The American Civil War discussion

I like this thread in a book group, and I didn't see one here.

Please share what you brought home via the library, bookstore, or online.

I will start. I grabbed a Lee biography at the library:

by Elizabeth Brown Pryor

And bought these:

by Bruce Levine

by Eric J. Wittenberg

I live pretty close tto the Battle of Trevilian history area, so I might stop by.

I got a few books for Father's Day:

1) Galveston and the Civil War: An Island City in the Maelstrom

2_ Forget the Alamo: The True Story of the Myth That Made Texas

3) Runaway America: Benjamin Franklin, Slavery, and the American Revolution

4. Balloon Twister Origins by Ralph Dewey (Yeah, I know nobody else has heard of him, but in the twister community he's a big deal.)

Currently checked out from the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County library:

by William Clarke Whitford

edited by Jerry Thompson

by Alvin M Josephy Jr.

by Andrew E. Masich

by Jerry D. Thompson

edited by Alan D. Gaff

by Robert Scott

edited by Virginia Scharff

by Peter Cozzens

by Adam Makos

Also have one on hold and on "In Transit" to my branch:

by Laurence M. Hauptman

by Don E. Alberts

Some great hauls, everyone! Good to see so many titles on the CW and the West.

That's a pretty comprehensive list of Southwest Civil War histories Dan. You will definitely be the expert here on southwestern operations after finishing that pile!

Mike wrote: "That's a pretty comprehensive list of Southwest Civil War histories Dan. You will definitely be the expert here on southwestern operations after finishing that pile!"

Thanks, Mike. The more books I read, the more I realize how much there was going on out here and how little I really know about it. I've got sixteen books on the topic (from very general to very specific) under my belt so far with these nine to add. Then there's the twenty-one "library use only" books at the Special Collections branch of the library. And that's not counting what I might find at the Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections at UNM. Should keep me busy for a while.

I'm finding as I get closer to primary sources just how much the perspective and consensus on what did and didn't happen has changed with the passage of time. As one basic example, Whitford's book (published in 1902) states as fact that Canby and Sibley were brothers-in-law whereas more recent books all mention the contemporary belief that they were, but then point out that they were in fact not. It's definitely an interesting area to delve into, especially living in Albuquerque, as I do.

Fwiw, I've yet to complete a book about TCW that was written in this millenium . hmmm

I live in the South & have a few good used bookstores in town - I kinda like a book to reach out from the shelf and grab me . and often find my interests going every which way :) ...

Latest pickups ..

The Untold Civil War by James Robertson
The Land of Contrasts 1880-1901 - edited by Neil Harris
The Civil War Book of Lists - combined authors
Encyclopedia of The Civil War - edited by Patricia Faust

First & last entries in the encyclopedia are 'abatis' & 'zouave' ,,
2 quatloos for anyone that knows what each of those are (I knew one of the two :)

Dan wrote: "Mike wrote: "That's a pretty comprehensive list of Southwest Civil War histories Dan. You will definitely be the expert here on southwestern operations after finishing that pile!"

Thanks, Mike. Th..."

Ever think of writing Dan? [imo] You're accumulating a great deal of semi-specialized knowledge that is gonna need more than a discussion group to explode upon one day :)

Many people have written fiction books that can be strongly rooted in factual circumstances . they often put a fictional character [or three] in amongst actual historical characters and/or places and let their imagination weave a few possibilities ...

Could be a path to consider

My copy of "The Boy Generals" arrived today and I was slightly disappointed. I paid over $50 (Australian) for a copy of this new book which was listed at 480 pages, so I was expecting a substantial sized book. Its only 372 pages in length (342 narrative). I've corrected the page count in GD's and sent an e-mail off to the seller. I should have checked at the publishers page were the page count is correctly listed. I will make sure I do that next time.

The Boy Generals: George Custer, Wesley Merritt, and the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac by Adolfo Ovies

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "My copy of "The Boy Generals" arrived today and I was slightly disappointed. I paid over $50 (Australian) for a copy of this new book which was listed at 480 pages, so I was expecting a substantial..."

I am not impressed with the publications of Savas Beatie.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "My copy of "The Boy Generals" arrived today and I was slightly disappointed. I paid over $50 (Australian) for a copy of this new book which was listed at 480 pages, so I was expecting a substantial..."

A darn shame AR. I hope what is there is a good account.

I'm hoping its a good story Mike, its picked up some very positive reviews.

Another thing the publisher Savas Beatie tends to do is break authors books up into a series of 3-4 titles so you have to spend a fair bit of money to get the full story.

Sorry to hear that, AR. I do hope the book is good.

Another good book database is Worldcat:

https://www.worldcat.org/

You can browse different additions and librarians depend on it.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I'm hoping its a good story Mike, its picked up some very positive reviews.

Another thing the publisher Savas Beatie tends to do is break authors books up into a series of 3-4 titles so you have ..."

That's just a fraudulent trick in my opinion. I will look out for that publisher and never buy anything they publish. Thanks for the heads up, AR.

Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness

Picked this up today on Kindle. Hope it is worth the read.

Many more I need to put on here, but need to wait for another day!

Its well worth checking out some of their books but you need to check and make sure that its not the first in a series of volumes, but I do agree with you that it seems like a trick to get you to part with more of your money.

MaryAnn (EmilyD1037) wrote: "Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness ..."

I found this book very interesting. I enjoyed it.

