Book Description
Winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for History and a New York Times Bestseller, Battle Cry of Freedom is universally recognized as the definitive account of the Civil War. It was hailed in The New York Times as "historical writing of the highest order." The Washington Post called it "the finest single volume on the war and its background." And The Los Angeles Times wrote that "of the 50,000 books written on the Civil War, it is the finest compression of that national paroxysm ever fitted between two covers." Now available in a splendid new edition is The Illustrated Battle Cry of Freedom. Boasting some seven hundred pictures, including a hundred and fifty color images and twenty-four full-color maps, here is the ultimate gift book for everyone interested in American history. McPherson has selected all the illustrations, including rare contemporary photographs, period cartoons, etchings, woodcuts, and paintings, carefully choosing those that best illuminate the narrative. More important, he has written extensive captions (some 35,000 words in all, virtually a book in themselves), many of which offer genuinely new information and interpretations that significantly enhance the text. The text itself, streamlined by McPherson, remains a fast-paced narrative that brilliantly captures two decades of contentious American history, from the Mexican War to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. The reader will find a truly masterful chronicle of the war itself--the battles, the strategic maneuvering on both sides, the politics, and the personalities--as well as McPherson's thoughtful commentary on such matters as the slavery expansion issue in the 1850s, the origins of the Republican Party, the causes of secession, internal dissent and anti-war opposition in the North and the South, and the reasons for the Union's victory. A must-have purchase for the legions of Civil War buffs, The Illustrated Battle Cry of Freedom is both a spectacularly beautiful volume and the definitive account of the most important conflict in our nation's history.
Customer Reviews:
The Best Got Better.......2007-02-02
I read 'Battle Cry of Freedom' some time back and decided then that it was the best one volumn authority on the Civil War ever written. My paperback copy is extremely worn and has underlines, my comments, etc. throughout. A good friend bought 'The Illustrated Battle Cry of Freedom' for me and I have just been elated with it. It is one of the most treasured books in my extensive war collection. The illustrations etc. are just a wonderful addition to a wonderful book.
Essential, Important, & Inclusive, but falls short of "Best".......2005-09-11
Widely praised as the best single volume history of the American Civil War, James McPherson's `Battle Cry of Freedom' comes close, but does not quite live up to that high praise. It has many virtues to recommend it, yet it contains flaws that are closely related to its virtues which, to my mind, make it fall short of the admittedly arbitrary "best" status.
The book's strength is in its inclusiveness. Sub titled `The Civil War Era'; it truly lives up to its billing. It begins not with the opening of the Civil War, but with the Mexican War and the developing sectional crisis which that war helped to escalate. The first seven chapters of the book chronicle the many related social and political crises which continued to rive the country into two separate and hostile camps, making war all but inevitable. Even after McPherson launches into the story of the war proper, his book is much more that a simple tale of battles and generals. He devotes whole chapters to related subjects such as manufacturing capabilities North and South, the medical situation, the financing of the war, political crises which affect the war effort, foreign diplomacy, and the developing importance of the issue of slavery as an overwhelming factor in the war. He successfully gives the big picture of the overall social and political environment which is absolutely necessary to put the war into context and truly understand it.
The greatest virtue of this volume, however, is its continued insistence on emphasizing the importance of the issue of slavery. McPherson repeatedly points out that while the war was fought for Union, its primary and overriding cause was the slavery issue. Many historians downplay or avoid this issue as much as possible, as it causes controversy and resentment among a large subset of Civil War students who are committed to the myth that slavery was a wholly peripheral issue that had little or nothing to do with the war. Though many of these people may be well meaning and sincere, I believe this myth to be as historically odious and dangerous as the idea of Holocaust denial, and it is much more pervasive and widely believed than that latter myth. McPherson tackles this myth head on, and from beginning to end drills in the importance of slavery as the primary cause of division in the country, the catalyst for secession and war, and one of the primary stumbling blocks to a peaceful settlement of the hostilities. He also clearly shows that while the North primarily fought the war for the cause of Union, that as the war progressed, the issue of freedom and emancipation took on greater and greater importance, until by war's end, many in the North saw the two as intertwined and of equal importance.
`Battle Cry of Freedom' is not, however, without flaw. McPherson writes well enough to make this longish and comprehensive history flow along nicely without bogging down and boring the reader, but his prose lacks the charm that could make the events he writes of come passionately to life. This is compounded by the fact that his comprehensive take on the entire era limits the detail that he can devote to any single battle or personality of the war. All of the important events and people are here, but they are mere utilitarian sketches that mostly lack depth, color, and insight. This is a book to read for an overview, but the reader must go elsewhere for a deeper understanding of any single event or personality of the times.
