What do you think?
Rate this book
Drawn with the Sword: Reflections on the American Civil War
James M. McPherson is acclaimed as one of the finest historians writing today and a preeminent commentator on the Civil War. Battle Cry of Freedom , his Pulitzer Prize-winning account of that conflict, was a national bestseller that Hugh Brogan, in The New York Times , called "history writing of the highest order." Now, in Drawn With the Sword , McPherson offers a series of thoughtful and engaging essays on some of the most enduring questions of the Civil War, written in the masterful prose that has become his trademark.
Filled with fresh interpretations, puncturing old myths and challenging new ones, Drawn With the Sword explores such questions as why the North won and why the South lost (emphasizing the role of contingency in the Northern victory), whether Southern or Northern aggression began the war, and who really freed the slaves, Abraham Lincoln or the slaves themselves. McPherson offers memorable portraits of the great leaders who people the landscape of the Civil Ulysses S. Grant, struggling to write his memoirs with the same courage and determination that marked his successes on the battlefield; Robert E. Lee, a brilliant general and a true gentleman, yet still a product of his time and place; and Abraham Lincoln, the leader and orator whose mythical figure still looms large over our cultural landscape. And McPherson discusses often-ignored issues such as the development of the Civil War into a modern "total war" against both soldiers and civilians, and the international impact of the
American Civil War in advancing the cause of republicanism and democracy in countries from Brazil and Cuba to France and England. Of special interest is the final essay, entitled "What's the Matter With History?", a trenchant critique of the field of history today, which McPherson describes here as "more and more about less and less." He writes that professional historians have abandoned narrative history written for the greater audience of educated general readers in favor of impenetrable tomes on minor historical details which serve only to edify other academics, thus leaving the historical education of the general public to films and television programs such as Glory and Ken Burns's PBS documentary The Civil War .
Each essay in Drawn With the Sword reveals McPherson's own profound knowledge of the Civil War and of the controversies among historians, presenting all sides in clear and lucid prose and concluding with his own measured and eloquent opinions. Readers will rejoice that McPherson has once again proven by example that history can be both accurate and interesting, informative and well-written. Mark Twain wrote that the Civil War "wrought so profoundly upon the entire national character that the influence cannot be measured short of two or three generations." In Drawn With the Sword , McPherson gracefully and brilliantly illuminates this momentous conflict.
Filled with fresh interpretations, puncturing old myths and challenging new ones, Drawn With the Sword explores such questions as why the North won and why the South lost (emphasizing the role of contingency in the Northern victory), whether Southern or Northern aggression began the war, and who really freed the slaves, Abraham Lincoln or the slaves themselves. McPherson offers memorable portraits of the great leaders who people the landscape of the Civil Ulysses S. Grant, struggling to write his memoirs with the same courage and determination that marked his successes on the battlefield; Robert E. Lee, a brilliant general and a true gentleman, yet still a product of his time and place; and Abraham Lincoln, the leader and orator whose mythical figure still looms large over our cultural landscape. And McPherson discusses often-ignored issues such as the development of the Civil War into a modern "total war" against both soldiers and civilians, and the international impact of the
American Civil War in advancing the cause of republicanism and democracy in countries from Brazil and Cuba to France and England. Of special interest is the final essay, entitled "What's the Matter With History?", a trenchant critique of the field of history today, which McPherson describes here as "more and more about less and less." He writes that professional historians have abandoned narrative history written for the greater audience of educated general readers in favor of impenetrable tomes on minor historical details which serve only to edify other academics, thus leaving the historical education of the general public to films and television programs such as Glory and Ken Burns's PBS documentary The Civil War .
Each essay in Drawn With the Sword reveals McPherson's own profound knowledge of the Civil War and of the controversies among historians, presenting all sides in clear and lucid prose and concluding with his own measured and eloquent opinions. Readers will rejoice that McPherson has once again proven by example that history can be both accurate and interesting, informative and well-written. Mark Twain wrote that the Civil War "wrought so profoundly upon the entire national character that the influence cannot be measured short of two or three generations." In Drawn With the Sword , McPherson gracefully and brilliantly illuminates this momentous conflict.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
22 people are currently reading
359 people want to read
About the author
James M. McPherson
171 books713 followersJames 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 7, 2009
James McPherson is one of the leading experts on the Civil War. One of his major works, "Battle Cry of Freedom," is a wonderful source on the many aspects of the Civil War, some of which are not so often considered by other historians. His examination of the common soldiers' letters is eye opening as to what the troops were thinking, what motivated them, and so on.