I was watching the American Battlefield Trust's videos on the 160th anniversay of the First Battle of Bull Run.

So, I picked up:

by Edward G. Longacre

by John J. Hennessy

Nice acquisitions Bryan. I really enjoyed "The Early Morning of War: Bull Run, 1861" by Edward G. Longacre. Its my favourite book so far on the Battle of Bull Run.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Nice acquisitions Bryan. I really enjoyed "The Early Morning of War: Bull Run, 1861" by Edward G. Longacre. Its my favourite book so far on the Battle of Bull Run."

Great, AR. It's funny to read about the inexperience of these commanders and soldiers, especially reading the Overland Campaign.

The Overland Campaign was a hard teacher for those uninitiated in war!

I would say the Overland Campaign was a hard teacher when it came to war--period! Just look at the mistakes made at Cold Harbor.

Betsy wrote: "I would say the Overland Campaign was a hard teacher when it came to war--period! Just look at the mistakes made at Cold Harbor."

Perhaps the Overland Campaign makes a statement about the value of a war of attrition for the side with vastly superior resources?

Bloody, costly, but a route to earlier victory.

Yeah, the Overland Campaign was very bloody and brutal. I read at Bull Run that troops would march just for a few hours, pick berries, etc. You compare this to the hard marching Grant did in Virginia in the spring of 1864. So different.

This new release arrived in the mail today, over 700 pages :)

The Siege of Vicksburg: Climax of the Campaign to Open the Mississippi River, May 23-July 4, 1863 by Timothy B. Smith

I had a good day at a small book shop that also dealt in second-hand titles. I managed to pick up copies of these books:

Battle of Big Bethel: Crucial Clash in Early Civil War Virginia by J. Michael Cobb

Battle of Carthage: Border War in Southwest Missouri July 5, 1861 by David C. Hinze

Inside the Army of the Potomac: The Civil War Experience of Captain Francis Adams Donaldson by Francis Adams Donaldson

Today I picked up two books:

Personal Memoirs by Ulysses S. Grant
From Slavery to Freedom by John Hope Franklin

MaryAnn (EmilyD1037) wrote: "Today I picked up two books:

Personal Memoirs by Ulysses S. Grant
From Slavery to Freedom by John Hope Franklin"

Nicely done! I am yet to read Grant's memoirs, maybe one day soon.

Great books, everyone.

AR, the Battle of Big Bethel: Crucial Clash in Early Civil War Virginia looks really interesting! I will have to add this to the TBR pile.

It is interesting to read about the early stages of fighting.

I really like the Grant memoir in my library: The Annotated Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant

I know it isn't a Civil War book, but this is AFAIK, the best group to share my excitement on picking up this book: Most Secret and Confidential: Intelligence in the Age of Nelson

How were secrets sent by navy back in the day. It might not be directly Civil War, but the ideas presented here were probably valid during the Civil War.

Just purchased ROBERT E. LEE AND ME: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause.

Betsy wrote: "Just purchased ROBERT E. LEE AND ME: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause."

That's been well reviewed, Betsy.

That sounds like a very interesting book Betsy, I make have to consider getting a copy myself.

Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause by Ty Seidule

Betsy wrote: "Just purchased ROBERT E. LEE AND ME: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause."

Just ordered a copy :)

It seemed a good time to read it considering all the controversy over anything to do with the Confederacy, and none more so than REL.

I checked out the contents at Amazon and also a few online reviews and it looks very interesting and I will be keen to read my copy once it arrives.

I am nearly half done with the book, and so far it is mostly the personal history of the author growing up in the South. Robert E. Lee is mentioned only occasionally. Perhaps that will change as we move along.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "That sounds like a very interesting book Betsy, I make have to consider getting a copy myself.

[b..." I just got it on sale!

I got it on my Kindle after someone I knew read it, and he really liked it.

Arrived today in the mail:

Robert E. Lee: A Life by Allen C. Guelzo

This book arrived today to finish off my set of Civil War books by Richard Wheeler. I really enjoy his books, not only by the way he tells the story but also his use of numerous B&W sketches and drawings to illustrate his account.

Witness to Appomattox by Richard Wheeler

Interesting, AR! I donated some money to help save some land at the Vicksburg battlefield. So, the organization sent me:

by Terrence J. Winschel

Bryan wrote: "Interesting, AR! I donated some money to help save some land at the Vicksburg battlefield. So, the organization sent me:

by [author:T..."

That's great, Bryan, and a nice gesture from them for your generosity.

Bryan wrote: "Interesting, AR! I donated some money to help save some land at the Vicksburg battlefield. So, the organization sent me:

by [author:T..."

That's great, Bryan, and a nice gesture from them for your generosity.

Bryan wrote: "Interesting, AR! I donated some money to help save some land at the Vicksburg battlefield. So, the organization sent me:

by [author:T..."

That's a very nice thing to do and very nice of them to acknowledge your generosity!

Went to the American Civil War Museum in downtown Richmond, Virginia. I had to go book shopping:

by Gary W. Gallagher

by Jeffrey Wm Hunt

Bryan wrote: "Went to the American Civil War Museum in downtown Richmond, Virginia. I had to go book shopping:

by [author:Gary ..."

That's a great museum. Did you tour the Confederate White House? It's a great example of a mid-Victorian restoration.

Not this time, Manray9; I will try to get a tour next time. I did a tour a long-time ago, and I remember the beauty of the place.

Nice collection of books there Bryan :)