This Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War

by James M. McPherson

In this collection of provocative and illuminating essays, McPherson offers fresh insight into many of the enduring questions about one of the defining moments in our nation's history.
McPherson sheds light on topics large and small, from the average soldier's avid love of newspapers to the postwar creation of the mystique of a Lost Cause in the South. Readers will find insightful pieces on such intriguing figures as Harriet Tubman, John Brown, Jesse James, and William Tecumseh Sherman, and on such vital issues as Confederate military strategy, the failure of peace negotiations to end the war, and the realities and myths of the Confederacy. This Mighty Scourge includes several never-before-published essays--pieces on General Robert E. Lee's goals in the Gettysburg campaign, on Lincoln and Grant in the Vicksburg campaign, and on Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief. All of the essays have been updated and revised to give the volume greater thematic coherence and continuity, so that it can be read in sequence as an interpretive history of the war and its meaning for America and the world.
Combining the finest scholarship with luminous prose, and packed with new information and fresh ideas, this book brings together the most recent thinking by the nation's leading authority on the Civil War.

Genres: History, Civil War, Nonfiction, American Civil War, American History, War, Military History

260 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

James M. McPherson, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins University, 1963; B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, Minnesota), 1958) is an American Civil War historian, and the George Henry Davis '86 Professor Emeritus of United States History at Princeton University. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Battle Cry of Freedom, his most famous book. He was the president of the American Historical Association in 2003, and is a member of the editorial board of Encyclopædia Britannica.

Reviews

[robin friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why The Civil War Matters

"This Mighty Scourge" (2007) is a short collection of sixteen essays by James McPherson that, as its subtitle indicates, offers a variety of perspectives on the American Civil War. The Civil War remains the seminal event in United States history, and McPherson is the leading historian of the War now writing. With his simple writing style, erudition, willingness to explore and consider a variety of positions, and ability to convey the continued importance and significance of his chosen subject, McPherson has taught me a great deal about the Civil War. Although this book of essays can be read with benefit by those new to the study of the Civil War, it is better suited to the reader with a background in the conflict, as might be acquired from McPherson's own magisterial "Battle Cry of Freedom."

The essays are arranged in five sections which consider the causes of the Civil War, strategy, tactics, and politics, the commanders on both sides, the War as it lived on in memory in the United States, and, importantly, Lincoln.

The first section of the book, "Slavery and the Coming of War", consists of two essays, the first of which emphasizes the underlying importance of slavery as the cause of the Civil War (and summarizes much recent research on the matter), and the second of which examines two famous slaves who escaped to freedom, Harriet Tubman and Harriet Jacobs (the author of a book called "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl") together with John Brown. McPherson offers a thoughtful treatment of the controversy which still surrounds Brown.

The second section of the book, "The Lost Cause Revisited" includes six essays which examine a variety of Southern approaches to the Civil War, both during and after the conflict. I was most interested in the essay; "To Conquer a Peace" Lee's Goals in the Gettysburg Campaign" which assesses the various reasons which students of the Civil War have given for Lee's decision to invade the North, leading to the fateful battle of Gettysburg in early July, 1863. A broader essay, "Was the Best Defense a Good Offense" examines Southern strategy and tactics in prosecuting the Civil War and, as McPherson does when at his best, allows the reader to understand the complexity of the question. Other essays explore the impact of the battle of Antietam on the Confederacy's attempt to secure foreign recognition, and the manner in which "Lost Cause" advocates in the South tried to mould history to their own views in the textbooks used to teach the Civil War to high school and even college students.

In part III of the book, "Architects of Victory" McPherson focuses on the friendship between Grant and Sherman and the work of these two Union Generals in winning the War. The final essay in this section, "Unvexed to the Sea: Lincoln, Grant, and the Vicksburg Campaign" is an excellent short analysis of the pivotal campaign which, even today, does not get the attention it merits.

In "Home Front and the Battle-Front" McPherson offers three essays which examine the courage shown by Boston intellectuals in the war effort (He might have broadened his topic slightly to include Maine's Joshua Chamberlain.), the importance of newspapers to the life of the soldier on both sides of the line, and the various efforts at negotiating a peace which occurred between North and South during the conflict -- why they were initiated and why they ultimately failed.

