Best Civil War Antietam History
For the sesquicentennial of Antietam and the Maryland Campaign, D. Scott Hartwig delivers a riveting first installment of a two-volume study of the campaign and climactic battle. "The first volume of this two volume set is so very well written and all-inclusive on the detailed facts of this Maryland Campaign that it looks like this two volume set just might be the very best ever written on this campaign and battle." (Harry S. Laver Civil War Book Review ). "By far the best work done on the Maryland Campaign, To Antietam Creek will set the standard for many, many years to come." (Thomas G. Clemens, Save Historic Antietam Foundation). "A new and monumental study of the origins and initiation of the Maryland Campaign of 1862... To Antietam Creek: The Maryland Campaign of September 1862 is a tour de force which will stand as the preeminent and final word on the subject... A must read for any serious Civil War student interested in the crucial events leading up to the Battle of Antietam.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I knew from day one that I wanted to write a review of this book. But I think my experience as a long time Antietam Battlefield volunteer and guide who has walked the battlefields of the Maryland Campaign, give me a different and useful perspective from the usual rank and file book reviewer. Like this book, I attempt to interpret the Maryland Campaign and Battle of Antietam objectively and factually. But the book's completeness, numerous insights, deep analysis and great stories will add a new richness and depth to my tours and programs that I would not otherwise have had I not read the book. I can now say unequivocally that this is the best book I have ever read on the Maryland Campaign. And I have read many books. And we learn that there were several very good Union cavalry regiments that fought well in the Campaign and they are not the ones who fought their way out of Harpers Ferry. You will miss out if you skip them. To some who would dismiss this book as just a story of the events up to Antietam, I would answer that this book is a necessarily foundation to understanding the tactical battle that Hartwig will treat us to when the second volume comes out. If you want to learn more about the Maryland Campaign than you can from any other book, you must move this one to the top of your reading list. If you have hesitated to get this book because of its massiveness, get over it and buy the book. From the first to the last, To Antietam Creek will reward you with the best-told story of the Maryland Campaign ever produced."
"To Antietam Creek: The Maryland Campaign of September 1862, D. Scott Hartwig, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012, 8 black and white images, 17 maps, 3 appendices, bibliographic notes, essay on notes, index, 794pp., $49.96. Both literally and figuratively, all other treatments of The Antietam Campaign may well stand in the shadow of Scott Hartwig's To Antietam Creek: The Maryland Campaign of September 1862. Tom Clemens of the Save Historic Antietam Foundation states "By far the best work done on the Maryland Campaign ."
"Although I do not count myself as a fan of George McClellan, I do submit that it is time to take a closer look at his tenure with the Army of the Potomac and, if merited, challenge the conventional wisdom that surrounds and informs the historical view of his generalship. However, Hartwig is not afraid to level criticism when it is due and McClellan (often), along with Burnside, Franklin, Hooker, Lee, Miles and others are rightly taken to task when the occasion warrants it. Furthermore, Hartwig led me to truly appreciate the outstanding performance of Lafayette McLaws in relation to Harper's Ferry and to grasp the extent that William Franklin's loss of moral courage helped to seal the garrison's doom. Finally, Hartwig's writing with regard to the eve of battle is a thing of beauty--it compares favorably to Bruce Catton's work in Mr. Lincoln's Army (to me thre is no higher praise) and paints a picture of a night of foreboding before that which was arguably the worst day in American history."
Combining brilliant military analysis with rich narrative history, Landscape Turned Red is the definitive work on the Battle of Antietam. The New York Times Book Review. "A modern classic." "No other book so vividly depicts that battle, the campaign that preceded it, and the dramatic political events that followed."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is a detailed, but highly readable account of the entire Antietam campaign, from Lee's decision to invade the North, the practical problems he encountered when his army had to advance from its base in Northern Virginia, the complex stratagems he hoped to employ to entrap McClellan's Army of the Potomac, how these almost led to his destruction when a copy of his marching orders fell into McClellan's hands, and the heroic delaying actions (as well as inertia on the part of several Northern generals) which gave him barely enough time to regroup his dispersed forces."
"Sears has a powerful narrative voice and did a masterful job telling this story of one of the most pivotal battles of the war. It starts with background and context, which includes the outbreak of war, McCellan's rise to command, the Peninsula Campaign, and finally the battle of Antietam."