This is an edited volume, composed largely of essays published over time. The author revised these to make the volume more coherent and have the essays "fit together" better. He notes that he is writing for three audiences simultaneously (always something of a danger): professional historians, Civil War buffs, and the general reader. In my judgment, he succeeds much better than one might have guessed.
The book is divided into several parts. Part I explores the origins of the Civil War (including the impact of "Uncle Tom's Cabin"). Part II considers the war and American society (including the evolution of the Civil War from a limited to a total war and the roles of race and class with respect to the war). Part III considers why the north won (and why the south lost). Part IV considers Abraham Lincoln's place in the war and in American history. Finally, Chapter 15 (the only chapter in Part V) looks at the various audiences that McPherson is writing for, with the provocative questions serving as the chapter title: "What's the matter with history?"
A bit more detail on some chapters illustrates his work. Chapter 7 is "The 'Glory' Story," looking at the movie on the 54th Massachusetts, an African-American regiment formed in Boston and the environs. The chapter, first, notes that the movie did pretty well in terms of historical accuracy and captured a mood. He also notes the errors, from minor to more major. On a minor side, the attack against Fort Wagner by the 54th is in the wrong direction--but that was because it was filmed on a location where they could not quite get that right. On the more significant side, most of the troops were not former slaves, as suggested by the movie. Chapter 9 is entitled "How the Confederacy almost won." Interesting reflections here. McPherson notes that the Union A team of commanders--Grant, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas--fought against the Confederate B team, such as Braxton Bragg and John Bell Hood, in the west and simply, outclassed them. In the east, Lee outclassed the Union B team, such as McClellan, Burnside, and Hooker. Once some of the Union A team came east, the Confederates lost their main advantage.
This is an enjoyable book, which speaks nicely to multiple audiences. If you are a Civil war aficionado, this book should interest you.
This is an edited volume, composed largely of essays published over time. The author revised these to make the volume more coherent and have the essays "fit together" better. He notes that he is writing for three audiences simultaneously (always something of a danger): professional historians, Civil War buffs, and the general reader. In my judgment, he succeeds much better than one might have guessed.
The book is divided into several parts. Part I explores the origins of the Civil War (including the impact of "Uncle Tom's Cabin"). Part II considers the war and American society (including the evolution of the Civil War from a limited to a total war and the roles of race and class with respect to the war). Part III considers why the north won (and why the south lost). Part IV considers Abraham Lincoln's place in the war and in American history. Finally, Chapter 15 (the only chapter in Part V) looks at the various audiences that McPherson is writing for, with the provocative questions serving as the chapter title: "What's the matter with history?"
A bit more detail on some chapters illustrates his work. Chapter 7 is "The 'Glory' Story," looking at the movie on the 54th Massachusetts, an African-American regiment formed in Boston and the environs. The chapter, first, notes that the movie did pretty well in terms of historical accuracy and captured a mood. He also notes the errors, from minor to more major. On a minor side, the attack against Fort Wagner by the 54th is in the wrong direction--but that was because it was filmed on a location where they could not quite get that right. On the more significant side, most of the troops were not former slaves, as suggested by the movie. Chapter 9 is entitled "How the Confederacy almost won." Interesting reflections here. McPherson notes that the Union A team of commanders--Grant, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas--fought against the Confederate B team, such as Braxton Bragg and John Bell Hood, in the west and simply, outclassed them. In the east, Lee outclassed the Union B team, such as McClellan, Burnside, and Hooker. Once some of the Union A team came east, the Confederates lost their main advantage.
This is an enjoyable book, which speaks nicely to multiple audiences. If you are a Civil war aficionado, this book should interest you.