The final section of the book consists of two essays on Lincoln whose presence is felt throughout the study. McPherson suggests more than once that a key reason for the Union's success was that they had Lincoln and the Confederacy did not. The essay "To Remember that he had Lived" is a highlight of this book, and an outstanding short introduction to Lincoln's life and to the important historical sources on his life. The final essay in the book is a short summary of Lincoln's actions in suspending habeas corpus and taking a broad view of Presidential powers in prosecuting the Civil War. This subject has been explored many times, but McPherson offers a good overview.

Readers with an interest in the Civil War will learn from and be inspired to learn more from this volume. More important than any fact or controversy about the Civil War, McPherson will help the reader understand why the Civil War deserves study. He teaches how the Civil War matters.

Robin Friedman

[Andrew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Audible freebie comprises a scholarly series of essays examining a range of topics linked to the American Civil War. Issues covered include: the cause of the war; why the South lost; leadership, policy, tactics and goals; examination of some of the key figures. The author is a renowned American Civil War historian and the George Henry Davis '86 Professor Emeritus of United States History at Princeton University. Some pre-knowledge of events is helpful as the author assumes such in his exploration of the topics covered.

This audiobook was read in clipped ‘newsreader’ fashion but once I got used to the reader’s style and pace (he also read quite quickly) I settled comfortably into its flow. Some pre-knowledge of the war and its key figures is helpful as the author provides little by way of background assistance. It’s clearly very well researched and sometimes rather dry but the content definitely did add to my existing knowledge of figures and events. It’s less entertaining than some other books I’ve read on this war – more facts, less stories – but it’s definitely a worthy book to add to your list if this subject is something you’re keen on digging further into.

[Sonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

- “The Lost Cause myth helped Southern whites deal with the shattering reality of catastrophic defeat and impoverishment in a war they had been sure they would win.”
― James M. McPherson, This Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War

In This Mighty ScourgeJames McPherson, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era, combines a deep understanding of the American Civil War with an elegant narrative style that makes it appealing to the general public. McPherson offers up a compilation of 16 essays on a variety of important topics related to the Civil War, such as the international strategic importance of the Battle of Antietam; the unanswered questions surrounding the life of Harriet Tubman, heroine of the Underground Railroad; the legacy of Jesse James; the important relationship between Ulysses S. Grant and President Lincoln; the relationship between Jefferson Davis and his generals; Robert E. Lee’s strategic goals for the Gettysburg campaign; and a fascinating essay on the efforts of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) as “Lost Cause” defenders in the South decades after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.

An essay titled “Long-Legged Yankee Lies” describes the determined efforts by various southern groups to obtain a "fair and impartial" account of the Civil War in history textbooks, most of which were published in the North and written by Northern authors. Groups such as United Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy challenged the "Lost Cause" argument about why the South lost the war. They also argued that it was states rights, not slavery, that was the main cause of the war. These efforts continued for decades after the war’s end.

An essay in Section I examines the efforts of Harriet Tubman and John Brown, who took action in their opposition to slavery. The author addresses the many stories surrounding these two The author addresses some of the questions surrounding Tubman’s efforts, including how many slaves she helped set free. Another essay examines Lincoln’s justifications for suspending habeas corpus.

Another excellent essay titled “No Peace Without Victory, 1861–1865” discusses Lincoln’s reluctance to seek a compromise peace. Yet another essay describes the relationship between the press and troop morale.

The Antietam essay shows how Britain and France were prepared to recognize the Confederacy in the weeks leading up to the 1862 battle and how the outcome at Antietam discouraged foreign recognition of the Confederacy. The outcome also prompted President Lincoln to issue his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which did much to sway European opinion despite the importance of cotton to their economies.

- “Antietam was unquestionably the most important battle of the Civil War in its impact on foreign relations. Never again did Britain and France come so close to intervention.”
― James M. McPherson, This Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War

The book addresses important questions concerning the causes, course, direction, and outcome of the Civil War. As one might expect from an author like McPherson, the discussions are eloquent and well argued.

