[68skylark]

I'm not familiar with Battle Cry of Freedom -- I've been focused on the first two levels of the reading list. Your recommendation sounds good (though lengthy). For Civil War reading, I can recommend the Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant -- that's a wonderful book.

[LS]

A good Libertarian view of the CW---one that I don't agree with, but nevertheless very well researched---is Jeffrey Hummell, "Emancipating Slaves, Enslaving Free Men." But you HAVE to read Newt Gingrich's 3-volume "alternate" history of the war, beginning with "Gettysburg." It is very believable and well researched.