Books about the American Civil War

[barstein]

Picked up #3 in Foot’s Civil War series and realized that the character I’m developing actually resigned in late 1862 after being wounded on the Black River in Arkansas (the “Battle of Orient Ferry” according to my source)*, so I think I’ll have to look at the #2 book in Foote’s series.

Still, Foote appears to be a wonderful writer and I hope to read all three books one day.

*Edit: Started as a bugler in Company D, 15 Regiment, Texas Cavalry (mounted volunteers), later became 2nd lieutenant of the Company, then injured and resigned.

[Incendiary_Lemon]

@Desert Journeyman

McPherson is generally regarded as the leading academic in the field. Catton comes in close behind. If memory serves, noted British military historian John Keegan also tried his hand at a short history of the war, which I remember most for its discussion of the diverging characters of North and South during the Antebellum period. Ken Burns’s 1991 documentary is also justifiably beloved.

I love Keegan, the Face of Battle is a seminal work, but critics panned his tome on the Civil War. It was a little behind the times sadly.