[Porter Broyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if I learned anything new from this book, but it was a fun little book to review stuff I already knew.

Definitely worth the time.

[Jenny Karraker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each chapter commented or critiqued on different aspects of the Civil War that various authors have written about. The chapter describing how over time the South has changed its view as to the causes of the Civil War was interesting. Author assets that early on, Southerners staunchly defended slavery; but later on when winning the war was seeming impossible justified their efforts as defending states rights. Having grown up in the South and being taught the war was all about states rights, it was interesting to read first sources quoted and explore the causes more thoroughly. The chapter about Jesse James was also interesting. Authors asserts they weren't noble Robin Hood-like characters but ruthless killers mentored as young men by William Quantrill, Bloody Bill Anderson, and Archie Clement, guerrilla fighters for the confederacy involved in the antebellum Kansas wars between pro and antislavery forces. The chapter describing why the North won the war was interesting. Author asserts it wasn't the fact that the North had more resources (men and materials), that the cause of freedom was more noble than slavery, but that Grant employed better military strategy and tactics which enabled him to capitalize on these other areas. Being a Southerner and growing up in a place where Robert E Lee is viewed with almost godlike status, this assertion about Grant's superior abilities was interesting. Another chapter asserted that Grant's drinking was not as bad as reported, that it was an attempt by Southerners to vilify this Yankee general who was not the gentleman general that Lee was. Grant drank when bored and never overindulged when leading his troops. I was impressed that Grant seemed to have an accurate assessment of his strengths and liabilities and accurately assessed his enemies and fellow commanders. I liked the quote by Sherman: "He stood by me when I was crazy and I stood by him when he was drunk, and now, sir, we stand by each other always." Interesting chapter in which author gives credence to writings of William Herndon, a fellow Illinois lawyer who wrote much about Lincoln, esp about his early years. Much of Herndon's writings have been discredited bc he asserted Lincoln had an unhappy marriage, due to an earlier romance w Ann Rutledge who died. Author asserts yes, Lincoln did have a relationship w this woman, that this didn't doom his marriage with Mary Todd, and that Herndon's other writings shouldn't be discredited bc of this assertion about his marriage that seems to be false. Just becoming a new student of the Civil War and of Lincoln, it was encouraging to learn that this author encouraged Don Fehrenbacher, one of the foremost experts on Lincoln's life to document, classify, and evaluate over 1,900 quotations of Lincoln by 513 people. The resultant Recollected Works of Lincoln (1996) helps separate the truth from myth about his life. In reading this book, you need to have a good grasp of the war and people involved. I'm not there yet, so often needed to research more to understand what the author was getting it.

[Ryan Lally]

Pulitzer prize-winner James McPherson tackles here some of the more enduring questions around the most central event in American historical consciousness. While it’s far from being a comprehensive overview of the civil war, McPherson’s collection of 16 essays deals with plenty of the crucial touchpoints of the period as well as some more peripheral yet intriguing ones including the role of John brown, Jesse James and Harriet Tubman, the Gettysburg Campaign, Confederate defence strategies and the impact of Antietam abroad. A piece on the concerted efforts of the UCV (United Confederate Veterans) to dictate the school curriculum as well as the social discourse around the Confederacy’s ‘true’ motives also gives us an interesting insight into the Confederate legacy as well as the negationist ‘lost cause’ ideology.

“This Mighty Scourge” would work wonderfully as a companion piece to a more thorough examination of the period. The topics, though somewhat disparate, are covered with thoughtful and measured analysis, and McPherson’s skill is such that you will be left wanting more.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The historian James McPherson is an accomplished author and a hard-eyed student of his subjects. This volume, containing a series of some works already previously published and some that had not yet appeared in print, leaves one asking for more. The issue? The "chapters" are quite brief, and the insights and wisdom of the author only cover so much territory. Chapters run to maybe 10-15 pages each, for the most part. And that can only give one a taste that leaves one desiring yet more.