"My only complaint would be that Sears doesn't spend enough time on the South Mountain action as it it such an important prelude to the ensuing battle of Antietam."
"It's sad to contemplate that an aggressive commander, armed with the gift that McClellan received, might have destroyed the Army of Northern Virginia and hastened the end of the war."
"McClellan allowing the confederacy to withdraw from Sharpsburg without pursuit enabled the south to live and fight another day."
"The delineation of woods, orchards, corn fields, and bridges, accompanied by brigade icons, were a great help to my imagine and I found myself thumbing back to a map to follow the various stages of the battle."
At least one—and as many as ten—maps accompany each “action-section.” Opposite each map is a full facing page of detailed footnoted text describing the units, personalities, movements, and combat (including quotes from eyewitnesses) depicted on the accompanying map, all of which make the story of General Lee’s invasion into Maryland come alive. Readers will stand with D. H. Hill on top of South Mountain as General McClellan tries to force his way through the passes; surround, lay siege to, and capture Harpers Ferry (and ride with Col. Benjamin Davis’s cavalry on its breakout); fight blow-by-blow outside the small town of Sharpsburg (53 maps) through the bloodiest day in American history; retreat from the battlefield and, finally, revisit the bloodshed at Shepherdstown. Gottfried’s work should be on the shelves of everyone who seeks a good understanding of not only the Battle of Antietam, but of the confusing actions atop South Mountain, around Harpers Ferry, and during the final withdrawal near Shepherdstown. ( Thomas G. Clemens, editor of the two-volume The Maryland Campaign of September 1862 (South Mountain and Antietam), by Ezra A. Carman ). "Brad Gottfried has done the Civil War community a huge favor by reducing a very complex battle to a clear, readable, and concise series of maps with matching text.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"While I've read many books about the Antietam campaign, the maps give a visualization of what Carmen relates which helps me understand movments down the company level as they unfold."
"This volume provides narrative and maps that illustrate the movements of the Union and Confederate military. One curious aspect of the battle is the person whom Lee named to command his forces: General William Pendleton. Troops from Porter's V Corps crossed the river and began to drive Pendleton's scratch force. Some nice features include the maps, the order of battle, an interview with the author, etc."
"This rendition of South Mountain and Antietam battles satisfies those who may wonder just how a vastly superior Federal army did not crush the Army of Northern Virginia."
"I eagerly look forward to the next books in this series (actually I already have the next one - Mine Run, so make this the next, next), and from this publisher."
"Book does a great job of covering the battle phase by phase."
"A great addition to my Antietam collection."
"Hi, I was very disappointed in this book, it is not close to the work he did on the Gettysburg book, I had a ancestor in Company K 49th New York they fought at both Crampton's gap and Antietam, at Antietam they made a Charge at the Dunkard Church, and lost soldiers at both battles , he don't even mention them or the other regiments, the 20th NY, 33RD NY, 77TH NY, How do you leave a whole brigade out of a work on these two battles, I am not a expert on these two battles but if he left out these Regiments what else was left out."
Best Civil War Appomattox History
Foote's comprehensive history of the Civil War includes three compelling volumes: Fort Sumter to Perryville, Fredericksburg to Meridian, and Red River to Appomattox. "Anyone who wants to relive the Civil War, as thousands of Americans apparently do, will go through this volume with pleasure.... Years from now, Foote's monumental narrative most likely will continue to be read and remembered as a classic of its kind." "I have never read a better, more vivid, more understandable account of the savage battling between Grant's and Lee's armies.... Foote stays with the human strife and suffering, and unlike most Southern commentators, he does not take sides. “Here, for a certainty, is one of the great historical narratives of our century, a unique and brilliant achievement, one that must be firmly placed in the ranks of the masters.”—Van Allen Bradley, Chicago Daily News “A stunning book full of color, life, character and a new atmosphere of the Civil War, and at the same time a narrative of unflagging power. Years from now, Foote’s monumental narrative most likely will continue to be read and remembered as a classic of its kind.”— New York Herald Tribune Book Review “To read this great narrative is to love the nation—to love it through the living knowledge of its mortal division. Whitman, who ultimately knew and loved the bravery and frailty of the soldiers, observed that the real Civil War would never be written and perhaps should not be.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is extremely rare to find a book so compelling you can't wait to get back to it and I spite of knowing the ending the tears for all concerned won't stop flowing."