This Illustrated Edition is a heavy, oversized volume filled with many excellent maps, photographs, illustrations, and period cartoons on every page that nicely complements the text. Its bulk makes it unwieldy to carry about and read. Also, the illustrations have replaced the book's footnotes, so it is not the edition to have for anyone who needs to reference it for scholarly reasons. It would be most useful to those who do not already have large volumes of Civil War photographs and illustrations in their collections.
`Battle Cry of Freedom' is an outstanding, important history of the American Civil War. Though it falls just short of its billing as the best single volume history of the war (Fletcher Pratt's `A Short History of the Civil War: Ordeal By Fire' still holds that distinction), it should be considered absolutely essential reading for any Civil War scholar or anyone wishing to gain a full knowledge of this great American conflict. It has my recommendation.
Theo Logos
Civil War Without Lincoln?.......2005-08-21
I've spent the last five hours reading big chunks of McPherson's book. It is full of scholarly political insights, and best of all, full of wonderful photos and paintings from the Civil War Era. Interstingly: the author's sense of the era is greatly extended in the beginning. His first 184 pages (of 760 total) discuss the Louisiana Purchase, the Mormon trek to Utah, the War with Mexico, etc. Finally on page 185 the southern sessession begins and the presidential election results of 1860 are shown. Even more interesting: the book abruptly ends before the war did. In the final chapter, in which Lee meets Grant at Appomattox, the closing sentence is a quote from John Wilkes Booth vowing, "Now by God I'll put him through..." That's the end. Then in the Epilogue, the first sentence is: "The weeks after Booth fulfilled his vow..." and continues with a one-paragraph kaliedescope of various events. Strangely nothing is said about the assassination of Pres. Abraham Lincoln that put such an emotional exclamation point on the end of the war. I also checked, and Lincoln's famous Gettysburg address is not included either. So give it four stars for good writing (although not the equal of a Will Durant) and some excellent insights, but what about Lincoln? Go figure.
Amazon's Packaging :((((((.......2005-08-21
I have returned this item TWICE to Amazon. For some reason, they do not think it needs much packaging. Its not a $12.95 paperback, its a signed, limited edition, slipcase edition and should be treated as such. If you want to get a good copy I would recommend buying it a bricks and mortar store. The extra $$ you pay will be worth it in the long run.
Wow!.......2005-03-26
While searching for a book that would give me in-depth information about the Civil War, I came across The Illustrated Battle Cry of Freedom. This book not only gave me an understanding of the war, but also insight into American life during this period of time. The illustrations helped me to retain the facts I learned, and were a great asset when I was teaching my 9 year old son about the Civil War. Even if you don't have the time to get through this hefty book, leafing through to look at the wonderful pictures/maps and reading excerpts is still enjoyable.
Book Description
The complete text of the bestselling narrative history of the Civil War--based on the celebrated PBS television series. This non-illustrated edition interweaves the author's narrative with the voices of the men and women who lived through that cataclysmic trail of our nationhood, from Abraham Lincoln to ordinary foot soldiers. Includes essays by distinguished historians of the era.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
The Civil War: Retrospective Highlights.......2007-10-11
A great book which covers the highlights of the American Civil War. The book captures the feel of the nation during the war including events leading up to it. Along the way the book covers many of the great battles and personalities involved; from Lincoln, Grant, and Sherman to Lee and Davis Jefferson. It doesn't go into great detail but with broad sweeping strokes brings the war into a grand perspective. It captures all the key high points of the war up to an including Lincoln's assassination and burial. It gives you just enough depth however to be satisfying. Being an avid military history buff I'd highly recommend this to anyone with even a casual interest in the Civil War or American history. This should be required reading for high school history.
The Civil War: An Illustrated History.......2007-03-17
Excellent, in every way and the photos are fascinating.
short history of civil war.......2006-11-06
THE BOOK IS WELL WRITTEN AND LAID OUT. THE PROBLEM IS IT IS A CURSORY REVIEW OF THE CIVIL WAR WITH NO PARTICULAR DETAILS. IT IS A COMBINATION OF THE AUTHOR'S PREVIOUS BOOKS. IT IS USEFUL FOR SUDENTS OR OTHERS WHO NEED A CRAM COURSE IN THE CIVIL WAR FOR HISTORY CLASS BUT IT IS OF NO PARTICULAR VALUE FOR SERIOUS CIVIL WAR RESERCHERS.
An opportunity blown.......2006-06-19
Such a wonderful book has been brought down several notches by employing a reader that puts one to sleep. My travels are made signifacantly more enjoyable by listening to books-on-CD while driving. I've tried several times to listen to the Civil War but had to give it up. Mr. Whitener's voice is so drone and expressionless that I quickly loose interest. Sorry to be so negative, but this CD is very disappointing. Stick to the book.