At that, this is still an interesting volume. McPherson does not rant; he raises thoughtful points and encourages readers to think about the issues that he raises. Key questions that various segments of the book address (page ix): "Why did the war come? What were the war aims of each side? What strategies did they employ to achieve their aims? Did the war's outcome justify the immense sacrifice of life? What impact did the experience of war have on the people who lived through it? How did later generations remember and commemorate that experience?"

Let's consider a handful of the essays. Chapter 4: "Was the best defense a good offense?" explores the variety of views on the Confederacy's strategy. Should it be a defensive policy only, given the need for Union forces to occupy a vast territory? A Fabian strategy was advocated by some (such as Joe Johnston). Others, like Robert E. Lee, favored a more offensive strategy (perhaps best described, in terms of this chapter, as an "offensive defensive" strategy). This chapter examines the internal debate lucidly. Chapter 5 is intriguingly entitled "The Saratoga that Wasn't: The Impact of Antietam Abroad." The South wanted recognition by other countries, in order to receive active foreign support and nurture their revolution. They came tantalizingly close on a handful of occasions, as they scored impressive victories over Union forces. However, Antietam, which some had looked forward to as a potential Saratoga--when foreign governments began to proffer aid to the rebels in the Revolutionary War. But Lee's forces did not prevail and, with the promulgation of the Emancipation Proclamation, any real hope for European intervention on behalf of the South dissipated.

There is consideration elsewhere of "The Lost Cause" notion. McPherson handles this well. He also considers the relationship between Generals Grant and Sherman, the Vicksburg Campaign, and so on.

All in all, a most literate work, but one that leaves this reader a bit dissatisfied, wanting more than the format can provide. Nonetheless, an insightful volume.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A review of Civil War book reviews. And Lincoln definitely didn't say that. Probably. Maybe.

McPherson's 2007 collection of essays covers multiple Civil War topics with most being standard fare that don't really bring anything new or novel. There are some gems here mostly when McPherson is offering his thoughts/ reviews on relatively recent (mostly late 90s) ACW scholarship. Of particular note is his essay on Harriet Tubman and how more recent biographies have shown how her legend quickly outgrew the reality of her narcoleptic 5-foot frame. Also enjoyable was his essay on the battle over textbooks following the war into the 20th Century and efforts of The Sons/ Daughters of the Confederacy (and like minded groups) to place the war in the "proper (read: Southern) context. Finally, an extended look into Fehrenbacher's "Recollected Words of Abraham Lincoln" is great as an effort to "grade" the various sayings and stories attributed to Lincoln (lotta D grades out there) and he definitely didn't say that thing you posted on social media.

Overall, a quick, enjoyable read that gives the casual history buff further resources to consider adding to their collection. Because I need more books🙄

[David Baer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My selection of this book for my reading list was a consequence of reading We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy: he mentions it as a superior study of the Civil War.

As a recent immigrant from Canada, I don’t mind admitting that I have had my eyes opened; that my understanding of American history has progressed beyond the facile hagiographical stories that America has exported to such great effect over the years. My reading projects since 2016 have featured a strong theme of history and sociology. One of the things I have come to appreciate is how the history of race relations permeates American life and discourse. Like Coates, for a time I was of the naïve opinion that, with the election of Barack Obama as President, the era of post-racialism was at last upon us. Alas, like Coates, and partly resulting from my absorption of his analysis, I have come to understand Trumpism as equal admixture of class and race backlash.

(To be fair to Coates, I understand his position is that Trump is “the first White President”, and he tends to discount the poor-white working-class analysis. My synthesis would be that people intuitively feel rage against their elites in consequence of the creeping emergence of radical libertarian policies since Reagan, and this rage interacted with basic and often unacknowledged racism on the part of many, possibly a majority of, white Americans. This toxic interaction led to a powerful sub-majority belief that the best thing to do was to vote for someone who would tear it all down and burn the furniture too.)

With my newly acquired understanding of my social landscape, I find that the most likely form of racism I am to encounter is the misunderstanding, willful or otherwise, of the Civil War. The challenge will (and has) come in the form of a blithe assertion that the Civil War “wasn’t really about slavery, you know.” Really the most likely way that I can contribute microscopically to improvement of the social fabric, is to have at ready my reasons for believing otherwise.