"Shelby Foote is a great story teller and does an excellent job of bring the civil war to life."
"Each time I read the trilogy I came away with a greater appreciation of the literary genius of Shelby Foote."
"Very detailed and informative!"
"Son was overjoyed to receive book 3."
"Devil's in the details, and this compilation has so much detail your brain will explode with historical references."
"Mr. Foote has been able to capture like noone else I have ever read, the tedium and the terror; the honor and the bravery; the reason and the reluctance; the endlessness and the necessity of our civil war."
Best Civil War Bull Run History
"This comprehensively researched, well-written book represents the definitive account of Robert E. Lee’s triumph over Union leader John Pope in the summer of 1862. . Lee's strategic skills, and the capabilities of his principal subordinates James Longstreet and Stonewall Jackson, brought the Confederates onto the field of Second Manassas at the right places and times against a Union army that knew how to fight, but not yet how to win.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I simply cannot imagine any better books written on either First Manassas or Second Manassas."
"As a native Virginian, I am enamored with the Civil War."
"It had one strange omission that I almost never see in military history books: John Hennessy never gives us the 'big numbers'!"
"Pompous (bragged about his military "exploits" in the West), foul-mouthed (used the Lord's name in vain when referring to McDowell), and impatient (Phil Kearney, an able Northern general, tired of Pope's orders for impetuous and fruitless marches that only served to tire the troops). Hennessy is fair with leaders, both North and South and his narrative is excellent - while, he is obviously a learned man with a deep knowlege of the battle, the author does not bore the reader with tedious details and dry narrative."
"An informative and detailed analysis that never loses focus on the subject matter and brings to life the campaign that brought Robert E. Lee to the beginning of his military career with the Army of Northern Virginia."
"Return to Bull Run is not only the book most often referenced by the Rangers and Volunteers at the battlefield, but also one of the most thorough, readable, and entertaining battle studies I've experienced."
"I enjoyed the detail along with the coverage of the whole of the campaign."
"A great book by a superb historian and storyteller."
Best Civil War Gettysburg History
James M. McPherson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom , and arguably the finest Civil War historian in the world, walks readers through the Gettysburg battlefield -- the site of the most consequential battle of the Civil War. Hugh McAloon, formerly at Prince William County Public Library, VA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book gives both the guide and also the battle."
"very well thought out and written with great historical value."
"A quick and accessible read about the Battle of Gettysburg."
"McPherson is a great historian."
"So simple, yes so eloquent."
"Possible rival candidates are Lexington and Concord, Yorktown, or Omaha Beach -- but more Americans visit Gettysburg each year than any of these other battlefields, probably more than all of them combined. In addition to providing an overview of the first three days in July 1863, McPherson sprinkles in interesting anecdotes concerning the Battle itself as well as various efforts to commemorate aspects of it. One example: Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is now (rightfully) famous for his leadership of the 20th Maine in holding the left flank of the Union line at Little Round Top the night of July 2nd. Another example: Pickett's Charge, a frontal assault on the entrenched and formidable Union line, is popularly regarded (especially in the South) as one of the most valiant events in military history. For example, in the quoted sentence, the Eternal Light Peace Memorial and the stone wall could be designated "A" and "B" in parentheses, and the reader could easily locate them on the map by the corresponding letters "A" and "B"."
Best Civil War Fredericksburg History
A 3-volume, softcover set of books by Shelby Foote dealing with the Civil War.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is extremely rare to find a book so compelling you can't wait to get back to it and I spite of knowing the ending the tears for all concerned won't stop flowing."
"I just only received this box set a few days ago, so I haven't had a lot of time to read any of it extensively."
"This background will prove invaluable when you read other shorter books or books on narrower topics, like individual battles or persons. This is a good book for the casual reader or second book after (or maybe before) Foote."
"Each time I read the trilogy I came away with a greater appreciation of the literary genius of Shelby Foote."
"Very detailed and informative!"
"Son was overjoyed to receive book 3."
"A classic always wanted to purchase the 3 book set looking forward to reading this winter."