Civil War CD.......2006-02-25
For Civil War buffs like my father, this came in very handy on his morning and evening commutes. Literally could not stop playing it and currently is listening to it again. It is one of those historical narratives that you could listen to a number of times and hear something new each time.
Book Description
NOW IN PAPERBACK! There are few systematic guides to the language used by the generation that fought the American Civil War. In the 150 years since the great conflict, our language has changed, and as meanings have become obscure or lost, links with this vibrant past have dissolved and much of that which had meaning to our forefathers no longer has the same meaning to us.
What did it mean “to cross the bar”? What did it mean “to see the elephant” or “to go South”? Why did the armies have so-called ninety-day men and hundred-day men? What were soldiers supposed to do when their commander shouted, “Let her go, Gallagher”? How did one “pay tribute to Neptune”? What was a “picket pin”? Could one make a passable meal of “possum beer” and “secession bread”? How did one “vibrate the lines,” and why would anyone want to attempt such a maneuver?
To address this need, Webb Garrison has pored over his notes from more than thirty years of research and study to produce this dictionary and encyclopedia of words and phrases (including nicknames and slang) commonly used during the war. Where appropriate, examples and anecdotes are included to illustrate meanings. Often overlooked naval terms and esoteric formal and informal military expressions are addressed as well as short descriptions of oceangoing vessels and river craft.
More than 2,500 entries and 250 illustrations cover the terms, equipment, and organization of the three million soldiers who fought in the war. HISTORY; CIVIL WAR
ILLUSTRATED; PHOTOGRAPHS
7” X 9”, 288 PAGES
Customer Reviews:
Civil War Usage.......2006-09-08
I purchased this book to help me understand the terms used during the Civil War for a history project I am working on. The book is easy to read and the terms that I needed where easy to find as well as suggestions for terms that went along with what I was looking for. It will be a great addition to my history part of my home library and the price was reasonable. The book has also spurred my interest in other subjects connected to some of the terms I found in the book. Great book for anyone working on the Civil War.
CW Encyclopedia.......2006-03-22
A helpful guide to words & phrases current in the Civil War. Entries, alphabetically arranged, are brief and concise, sometimes overly so. Military ceremonies are mainly ignored, and in one case not quite correct. Still, very useful to explain those obscure references one finds in diaries and newspaper accounts.
The Encyclopedia of Civil War usage.......2006-02-24
An invaluable tool to help you understand change in word usage--excellent for reinactors, writers and scholars of the Civil War era.
The supreme reference tool for the American Civil War.......2005-05-19
This is undoubtedly one of the greatest reference works about the American Civil War, written by one of the most renowned scholars in this field. The 2,500 entries range from 'A1' and 'abaft' to 'Zouave'. There is a rich collection of slang terms that represent the speech of both sides in the War as well as entries that refer to weapons and machines. There are also many nicknames of generals and high-ranking military officers (for which there are useful biographies provided)and eponymous phrases such as 'Sherman's neckties' and 'Sherman's sentinels' etc. There is also a great deal of information about places, battles, prisoner of war camps etc. This book will be enjoyed both by the historian and the linguist. Here one can find practically every term or phrase associated with this period of history. Admittedly if one scanned carefully in the Civil War section of Paul Dickson's excellent work 'War Slang' or in Robert Hendrickson's books 'Whistlin' Dixie' and 'Yankee Talk' then one may well come across the odd entry not incluuded here. However, this work constitutes the greatest colletion in a single volume.
As a non-American the American Civil War has always both interested me and bewildered me. It seems that popular opinion has often simplified the causes of the war. In the entry on 'Slavery' the authors declare that this was "not the only issue dividing the north from the south". Indeed, there were many other political and economic reasons. It is a fallacy to go on believing that the South was the side of the baddies who wanted slaves while the North were the goodies who wanted to free the slaves. The Americans had fought bravely to secure their own independence. It does not seem illogical why an extremely large section of the states should want to form their own country (that would have been analogous with Canada). If this was their wish they should have been allowed to do so. Perhaps the feeling between North and South would have been a lot different today if the South looked on the North as just a friendly neighbour (in the same way that Canada does) rather than holding a grievance. In the war both sides displayed heroism and both sides committed atrocities. The total cost in terms of human life makes the American Civil War one of the greatest tragedies of world history. As for the pretext about the slaves, this was just a pretext. If this had been such a vital issue then why in the aftermath of the war was there no legislation to make former slaves equal citizens. Even almost a century later the Afro-American (for whom this war was supposedly waged) was still treated as a second class citizen. In the 1950's there was still a system comparable with the South African 'apartheid' with black people not allowed to travel in the same bus compartment as whites. Even those black soldiers drafted in W.W.1. and W.W.2 were kept seperate in their own regiments. In the Vietnam war a disproportionately high percentage of black people were enlisted and were not allowed to use their 'dap' or 'soul handshake' for fear that it might form constitute some exclusive bond. Even today it is in the poor black neighbourhoods (not the luxurious tree-lined avenues where the senators live) that the military frequent to find expendable recruits for Iraq. In the new Iraq occupation some slighly black 'showcase' Afro-Americans like Colin Powell and Condolisa Rice have gained prominence and wealth. However, they do not represent the needs or voice of their race. For the ordinary Afro-American getting killed every day in Iraq or living in a poor underpriveleged ghetto, things are little better today despite the sacrifice of so many lives in the Civil War.
