Best U.S. Civil War books - FReeper opinions sought

Imagination ^ | 7 Oct 2001 | just me

[fnord]

Hi there. I am going to buy a few Civil War books to get me through the winter. Given the wealth of knowledge here on FR, I am sure some FReepers can give me their recommendations.

I already have Killer Angels and Stillness at Appomatox. Looking for general overall history books and also ones of more specific scope (campaigns, individuals, etc).

Any suggestion would be most appreciated :-)

[kaylar]

If you like the Kennedy brothers, what do you think of Michael Andrew Grissom?

[Labyrinthos]

Battle Cry of Freedom" by James MacPherson. An outstanding book that I am re-reading for the 5th time right now, as a matter of fact.

An outstanding book that I am reading for the 1st time right now, as a matter of fact.

[HENRYADAMS]

Douglas Southall Freeman's Lee's Lieutenants 3 vol. Also while not directly devoted to the Civil War the biography of Robert E. Lee three volumes by the same author. As some have said Battles and Leaders is a primary source. Articles by men who actually participated.

[Labyrinthos]

Anything by Bruce Catton. Killer Angels is a must.

Excellent choices, although Catton can drag if you're not into the details. (I am, so not a problem.) And when you tire of reading, rent Gettysburg, which is based upon Killer Angels. The funny part is that the book takes less time to read than the time to watch the movie.

[tsomer]

Read as much of Shelby Foote's Narrative as you can. It's a literary as well as historical classic.

Avoid MacPherson's books; they're propaganda.

[Beep]

DITTO re Shelby Foote! Definitely one of the best and most able writers on the Civil War era. No library on the Civil War would be complete without some of Foote's work!!

[financeprof]

Read as much of Shelby Foote's Narrative as you can. It's a literary as well as historical classic. Avoid MacPherson's books; they're propaganda.

I second both opinions. Catton's trilogy on the Army of the Potomoc is excellent; Freeman's Lee's Lieutenants is an excellent foil to Catton. Unfortunately, there's no comparable work on the Western campaigns, but there are many excellent books on individual campaings and battles, including Wiley Sword's books on Shiloh, Chattanooga, and Nashville; Cozzens' books on Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Iuka/Corinth; and Bearss' work on Vicksburg.

[Constitution Day]

I have seen Grissom's Southern By The Grace Of God, but have not yet read it.
Sorry.

What do you think of him?

[Constitution Day]

I have seen Grissom's Southern By The Grace Of God, but have not yet read it.
Sorry.

What do you think of him?

[Constitution Day]

Oops - my apologies for the double post.

[holly]

There is a ten volume set called 'The Photographic History of the Civil War'. It contains thousands of pictures. The set was published in 1911 and I have no idea if it was ever republished. I have a set that belonged to my grandfather. Try the used book sellers should you wish. A library may also be able to access a loan for you.

[kaylar]

When he's being nostalgic for the Old South of , say, his parent's days, he's not too bad. Folkways, folklore, food, that sort of thing. But when he trots out the ol', "the slaves were happy and loyal" crapola, when contemporay sources (eg, Mary Chestnut's diary) say otherwise, he's pretty dismal. And when he made the claim that Union soldiers only joined up for the bounty, he loses all credibility, at least as a civil war historian : Bell I. Wiley was as staunch a Southerner as you can imagine, and he concluded quite otherwise, as he details in his book, The Life of Billy Yank, and he came to his conclusions after reading the letters and diaries of thousands of Union soldiers . It's one thing to praise Johnny Reb ; it's another to tell lies about Billy Yank, and I think Grissom knew he was lying. The Union soldiers' performance at too many battlefields (eg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, not to mention at Andersonville) was not that of conscripts just in it for the bounty ( and simple logic dictates that if they were, wouldn't they all have deserted?). But when he sticks with "Foxfire" territory, and discusses the folklore and folkways of the rural south in the early and middle decades of the 20th century, he's quite readable. On a scale of 1-10, I give him overall a 4...worth buying used or paperback.

[kaylar]

Another one : There was a magazine called Confederate Veteran, which was published c1890-1933. It has been republished in hardbound volumes. If you can find those, they are definitely worth a look.

[Mercat]

Okay, if you're going to recommend Gone with the Wind, I have to go to the videos. If you have not already, watch all of the PBS series by Ken Burns and then watch the movie Gettysburg. That should take several long afternoons.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Shelby Foote's trilogy, "The Civil War: A narrative".

Bump that.

[nonliberal]

"Jefferson Davis: The Man and his Hour" by William C. Davis.
Anything by Stephen Sears
Emory Thomas's biography of Lee.
Robertson's biography of Jackson
Sherman's memoirs

[nonliberal]

Forgot to add:

"I Rode With Stonewall" by Henry Douglass

[fnord]

many thanks to all ... looks like I will need several winters to catch up on the reading :-)

[stormer]

"Confederate Raider in the North Pacific: The Saga of the C CSS Shenandoah. 1864-65" by Murray Morgan. One of the most interesting and unknown stories about the Civil War.

[fnord]

I've seen the PBS series twice, but I need to get the tapes/DVD so I can go at my own pace.

When that first came out, I was camping in the Michigan woods. Missed the first episode, but sitting around the fire late that night, heard it mentioned on Johnny Carson. Every night after that me and my group would finish fishing and eating every night in time to sit and watch it non-stop on a little 8-inch B&W in the Michigan woods. Still the best TV has ever produced, imho