January 3, 2008
Most of these are book reviews written in the 80s and 90s, so the theme ends up being how this towering genius is cool enough to think through trendy notions (Lee wasn't that great, the draft riots were about race not class; battles didn't have much to do with the North winning; Lincoln didn't free the slaves, they freed themselves) and some classic ones (the South was exceptional, Uncle Tom's Cabin is worthless), showing where they sorta have a point, and where they pretty much don't, and finally gently dropping definitive Hammer-of-Thor wisdom without seeming like a suspender snapping jerk yelling SOLVED in a burning building. The last longish essay goes at this theme head one, explaining the tension between synthesis history (social, economic) vs. narrative (great men, big battles), and describing his attempts to he find a middle ground in his narrative-with-social-stuff-thrown-in classic Battle Cry of Freedom (which I read half of one time, five stars)
June 21, 2020
great collection of essays by a great historian. they’re somehow not diminished at all by the 20 years or so between their publishing and my reading—and, in fact, most of the topics are very relevant to many conversations happening right now.
December 30, 2013
James M McPherson is the author of the best-selling Battle Cry of Freedom, chronicling the history of the Civil War. This is a wonderful collection of essays on the same subject. These are organized under four headings with a final essay that I thought was worth the price of admission all by itself: "What's the Matter with History". The problem actually isn't history, according to him, but the growing chasm between academic publications in history centered around very specialized questions and written in the arcane language of the discipline, and works for the educated public, increasingly written by journalists rather than academic historians. McPherson, who is an academic historian, describes how his success with Battle Cry undermined, to a certain degree, his academic credibility.
He begins the book with several essays on the origins of the Civil War including his take on southern exceptionalism, the role of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, and his counter to the claim that the war was one of northern aggression.
Part Two focuses on the war and its wider impact on American society. He explores our perpetual fascination with the Civil War--why so many re-enactors, why so many books, and why so much continual re-hashing of the history from northern and southern perspectives. He explores the Civil War as a case study in the transition from limited to total war, and the issues of race and class, including the story behind the movie, Glory, which he considers one of the best depictions of the reality of battle among Civil War movies.
Part Three explores "Why the North won" looking at the arguments about why the Confederacy lost, how they almost won and the generalships of Lee and Grant. McPherson would come down on the side of the preponderance of northern military might combined with finally coming up with a group of Generals in Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan, who would exploit that might.
Part Four looks at Lincoln, and in many ways defends Lincoln against scholarship that minimizes the role of Lincoln in Emancipation and the defense of the republic.
I'm reminded why I like McPherson--he writes clearly and takes clear positions on historical questions. I'm sure he must have his detractors, but one thing he does not do is hide his conclusions behind arcane language and highly nuanced argument. May his tribe increase among academic historians!
He begins the book with several essays on the origins of the Civil War including his take on southern exceptionalism, the role of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, and his counter to the claim that the war was one of northern aggression.
Part Two focuses on the war and its wider impact on American society. He explores our perpetual fascination with the Civil War--why so many re-enactors, why so many books, and why so much continual re-hashing of the history from northern and southern perspectives. He explores the Civil War as a case study in the transition from limited to total war, and the issues of race and class, including the story behind the movie, Glory, which he considers one of the best depictions of the reality of battle among Civil War movies.
Part Three explores "Why the North won" looking at the arguments about why the Confederacy lost, how they almost won and the generalships of Lee and Grant. McPherson would come down on the side of the preponderance of northern military might combined with finally coming up with a group of Generals in Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan, who would exploit that might.
Part Four looks at Lincoln, and in many ways defends Lincoln against scholarship that minimizes the role of Lincoln in Emancipation and the defense of the republic.
I'm reminded why I like McPherson--he writes clearly and takes clear positions on historical questions. I'm sure he must have his detractors, but one thing he does not do is hide his conclusions behind arcane language and highly nuanced argument. May his tribe increase among academic historians!
December 8, 2023
It was a good read in terms of ease - came up with some interesting points that I have used in my teaching. Would I say I love the US civil war... No. But this is more a reflection on me than the quality of the book
November 30, 2023
again, i have to say i am not a historian. mcpherson is really kind of the guy to go to about the civil war, but that's above my pay grade.