As I begin McPherson’s book, my main strategy is to quote the authority of Lincoln’s second inaugural address, which I read from the walls of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. The Lincoln Memorial, by the way, triggered a sense of numinous awe for me. Although there is not much to see but a great big statue, the Gettysburg Address, and the Second Inaugural address, chiseled in two-foot high letters and towering above you, its very simplicity emphasizes the power of those words. The Second Inaugural in particular admits no doubt concerning what the war was “about.”

“…On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it. All sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war, seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came.

One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was, somehow, the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union, even by war, while the government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it.”

I cannot understand how anyone can read these words and still hold the opinion that the war was not about slavery. To paraphrase Lincoln: “we were going to let you have your slaves, but you had to go and insist on extending slavery into new territories.” I think people get confused because Lincoln admits here and in many other quotes that a compromise was always available whereby the existing slave states could continue with their “peculiar institution.” As the second inaugural quote above shows, the southern states would accept no such compromise. “And the war came.”

Back to McPherson’s book. Having quoted so extensively from Lincoln’s second inaugural above, I must point out that the “mighty scourge” title consciously echoes a line from Lincoln’s address:

“Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man’s 250 years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said 3,000 years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether.”

How did it happen that so many people believe that the Civil War was about something other than slavery? McPherson gets right to this in the first chapter. He quotes the same lines I noted above from Lincoln’s second inaugural as “an interpretation of the causes of the war.”

McPherson says that in the 1860s, few people would have dissented from the premise that slavery was the cause of the war. “After all, had not Jefferson Davis … justified secession in 1861 as an act of self-defense against the incoming Lincoln administration, whose announced policy of excluding slavery from the territories would make “property in slaves so insecure as to be comparatively worthless, thereby annihilating in effect property worth thousands of millions of dollars.” And had not the new vice president of the Confederate States of America, Alexander H Stevens, said in a speech in Savannah, March 21, 1861, that slavery was “the immediate cause of the late rupture and the present revolution of Southern independence.” The old confederation of the United States, said Stevens, “had been founded on the false idea that all men are created equal.” The Confederacy, in contrast, “is founded on exactly the opposite idea: its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the White Man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition. This our new government is the first in the history of the world based on this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth.”

"By the time Davis and Stevens wrote their histories of the Confederation, however, slavery was gone with the wind, a dead and discredited institution. To concede that the Confederacy had broken up the United States and launched a war that had killed 620,000 Americans in a vain attempt to keep four million people in slavery, would not confer honor upon their lost cause – therefore they set to work to purge that cause of any association with human bondage."

Davis and Stevens originated the line that secession occurred not to protect slavery, but to vindicate state sovereignty. Slavery was just one issue among many. Over the years many historians have chosen to rely on their post-war claims, rather than their writings from 1861. Ken and Rick Burns’ PBS documentary from 1990 provoked a hostile response from southerners who did not like the portrayal of the war as having been fought for slavery. A member of Sons of Confederate Veterans stated “the cause of the war could have been any number of things… state’s rights, agrarianism, aristocracy, and habits of mind including individualism, personalism toward God and man, provincialism, and romanticism.” Anything, that is, but slavery.

Lincoln won the election of 1860 at the head of a Republican party that grew out of the Free Soil Party, which came into being explicitly in advocacy of anti-slavery policies in new territories. Lincoln received not a single electoral vote from the South. The simple election of Lincoln was considered by southerners as “... a deliberate cold-blooded insult and outrage that must be replied to by the challenge of secession. No other overt act can so imperitavely demand resistance on our part as the simple election of their candidate” (a North Carolina congressman). The resistance he had in mind, secession, did not necessarily mean war. The cause of secession was one specific thing: the southern response to the election of a President and party they feared as a threat to slavery. The cause of the war was indeed secession, but it did not make war inevitable.

Lincoln received advice to let the Confederates have Fort Sumpter as a gesture of goodwill, but decided that to do so would rather discourage the unionists. He announced that he would resupply the fort: “food for hungry men”, and Jefferson Davis made the decision to fire on the resupply ships.

