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Hearts Touched by Fire: The Best of 'Battles and Leaders of the Civil War'
In July 1883, just a few days after the twentieth anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, a group of editors at the Century magazine engaged in a lively argument: Which Civil War battle was the bloodiest battle of them all? One claimed it was Chickamauga, another Cold Harbor. The argument inspired a brainstorm: Why not let the magazine's 125,000 readers in on the conversation by offering "a series of papers on some of the great battles of the war, to be written by officers in command on both sides." The articles would be written by generals, Union and Confederate alike, who had commanded the engagements two decades earlier--"or, if he were not living," by "the person most entitled to speak for him or in his place." The pieces would present both sides of each major battle and would be fair and free of politics. Now, in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the most enduring entries from the classic four-volume series Battles and Leaders of the Civil War have been edited and merged into one definitive volume. Here are the best of the immortal first-person accounts of the Civil War originally published in the pages of the Century magazine more than a hundred years ago.Hearts Touched by Fire offers stunning accounts of the war's great battles written by the men who planned, fought, and witnessed them, from leaders such as General Ulysses S. Grant, General George McClellan, and Confederate captain Clement Sulivane to men of lesser rank. This collection also features new year-by-year introductions by esteemed historians, including James M. McPherson, Craig L. Symonds, and James I. Robertson, Jr., who cast wise modern eyes on the cataclysm that changed America and that would go down as the bloodiest conflict in our nation's history.No one interested in our country's past will want to be without this collection of the most popular and influential first-person Civil War memoirs ever published.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 22, 2023
A New Edition Of A Civil War Classic
The sesquicentennial of the American Civil War is producing many new studies of the conflict together with reissues of earlier works. "Hearts Touched by Fire" belongs in the latter category. Although it is lengthy, thick book of over 1200 pages, it is an edited, abridged version of a much longer work: the "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" series published initially in the Century Magazine between 1885 -- 1887. The Century series consisted of 99 articles and shorter memoranda written by leading Civil War figures, North and South. Generals and other key figures contributed many of the articles, while others were written by soldiers in the ranks. In 1888, after the magazine series concluded, the Century Company published a four-volume book edition which included the magazine articles together with substantial additional material. This edition sold well and became a treasured keepsake to Civil War veterans and their families. I have seen heirloom copies of the original publication which is still available in used book stores.
The new edition makes the best of "Battles and Leaders" available in a single volume. Harold Holzer, a leading contemporary scholar of the Civil War, conceived of and edited the project, and prepared and informative introduction. Leading Civil War authorities James McPherson, James Robertson, Jr. Stephen Sears, Craig Symonds, and Joan Waugh assisted Holzer in the selections. These scholars also contributed brief introductions to the volume, which is arranged chronologically from 1861 -- 1865.
The book includes nine articles covering 1861, together with an introduction by Symonds. It begins with two articles on Fort Sumter, one from the Union and one from the Confederate perspective. There are three articles on early preparations for the War on both sides, followed by two articles by Beauregard and Joseph Johnston on First Bull Run, and two articles on the Battle of Wilson's Creek.
Steven Sears wrote and introduction to the 16 articles discussing 1862 in the "Battles and Leaders" series. There are three outstanding contributions from Henry Walke and Lew Wallace on the critical Union victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. Grant's article on the Shiloh has become a classic and two additional articles on Shiloh are included as well. Three articles consider the Monitor-Merrimac encounter from varying perspectives while an excellent article by William Meridith continues the focus on the Navy with its treatment of Farragut and his capture of New Orleans. The Peninsula campaign, Second Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg receive sustained attention in articles by John Imboden, a Confedarate Cavalry commander, McClellan, Pope, Longstreet, and Jacob Cox.
James McPherson wrote the introduction for the pivotal year of 1863 and its nine Century articles which begin with a Union and a Confederate account of the Battle of Chancellorsville. There are five good articles on Gettysburg, beginning with Longstreet's account of the purposes of Lee's move north, and continuing with three articles by Henry Hunt, the Union artillery commander, on each day of the battle. A final article by Imboden convers the Confederate retreat. Grant's lengthy article on Vicksburg covers this crucial campaign together with two additional articles detailing the Navy's contribution. Confederate General D.H. Hill's article on Chickamauga and Grant's article on Chattanooga conclude the discussion of this eventful year.
Joan Waugh introduces 1864 and its 16 Century articles which begin with four detailed examinations of Grant's Wilderness campaign through Cold Harbor. There is also an overview by Grant of his plans for 1864 when he was named Union General-in-Chief and two articles on Petersburg, including a rare series article on the role of African American soldiers. Farragut's important victory at Mobile Bay is the subject of an article by John Kinney, and Jubal Early describes his march on Washington, D.C. Other articles describe Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign and Sherman's campaign for and taking of Atlanta. An excellent article by John Brown considers the famed fight between the Confederate "Alabama" and the Union "Kearsarge" off the coast of France. Articles by Confederate General John Hood and Colonel Henry Stone, of the staff of Union General Thomas, discuss the Battles of Franklin and Nashville.