Give'm the bulge! Bully for Garrison!.......2002-09-21
If my above mentioned words didn't offer what this book is about I don't know what will. Cheryl and Webb Garrison have assembled a great book featuring Civil War slang, lingo and material names. Words such as chinch (bed bug), hardware (weapon), leg case (desertion) pop-skull (whiskey) and yaller dog (coward). These are just a small few of the many words in this great book on Civil War era language. This book would be great for reenactors or anyone studying the war and learning more about how people communicated or gobble talked!
Customer Reviews:
Western Theater Must Have!.......2007-06-07
Let me say up front that I contributed in a small way to this and another of the authors books, but that aside, I am a big fan of Richard Baumgartner and Larry Strayer. One of the reasons, besides being two of the nicest guys you could hope to meet, is that they really put in the hours on primary research, particularly digging out memoirs, narratives, etc. that you won't find other places. When you see so many authors today quoting the same old worn out material, just to knock out a book, you'll appreciate the effort that goes into their works. "Echoes of Battle: The Struggle for Chattanooga : An Illustrated Collection of Union and Confederate Narratives" is no exception. The title is a bit misleading, as it covers more than just Chattanooga, and that makes it all the more enjoyable to read. Amply illustrated with an eye toward fine unpublished photographs, it is a feast for the eyes as well. With nearly 500 narratives used, this approach puts the campaigns in a whole new perspective, and I think the readers won't be disappointed with this approach.
Book Description
Gettysburg Battlefield is the definitive illustrated history of the largest and deadliest military campaign ever waged in the Western Hemisphere. It was fought 140 years ago this July, in the farmlands of Pennsylvania. Years in the making, it draws together the most complete collection of Gettysburg imagery ever published in a single volume along with a robust narrative. The author takes the reader on a day-by-day journey through the battle, illustrated throughout with more than 480 photographs, many of them rare, including shots of Robert E. Lee and George Meade. Two visual features of this book are particularly compelling: Period photographs of key battlefield sites - taken just as the guns stilled - are juxtaposed with images of those same sites today. Three-dimensional maps were created especially for this book and offer a distinctive perspective on military strategy. Essays by civil war experts and a foreword by historian James M. McPherson complete this handsome and authoritative history. An essential addition to the Civil War library, Gettysburg Battlefield is a compelling chronicle of a legendary conflict and the ultimate pictorial record.
Customer Reviews:
A visual remembrance..........2007-06-05
I first visited Gettysburg in November 2005 and I've been fascinated by this historic battlefield ever since. Some of it may be due to the fact that my great-great-grandfather fought there and was wounded on the second day of fighting in the Wheatfield. In touring Gettysburg today, it's often difficult to get a feel for just how bad the carnage was. Gettysburg Battlefield: The Definitive Illustrated History by David J. Eicher is probably the best means to see Gettysburg through the eyes of Civil War soldiers.
Eicher includes hundreds of photographs that show scenes from Gettysburg, both before the battle and immediately afterward. But then he also includes modern day photos taken of the same locations from the same angles. These before and after pictures are haunting. It is hard to look at the peaceful Devil's Den of today and imagine the violence that occurred there. Eicher also includes dozens of maps as well as portraits of key figures.
What makes Gettysburg Battlefield more than just a picture book is the commentary. In addition to Eicher's own narrative, he includes 15 different essays from 14 guest Gettysburg experts. Eicher was looking for little known stories about this famous battle. There were two that I found interesting. One involved the NY 45th Infantry. Many of these German-Americans were captured and then transported to Southern prisons. Their monument is off the beaten path next to a soccer field. Another recounts the saga of The God Tree--one of a dozen witness trees that still survive from 1863.
One thing kept me from giving Gettysburg Battlefield five stars, and that is that fact that there are a number of errors. But overall, the photographs are the main reason I purchased this book and they alone are well worth the expense. This truly is a "visual remembrance."
FORTY-NINE Errors and Problems with this Poor Book.......2007-01-15
This book is full of errors. Here are some, but not all:
P.12 Buford commanded a division not a brigade
P.17 A.A. Humphreys is neither a major general in this image nor at Gettysburg. He was a brigadier.