All this, friends, is what I retain merely from Chapter One of this engrossing book. Other topics include Harriet Tubman and Harriet Jacobs, John Brown, military strategy of North and South, motivating factors of both Northern and Southern soldiers, international diplomacy, Lincoln's leadership versus that of Jefferson Davis, the failure of the policy of conciliation, the genesis and impact of the Emancipation Proclamation, and more. McPherson weaves in references to numerous other related books, a few of which I have added to my "to read" list.

As a Civil War neophyte, I found this book allowed me to gain a much better grasp of the totality of the war: from its origins, through pivotal moments that could have gone either way, almost up to the end of the war. There are no doubt many books that provide more detailed narratives, but this one is a great way to approach those details with an overall sense of "perspective."

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the parts where the author wrote about the Civil War, but I didn't like the parts where he veered off to critique books by other authors and evaluate their worth. Since it's essays it doesn't happen throughout, but I still found it impeded the flow of information.

[Matt Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of essays on the Civil War. Each essay was enjoyable and readable.

[Steve Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of any of McPherson’s books I’ve undertaken (I listened to the audiobook). It’s a collection of essays on the Civil War that goes deep into thorny issues that some popular authors merely gloss over.

McPherson, an emeritus professor of history at Princeton specializing in the Civil War era, is a careful and critically honest researcher. Like his colleague at UVA, Gary Gallagher, McPherson doesn’t hesitate to tear apart the moldering myths of the Confederate “Lost Cause” and Lincoln’s presidency.

And his prose is superb.

Today’s apologists for the Confederacy ought not overlook this work. Intellectual honesty demands it be read. Readers who have a fundamental knowledge of the war, its antecedents, and Reconstruction will find it accessible and illuminating.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sixteen essays all related to the Civil war and finally a book that firmly declares the true cause of the war, slavery, instead of all the other stated reasons usually trotted out in books and articles. These secondary causes have been offered for more than a century as primary causes and historians are now moving to correct the myth, a myth postulated even as the war was drawing to a close. As McPherson points out “The Civil War is a highly visible exception to the adage that victors write the history of wars”

There was even an essay here about the insipid coward, Jesse James which demonstrates fully just how much of despicable person he really was.

[Quinndara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent contribution to filling in the reader with 16 essays that clarify continuing questions about the civil war. Just learning about the South's denial of defeat and refusal to have factual accounts of the conflict part of the school curriculum was a fascinating eye-opener to me. In the South's view, they never lost. McPherson also gives more details about John Brown and other important figures of the time. The book is a good supplement to his other writings on the Civil War.

[Anthony Angelozzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Mighty Scourge is a good read for Civil War experts who are looking for fresh perspectives of the era. As noted in other reviews, the chapters and short and vary greatly regarding specific topic. James McPherson is a top-notch, and arguably the most preeminent Civil War scholar. McPherson's writing provides an in-depth knowledge of Civil War historiography, which really adds a different dimension to the scholarship.

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent set of essays giving new insights as well as debunking longstanding myths about the Civil
War - also useful in assessing our current highly divided political climate which is really nothing new at all.

[Jon Cheek · Rating 4 out of 5]

McPherson provides a number of essays discussing various topics related to the Civil War. McPherson seems to be very careful in his handling of topics. Some highlights:

He effectively argues against the "Lost Cause" long held to by those who sympathize with the Confederate Cause. He rightly criticizes the South for inefficiency and for losing roughly the same percentage of soldiers in battle as the North did, in spite of the fact that the South was fighting a primarily defensive war. He discusses the military strengths of Grant and Sherman and presents a balanced view of Lee, recognizing his greatness while also acknowledging his failures. In response to complaints that Grant was a "butcher," McPherson says that Lee was more so, based on the percentage of casualties in his army. He makes the interesting point that Lee's success is what ultimately prolonged the war and ensured that slavery would end. If Lee had not taken over in 1862 when McClellan was just a few miles from Richmond, the North likely would have taken Richmond and, at that point, peace may have been accomplished with slavery still in tact.