James Robertson introduces the nine Century articles for 1865, the concluding year of the war. I learned about the capture of Fort Fisher in an article by U.S. Navy Captain, Thomas Selfridge. There are important articles by Union General Horace Porter on Five Forks, sometimes called the "Confederate Waterloo" and the surrender at Appomattox. Short articles, Union and Confederate, describe the fall of Richmond. Other articles discuss Sherman's march through the Carolinas, Fort Stedman, and the concluding days of the War.
The volume includes the original illustrations, etchings, and maps of the Century series, which are worth having for themselves. There is a great deal to be learned from this book about the Civil War itself and about the different ways it has been remembered and written about over the years. Because it is an abridgement, it would have been desirable to include an appendix, consisting of a table of contents of the materials left out. The book will have greatest appeal to readers with a serious interest in the Civil War who have a familiarity with at least some of the many standard histories.
Robin Friedman
The sesquicentennial of the American Civil War is producing many new studies of the conflict together with reissues of earlier works. "Hearts Touched by Fire" belongs in the latter category. Although it is lengthy, thick book of over 1200 pages, it is an edited, abridged version of a much longer work: the "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" series published initially in the Century Magazine between 1885 -- 1887. The Century series consisted of 99 articles and shorter memoranda written by leading Civil War figures, North and South. Generals and other key figures contributed many of the articles, while others were written by soldiers in the ranks. In 1888, after the magazine series concluded, the Century Company published a four-volume book edition which included the magazine articles together with substantial additional material. This edition sold well and became a treasured keepsake to Civil War veterans and their families. I have seen heirloom copies of the original publication which is still available in used book stores.
The new edition makes the best of "Battles and Leaders" available in a single volume. Harold Holzer, a leading contemporary scholar of the Civil War, conceived of and edited the project, and prepared and informative introduction. Leading Civil War authorities James McPherson, James Robertson, Jr. Stephen Sears, Craig Symonds, and Joan Waugh assisted Holzer in the selections. These scholars also contributed brief introductions to the volume, which is arranged chronologically from 1861 -- 1865.
The book includes nine articles covering 1861, together with an introduction by Symonds. It begins with two articles on Fort Sumter, one from the Union and one from the Confederate perspective. There are three articles on early preparations for the War on both sides, followed by two articles by Beauregard and Joseph Johnston on First Bull Run, and two articles on the Battle of Wilson's Creek.
Steven Sears wrote and introduction to the 16 articles discussing 1862 in the "Battles and Leaders" series. There are three outstanding contributions from Henry Walke and Lew Wallace on the critical Union victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. Grant's article on the Shiloh has become a classic and two additional articles on Shiloh are included as well. Three articles consider the Monitor-Merrimac encounter from varying perspectives while an excellent article by William Meridith continues the focus on the Navy with its treatment of Farragut and his capture of New Orleans. The Peninsula campaign, Second Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg receive sustained attention in articles by John Imboden, a Confedarate Cavalry commander, McClellan, Pope, Longstreet, and Jacob Cox.
James McPherson wrote the introduction for the pivotal year of 1863 and its nine Century articles which begin with a Union and a Confederate account of the Battle of Chancellorsville. There are five good articles on Gettysburg, beginning with Longstreet's account of the purposes of Lee's move north, and continuing with three articles by Henry Hunt, the Union artillery commander, on each day of the battle. A final article by Imboden convers the Confederate retreat. Grant's lengthy article on Vicksburg covers this crucial campaign together with two additional articles detailing the Navy's contribution. Confederate General D.H. Hill's article on Chickamauga and Grant's article on Chattanooga conclude the discussion of this eventful year.
Joan Waugh introduces 1864 and its 16 Century articles which begin with four detailed examinations of Grant's Wilderness campaign through Cold Harbor. There is also an overview by Grant of his plans for 1864 when he was named Union General-in-Chief and two articles on Petersburg, including a rare series article on the role of African American soldiers. Farragut's important victory at Mobile Bay is the subject of an article by John Kinney, and Jubal Early describes his march on Washington, D.C. Other articles describe Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign and Sherman's campaign for and taking of Atlanta. An excellent article by John Brown considers the famed fight between the Confederate "Alabama" and the Union "Kearsarge" off the coast of France. Articles by Confederate General John Hood and Colonel Henry Stone, of the staff of Union General Thomas, discuss the Battles of Franklin and Nashville.
James Robertson introduces the nine Century articles for 1865, the concluding year of the war. I learned about the capture of Fort Fisher in an article by U.S. Navy Captain, Thomas Selfridge. There are important articles by Union General Horace Porter on Five Forks, sometimes called the "Confederate Waterloo" and the surrender at Appomattox. Short articles, Union and Confederate, describe the fall of Richmond. Other articles discuss Sherman's march through the Carolinas, Fort Stedman, and the concluding days of the War.
