Atlas of the Civil War: A Complete Guide to the Tactics and Terrain of Battle

by Stephen G. Hyslop

In this one-of-a-kind atlas, scores of archival maps and dozens of newly created maps trace the battles, political turmoil, and great themes of America's most violent and pivotal clash of arms. From the Antebellum South to Fort Sumter, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and the fitful peace of Reconstruction, National Geographic's Atlas of the Civil War displays eye-opening maps--and a gripping, self-contained story--on every spread.

Eighty-five rare period maps, many seen here for the first time, offer the cartographic history of a land at war with itself: from 19th-century campaign maps surveying whole regions and strategies to vintage battlefield charts used by Union and Confederate generals alike, along with commercial maps produced for a news-hungry public, and comprehensive Theater of War maps. In 35 innovative views created especially for this book, the key moments of major battles are pinpointed by National Geographic's award-winning cartographers using satellite data to render the terrain with astonishing detail.

In addition, more than 320 documentary photographs, battlefield sketches, paintings, and artifacts bear eyewitness testimony to the war, history's first to be widely captured on film.

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

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2009

About the author

Stephen G. Hyslop worked for many years as a writer and editor at Time-Life Books, where he contributed to a series of books on American Indians.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent coffee table book with superficial introductions to Civil War battlefields and campaigns. Vintage maps and always clear and complete National Geographic maps.

[Timons Esaias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because my university students don't know geography to begin with, much less the impact of geography on warfare, I was certain that I wanted an Atlas of the Civil War for my Civil War class. In the Oakland library I got my hands on this one, and decided (despite the price) that it would be the one.

As with most historical atlases, there are a couple of problems. Sometimes the number dots (twice, if I recall) didn't actually get printed on the map, so we have a key and no lock. Sometimes the desire to use a historical map of a battlefield produces a lack of actual clarity, for anybody but the most meticulous scholar. Mostly, though, this atlas could be a course textbook all on its own.

Two things immediately sold me on the book. One is that there's a two-page spread of a bird's-eye-view of the Virginia/Maryland theater of the war which is bound into the covers both front and back (it also appears inside), which allowed repeated reference. I wanted my students to understand the military problem that took the entire war to solve. Second, there's a picture of Lloyd's American Railroad Map from the War, showing the incomplete, inefficient mess of a Southern railroad system; which, in itself, is an artifact of Southern anti-business, anti-modernization culture. Additionally, there is a full picture of Stonewall Jackson's famous map of the Shenandoah Valley; which he had made specifically for his own military use.

I can recommend this one.

[Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding detail! Historical archives, narrative, drawings and illustrations, with guided understanding from the beginning to the end of the civil war.

I used this as a companion to the book Team of Rivals, and now my comprehension of the entire period is more broad and nuanced.

There is so much to learn from this period in history. This Atlas was instrumental in shaping my understanding of the bigger picture (pun intended) and highly enjoyable.

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maps are helpful if reading history in another book- however, the text/editing is not very good, the summarizations of battle leave much to be desired and the placement markers on the maps are not always accurate. The atlas is a good accompaniment to McPherson’s or Foote’s histories of the war.

[Theresa Dr. Gerstner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful historical book.

[Mary K · Rating 4 out of 5]

National Geographic Society (U.S.), Kagan, N., & Hyslop, S. G. (2009). Atlas of the Civil War : A comprehensive guide to the tactics and terrain of battle. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society.

Citation by: Mary K Smith

Type of Reference: Geographical Reference

Content/Scope: Consists of 85 maps, over 300 photographs,and stories that trace the battles of the Civil War.

Accuracy/Authority/Bias: Author has contributed to numerous books including the award-winning Voices of the Civil War and Concise History of the World. Stephen G. Hyslop has written several books on American and global history including Eyewitness to the Civil War. Account is unbiased maps/factual information and pictures of the Civil War.

Arrangement/Presentation:Events featured in chronological order.
Relation to other works: National Geographic has many different atlases. Some that seem interesting are: Space Atlas, Indian Atlas, and Atlas of the Middle East.

Accessibility/Diversity: Atlas includes numerous pictures and graphics that cater to visual and low-level learners as well as gifted learners.

Cost: $40

Professional Review: http://www.booksinprint.com.libsrv.wk...

[Jimmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seems to be intended for those just beginning to study the Civil War. While not horrendously bad, it is also far from a great book. For some reason, the authors tend to use period maps to illustrate the battles rather than creating their own maps; in a few cases, I had trouble figuring out what was being shown. Most of the major battles and campaigns are touched on, but are treated in a minimal fashion; for example, the Petersburg Campaign only the initial Union assaults of June 1864 and the Battle of the Crater are covered, while the remaining seven months of the siege are ignored. The Trans-Mississippi Theater is almost totally ignored, with the sole exception of the Red River Campaign.

Also, the few pages covering the lead-up to the war focuses exclusively on slavery as the "one and only cause" of the Civil War.

[John Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for a Christmas gift. The maps are good, as one would expect from a book published by the National Geographic Society. The accompanying discussion, however, is too cursory to really explain what happened at each battle, even in broad outline form, and the authors do not even discuss events that took place behind the front lines, no matter how important. On the whole, this book is a worthwhile if quick read, so long as one seeks nothing more than a quick overview of the war's chief military engagements.

[Sande · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great maps on every page, and most were made at the time. This is my go-to book as I study the Civil War, because each battle is visible and understandable on two huge pages. I must now take my copy back to the library and save money to buy my own copy. It's a keeper.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book. You could spend hours looking at the historical maps and photos. The facts and details in the write-ups and captions are just as interesting.

[Dominique · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found some of the images used in this book disturbing but effective. The maps are fantastic and it is worth the read.