And on the question of whether the war is a war about slavery, McPherson proves quite clearly that the leaders of the South were seceding because of slavery. This does not mean every individual from the South was fighting for slavery; however, if there were no slavery, there would have been no American Civil War.

The chapter on Harriet Tubman was interesting; he points out that there is very little actual evidence supporting much of what we know about Tubman's work in rescuing slaves. He does not deny or even suggest that she played a significant role in this, but he does comment on the lack of actual evidence.

Though Lincoln is sometimes criticized for expanding and abusing the constitutional authority of the presidency, McPherson defends Lincoln's actions and argues that Lincoln did what was necessary to support the continued existence of the Constitution by keeping the Union together.

Overall, this book presents intelligent and well-researched perspectives on certain key debates about the Civil War from a premier Civil War historian.

[Ben Denison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection of essays on the Civil War period.

McPherson’s writings range from segments on The Lost Cause myth and how the myth evolved from former commanders, to early biographers/historians, to southern educators to todays society; segments on southern post-war erecting of statues, and remembrance by confederate family members and descendants, to a fascinating discussion on the southern education curriculum and textbooks touting a pro-southern slant. I thought it was funny a college president said it was interesting how “the south never lost a battle, but somehow lost the war”; to segments on Lincoln’s invoking of War Powers outside of the constitution, to peace negotiations, to discussions and evolution of emancipation.

Also essays on Grant’s Vicksburg campaign and the egos and politics of the leadership and command of the union forces. Lee’s relationship with David and the leadership focus on the east where the west was so critical. An essay on newspapers and the media, how the soldiers coveted newspapers and the news while mistrusting most media and reporters (not much different from today).

More short bios on Harriet Tubman, John Brown and others.

Overall a great collection and good useful information for such short write ups on the various topics. Highly recommend.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very satisfying, illuminating read. Reader, be warned that This Mighty Scourge is, save a few articles out of the sixteen chapters, a compendium of book reviews written for the New York Review of Books. The NYRB is a paper that I admire for its willingness to go long and erudite, and it manages to go in depth without becoming unbearably dry, but a collection of essays in this style can get a little slow-going even if it's a satiating read chapter by chapter.

Plenty of other reviews on the page do better justice as to what McPherson encapsulates here, and as a collection, it's clear that readers will gravitate toward some topics over others. I enjoyed McPherson's essay debunking the reputations of Grant and Sherman; my favorite is a chapter about the Confederate snowflakes who simply couldn't bear to hear the truth about themselves, and forced schools to lie to their children about the cause of the Civil War. This book sold me on reading Battle Cry of Freedom at my earliest convenience, so don't be surprised to see this on my "currently reading" list in the near future.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is another one of those "re-packaged" books - a series of essays that someone, along the way, has perhaps decided to gather for the intent of making a couple $$. Many of these genre books are often puzzlingly random - but in fact, this book forms the exception. A little random, yes; one questions the need for book reviews here, but McPherson, preeminent author and historian that he is, navigates this skillfully. A review of recent Lincoln books, for example, instead turns into an interesting tale of the Lincoln-Rutledge story, and a historiography of early Lincoln scholarship. All in all, McPherson has hit on some of the most important yet under illuminated topics of the civil war - Grant & Sherman, the role of memory and the textbook struggle for the Lost Cause, Lincoln scholarship, etc. McPherson also manages to avoid repeating the old cliches, which is refreshing for old Civil War hands - just when you think you're getting to That Story You've Heard a Million Times, he neatly sidetracks to reveal something more obscure. An interesting read that certainly transcends the "essays" genre - readable, engaging, and illuminating.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This books transitions back and forth between legitimate historical examination of the civil war and opinionated takes on the post war south's perception of the conflicts origination. McPherson is clearly a well versed historian who illuminates the context of many events leading up to the Civil War, the conflict itself, and reconstruction. However, he has a real axe to grind with the post Civil War south all the up to and including the 1992 Republican National Convention. At this point he bizarrely attacks President Reagan's speech for using quotes of disputed authenticity, supposedly from President Abraham Lincoln. These portions of the book dealing with the "Lost Cause in the South" morph from valid historical essays to seemingly politically motivated opinion pieces. I am not directly challenging his takes but they are not as historically relevant and undisputable as the rest of the work. Hopefully his more popular Battle Cry of Freedom will not disappoint as this book did.