P.21 Meade took command three, not four days before the battle.
P.22 There were eight Union Corps commanders at Gettysburg, not seven.
P.30 Sykes did not command all the regular army infantry units at Gettysburg. There were US sharpshooters in the 3rd Corps.
P.32 Buford commanded a division, not a brigade, at Gettysburg.
P.34 and 141 The same image is used twice in the book with slightly different captions.
P.41 Image was recorded in 1867, not 1865.
P.47 The photo of the railroad cut at Gettysburg is in fact a photo of Fredericksburg.
The author even provides a modern view of the site at Gettysburg!
P.50 Buford's monument was erected in 1892 not 1895
P.60 Early's Division did not have nearly 6,300 men at Gettysburg, it's closer to 5,500.
P.63 The light bulb atop the Peace Light memorial was replaced in the 1980s not the 1990s.
P.68 Robert E. Rodes was killed outright at Third Winchester, not mortally wounded.
P.77 John Burns and Abraham Lincoln did not attend services in Gettysburg. It was a political rally.
P.78 The view from the square to the Courthouse, is south, not west.
P.82 This image was recorded in July 1886 not c. 1861-1865. More than TWENTY YEARS off.
P.83 The photo was taken in 1886, not "ca. 1861-1865."
P.84 View was taken in 1867 not 1865.
P.85 View was taken in 1867 not 1865.
P.101 The Confederate attack did not swing past the Sherfy house "on the way toward" Devil's Den.
P.112 Confederate movements against the Round Tops did not occur to the north of Devil's Den.
P.112 The other branch of Plum Run fronts Cemetery, not Seminary Ridge.
P.113 Van Horne Ellis was not a fireman before the war; he was a Sea Captain, amongst other things.
P.117 The map key places the fighting at Devil's Den at least a mile away from where it took place.
P.117 On p. 126, Eicher calls it "unfortunate" when Samuel Crawford's middle name is misspelled, yet he spells Vannoy Manning's first name as "Vanney." Unfortunate, indeed.
P.121 The John T. Weikert House is not a wartime structure.
P.122 The photo was taken from Houck's Ridge not from "the area of the Stony Hill." It was recorded in the 1880s, not "ca. 1860s." Any Gettysburg author should know that there were no monuments on the field outside the cemetery until 1878. As to location, to not know that Rose Woods would be in the photographer's way from the Stony Hill to the Round Tops demonstrates a significant lack of understanding about Gettysburg.
P.123 This image is referred to as a variant of that on page 121, yet author is uncertain whether it was Mathew Brady's crew. Of course it is--it's a variant.
P.123 Ellis Spear was a Captain, not a Lt. Col. at Gettysburg. Off by two ranks.
P.124 The 93rd Pennsylvania Monument pictured was erected in 1884, not 1888.
P.128 The 1st Texas fought with the 15th Georgia in Rose Woods, not the 15th Alabama, which was on Little Round Top. Even the most popular regiments at Gettysburg are subject to inaccuracies in this book.
P.131 The white buildings in the distance, clearly on Seminary Ridge, are not those of George W. Weikert which were near Rose Woods.
P.132 The view looks east-southeast, not northeast.
P.135 The map key places the fighting at Devil's Den at least a mile away from where it took place.
P.135 Dan Sickles did not visit his leg at the Army Medical Museum every year.
P.138 and 166 There are two of the EXACT same historic photos of Little Round Top in two different places labeled as different photos. There are TWO DIFFERENT MODERN views roughly 150 feet apart for the SAME PHOTO! Finally, he labels one of the views as July 6, 1863, and the other as July 6 or 7, 1863. How could someone writing a book of this sort not know that he had two of the exact same photo? How can there be two different moderns?
P.139 The map key places the fighting at Devil's Den and Little Round Top at least a mile away from where it took place.
P.142 In speculating that this image is among the last recorded by Gardner's crew at Gettysburg, the date given is July 6, 1863. Yet, elsewhere in the book, Gardner views are dated as late as July 9 (p.78).
P.143 The two images were not recorded from different angles. They are the same angle but with different cameras.
P.145 Photographer (Gardner), location of the image (crest of LRT) and month (July) of both images are all known. All are listed as questionable or "unknown" in the book. Incredibly the famous "Warren Rock" and the distinctive tree next to it appear in the image on the right.
P.146 The photo labeled as Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is in fact it is a photo of General Edwin Stoughton. Of all of the people to not recognize at Gettysburg Joshua Chamberlain!
P.158 While so many modern images are poorly recorded in this book, this one is among the weakest. See pp. 157, 161, 167, 172, 179 and others for more flawed examples.