August 5, 2011
A collection of essays dealing with assorted topics related to the Civil War -broken down into five general subject areas: Origins of the Civil War; The War & American Society; Why The North Won; The Enduring Lincoln; and Historians and Their Audiences. I rate this below McPherson's later collection of essays titled "This Mighty Scourge" which is uniformly excellent, revelatory and spellbinding throughout - this collection is uneven across its selection of essays, ranging from insightful and compelling (most especially the section devoted to Lincoln - somewhat less completely regarding the Origins of the War) to mildly interesting, at best. The overall quality of the selection as awhole is thus less - but it is still well worth reading - if perhaps selectively - and McPherson is a national treasure in his knowledge of the subject matter and his ability to communicate that knowledge and its inter-related aspects in an enjoyable, readable and perceptive manner. Read this book, for sure - but do not fail to read the later companion collection - "This Mighty Scourge" which is a 5-star work in every which way that a book can be rated.
January 4, 2024
Outstanding essays on issues of the Civil War. Several astute observations, particularly how 'southern exceptionalism' could just as well be viewed in reverse--the North was probably more atypical as a region/country than the South; as more countries at that time were notable as primarily agrarian with a servile underclass, than as a rapidly industrializing country with a relatively large middle class.
Also intriguing is the author's take on the reasons for the Northern victory: leadership finally swung in the North's favor later in the War, to take advantage of its inherent material advantages. And Lincoln was a far better chief executive than Davis--more flexible, and much more decisive.
As McPherson says, the relative imbalance in numbers and power between North and South was far less important than seems on paper. The imbalance between the Colonists and England is the only one of several examples of an underdog succeeding in winning its independence.
His distinction of external v. internal factors is key to understanding that both sides had similar issues that more or less balanced each other out. That is, Pickett's charge failed because of the strength of the Union position, the ineffective bombardment, the risk of a frontal assault, etc.; but as Pickett himself freely said, "I always thought that the Yankees had something to do with it [it's failure]."
The best thing here is that the strongest chapters are reserved for the end of the book. He ties in the contemporary Transcendentalist movement with the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's evolving thoughts on slavery.
Highly recommended for its deep but very accessible analysis of this crucial era in American history.
Also intriguing is the author's take on the reasons for the Northern victory: leadership finally swung in the North's favor later in the War, to take advantage of its inherent material advantages. And Lincoln was a far better chief executive than Davis--more flexible, and much more decisive.
As McPherson says, the relative imbalance in numbers and power between North and South was far less important than seems on paper. The imbalance between the Colonists and England is the only one of several examples of an underdog succeeding in winning its independence.
His distinction of external v. internal factors is key to understanding that both sides had similar issues that more or less balanced each other out. That is, Pickett's charge failed because of the strength of the Union position, the ineffective bombardment, the risk of a frontal assault, etc.; but as Pickett himself freely said, "I always thought that the Yankees had something to do with it [it's failure]."
The best thing here is that the strongest chapters are reserved for the end of the book. He ties in the contemporary Transcendentalist movement with the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's evolving thoughts on slavery.
Highly recommended for its deep but very accessible analysis of this crucial era in American history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2025
Just finished reading this book by James M. McPherson. It is essentially a 253 page version of the 900 page Battle Cry of Freedom of which he wrote a few years prior (minus the extra detail he went into during the several campaigns throughout the conflict).
Although the book is only 253 pages long it took me an embarrassing long month to read it due to me being busy and falling ill. But in the end it was worth the entire read. McPherson manages to get me hooked straight away just as he did with the Battle Cry of Freedom, his writing style is easy to read for an unintelligent person like me and excludes any unnecessary details.
Throughout each chapter (or article, as all of the chapters are series of different historical articles he wrote through the years) McPherson easily debunks any lost cause myths or other unfair criticisms that fall on historical figures such as Ulysses S. Grant. What especially stuck with me is McPherson's beautiful way of describing Grant's alcoholism throughout the Civil War. He has been unfairly criticised for being an alcoholic during one of the most important conflicts in American history, but instead he should receive praise for managing to deal with his addiction issues in a professional manner. Although he did drink heavily when away on leave, he managed to contain himself whilst on duty, or in front of his family and friends.
What I also enjoy is the final chapter of the book in which McPherson describes the several hundred letters he received after publishing the Battle Cry of Freedom. In one instance an unnamed southern reader criticised McPherson for being "too liberal" on black rights and that he was "biased against the south" due to his outspoken criticism of slavery.
