Battles of the Civil War, 1861-1865 : From Fort Sumter to Petersburg

by Kevin Dougherty, Chris McNab, Martin J. Dougherty

Synopsis From 1861 to 1865, the United States was locked in a bitter, bloody war that was different from any that had gone before. Improved artillery and musketry made the battles more lethal, while new technology made transportation and communications important elements of battlefield strategy. The end result was a total war in which the Union and the Confederacy fought for their very survival. Battles of the Civil War introduces 20 key battles from the conflict that shaped modern America. Beginning with the Confederate capture of Fort Sumter (April 1861), and concluding with the capitulation of Petersburg (April 1865), after an eight-month-long siege by Union forces, this book offers accessible and concise accounts of all the decisive battles of the Civil War. The book includes every type of battle, including the huge set-piece infantry battles at First Manassas (July 1861), Antietam (September 1862), and Gettysburg (July 1863); the use of cavalry at Chancellorsville (May 1863); and the successful Federal blockade of the South that resulted in the destruction of the Confederate navy at New Orleans (May 1862) and Mobile Bay (August 1864). Each battle includes a contextual introduction of the campaign, a concise description of the action, and an analysis of the aftermath. A specially-commissioned, color map illustrating the dispositions and movement of forces brings the subject to life and helps the reader to grasp - at a glance - the development of the battle. With more than 200 color and black-and-white maps, artworks, and photographs illustrating the battles, leading players, and tactics of the era, Battles of the Civil War provides a useful introduction to some key battles of the most bloody conflict in the history of the United States. Designed for both the general reader and enthusiast, the book is an essential companion for anyone interested in North American military history.

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

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Kevin Dougherty is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. Formerly a faculty member in the History Department at the University of Southern Mississippi, he is currently a Tactical Officer at Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.

Reviews

[chucklesthescot]

This gives a good background to The Civil War, showing the main battles with maps and photos, the developments in the battle and the outcome. This was a great book with excellent detail for anyone wanting to know more about the actual war. I found it interesting in a historical sense and very informative.

[Rachel]

Jam packed with military history if you're into that. Otherwise a dry read.

[Jimmy]

The book appears to be intended for those who have read absolutely nothing about these particular battles. Each chapter is only ten to twelve pages each with only a single map that often shows only part of the battle's action. Also, the books seems to weighted heavily in favor of illustrations (period photographs, recent paintings, line drawings, etc.) over text, with a few items taking up a full page or more. The inclusion and placement of some items seems rather puzzling; for example, the Fort Donelson chapter includes a photograph of Grant and his staff which (if I remember correctly) was actually taken during the 1864 Overland Campaign, not in early 1862.

[Wayne Hazle]

So far it is fascinating.
Ever since the Ken Burns documentary I have had more interest in the history around The War. (but no I will not go to reenactments)

[Jacques]

Hard to describe how in depth this book is, read it for yourself.