[Dennis Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War by James McPherson is a collection of essays on particular debates and topics of interest of the American Civil War. Most of them are well worth your attention, though there will be very few surprises. This book comes across as an answer to Baby Boomer sentimentality regarding their inherited perspective on the Civil War, so that now most of what is being argued is what I am already familiar with. It doesn't help that this book was written nearly 15 years ago either. There are still a few jems, particularly the one on misunderstood Union Generals and early advocates for emancipation, as well as Brown and Tubman. I knew little of the gangs in the West, so that was also new information. Otherwise, this was a walk down memory lane. Good, but it left me wanting more.

87/100

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific book, very readable, explains nuances I never fully understood. Interesting essays included those covering the peace negotiations in July 1864 and February 1865 as well as the Southern regional muzzling of accurate Civil War history textbooks in 1890-1940 era. Abraham Lincoln had political skills but in addition he sure had backbone and principles! I would have liked to see an extra chapter, on the impacts of the John Wilkes Booth conspiracy and assassination of President Lincoln - but I understand that is not part of the War effort as such and, in any event, Mr. McPherson has done an awesome job covering what he does in under 250 pages! I am rounding this excellent work; I would give it a 4.5 if I could.

[Anson Cassel Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pulitzer-prize-winning historian James M. McPherson here presents sixteen topical chapters, only three original to this book, and seven reworked from review essays first published in the New York Review of Books. Unfortunately, such a description makes McPherson’s chapters sound dull and unoriginal—which they are definitely not. Though this book is not a synthetic history (and not intended to be), the essays are so well written that even very knowledgeable Civil War buffs will both learn from them and revel in the luminosity of the author’s prose. That is, all buffs will do so except for devotees of the Lost Cause, a position on the Civil War about which McPherson does not even pretend to take a neutral stance.

[Gerry Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

In This Mighty Scourge historian James M McPherson explores the underpinnings of the American Civil War. In a series of essays McPherson debunks the states rights subterfuge and makes clear the centrality of slavery from first to last as the rationale for secession. The slavocracy dominated American power in the presidency, congress and judiciary until Lincoln’s election in 1860. Losing their absolute grip on power the slave states then abandoned all pretense to constitutional fidelity and left the union violently. It took 650,000 lives and 4 long years to destroy the institution that served as a glaring contradiction to avowed American ideals—life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all the Civil War books I've read, this is the first one that I can confidently recommend to nearly anyone. It's thorough yet concise. It hits on familiar subjects from different perspectives. It also touches on details that are often overlooked but are vital to the history of this extraordinary time. On Lincoln, Grant, Lee, and Davis, McPherson did a nice job of separating the historical figures from the legends.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first few chapters were the best, showing how the war truly was fought over slavery and how Confederates tried to re-writes history by controlling textbooks (a most infuriating chapter).

Also covered:
Harriet Tubman (historical documentation of her life)
John Brown
Jesse James (not a modern Robin Hood)
Grant (not a drunkard)
Sherman (battle tactics reframed)
Abraham Lincoln (boring chapters to be honest)

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clear and objective views on aspects of the war I hadn't considered before. I learned much but have much more to learn. The chapter on the validity of Lincoln's sayings was helpful as was the chapter critiquing other books written about Lincoln.

My stack of books to be read has grown exponentially.

[Jerel Wilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic compilation of essays by James M. McPherson, author of "Battle Cry of Freedom." In these essays McPherson outlines many of the open questions in the historiography of the American Civil War. It would be a useful addition to the library of anyone undertaking graduate studies in 19th Century American History.

[Eoin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth reading if you enjoyed Battle Cry of Freedom. Not sure if I’d recommend it as the first book to read on the U.S. Civil War, but it’s definitely a high recommendation for book 2, or 3, if you find the topic interesting.

It’s a good breakdown of some of the major discussion points about the war period, and it’s concise which is always a bonus.