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US Civil War Books
vanvlak
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:28 pm 
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Hi all,
as the American Civil War is so far removed from Malta, where I live, I could never understand my interest in this conflict - at least beyond my typical interest in the strange collection of vessels used, ranging from subs to monitors.
Now I've realised that apart from a couple of books on - yep, monitors and subs - all I ever read on the subject were internet articles and short essays on specific details. And 'The Red Badge of Courage'!  Not to mention Gen Grant's biography, which I still have to finish. So - I would appreciate it if someone could recommend a good book on the topic - preferably not exhorbitantly priced or hard to get (Amazon would be fine). I'd prefer a balanced and unbiased point of view, and am interested in all aspects of the war - that is, if an extensive historical background to the war, or economic considerations etc. are included I wouldn;t mind at all.
Thanks guys.  :D

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Dwarf Supreme
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:08 pm 
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The definitive book on Gettysburg might be "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara. Excellent book. Also, a couple of good overview books are "Why the South Lost the Civil War" and "Why the North Won the CiVil War". These two books don't delve too much into the causes, but they do cover all of the major battles and do a good job in detailing why the Civil War lasted as long as it did.

When I think of more, I'll let you know.

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MaksimSmelchak
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:43 am 
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Hi John,

I'll second  "The Killer Angels."

"Gods & Generals" was a long read and a horrible movie.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

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Legion 4
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 4:08 am 
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Yes, I have not read "Killer Angels" ... yet ... but was required reading in the US Command and Staff College. Also "The West Point Atlas of American Wars, Vol. 1". "The Centenial History of the Civil War", by Bruce Catton.  Also Time/Life had an excellent series of 12 or so volumns, my gaming buddy has them.  And if you can get the videos,  Ken Burns did a 10 or 12 hours documentary on the ACW. Those were excellent too ...    I live about 6 hours from Gettysburg but have yet to visit !  Forts Henry and Donelson were right up the road from Fort Campell Ky., but didn't go !?  Been to Atlanta and the surrounding area, like Kennesaw, and Nashville, many times. Been thru the Shenandoah Valley, Fredricksburg and walked thru Petersburg/the Crater, too ... :)

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Sergeant Mike
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 6:57 am 
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I'd strongly recommend Bruce Catton's massive three-volume survey of the American Civil War: The Coming Fury, This Hallowed Ground and Never Call Retreat. He goes into a lot of detail about the people, the battles and the context but you never got lost. He also has a great knack for finding the right illuminating detail for what he's talking about. Very readable! And cheap on Amazon. (One caveat: Catton doesn't discuss the economics behind the Civil War's origins, nor tariffs. He squarely puts the cause of the Civil War in slavery alone and leaves it at that.)

If you want a one-volume book that has fairly high detail, try James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom. Obviously, not as much as Catton, but still very good for giving you the broad view and helping you decide what topics or battles or people to delve into next.

And then there's Shelby Foote's The Civil War: A Narrative. It's just that: story-telling of the highest caliber! It's huge also, three volumes, but a completely absorbing read and pretty close to definitive. Foote had a major role in Ken Burn's documentary on the Civil War and rightly so. He's authoritative, eloquent and entertaining. Also available cheap on Amazon.

I'll add a few books:

Landscape Turned Red by Stephen Sears, about Antietam.
The Gleam of Bayonets by James Murfin, also Antietam
Lee's Lieutenants by Doug Freeman, about the numerous officers of the Confederacy and their complex, fractious relationships.

If you go to ConSimWorld.com and look in the Forum folders under Literary Corner: History: American Civil War you'll find tons of books recommended and discussed!

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Cuban Commissar
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:08 am 
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Or if you don't want to read...

Cilvil War by Ken Burns

This series was simply awesome!  I know this may seem pricy but I think it's worth it.

The only comment I will add about Killer Angels is that it is still fiction.  While the events are true the personalities are sometimes bent a little to develope a better story.  Still it is a wonderful book.
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vanvlak
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:26 am 
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Ah, I knew this would resurface eventually :)
Thanks guys, that's quite a list :)
I finished Grant's autobiography in the meantime - nice few insights there. He could be quite critical of non-performers and the bosses above, was very impartial, and greatly lauded some of the officers serving under him - Sherman and Sheridan being the obvious stars of the show (no wonder they named tanks for them - Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and Lee - any other ACW tank names?).
Currently this seems to be topping my preferences, at least for a behginning - Shelby Foote's The Civil War: A Narrative - so thanks Sarge :)
Although that DVD series looks grand.....

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Tas
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:58 am 
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The epic of Sherman's "march to the sea" and the scorched earth campaign he waged are quite infamous.  We have had 4 different lecturers mention him this year!

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Legion 4
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:39 pm 
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Yes, that's the Ken Burns series, it was great !  And "V", don't forget the M3/M5 Stuart Lgt Tank. Sometimes called the "Honey" by the RAC.  And you can't study Military History in any US Army School without Sherman's March to the Sea, coming up !

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vanvlak
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:34 am 
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(Legion 4 @ Aug. 28 2007,00:39)
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Yes, that's the Ken Burns series, it was great !  And "V", don't forget the M3/M5 Stuart Lgt Tank. Sometimes called the "Honey" by the RAC.  And you can't study Military History in any US Army School without Sherman's March to the Sea, coming up !

I KNEW U I was forgetting someone :)
Thanks to Gen. Grant's bio I thankfully had heard about the march to the sea - phew!

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Tas
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:00 am 
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It was quite an epic!

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Blarg D Impaler
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:17 pm 
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The Union victory at Gettysburg and Sherman's march through Atlanta on his way to the sea are the two big strategic Union military victories.  President Lincoln contributed a large strategic victory himself by declaring the Emancipation Proclomation, which turned the war for the north from a tiresome fight over states rights into a crusade to free the slaves.

The American Civil War is of interest in a broader sense because a lot of historians view it as the turning point from Napoleanic style fighting (massed ranks of muzzle-loading infantry and cavalry charges) to modern warfare.  These are some of the more notable technological changes that happened in relation to warfare:

fixed round ammunition (brass case and enclosed bullet)
explosive land mines
submarines
armored warships
conical shaped bullets

(Am I missing any?)

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Dwarf Supreme
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:34 pm 
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(Blarg D Impaler @ Aug. 29 2007,12:17)
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(Am I missing any?)

I could be wrong, but I think the Civil War was the first war that saw extensive use of the railroad.

Also, how about widespread use of rifled gunbarrels? Or were some used in the Crimean War?

Another possibility, the birth of, albeit a hand-cranked, the machine gun - the Gatling gun.

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Legion 4
 Post subject: US Civil War Books
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:28 am 
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I think you are correct or very close on all of those, Blarge & D/S. No doubt the RR was used extensively, regardless ...  :D

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