Thread: Recommended American Civil War Readings

Grant's memoirs are almost unique in that he has rendered one of the most honest accounts of his times - bad and good. THAT is fidelity to the truth, and whatever other faults the man had, self-agrandizement wasn't one of 'em.

He was a helluva man, and when he took the Army of the Potomac past the fork in the road and on along the road to more and even worse battles after the meat grinder of the Wilderness...it was a moment that had the absolute timestamp of history on it, and it literally saved the Union for the rest of us, and the entire world, too.

And the Army knew it, too: right then and on the spot, each regiment began a spontaneous cheer as the passed that fork, some marching to their deaths, but they knew their commander would FIGHT, and eventually, he would WIN.

And this backs up what I've always said: the one thing even the dimmest soldier understands is VICTORY. I've served under tough commanders, and I don't mind if they're hard as nails. But I want to WIN, and if he's a winner...I'll follow him.

Here’s a couple I found interesting.
Quantrill’s War by Duane Schultz
Soul Of The Lion by Willard M. Wallace a biography of Joshua L. Chamberlain
High Tide at Gettysburg by Glenn Tucker

I'm sorta a Bruce Catton man. Loved his books. Can't think of one that was a poor read. A STILLNESS AT APPOMATTOX, GRANT TAKES COMMAND, AND MR. LINCOLN'S ARMY.

The Killer Angels remains a wonderful point of departure for Gettysburg.

A rambling, off the top of my head listing.

Western Theater

Peter Cozzens:

The Darkest Days of the War: The Battles of Iuka and Corinth

No Better Place To Die: The Battle of Stones River
This Terrible Sound: The Battle of Chickamauga
The Shipwreck of Their Hopes: The Battles for Chattanooga
Wiley Sword

Shiloh, Bloody April

The Confederacy's Last Hurrah: Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville

Glenn Tucker Chickamauga: Bloody Battle in The West

Eastern Theater

Steven Sears

Landscape Turned Red
Richmond Redeemed

Gordon Rhea
The Battle of the Wilderness, May 5-6, 1864
The Battles for Spotsylvania Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern, May 7-12, 1864
To the North Anna River, May 13-26, 1864
Cold Harbor: Grant and Lee, May 26 - June 3, 1864
Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg! by George C. Rabble

A Wilson Greene
Breaking the Backbone of the Rebellion
Civil War Petersburg

Link: Last Chance For Victory

"Last Chance For Victory"

Believe it or not, but another book about Gettysburg. Excellent read.


That Devil Forrest. The Life of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest.
J. A. Wyeth.
"First published in 1899, this book is based almost entirely on accounts of those who knew Forrest personally and on contemporary records. Grant called him "that devil Forrest." Sherman, it is reported, considered him "the most remarkable man our civil war produced on either side." Without military education or training, he became the scourge of Grant, Sherman, and almost every other Union general who fought in Tennessee, Alabama, or Kentucky. Paper. 614 pp."

Just finished his bio, "James Longstreet- The Confederacy's Most Controversial Soldier".

A good read of a complex man unfairly derided by his peers. As much as anything, it illuminated for me the intense personal jealousies that plagued the command hierarchy of the south.

I went to a symposium a few years ago on the Corps Commanders of the Army of Northern Virginia. Jeff Wert was one of the speakers and of course he talked about Old Pete. He broke up the crowd when he remarked that Longstreet was the best of Lee's corps commanders....but he also was the only Confederate general to lose to Burnside!! (Knoxvill 63)

Jeff Wert made a great point when he pointed out that Longstreet led the 4 greatest infantry charges in the Civil War; 2nd Manassas, Gettysburg, Chickamauga & The Wilderness.

Always thought LOngstreet got short shrift by the Lost Cause folks.

Originally Posted by Albany Rifles

Always thought LOngstreet got short shrift by the Lost Cause folks.

...and especially by Early!