Book Recommendations

[tnfishdaddy]

I am getting into studying the civil war and want to know everyones opinion on the best book(s) to read to learn about the entire war. I have tried a couple and they are hard to read. I need some books that are easy to read/follow. I have heard that Shelby Foote would be a good author. Any others? Please help. I really want to learn all I can and then go back and learn about individual battles. Thanks.

 

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[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

T,

so many, so many, so many.
Where to start?

If you can get your hands on a copy of
"The Wars Of America", Vol 1, Quebec to
Appomattox; by Robert Leckie. 1968. Gives
an easy read view of the Civil War.

So many books on Civil War. I started like
you plan to do. Now its just too much.

I've now sort of started reading on just
certain parts or subjects. The Ironclads,
Artillery, Illinois units in the Civil War.
Now I'm sort of working on Naval actions.
Lots written on big battles, less on the roll
the navy played on both sides.

Don't know if this will help, but............

have a good un..................

 

[FrankTM]

I am getting into studying the civil war and want to know everyones opinion on the best book(s) to read to learn about the entire war. I have tried a couple and they are hard to read. I need some books that are easy to read/follow. I have heard that Shelby Foote would be a good author. Any others? Please help. I really want to learn all I can and then go back and learn about individual battles. Thanks.

Bruce Catton is an excellent author easy to read, plus nearly all libraries have his books. Another good source I would recommend Battle and Leaders 4 vol. Great first person accounts. A real easy read is the Time Life series, but they are not that detailed.

Frank

 

[MichaelB]

Shermanville, I am building an in depth site on the Battle of Mobile Bay. If you come across any good info please pass it along. My site will have a gallery of relics found, local letters, etc. I am hopeful most will enjoy it.

Regards,

MichaelB

 

[Monty]

I am currently reading Shelby Foote and he has a three volume set of a narratives of the civil war that is very entertaining. I can see where any single battle could constitute a book by itself! Monty

 

[civilman1]

There's probably a ton of book's like Sherm said....I try and read everything I can on certain area's that I hunt,Antietam...Harper's Ferry.I want to read first hand account's on the happening's back then,why when and most important where!!As far as book recommendation's....That's entirely up to you and how you want to use it,fascinating subject though!!....HH!!

 

[muddyknees]

Try THE KILLER ANGELS by Micheal Sharaara good read on Gettysburg.
muddyknees

 

[mobrigade]

My personal opinion is stay away from Catton and John B. Mcpherson...go more toward Gordon Rhea, Timothy B. Smith, Terry Winschel, EDWIN C. BEARSS for sure, I can email more if you like.

mobrigade

 

[Shortstack]

My personal opinion is stay away from Catton and John B. Mcpherson...go more toward Gordon Rhea, Timothy B. Smith, Terry Winschel, EDWIN C. BEARSS for sure, I can email more if you like.

mobrigade

I agree with Mobrigade. Bruce Catton is too politically correct, in my never humble opinion. Foote seems to be balanced and fair in his writings. I've not read Rhea, Smith, Winschel, or Bearss. Instead, I've concentrated more on local histories such as unit histories and biographies of leaders instrumental in the happenings of my state. A good example is the book, Pemberton, Defender of Vicksburg , by John C. Pemberton ( the general's grandson ) copyright 1942, by the University of North Carolina Press. Mr. Pemberton wrote this book based on the the General's private, unpublished papers. This book tells of travel routes, weather, skirmish sites, etc, leading up to the Siege of Vicksburg. It also gives insight into the mindset of the commander of the Vicksburg post and a possible reason for the loss of the city that I'd never heard before.
Another book covering my home county is The Yankees Are Coming by Howell. He covers names and units formed around my hometown and the families involved. My hometown's population then was only about 900-1000 and today is still only about 4000; not a big place, but it's still written into history.

Hey, mobrigade,I see by your signature that you're in Missouri. Two books you may be interested in are (1) Civil War in the Ozarks by Phillip W. Steele and Steve Cottrell and (2) Confederate Cavalry West of the River by Stephen B. Oates. There are quite probably other books written about the Kansas-Missouri border wars prior to the so called Civil War.
Happy hunting.

 

[CenterHit]

TNFISHDADDY,
I know your looking for more books about the entire war, but I would like to make a suggestion. Try out a book called "Divided Loyalties: Fort Sanders and the Civil War in East Tennessee by Seymor" Its more or less just about East Tennesee. Its very easy to follow and is a great book. If your from the area you will know some of the areas he talks about and will make the reading enjoyable. Just my 0.02!

 

[mobrigade]

Hey Shortstack, thanks for the info, I am familiar with both. If you like Pemberton you should read Ballard's book on him. I think he catches a bad wrap, he should have never been put in command of Vicksburg to start with. If you ask me Davis is to blame for the loss of Vicksburg. The Missouri brigade (hence mobrigade) nearly captured all of Grant's supply train at Champion Hill (I love digging down that way). I had family in the 1st Missouri Confederate Brigade under Cockrell and Bowen. Later,

Paul

 

[Shortstack]

Hey Shortstack, thanks for the info, I am familiar with both. If you like Pemberton you should read Ballard's book on him. I think he catches a bad wrap, he should have never been put in command of Vicksburg to start with. If you ask me Davis is to blame for the loss of Vicksburg. The Missouri brigade (hence mobrigade) nearly captured all of Grant's supply train at Champion Hill (I love digging down that way). I had family in the 1st Missouri Confederate Brigade under Cockrell and Bowen. Later,

Paul

Paul, I agree with you about Pemberton. He was too indicisive to be in command of a combat outfit. He was easily manipulated by his subordinates. One great example was the way he did not have any unit assigned as scouts. Whenever he decided he needed some info on the goings-on around the countryside, whoever was handy was sent out to look around and question the locals. Big mistake. The locals weren't reliable sources and the slaves would tell lies. On top of that, the "scouts" were not allowed to go out more than 20 miles or so; and then only in the areas that were easily traversed. He never dreamed that the Yanks would try crossing the river in the bad terrain WHERE THEY DID. When Grant started to cross the Mississippi River, the Confederates did not know anything until too late to do anything about it. And Pemberton's boss, Johnston back in Jackson wasn't any help either.

That Ballard book you mentioned--is it Vicksbury by Michael B. Ballard? I had that book and donated it to our local town library. I'm thinking of getting another copy for myself. I got it through the History Bookclub at a decent price.

Since you're interested in the Champions' Hill battle, you are probably aware of the fact that all of the land in the area, including the Big Black River scurmish site, is under private ownership. No national park / monument problems. I've been told that the folks who own the Champions' Hill site are not very receptive to requests by relic hunters to go in there. I don't know about the Big Black site's owner other than the fact that he has been trying for several years to get permission from the state gaming commission to build a gambling complex and a NASCAR-type racetrack at that very site. So far he hasn't been successful. Being purely selfish, I hope that status stays "quo".

During the last couple of months, somemore two-bit, no-good, sh**h**ds slipped into the Vicksbury Military Park over a previously unknown path through a deep, brushy gulley. They dug stuff all over one of the monument sites; leaving the place looking like a rabid mole had been on the warpath. Needless to say--another blacked-eye for the rest of us.

Bill

 

[Monty]

I have just started the Civil War Archive by Commager and Bruun. It is a collection of correspondence concerning the CW from Lincoln, many Congressmen, politicians, big wigs and soldiers. It gives you a perspective about what was the mood of the country before, during and after the war from several perspectives. Very interesting. Monty