The 10 Biggest Civil War Blunders

by Edward H. Bonekemper

What makes the Civil War so fascinating is that it presents an endless number of "what if" scenarios—moments when the outcome of the war (and therefore world history) hinged on a single small mistake or omission. In this book, Civil War historian Edward Bonekemper highlights the ten biggest Civil War blunders, focusing in on intimate moments of military indecision and inaction involving great generals like Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and William T. Sherman as well as less effective generals such as George B. McClellan, Benjamin Butler, and Henry W. Halleck. Bonekemper shows how these ten blunders significantly affected the outcome of the war, and explores how history might easily have been very different if these blunders were avoided.

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

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 22, 2018

Reviews

[Ben Denison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. Probably 8 of the 10 I was already well aware of, but even those “blunders” gave a lot of background I had not heard before. It also did a good job of giving differing opinions on responsibility, blame, and/or who got blamed and maybe shouldn’t have. All interesting discussion topics.

Overall pretty good book.

[Penelope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook and expected it to be sort of superficial, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it gave clear and detailed information about the blunders of both sides. I hope to listen to it again to absorb more detail.

[Bill Christman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read as Edward H. Bonekemper takes on the mistakes made during the war. He aims high attacking the leadership of both sides on particular issues, Davis and the South for their self imposed Embargo of cotton to Lincoln and his refusal to let Grant go after Mobile. He makes a compelling case for all 10 blunders he looks at. None of it is new to any one who has spent time studying the Civil War. Bonekemper's brevity in style makes it an easy read.

He writes his blunders out in chronological order, not ranking them as too many are quick to do. I was happy that two of the biggest ones I feel where made, the Confederates at Chattanooga and Grant's initial encounter at Petersburg. The arguments made I felt where on target in these two and all of what he feels are blunders. The most surprising is taking Sherman to task for the Battle of Atlanta. Even though Sherman won the battle and the city, Bonekemper points out that the objective given to him by Grant was the destruction of the army defending it. Something he failed to do as Hood took the army and went into Alabama.

This is a book for those who know about the war. Someone not as familiar with the details of the conflict may have trouble judging the arguments made, or even know one of his early blunders - Hallack's campaign against Corinth. I would recommend to Civil War buffs but not to those who are just learning about the conflict.

[Rochelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. Many of the blunders are ones we are all well acquainted with, some are not. Mr. Bonekemper's take on them and what should have been done are interesting, and it is sad that there will not be another book by Mr. Bonekemper as he passed not long after this book was published.

[Steve Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonekemper does a great job of analyzing critical errors made by both sides in the American Civil War.

Readers might be surprised to learn of Grant’s and Sherman’s command failures in the final year of the war, and how their blunders extended the war by months and ended up costing needless Union casualties.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

An extremely thorough book detailing the 10 biggest blunders on both sides. It reads like a college text book which made it less than enjoyed to read. If your a huge history or Civil War buff then this is your book, of casual interest, then probably not the book for you.

[Kendrick Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting but hindsight is always 20/20

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable. Interesting viewpoints including some surprises. Sometimes it felt too dismissive of counter arguments.

[Stephanie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first foray into Civil War history. I appreciated the perspective, and i learned a lot!