P.169 This book claims to be definitive yet is missing many, many, known images of wartime Gettysburg. On this page, this series is represented by but three of five different, known images.
P.195 Top view was taken in 1867 not 1865.
P.195 Bottom view was taken in 1867 not 1865.
P.201 Top left view was taken in 1867 not 1865.
P.202 All four historic Tyson views on this page were taken in 1867 not 1865.
P.212 The Copse of Trees is in the wrong place. It almost seems a deliberate effort to make mistakes on Gettysburg's most well-known features.
The photo angles are poor........2006-04-28
I have visited the Gettysburg battlefield on numerous occaisions. Everytime that I'm there I bring with me many, many photographs from Brady, Gardner etc. As a result, after hours and hours of exploration, I've been able to recreate 'then and now' photos that are far more accurate than what this book offers. The 'now' photos in this book are not lined up accurately with the 'then' photos. Sure, it is the same area, but with a little extra effort they certainly could have recreated the angles that Brady, Gardner, etc. had shot from. Yet, while the photos are definatley disappointing, this book still provides a wealth of information about the Battlefield. I'm sure that any novice will enjoy this book. If you really want to see what it looks like now, however, you will need to go there for yourself, or explore more specific works.
Great "then and now" book.......2005-11-01
This book is much better than most of the before and after pictorials. These people giving this a one star are obviously friends of another author, or just have a personal grudge. Mistakes are always made in books, that is why people have second additions, etc. Who cares if there is one picture of Fredericksburg in the book. One picture out of 500 makes the book a total failure. I think the only failure here is the idiot who wrote the bad review. Excellent book and you know it!!!!!!!!
Solid "Then and Now" Pictorial History of Gettysburg.......2005-07-29
Eicher has done a mostly superb job despite a few errors here and there. The Chamberlain one has been pointed out, and in Ted Alexander's essay on the first Union soldier to die at Gettysburg, he points out that a Cpl. William Rihl of the New York Lincoln Cavalry was killed at Fleming's farm on June 22, 1863 in action with Jenkins' Confederate Cavalry.
On the other hand, the masterful Noah Andre Trudeau in his: "Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage" notes that Private George Sandoe, of Captain Robert Bell's Pennsylvania cavalry squadron, was the first to die at Gettysburg, killed on the 26th,on the town's western outskirts, while valiantly trying to stop the onslaught of Lige White's cavalry, attached to John Gordon's division of Jubal Early's corps.
I have always been intrigued by the story of Bell's little cavalry squadron, which tried to stop Gordon's initial march into the town, and was scattered for its efforts. Bell and his men seem to drop off the pages of history, save for Trudeau's work.
Eicher also seems to subscribe to the same criticisms of Alfred Pleasonton (the Union Cavalry commander)that Edward Longacre, and more recent historians have seem to suggest. Still Pleasonton performed very capably and competent when he was allowed to by Meade. Meade didn't like cavalry, and as an engineer officer inspecting and improving lighthouses along America's eastern coast before the war, had developed a dislike for Pleasonton's father, a government bureacrat. Simply stated, Pleasonton didn't not have the slack that Phil Sheridan had, later on, under Grant. Eicher also suggests that the doomed Elon Farnsworth never received his Brigadier General commission when he was killed in Kilpatrick's senseless cavalry charge in the vicinity of the Round Tops immediately following Pickett's repulse. When nearly all other sources, including Longacre, suggested that he had.
The Cavalry actions on the third day are as usual, minimally covered. The brisk fight between Custer and Stuart so recently well-covered in Tom Carhart's "Last Triumph" at least rates an two-page essay. The Farnsworth charge only merits two paragraphs.
Eicher was wise to invite fellow Civil War Historians to provide a number of very well-written essays, and while all of them are exceptional, the beginning one written by James McPherson, arguably our greatest living historian, is a compelling one that urges all Americans who love their history to visit the Gettysburg Battlefield and get that sense of what is was like then.
Photograph choices are very, very good. Some of Eicher's photographs could have easily been taken by anyone with a Kodak instamatic and a good printer, but overall they still convey very well the now as opposed to the then. Many of the "old" photographs collected seem to have been printed with a deliberately "grainy" image - note the photo of Buford and his staff, or the remarkable one of Lee near the beginning of the book. I happen to like the effect; some other readers might not.
Well-worth it as an addition to your Civil War bookshelf if purchased at amazon's nice bargain price, and as another reviewer said, would blend in well if you have artifacts of the battle, as I do. Still, I wouldn't pay the full or the paperback price.
Book Description
A fully illustrated, accessible encyclopedic collection in an A-to-Z format of essays on every significant Civil War battle, with authoritative text prepared by the Civil War Society. Includes maps and archival illustrations and photographs.