The volume includes the original illustrations, etchings, and maps of the Century series, which are worth having for themselves. There is a great deal to be learned from this book about the Civil War itself and about the different ways it has been remembered and written about over the years. Because it is an abridgement, it would have been desirable to include an appendix, consisting of a table of contents of the materials left out. The book will have greatest appeal to readers with a serious interest in the Civil War who have a familiarity with at least some of the many standard histories.
Robin Friedman
June 27, 2021
The Civil Wars of the Civil War.
Shortly after the end of the civil war, the Century Magazine commissioned several of the participants to write articles on the major engagements of the war. It endeavored to avoid "political" questions and instead focused on the movement of men and materiel.
That collection of articles became the immensely important "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" of which "Hearts Touched by Fire" is a well-edited collection.
Anyone with a cursory knowledge of the war won't find much new here and reading first person accounts is, while valuable, invariably limited. Nevertheless, it's interesting to read what axes people still had to grind 15-20+ years after the war. In many chapters you get petty quibbling over dates of promotion, seniority, and the late exact intent of written orders (who knew there was a major difference between "possible" and "practicable"?)
These little asides make for interesting flavor but rarely add to the understanding of a particular battle. The benefit of having on the ground participants as authors is that you often get benign explanations for events that in other tellings take on symbolic significance. In one example a besieged Confederate fort's commander responds to the charge that his guns "fell silent" as a result of the union naval onslaught. Rather he says, no guns fell silent, he gave specific orders on when to fire (to preserve ammo) and his crews obeyed.
Overall, more useful as a desk reference than a work you go through in an extended reading session.
Shortly after the end of the civil war, the Century Magazine commissioned several of the participants to write articles on the major engagements of the war. It endeavored to avoid "political" questions and instead focused on the movement of men and materiel.
That collection of articles became the immensely important "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" of which "Hearts Touched by Fire" is a well-edited collection.
Anyone with a cursory knowledge of the war won't find much new here and reading first person accounts is, while valuable, invariably limited. Nevertheless, it's interesting to read what axes people still had to grind 15-20+ years after the war. In many chapters you get petty quibbling over dates of promotion, seniority, and the late exact intent of written orders (who knew there was a major difference between "possible" and "practicable"?)
These little asides make for interesting flavor but rarely add to the understanding of a particular battle. The benefit of having on the ground participants as authors is that you often get benign explanations for events that in other tellings take on symbolic significance. In one example a besieged Confederate fort's commander responds to the charge that his guns "fell silent" as a result of the union naval onslaught. Rather he says, no guns fell silent, he gave specific orders on when to fire (to preserve ammo) and his crews obeyed.
Overall, more useful as a desk reference than a work you go through in an extended reading session.
August 6, 2011
This a collection of some of the articles written in the mid-1880 for Century Magazine. It was very interesting seeing the battles through the eyes of the commanders on the field. For simple historical impact I thought the various article by General Grant were the best . For just historical impact through I thought the article on the battle of Chickamauga was the best. In case there was any doubt these article make it clear that face saving blame finding and saying it was some one one else fault were all well establish in the 19th century.
December 20, 2021
This was an amazing book. Taken right from the journals of the men that were there. Gives an entirely new perspective on such an amazing and terrible time in our nation. Detailed writings of the smallest details from Antietam, Gettysburg. Journals from both sides of the conflict. This book was so long, and not long enough. I finished wanting more. I hoped for another journal entry to be found and included. I hoped to notice that maybe this was just volume 1. I would love to read more.
April 1, 2025
A series of narratives covering the breadth of the Civil War written by those who where there and in positions of decision making. It is a thorough account with the editors adding notes that helped clarify and balance the narrative.
March 19, 2012
This volume is a selection of articles written by Civil War participants for Century Magazine in the late nineteenth century. These articles were later published in a multivolume work, Battles and Leaders of the Civil War. I gave this a four star rating because I'm not good at following all of the maneuvers of the units of armies; others will appreciate the detail. What I found most intersting were the accounts of the soldier's experiences under fire and, to a lesser extent, the baci-and-forth between officers over who was to blame for mistakes. This is an essential work for anyone interested in military history, particularly the American Civil War.
June 25, 2011
A compilation of essays on the Civil War first published in Century magazine in the 1880s, with a fascinating introductory piece by the great Harold Holzer who tells how these essays came about. Privates, generals, politicans all share their experiences of the War in fascinating detail. Year-by-year introductions by James McPherson and others provide context.
August 12, 2012
This book introduces the reader to the Civil War in a way that cannot be expressed. You might think you know the war and understand what it is about, but this is different. Good book, read, doubt and ask. That should always be the rule.
February 22, 2015
Interesting and unique. These are first person accounts of Civil War battles and leaders written about 20 years after the war and published in Century Magazine. Although somewhat uneven in quality, I really enjoyed the entries by Grant (Shiloh & Vicksburg) and Lew Wallace (Donaldson).
November 29, 2011
See my review at http://salient-points.blogspot.com/20...
October 8, 2015
Like many compilations, the quality varied from piece to piece, but there's no denying this is a critical primary source for studying the US Civil War from the perspectives of both sides.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews