It has long been accepted that there is no shortage of books on the Civil War so that yet another one, especially as large as this, might call for some justification. But it is more than the very size and thoroughness of this volume that should make it an indispensable work, both for those with a longtime interest and those beginning to take an interest in this subject. Several components of this one volume make it a fascinating book for browsing and reading, as well as a valuable reference work. And the various elements of this volume do not limit themselves to military history: This book places the war in its social and historical context and constantly refers to-and illustrates-individuals and events that make the Civil War such a crucial episode in the nation's development. The chronology lays out the day-to-day developments leading up to the war and then of the combat in considerable detail, while the encyclopedia's alphabetized entries provide accessible identifications and definitions, also of many topics beyond the hostilities. Those particularly interested in military topics will appreciate two specialized sections รข?? one on the weapons used in the war, the other on the naval warfare. Then there are selections from the memoirs of the two great commanders, Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. This compilation of key excerpts, focusing on Grant and Lee's actions in the war, is of intrinsic interest and also provides another perspective on the events referred to in the chronology and encyclopedia. Following these selections is a chronology of their complete lives. In addition, there is a list of recommended books for those who want to pursue specific topics in more depth. What further distinguishes this work are more than 2500 illustrations in addition to some 60 maps and plans, in full color wherever available.
History of the Civil War, 1861-1865
This book remains one of the best histories on the topic of American Civil War to this day. The author, James Ford Rhodes, was awarded with Pulitzer Prize for History for his work.
Inevitably, we grasp the war through such hyperbole. In so doing, we tend to blur the fact that real people lived through it and were changed by the event. One hundred eighty-five thousand black Americans fought to free their people.
Gathers original sources, including newspaper editorials, speeches, and documents, and shares comments by historians on the period
The book then proceeds to cover, year by year, the major political, social, and military events, highlighting two important themes: how the war shifted from a limited conflict to restore the Union to an all-out war that would fundamentally ...
The resources of the Firestone Library at Princeton University and of the Henry E. Huntington Library in San Marino, California, provided most of the research material on which this book is based. A year at the Center for Advanced Study ...
The war marked a defining point in American history, and its effects are still felt today. The Outbreak of the Civil War examines the factors that led the nation to war.
Period prints, photographs, and documents accompany this penetrating examination of the political, military, and social aspects of the War Between the States, tracing the conflict from the earliest divisions between North and South to the ...
What events were instrumental in bringing it about? How did individuals and institutions function? What did Northerners and Southerners believe in the decades of strife preceding the war? What steps did they take to avoid war?
Noted historian Steven E. Woodworth tells the story of what many regard as the defining event in United States history.