Customer Reviews:
Historical Find.......2007-02-08
Very interesting. I love anything to do with the Civil War--and this book is great for such reading. Excellent coverage of details. Any reader would enjoy this book though. Glad I bought it!
Book Description
For four bloody years, the Civil War ravaged America. Those at home could only imagine the sights and events overtaking their husbands and sons, fathers and brothers who were under arms.
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper was a primary source of information during those dark days. The reporters and artists who traveled with the armies were eyewitnesses to events, great and small, for their captivated readers. Sometimes the news was sensational. At other times it was tragic. But it was always eagerly sought after.
Here are the accounts, in pictures and stories, of those first wartime journalists. Here are their reports from the front lines. Here is the Civil War's news as originally presented to loved ones at home. Here you will find images of the battles, the leaders, the camp life, and of the soldiers who gave their all for North and South.
In your hands you hold the testimony of those who were Witness to the Civil War.
Customer Reviews:
Witness to the Civil War: First-Hand Accounts from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper.......2007-02-16
This book gives a timelessness to the reality of the Civil War by seeing it through the eyes of the people who were living through it at the time. The illustrations are amazing and easily take you 150 into the past. Any history buff will want to have this book!
A Unique Insight Into The Civil War.......2007-01-08
Witness to the Civil War is the Smithsonian's abridged compilation of the 1895 Frank Leslie's Illustrated History of the Civil War. Few have or could do it better. Rivaled only by Harper's Weekly, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper utilized correspondents (we today refer to as "embedded") to bring news and pictures from "the front" to eager readers, many of whom had husbands, fathers and sons engaged in the conflict. This book gathers the best of this coverage into a single volume, not so much as a comprehensive history but to illustrate and describe the major events.
The book combines contempoary text (in italics) and illustrations with modern observations and color photophrapy, the latter ensuring flow and context. The illustrations appeal both as art and as history, albeit with occasional exageration stemming from the rhetoric of the time and admitted Northern bias. A gallary featuring the likeness and thumbnail biography of forty-two Union officers (pages 104-109) is particulary interesting. The net result is an engrossing collection that adds life to the history as seen through the day's press.
While Frank Leslie and his wife are profiled at the beginning of the book, I was disappointed not to find more detailed information on the specific correspondents and artists who contributed the stories and illustrations in the book. Notwithstanding, the book is nicely presented and would be a great supplement to any Civil War buff's library.
Witness To The Civil War.......2007-01-04
The Journalist in every war are underrated because they do not fit the mould of Fighting men. Where would we be without them? Would only the Victors tell the tale of the Battle? History must have the unbiased reports of the Journalist. That is what makes this book valuable to me as a civil war historian.
Book Description
Great Battles of the Civil War brings to life ten epic clashes that scourged our nation between 1861 and 1865. This powerful book sets forth the human drama of a great nation locked in mortal combat with itself. Along with accounts of the battles, this volume contains picture essays that reveal in crisp detail the uniform, weapons, equipment, and personal possessions of those courageous American fighters of 140 years ago. Great Battles of the Civil War is illustrated with an extraordinary collection of over 750 photographs, portraits, on-the-spot sketches, contemporary newspaper illustrations, paintings, and full-color artifacts. Lively anecdotes and eyewitness accounts by the people of that time-the obscure as well as the famous-offer personal perspective that brings history to life.
Customer Reviews:
Minnesota in the CW is a home-run example!.......2000-12-31
The Minnesota Historical Society (MHS)hit a home-run with this book. I first read Kenneth Carley's Minnesota in the Civil War when I was twelve years old back in the early 1970s. The book, though a nice overview, remained untouched on my shelves ever since. It was just that, a fine overview.
MHS could simply have continued to reprint the book in its original, almost child-like form, but instead, they decided to use it as a framework to showcase their collections. And the result is nothing less than lavish.
Artifacts ranging from corn pone found in the bottom of a haversack to a suit of cotton clothes made by a Minnesota soldier while a prisoner of war at Libby Prison are liberally sprinkled through the text. Similarly, Carley's original narrative of Minnesota's involvement in the War is almost lost, covered by many excerpts from diaries, letters, and memoirs of participants.
A potential buyer might think this would only interest students of Minnesota's Civil War history. THis if far from the truth. This book, filled with artifacts that are understandably identified to Minnesota soldiers, are typical of any Civil War combatant. This book rivals the great 3-volume Time-Life ECHOES OF GLORY.
