you run those numbers you will discover that in 1859, the Southern states accounted for nearly 75% of all money earned by exports.

You can be forgiven if you assume that 3/4ths of the Imports were purchased by the Southern States from whence came the money to buy those imports, but if you thought that, you would be incorrect.

90% of all the money ended up in New York.

So therein lies the mystery. If 3/4ths of the money earned by exports came from the South, then why did virtually all of the import goods get funneled through New York instead of going directly to the Southern States from whence came the money to purchase them?

It took me awhile to learn the answer to that question.

Once again, why does all the money funnel through New York? Why does that happen?

[Sasparilla]

The Democratic Party Platform, 2016.

[lafroste]

My favorite was a book published in the early 70’s called “Ironclads” (don’t remember the author’s full name, but the last name was “McBride”). It was a history about the Monitor and the Merrimack. However, it also revealed the exploits of a Union Lt. who was a confederate spy. His adventures were simply thrilling. It would make one heck of a movie.

[Salvavida]

A Disease in the Public Mind, by Thomas Fleming. GREAT read on why we fought the Civil War. You will not be able to put it down.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

bookmark

[eyedigress]

Lincoln by Carl Sandburg

[schurmann]

“The Class of 1846: From West Point to Appomattox- Stonewall Jackson, George McClellan and Their Brothers”

[SkyDancer]

Andersonville.

[georgiegirl]

Don’t laugh: Gone with the Wind.

[lafroste]

I re-read my post and it gives the wrong impression. The Lt. spy was a spy FOR the Union and against the confederacy. He pretended to be a confederate officer.

[TLI]

Yep. John Morgan.

Confederate Calvary.

I believe the one I have on him is “John Hunt Morgan and His Raiders” But the cover looks wrong.

I will check when I get home later but it is an amazing insight to how things were done in that time.

When I was working a contract job in Cincinnati I stood on a bridge north of there that his Raiders burned down 3 times during the course of the war.

He was a heck of a character.

.

[Loud Mime]

I’ve already read it. I was very impressed with the quality of the writing.

[M1911A1]

I enjoyed Foote and Catton, but Battle Cry of Freedom is the book I’d give to someone who wants a decent, one volume summary of the conflict.

Good call.

[Hamilcar_Barca]

It’s historical fiction, but well grounded in actual events: The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara.