Civil War Thread

[Father of two]

I started this thread based on a PM I got.

The person thought that the topic of the civil war would bore others. I think he might me wrong.

I am starting to fall in love with the history of the civil war and more precissley(sp) the battles and campaigns.

Any good book to start off with?

[soyleche]

Originally Posted by Father of two

I started this thread based on a PM I got.

The person thought that the topic of the civil war would bore others. I think he might me wrong.

I am starting to fall in love with the history of the civil war and more precissley(sp) the battles and campaigns.

Any good book to start off with?

I read "The Killer Angels" not too long ago, and I thought it was great. It is about Gettysburg.

I've also wanted to get into the whole Civil War History thing. Now I live in the south, and have access to the sites. With work and exams, though, I haven't taken advantage of them as much as I would like. I did see a reenactment at Appomattox this summer. That was pretty cool.

[Triangle Man]

Originally Posted by soyleche

I did see a reenactment at Appomattox this summer. That was pretty cool.

Those who live in the past are doomed to repeat it.

[Han Solo]

Reenactments are great. Went to one at Bull Run once. Artillery section came up and unlimbered RIGHT in front of us. It was so sweet. Everyone else around us started plugging their ears but I was

[soyleche]

Originally Posted by Triangle Man

Those who live in the past are doomed to repeat it.

Are you saying the South will lose again? Don't say that out loud here. You might get run out of town.

[Father of two]

Originally Posted by Han Solo

Reenactments are great. Went to one at Bull Run once. Artillery section came up and unlimbered RIGHT in front of us. It was so sweet. Everyone else around us started plugging their ears but I was

I never understood why reenactments were done or why people would want to watch them. Now that I've been bitten by the bug, I can't wait to see one live.

[Maine-iac]

"The Killer Angels" is definitely a great place to start. "Gettysburg" was based on this.

Bruce Catton's Civil War books are excellent. More history and less drama than "Killer Angels".

[Han Solo]

Originally Posted by Father of two

I started this thread based on a PM I got.

The person thought that the topic of the civil war would bore others. I think he might me wrong.

I am starting to fall in love with the history of the civil war and more precissley(sp) the battles and campaigns.

Any good book to start off with?

Where to start...

I would recommend if you want good general, overview books on the entire war:
Battle Cry of Freedom - James McPherson A bit long in places, and deals with a lot of the background leading up to the war as well as the war inself. Doesn't go into a lot of detail on the battles though.
Bruce Catton's trilogy 'The Coming Fury' 'Terrible Swift Sword' and 'Never Call Retreat.' are quite good. In fact, read anything by Catton
Shelby Foote's Civil War Narrative is very good as well

You want battles?
Landscape Turned Red - Stephen Sears Very good.
Antietam: A Soldier's Battle - John M Priest. Excellent - Focuses in on many individual stories, and takes you through the battle on a very personal level.
Gettysburg: The Second Day - Harry W Pfanz
Pickett's Charge - George Stewart

I could go on all day

[Han Solo]

Originally Posted by Maine-iac

"The Killer Angels" is definitely a great place to start. "Gettysburg" was based on this.

I agree. Just remember when you are reading it that it is a novel, not nonfiction.

[PK]

You might like "Confederates in the Attic : Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War" by Tony Horwitz. It gives a perspective on how the war is percieved and remembered today.

Originally Posted by the review at Amazon.com

Horwitz spent two years reporting on why Americans are still so obsessed with the war, and the ways in which it resonates today. In the course of his work, he made a sobering side trip to cover a murder that was provoked by the display of the Confederate flag, and he spoke to a number of people seeking to honor their ancestors who fought for the Confederacy.