The shortfalls are few. The foreword by Richard Moe (author of THe Last Full Measure)is appropriate, whereas the introduction by Brian Horrigan seems labored and forced. Someone, somewhere in the bureaucracy of MHS must have felt a "context" was necessary, so the text of an old exhibit about pre civil war Minnesota was forced between the covers. This isn't horrible, because along with it, are some interesting, though not civil war-related, photos. As for the rest of the images, very few are of the tired, oft-seen, Library of Congress origin, but rather, from the bowels of MHS itself. This book SHOULD stand as an example to other museums. MHS DUG into its collections to find a vast myriad of related artifacts, accounts, and images. Too many museums are content to "protect" and "Preserve." Too many forget to "share," "show," and "provide." Kudos, MHS. The only concession to "museum practices" is an obvious lack of the tools of war in this book. Very few uniforms, muskets, rifles, swords, and the like are included. One spread on pp. 108-109 depicts a musket, bayonet and revolver. The design of the spread belies that it must have been an afterthought concession. I would tend to believe that the collections hold the Austrian Lorenzes, Prussian Muskets, varieties of Springfields, and carbines issued to Minnesota soldiers. So why were they left out? Pity.
BUT, the book IS packed full of photos of personal items, like the contents of one soldier's haversack, the ship's bell from the USS Minnesota, and sketches made by a participant in the Sioux Uprising of 1862. Very cool indeed.
All in all, a very Fine book and a worthwhile addition to a Civil War library, whether concentrated on Minnesota soldiers or not. This book should be included in any library that focuses on the daily life of the average soldier.
Civil War Sleeper of the Year!.......2000-12-28
I first read Kenneth Carley's original edition of Minnesota in the Civil War as a twelve year old boy back in the 1970s. The book remained on my shelf, but rarely, did I refer back to it as I continued my exploration of Minnesota's role in the Civil War.
Well, the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) has hit a home run! Using Carley's good overview as a framework, the Society dug deep into its collection to cement a wonderful history of the State's participation in the Civil War. Using very professionally composed photographs of state soldier-identified artifacts, excerpts from diaries and letters, and a limited amount of standard-fare, Library-of-Congress photography, MHS has issued a book on par with the very desirable Time-Life Echos of Glory series.
Actually, MHS has cemented SO much material around Carley's original overview, that it is actually a bit hard to recognize any similarity to the Carley's original work. This is not a bad thing, just an interesting sidenote. The person who buys this book will be busy reading the first-hand accounts, looking at the fantastic artifacts, and enjoying all the great wartime images of Gopher-soldiers.
I applaud MHS for this effort. Other institutions should take note of this work. Too many museums are bent on "protecting" and "preserving" their collections causing them to overlook the very worth of "presenting" the collections. Someone at MHS dug DEEP into the collection to find dynamite relics, accounts and photographs. Items ranging from corn pone found in the bottom of a haversack to a cotton suit of clothes made by a Minnesota prisoner of war while in Libby Prison fill the pages. The welcome, underlying message in this book is "ALL THESE ITEMS ARE FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE SOCIETY." That means, for researchers, these are all, more-or-less, accessible. This is where other books in similar styles fail. Private collectors are so eager to show off, but not so often, willing to share. So, whereas the Time-Life books are a great treat to the eye, as an effective document for future scholarship, they can be rather frustrating. Minnesota in the Civil War: An Illustrated History will stand as a fine catalog and finding aid for future historians.
Criticisms of the book are few. The foreword by Richard Moe is appropriate and adds to the book. The Intro by the Curator of a not-too-closely related exhibit seemed like a labored addition, but does not detract. The objects illustrated concentrate on personal objects and very few "tools of war" seem to have made the final cut for inclusion. Clearly lacking in the book are uniform items (forage caps, frock coats, blouses, etc.), identified weapons (there is one 2-page spread that has a design element that belies that it quite possibly was a concession), and identified accouterments. Surely, the Society has these items in their vast collection, so it left me wondering why they chose to downplay this very fundamental aspect of the State's participation in the war. Nevertheless, there are great groupings of items like one soldier's haversack, fry pan and boiler, and many personal items. My criticisms are minimal and should not deter any Civil War fan from buying this book.
In closing, it is important to recognize that this book is for a fan of the Civil War and NOT just a fan of Minnesota in the Civil War. The artifacts, accounts, and photographs reflect the Nation's involvement. It just worked out that the medium chosen for this reflection, was the young state of Minnesota--the first to answer President Lincoln's call for volunteers in 1861. Civil War fans, both north and south, will appreciate this book for its very fresh, personal depiction of common soldiers at war.
Book Description
Unabridged reproduction of rare and valuable 1864 catalog brimming with uniform and dress regulations, arms and ammunition, horse "furniture," tables of military pay, uniform accessories, insignia and other equipment. Detailed descriptions of hats, coats, "trowsers," boots, tents, swords, more. 226 illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Well pleased........2006-03-19
I am a collector of Civil War relics and this book is a must have.
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Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg (Crown Journeys)
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