Overall, the book is a 10/10
Although the book is only 253 pages long it took me an embarrassing long month to read it due to me being busy and falling ill. But in the end it was worth the entire read. McPherson manages to get me hooked straight away just as he did with the Battle Cry of Freedom, his writing style is easy to read for an unintelligent person like me and excludes any unnecessary details.
Throughout each chapter (or article, as all of the chapters are series of different historical articles he wrote through the years) McPherson easily debunks any lost cause myths or other unfair criticisms that fall on historical figures such as Ulysses S. Grant. What especially stuck with me is McPherson's beautiful way of describing Grant's alcoholism throughout the Civil War. He has been unfairly criticised for being an alcoholic during one of the most important conflicts in American history, but instead he should receive praise for managing to deal with his addiction issues in a professional manner. Although he did drink heavily when away on leave, he managed to contain himself whilst on duty, or in front of his family and friends.
What I also enjoy is the final chapter of the book in which McPherson describes the several hundred letters he received after publishing the Battle Cry of Freedom. In one instance an unnamed southern reader criticised McPherson for being "too liberal" on black rights and that he was "biased against the south" due to his outspoken criticism of slavery.
Overall, the book is a 10/10
January 21, 2024
Great book, and what I appreciate most is that McPherson takes an investigative approach. Because of this, the book doesn’t feel like a recitation of historical facts as much as it feels like an intriguing attempt to answer questions that have been debated for years. It’s almost incredible how applicable the book feels in the 21st century, and how much it reveals about the United States.
March 28, 2018
Collection of essays about various Civil War topics.
May 6, 2023
A keeper - going back home to my shelves for future reference.
November 30, 2025
This book is a necessary read for anyone interested in the American Civil War. It is well argued, well researched, and by far incredibly informational.
August 14, 2012
This doesn't really break new ground if you've read MacPherson's other works, but it'll make a nice go-to resource for dealing with rebel sympathizers -- instead of digging through Battle Cry of Freedom I can just point to the appropriate essay here.
Not that it'll do any good; those who still cling to the notion that the Civil War was about state rights or economics are never going to pick up a book, nor could they read one if they tried.
Not that it'll do any good; those who still cling to the notion that the Civil War was about state rights or economics are never going to pick up a book, nor could they read one if they tried.
June 14, 2015
McPherson and his clear and fluid prose take on the leading Civil War literature with 15 essays dispelling myths and exploring difficult questions. While totally lacking on exploration of Reconstruction, "Drawn With The Sword" offers enlightening thought in every essay, with particular success explaining how Northern exceptionalism and Southern aggression contributed to war, as well as the exploration of Lincoln's enduring legacy. This book packs a lot of knowledge in a very concise and easily readable package, recommendable for anyone with even a slight interest in the topic.
February 15, 2014
This book is a collection of essays written by the eminent Civil War historian James McPherson. I really enjoyed this book. Most of the essays deal with the historiography of the time period, or about specific books/topics of the Civil War. You cannot help but want to read more about the War as McPherson's love of the timer period is infectious. These essays also really make me want to continue my study of history and become more of an academic.
May 28, 2018
Enormously compelling in pointing out that the Southern states were happy to demand that Northern states enforce slave "ownership" and return escaped captives. So much for the "states' rights!" claim used by modern defenders of the confederacy and the brutal slavery that that confederacy was fighting for.
May 30, 2014
This book is basically a collection of historiographical essays and books reviews, yet it does this without losing its holistic feel. As with anything by James McPherson, it is definitely worth reading. Several of the chapters could be assigned to undergraduates in order to get them to wrestle with historiographical questions without having to wade through thousands of pages.
April 19, 2024
An excellent collection of essays and articles by the best Civil War historian in America. McPherson presents a balanced view of the history of the conflict without pushing a woke agenda. He is able to take history and make it readable and enjoyable for the general public, the serious student, the Civil War buff, and the professional historian.
August 25, 2013
Good book. Looks at many aspects of the war, not just the battles.
December 14, 2013
There's some interesting points in this book. But as a collection of essays it doesn't flow all that well, and focuses on various aspects of the war without a distinctive theme
September 2, 2015
James McPherson's books remind me why I love history.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews