Seasons of War: The Ordeal of the Confederate Community, 1861-1865

Customer Reviews:

Seasons of War: The Ordeal of the Confederate Community.......2000-02-03

I live in Culpeper County, Virginia and am extremely familiar with local history. I live a half mile from Amissville and 1 mile from Waterloo, two communities that are mentioned in the book.

This book is well documented and right on the money in virtually all aspects; historical content, accuracy and sequencing. This book is highly recommended for those wishing to get an unvarnished perspective of the impact of the Civil War on a typical community caught in the crossfire of the Lost Cause.

Excellent reading.

Extremely readable, easy to remember, superbly documented........1996-11-16

This book is a great find for anyone desiring to get the southern civilian's perspective on the Civil War. Professor Sutherland deserves praise for his efforts in finding an incredible depth of resources to tell the story of a Confederate community, which, by virtue of its strategic location, found itself in the heart of this enormous conflict. The perspective Professor Sutherland brings to his subject gives this book a "readability" that easily separates it from many other civil war histories. The book really shines in its depiction of the affect the war had on the civilian population. In addition, this book details the beginnings of the concept of "total war" as created and put in force by the Union General, Pope (a new book is due soon from Sutherland on just this subject). This book shares the side of the conflict that is not normally exposed. Tales of unionists, free blacks and slaves in the area during the war are depicted along side the narrative of a proud Southern community as it anticipates victory only to see the inevitable conclusion. Located close to many battlefields, as well as being home to significant battles at Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station, Professor Sutherland points out that Culpeper was, perhaps, the community most affected by the war. A great book - easy to read and informative. When you are finished, you will have learned a bit more about this nation and the forces that have made us what we are today.

The Red Badge of Courage & "The Veteran" (Modern Library Classics)

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The Red Badge of Courage
The War in the Eyes of the Union
Red Badge of Courage
The Red Badge of Manhood
Black and Blue Badge

The Red Badge of Courage & "The Veteran" (Modern Library Classics)
Stephen Crane
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679783202
Release Date: 2000-09-12

Book Description

One of the greatest works of American literature, The Red Badge of Courage gazes fearlessly into the bright hell of war through the eyes of one young soldier, the reluctant Henry Fleming. Written by Stephen Crane at the age of twenty-one, the novel imagines the Civil War's terror and loss with an unblinking vision so modern and revolutionary that, upon publication, critics hailed it as a work of literary genius. Ernest Hemingway declared, "There was no real literature of our Civil War . . . until Stephen Crane wrote The Red Badge of Courage."

This Modern Library Paperback Classics edition includes the short story "The Veteran," Crane's tale of an aged Civil War soldier looking back at his past.

Download Description

First published in 1895, America's greatest novel of the Civil War was written before 21-year-old Stephen Crane had "smelled even the powder of a sham battle." But this powerful psychological study of a young soldier's struggle with the horrors, both within and without, that war strikes the reader with its undeniable realism and with its masterful descriptions of the moment-by-moment riot of emotions felt by me under fire. Ernest Hemingway called the novel an American classic, and Crane's genius is as much apparent in his sharp, colorful prose as in his ironic portrayal of an episode of war so intense, so immediate, so real that the terror of battle becomes our own ... in a masterpiece so unique that many believe modern American fiction began with Stephen Crane.

Customer Reviews:

The Red Badge of Courage.......2007-08-25

I am very satisfied with the Book and it's condition. Excellent price. The order was processed quickly and delivered fast. I was kept informed of the Status of the order and shipment. Excellent Seller and smooth transaction.

The War in the Eyes of the Union.......2007-03-28

The Red Badge of courage is a book that actually tells about how people felt about the Civil war.It tells of their family's discomfort of their decision. It is a book that tells a how a young soldeir fights in the war. Many die around this young boy as he goes through the heart of battle. The book has many exiting twists that mostly are not predictible from the start of the page. Will the young soldier die, or will he live? You will only know if you read the exiting story of Henry Flemming in The Red Badge of Courage.

Red Badge of Courage.......2007-01-13

Got the book quickly - and in good shape - Thank you

The Red Badge of Manhood.......2007-01-08

The Red Badge of Courage is a classic American novel about a boy, who is changed into a man during his experiences in the Civil War. The book does a good job of showing this progression from start to end. In the beginning the protagonist, Henry Fleming, is a scared, young, and inexperienced soldier, who fears that he will run from his first battle. However, at the end of the novel, Henry and his friend Wilson lead the regiment to victory over the rebels.

The thing that Crane does very well in his book is to make a very realistic environment. The story is set in the country, which has many forests, rivers, and fields. The soldiers in the story must overcome these obstacles as they fight the enemy. Also, Crane uses rural dialect to add more depth to conversations that the soldiers have amongst themselves. Flashbacks are used in this novel to recall experiences in Henry's past. For example, Henry has a flashback in the beginning chapter of the novel that tells readers why Henry has enlisted in the army.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good war novel, and is in high school, or older. However, even if you don't like war stories, you might still enjoy this book.

Black and Blue Badge .......2006-12-21

Stephen Crane's Red Badge of Courage is considered an epic American novel. I for one, am not really sure why. It is OK, but compared to the best of Hemingway, Roth, Heller, etc. it is like comparing backyard badmitton with your nephew to the NFL.

What is most interesting is how literature has changed in 100+ years. Crane wrote this thing as a magazine serialization, which does not exist anymore to my knowledge. Red Badge is also full of wind-bag characters who never get to the point, and the ending is rather ambivalent. The protagonist does not really have a name, he is a coward, and there is no love interest except his mother, who only appears on the first 10 pages.

Other than that, this thing is OK. Crane was too young to have been in the Civil War, so to his credit he did impeccable and thorough research with veterans, mostly conducted in saloons. Crane personally was a disaster, his life was not much longer than this novel.

But seriously, read the Red Badge if you did not do so in high school. The descriptions of the battles, especially the confusion, chaos, inability to establish objectives, focus, or leadership, is not what is portrayed in John Wayne movies. The protagonist is very unsure about his future and his role in the war; this is a great theme that Crane did not develop fully in this tiny book. But there is great insight into why the men fought, what motivated them, and how they were inspired to take on impossible, dangerous, and mindless tasks.

Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire Series #1)

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An amazing historical novel!
One of the best Christian Fiction books out there
Excellent Historical Civil War Fiction
Admirable Christian Fiction
I learned a lot about my self and those around me...

Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire Series #1)
Lynn Austin
Manufacturer: Bethany House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1556614365
Release Date: 2002-11-01

Book Description

Book 1 in the Refiner's Fire series. The daughter of a wealthy slave-holding family from Richmond, Virginia, Caroline Fletcher is raised in a culture that believes slavery is God-ordained and biblically acceptable. But upon awakening to the cruelty and injustice it encompasses, Caroline's eyes are opened for the first time to the men and women who have cared tirelessly for her. Her journey of maturity and faith will draw her into the abolitionist movement, where she is confronted with the risks and sacrifices her beliefs entail.

Customer Reviews:

An amazing historical novel!.......2006-09-20

I read this book in 2 days and couldn't put it down last night until I finished it at 2am. The author gave great details on the war and the characters that you feel like you're part of the story. I also like how the character, Caroline Fletcher, stood up for what she believed and still fought to save her family, even though they didn't agreed what she believed in. I also liked how the author compared the civil war to Bible times. It' never occurred to me how similar the war is to the Egyptian times. Overall, this is a great book that can't be put down without finishing it. I'm looking forward to reading more of Lynn Austin's books.

One of the best Christian Fiction books out there.......2006-06-27

I picked this book up after reading another Lynn Austin book, Hidden Places. I was engrossed from the first page. I read it in one day. The characters were great, especially the main character. It challenged my views of the Civil War and slavery. It was excellent. The other two in the series are wonderful as well. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Excellent Historical Civil War Fiction.......2006-06-24

Wow, what an amazing book. This was about a woman with convictions who dared to risk everything for them. By the world's standards she had it all~ beauty, wealth, intelligence, family with connections, and a gorgeous, rich, & charming finance. She is willing to forsake all to protect and free the slaves she loves.

This is a story about trust and faith in God and how Caroline develops from a shy, insecure young girl into a strong, courageous woman. However, Caroline's deceitful acts did not sit well with me. God's character is not consistent with deception. He is a big enough God to allow the North to win the war without willing someone to do deceitful acts. Caroline really put her father, cousins, finance and others in great danger by doing what she did. The author did not clarify whether Caroline's actions were right or wrong. It is for the reader to decide.

I really liked how the author painted a picture of slavery, people's attitudes towards slaves, and their interactions with them. The historical research involved was excellent. The reader gains a sense of what living in Richmond, the Confederate's capitol, must have been like before, during and briefly after the war.

Another excellent civil war fiction I strongly recommend is a book called "The Velvet Shadow" 3rd in "The Heirs of Cahira O'Connor" series by Angela Elwell Hunt.

Admirable Christian Fiction.......2005-03-01

Caroline Fletcher is a Southerner and she hates slavery. What should she do?

Lynn Austin's novel, "Candle in the Darkness," is a story about love, forgiveness, and doing the right thing. A terrible choice hangs in the balance for one woman: Should she stand up for what she believes in and lose the trust of her family and fiance, or should she let her convictions go and live "happily ever after?"

This book was fairly captivating. I read it in a day, because it is one of those books that you can't put down even if you don't really like it. The characters are believable, and the plot is strong. I can truthfully say I enjoyed it and that Lynn Austin knows how to write.

The only flaw that I saw in this story was something that I see in many Christian fiction books set during the Civil War: Why is it that all these Chrstian authors, if they want to make such a point agains the evils of slavery during that time, choose to tell their story from a Southern perspective? It is slightly annoying that Caroline Fletcher is not an authentic Southerner; why couldn't Lynn Austin just tell her story from a Northern perspective if she wanted a strongly anti-slavery character? I can understand the point she tried to make, but the more I study the Civil War, the more I wish that I could have enjoyed Caroline as the Southerner she should have been. It was practically traitorous that she betrayed her family and could've caused her fiance's death. I am most definitely NOT saying that I would have prefered a character like Scarlett O'Hara, but still, this was the one weak spot in the book.

Still, this book is great for anyone interested in the Civil War. Mildly recommended.

I learned a lot about my self and those around me..........2004-12-02

I really enjoy Christian fiction books and I always have a hard time choosing the right one. For some reason this book really stood out at the book store and I bought it without realizing what the book was fully about. It is such a strong book about going after what you truly believe in and standing up for what is right! After I finished it I wanted to read more and more about Caroline and I also found myself researching more about the Civil War. It is a hard book to put down! One of my good friends borrowed it & fell in love with it immediately! :0)

Average customer rating:

How can this be out of print???
AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL BOOK!!
Interesting and Delightful short read
An obvious ploy
I thought it was cool!

Charley Skedaddle
Patricia Beatty
Manufacturer: Troll Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical Fiction | History & Historical Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0816713170

Book Description

Charley is a member of one of the toughest gangs in New York City. When his older brother is killed at Gettysburg, Charley vows revenge against the Confederates. So he joins the Union Army as a drummer boy.

Charley thinks war will be glamorous and exciting. But then he sees two of his friends gunned down mercilessly. When Charley shoots a Confederate soldier in self-defense, he knows he can't take any more killing. He "skedaddles" away from the battle, convinced he's a coward. Hiding in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charley encounters the ultimate test of courage. Can Charley prove his mettle once and for all -- and restore his shattered self-image?

Customer Reviews:

How can this be out of print???.......2006-07-28

My family listened to this book on tape and it was wonderful! The story is touching and funny. It describes different American cultures at the time of the Civil War and the Battle of the Wilderness. I highly recommend this coming-of-age tale about the relationship between a boy who goes AWOL from the Union Army and the old southern woman who hides him.

AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL BOOK!!.......2006-07-18

Wow, this book was GREAT! We read it in class and then i checked it out at library to finish the part we left off and then I started reading it from the beggining and before I knew it I had read the whole book again! I mad my 52 year-old mom read it and she loved it, too! We will defenetly look for another book with same author! Im buying this book through Amazon.

Interesting and Delightful short read.......2006-05-23

I really enjoyed this book. I felt for Charley and his struggles. I couldn't imagine how hard it would be for a boy in a war, I think that it is hard enough for grown men to fight in a war. This book brought up many questions for me and I was drawn into this touching story. The characters interactions in the story are believable and I really enjoyed the development of Charley and Granny.
I appreciate the reviews, often times I want to know more about a book and there isn't any reviews. So for anyone complaining about a teacher assigning students to review a book, please realize that those reviews gave information about the book and it was helpful to other people. I am so sorry that you didn't appreciate a realistic assignment for those students. It is so much better and realistic to share a book review with anyone willing to read than with 25-35 other students that just read the book!

An obvious ploy.......2005-10-06

All these 6th graders' reviews are nice but it is NOT NORMAL for a whole bunch of kids the same age from the same place to suddenly start writing reviews about a book which they MAY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO READ and I don't appreciate this sort of review. Now I just had to order this book because my 5th grade daughter has to read it for school, and wanted to read the reviews.I wish teachers would not try cute new ideas like making their students write reviews for Amazon! ugh.

I thought it was cool!.......2005-05-03

I had to read this bk for a book repot and at first I was bumbep but as I started Reading I was worped into the book! This is a great book for all ages.

Gardner's Photographic Sketchbook of the American Civil War 1861-1865

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Great photographs of classic Gardner stock!
Stories, Places, Connections, and New Understandings!

Gardner's Photographic Sketchbook of the American Civil War 1861-1865
Alexander Gardner
Manufacturer: Delano Greenridge Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0929445104

Book Description

GARDNER'S PHOTOGRAPHIC SKETCHBOOK OF THE CIVIL WAR

This is the most important book published at the end of the Civil War. Published in 1866, the original edition contained 100 original photographs each accompanied by text from the editor Alexander Gardner in two large format volumes.

Now, Delano Greenidge Editions has republished the book in a single volume with high quality reproductions of the photographs with the original text.

This book is a compilation of photographs and text made during the Civil War: Appomattox; Antietam; Army of Northern Virginia; Army of the Potomac; Arsenal at Richmond; General Augur; General Beauregard; Belle Isle; General Breckenridge; John Brown; Bull Run; General Butler; Centreville, Virginia; Colored Brigade; President Jefferson Davis; Fifth Corps (Army of the Potomac; Fort Fisher, North Carolina; First Masschusetts Light Battery; General Ulysses S. Grant; Guerrillas; General Hancock; Harper's Ferry; General Hooker; President Abraham Lincoln; General Robert E. Lee; Mortar Dictator; Manassas Junction; Ninth Army Corps; Norfolk Navy Yard; General Reynolds; Orange and Alexandria Railroad; Pamunkey River, Virginia; Pontoon bridges; Quaker guns; Richmond, Virginia; Redoubts, lunettes, and rifle-pits; General Stonewall Jackson; Slave pens; Sanitary Commission; Telegraph; Veteran Bermaont Brigade; Zoaves.

Customer Reviews:

Great photographs of classic Gardner stock!.......2002-12-28

This is a beautifully done book of great photographs. As much as I liked the quality, I would have to tone down my excitement by the content. The pictures shown in this book are of general concern popular of telling the Civil War in a basic, simple format. The photograph qualities are much better than I have saw in other books although I have seen a majority of them. This book offers nothing new in the line of Gardner's work and is basically a 'greatest hits' of his work that followed the eastern theatre from the Union perpective. Unfortunately Gardner never took pictures of dead Union soldiers or captured Union losses that much. Gardner had a knack for enhancing pictures by using props such as moving a dead body to different locations or using weapons, canteens, etc. to be placed in the photograph. By today's standards it is hard to imagine doctored photographs in a war-like setting but that was a part of Gardner's work.

His work is a very vital element to telling the hidden, horrid truths of the Civil War although this book offers very little in providing pictures not typically shown. I would have loved to see different work instead of these classic photos commonly used in history books. The book is of great quality and each photograph offers an explanation of the reasons the photo was taken or done. I recommend the book to people who really do not have an understanding of Civil War photography or common knowledge of the war itself. For the veteran enthusiast, it may seem very redundant and a perfect coffee table book. I can't recommend it to the advanced historian as this book may bore you after the initial curiosity fades.

Stories, Places, Connections, and New Understandings!.......2001-12-12

If you have a Civil War buff in your family who favors the Union side, this book is a wonderful choice for a gift.

I have read extensively about the Civil War for over 40 years. Many parts of the war that occurred between the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia have always been confusing to me. Words just cannot fully capture for me the topography, the practices, and the grimness of the confrontations.

As someone who loves books of fine photography, Mr. Gardner's images immediately drew my attention. Although done over 135 years ago, they are masterpieces of the photographic art. What a nice surprise it was to find that each image came with a mini-essay that explained the significance of the place, explained more about the details of what was portrayed, and extended the observations to other situations and circumstances in the Civil War. As much as I liked the photographs, I found the mini-essays even better. The combination was incomparable!

One of the great challenges in this geographic area (northern Virginia, southern Maryland, and southern Pennsylvania) was brought by the many rivers that had to be crossed. Mr. Gardner did a fine job of showing what the bridges and fords looked like in normal times, what the same crossings looked like without their normal structures in place, and how engineers used pontoon boats, pontoon bridges, and built temporary structures to fill in for exploded gaps. A lot of the infrastructure of war is captured, from barricades and cannons to sniping positions to wagon camps. There are even examples of "Quaker guns" which were not really guns at all, but simulated guns to keep the enemy away from positions where no troops could be spared to defend them.

Although almost all of the images are of peaceful activities to support the battlefields, the images that show dead soldiers become all the more powerful in the context of the normalcy. You will never forget the photographs from Gettysburg. They could be an advertisement for opposing war.

For modern viewers, the casualness with which the images mix African-Americans and Caucasians on the Union side belies the racism that partially led to the war itself.

Mr. Gardner was the official photographer of the Army of the Potomac during most of the Civil War. He had come to the United States from Scotland at the invitation of famed Civil War photographer, Mr. Matthew Brady, in 1855 but left Mr. Brady's employ when Mr. Brady denied Mr. Gardner publication credit for his work. The very difficult photographic conditions are well described in the book, which will make you appreciate the accomplished results all the more.

A version of this book was originally published in 1866. The current edition has digitally reproduced the images in a smaller size than the original. That is a shame because in many cases Mr. Gardner has captured sweeping panoramas and depth of field that would reward being seen in larger size. However, the details are not obscured in most cases. The details simply seem too small. Naturally, the purchaser gets a benefit from this because it means that the book is less costly than it would otherwise have been. My judgment is that publishers should use the size that the photographer intended the images to be published in. I graded the book down one star for this flaw.

Where would people in the future benefit from photographs and detailed notes about you and your family . . . and you and your work? When can you start preparing the photographs and notes?

Product Description

Shock Troops of the Confederacy is a comprehensive history of the elite troops of the Confederacy, as well as an essential reference for historians, enthusiasts, and reenactors. Although little has been written about them, the sharpshooters of the Army of Northern Virginia played an important and sometimes pivotal role in many battles and campaigns in 1864 and 1865. Confederate general Robert Rodes organized the first battalion of sharpshooters in his brigade in early 1863, and later in each brigade of his division. In early 1864 General Lee adopted the concept for the entire Army of Northern Virginia, mandating that each infantry brigade field a sharpshooter battalion. These units found ready employment in the Overland campaign, and later in the trenches of Petersburg and in the fast-moving Shenandoah campaign of 1864. The term sharpshooter had a more general meaning in the mid-19th Century than it does today. Then it could mean either a roving precision shooter like the modern sniper (a term that did not come into use until late in the century) or a light infantryman who specialized in the petite guerre: scouting, picketing, and skirmishing. The book covers the history of the Confederate sharpshooters; the development of light infantry from 1700-1918; and the human story of the sharpshooters themselves -- in battle, on the skirmish line, and at their lonely picket posts.

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2007-02-07

CAN'T WAIT to use the information from the book to actually trace JEB's steps.

Fills a Void.......2007-01-05

In this thought provoking book, the author starts out with a brief history of light troops followed by the history of the skirmishers of the Army of North Virginia. Although the Union side began the war with more and better light troops, they allowed them atrophy while the Confederates who faced them, learned from them. Innovation in the ANV tended to originate in Ewell's old division, commanded by Rodes. When the war began, the standard system was for each regiment to have one or two light companies sent forward as skirmishers. This had flaws. It was difficult to coordinate between all the companies, with Rodes' bad experience at South Mountain clearly showing the potential result. Soon, he formed for his brigade a special sharpshooter battalion to cover the front, and by the beginning of 1864 this was standard in every brigade in Lee's army. Because Lee's army was decentralized, innovation of this sort was encouraged and could spread. To enter a sharpshooter battalion, high standards of bravery and marksmanship had to be met so that the units did not become a collection of misfits. The men fought as light infantry, not as snipers in the modern sense, and used the best weapons available, including captured repeating rifles. The psychological effect on enemy infantry could be great, knowing that someone who was aimed at would likely be hit. The author's battle descriptions are quite useful. He shows how at Gettysburg Iverson's sharpshooter battalion got diverted into the low ground to face the Union XI Corps, which was threatening the division's flank, but with Iverson's brigade not protected properly, disaster resulted. At North Anna Confederate sharpshooters successfully screened the entrenchments, hiding them from view and allowing the Union army to unknowingly enter a trap. Most of the book covers the Overland Campaign and the '64 Valley and Petersburg campaigns, by which time new assault tactics were being developed to capture enemy pickets or assault earthworks. This, the author argues, shows a link to later infantry tactics developed by the German stormtroopers in World War I.. Unlike many other Civil War historians, the author is broad minded in looking at the broader tactical context - looking to events abroad both before and after the Civil War. The Franco-Prussian War, however, is given little attention. The author's interpretation of the use of Prussian columns differs with Nosworthy's, who believes that skirmishers were the main effort, with the company columns merely supporting them. So the author may over-emphasize the Boer War as a result. This is a minor flaw only; the book gives a good discussion of weapons and their accuracy and flaws as well as a good treatment of range estimation training. The book fills a void and should be a treasured volume to anyone interested in Civil War tactics.

A thoroughly researched addition to established history of the Army of Northern Virginia........2006-11-17

Fred Ray has seized upon a little known aspect of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and through extensive research has, incredible for 2006, developed his research to add a new wrinkle to its accepted history. My own research centers on only one of these battalions and my scope is therefore somewhat narrower, but I know that these sharpshooter units existed and that they were in reality utilized to their fullest. I would therefore probably be considered a pretty tough critic. Fred has independently discovered many of my own more focused sources and added many more to satisfy his premise.
His in-depth narrative incorporates proof ranging from mere mentions to laudatory thanks for the actions of the sharpshooter battalions in virtually every action from summer of 1862 through the end. Although the narrative is obviously meant to demonstrate the value of the sharpshooter battalions to the army, it presents a well-written, accurate military chronology of the war. His endnotes are rigidly supportive of the narrative and his maps are excellent and precise, again always supported by endnotes.
Fred Ray goes further than just the ANV, exploring weapons, opponents' sharpshooter organizations and similar tactics in the western Confederate Army of Tennessee.
I would highly recommend this book to any serious student of Confederate military actions during the War Between the States, particularly those who want to understand everything about the Army of Northern Virginia.

Excellent work.......2006-11-01

In his book, Shock Troops of the Confederacy, Fred Ray covers a little known aspect of the Civil War. Napoleanic warfare was still the primary means of conducting battle during the American Civl War however, the sharpshooter units on both sides did remarkable work. These men received little mention but by all accounts were deadly adversaries and prized by their commanders. They were also the predecessors to the modern day snipers, currently at the forefront of the war on terror. The tactics and method of warfare used in Civil War skirmishes by the sharpshooter units are still applicable in the modern military.

Mr. Ray's work is an excellent reference for modern day students of the art of sniping, whether law enforcement or military.

Brian K. Sain
AmericanSnipers.org

The other side of the coin.......2006-07-30

For years, the work of the sharpshooters of the Army of the Confederacy has been largely ignored in favour of the more glamorous Berdan's Sharpshooters of the Federal army. They have been the subject of several books and countless articles but finally Fred Ray's book has redressed the balance. Because of their infantry organisation and lack of post-war records, the southern regiments of sharpshooters have been difficult and in some cases near impossible to document. Shock Troops has managed to provide a balanced and very well researched account of their use, organisation and training from 1861-1865. Much of the text uses first-hand accounts from hitherto little known accounts and it is a credit to Fred Ray that he has managed to gather so much material from such a paucity of sources. For anyone who wants to know more about the Confederate use of sharpshooters and the tools of their trade, this book could not come more highly reccommended.
Martin Pegler
Author of Out Of Nowhere, A History of Military Sniping.

Average customer rating:

NOT about the real American Civil War
Wonderful history lesson of the Civil War
Superb!
Exciting and engaging, I couldn't put it down.

With Lee in Virginia
G A Henty
Manufacturer: Lost Classics Book Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0965273555

Book Description

Vincent Wingfield returns home to Virginia after four years in England to find conditions unsettled. War breaks out and Vincent goes to fight for the South. Henty's gripping story weaves Vincent's fictional adventures with the real life events of the Civil War, giving a rare glimpse of this struggle from a Southern perspective. This book teached histrory as it entertains and celebrates family loyalty, honor, bravery and determination.

Download Description

Sometimes Ashley would draw together a score of troopers, and crossing the river in a ferryboat, would ride twenty miles north, and, dashing into quiet villages, astonish the inhabitants by the sight of the Confederate uniform. Then the villagers would be questioned as to the news that had reached them of the movement of the troops; the post office would be seized and the letters broken open; any useful -information contained in them being noted.

Customer Reviews:

NOT about the real American Civil War.......2006-11-21

This book was not exciting, nor is it realistic of antebellum life in Virginia. From the title, you would think that the book would be about the War Between the States and about Robert E. Lee. It is neither. It is what an Englishman thinks it might have been like to be in the South before the war begins, but he doesn't know. The research, if there was any research, was not done well. Because most of the book takes place away from any battles, it is a very tedious, boring, and painful book to read. There are much better books to describe life as it was in the war, such as Across Five Aprils or The Red Badge of Courage. If you want good books from a Southern perspective, I recommend Iron Scouts of the Confederacy (for historical fiction) or The History of the Confederate States. I asked my kids to read this book for history, and when they complained, I read it myself. I'm sorry that I ever put them through this, and I will check more carefully the next time I think about asking them to read a book by G.A. Henty.

Wonderful history lesson of the Civil War.......2001-03-27

An extra bonus in this Henty book is that it includes both the English preface and the American one, which Henty wrote to the `lads' who would read this book. In With Lee in Virginia Vincent Wingfield is the main character, one who lives on a plantation run by slaves, but who is strongly against being cruel to slaves. When he clashes with the overseer over Pearson having whipped a slave, Vincent never imagines it will cause such trouble. Soon, though, Vincent gets involved in the fate of the slave he saved, Tony. Will Vincent be able to help the man escape from the wicked Jackson? What about Tony's wife, who Jackson is selling for revenge? This book draws you right in plantation life in the 18hundreds, you will feel happy with the knowledge that `your' slaves are safe, and will never even consider that you are doing wrong by keeping slaves. Vincent enlists as a volunteer after Virginia secedes and accomplishes many deeds of bravery. This is just another in a long line of thrilling books writing by George Alfred Henty, don't miss reading a single one!!!

Superb!.......2000-04-18

This book is definitely one of Mr. Henty's masterpieces. It gives a clear view of the South's situation and why the Civil War was fought. I highly enjoyed this book, both for its content and the way history is mingled with a gripping plot. I can't tell you too much because I might spoil it, but it is about a young Southern man who joins the Confederate army and distinguises himself through his many adventures.

Exciting and engaging, I couldn't put it down........1998-12-03

I really loved this book written from a rare Confederate view point. The author beautifully portrayed virtues such as honor and courage in the young hero, Vincent. They say these books are written for teenage boys, but I'm a twelve year old girl and I couldn't put down the book for three days. It is probably won of the most exciting books I've ever read.

The Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide

Average customer rating:

Great addition and amplification of ACW battlefield guides.
Much more than a travel guide

The Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide
John S. Salmon
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Tourist Destinations & Museums | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0811728684

Customer Reviews:

Great addition and amplification of ACW battlefield guides........2006-08-30

If you are familiar with either or both of the two editions of the excellent "Civil War Battlefield Guide", then you should add "The Official Virginia Civil War Guide" to your collection. This book has the advantage than in focusing on about 1/3rd as much of the war, it can do so in far greater depth.

Many small conflicts that don't receive more than a mention in the other guides are prominently and competently presented here. This makes the work a handy reference tool and an interesting read in its own right.

The layout is an improvement over the previously mentioned guides in several ways. Not only is there increased depth, but tactical maps are included for every event covered--rather than just the major ones. In addition, simple campaign maps are also included (something missing in many battle monographs even.) One weakness is that the tactical maps are not overlaid onto topographical maps, so in cases where the guides both have maps the general work is preferable in most instances.

The information on visitor centers, directions, and interesting background is very helpful as well. Also of note, the introduction states that all royalties from the book will go towards preservation efforts in Virginia.

One can only hope that similar works will be produced for other regions. This guide sets a fine standard for others to follow.

Much more than a travel guide.......2004-07-16

This is one of the most useful guides I've ever read. Virginia was host to nearly 1/3rd of all Civil War engagements, and this guide covers them all like a mini-history of the war. Unlike travel books that are organized geographically, this guide organizes them chronologically. Each campaign is prefaced by a detailed overview, followed by concise (from 1 to 4 pages, depending on the battle's importance) but engrossing descriptions of the individual engagements. These descriptions make this a great book to browse through when you're not in the car. Most sites' summaries touch on their condition--whether they're threatened by development (as too many are) and whether they're in private hands or protected by the park service.

But the maps are where this book really stands out. Each battle features a very clear map designating army positions and historical roads, as well as historical markers (the author also wrote the /A Guidebook to Virginia's Historical Markers/), parking, and visitors' centers. Best of all, though, many battles are illustrated with paintings or photographs of the sites, and the point-of-view of these pictures is marked on each map!

Average customer rating:

Great book for fans

glorified yankees

THROUGH GRAY WOLFISH LIGHT, THE MINIE BALL FLIES

Another Interesting Addition to the Starbuck Chronicles

Entertaining historical fiction

Battle Flag (The Starbuck Chronicles, Book 3)
Bernard Cornwell
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Bloody Ground (The Starbuck Chronicles, Book 4)

Copperhead

Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles #1)

Redcoat Redcoat

The Winter King (The Arthur Books #1)

ASIN: 0060176342

Product Description

Distinguishing himself at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Confederate Captain Nate Starbuck sees his career jeopardized through the suspicion and hostility of his brigade commander, the grandiose General Washington Faulconer. Their simmering enmity flares to life at Dead Mary's Ford, where Nate Starbuck has to fight the enemy as well as his own commanding officer.

Customer Reviews:

Great book for fans.......2007-04-11

I must admit that the Starbuck series doesn't grab me quite the way that some of the other Cornwell books do, but they are still very good in their own right. Cornwell manages to create suspense and great battle scenes as usual. He also finds a few great historical details to give a real period flavor to his descriptions. The way that the fog of war and the shock of violence are portrayed are stock Cornwell and they still always hit home.

One of the uneven things about this series is that the character development is slightly uneven, on the other hand the characters are all interesting and have very realistic elements.
Highly recommended for Cornwell fans and Civil War buffs. Others will still enjoy it but for your first Cornwell book it might be better to start with something else.

glorified yankees.......2006-01-23

I only give one star to this book for its very dramatic, realistic, and wonderfully written battle scenes. In all four books of the Starbuck Chronicles, Cornwell offers these great scenes to the reader that cannot be found in any other Civil War Novel. In this alone do I wish that the Starbuck Chronicles continue (for the last book stops short of the battle of Fredricksburg ).
However, the plots, characters, and historical value are not to be desired by a serious reader of historical fiction. First of all in the battle scenes Starbuck, an officer is seen fighting among his men with a musket and without rank insignia on his collar. There is no proof that an officer would behave this way except in one or two instances when an officer would pick up a rifle on the field. I believe that Cornwell was trying to make the Starbuck and Confederate officer figure look more edgy and above military tradition and ritual. However, this is not from historical fact.
Also Cornwell does little to give the reader understanding of what Starbuck and indeed all the South is fighting for. The cause is always victory, victory, victory. For what though? For the northerners in the book, however he delicately outlines the cause of freeing the slave. In fact, in one scene, Starbuck asks his free black friend, Lucifer, why he wants to fight the "people who want to free him." However, this too is historically inaccurate. Not only was all the Starbuck Chronicles based before the Emancipation Proclamation was issued but also even after it was issued, the primary cause of the Union soldier was to keep the Southern states in the Union. Historical data reflects that very few Northerners favored the destruction of slavery. When the Civil War ended, 19 of 24 Northern states did not allow blacks to vote. Nowhere did they serve on juries before 1860. However, as wonderful as Cornwell wanted to paint the Northerners, he could now leave out the fact that General Pope of the Union army issued an order that would not hold Northern soldiers accountable for sacking and destroying Southern homes and raping their women. So to disguise this black moment in Northern history, Cornwell uses Billy Blythe, a native of the South wearing blue to do all this dirty work promoted by General Pope. It is sad that the only way for Cornwell to show Northern brutality against Southern citizens was to use a Southern man wearing the blue coat.
For all the good in these chronicles I am saddened that it stenches of the same politically correct and fairy tail lies that have ruined North and South and other wise good Civil War fiction.

THROUGH GRAY WOLFISH LIGHT, THE MINIE BALL FLIES.......2005-05-05

There's a scene toward the end which brilliantly captures the brutal necessarily of following an order, and the unfortunate circumstances for failing to act. Such is the amazingly realistic world of battle that Bernard Cornwell creates time and time again. This outing is by far my favorite & sets the stage perfectly for the epic battle of Antietam - the only complaint is that the war continues after book 4, but the series doesn't. As a Civil War reenactor (PA23rd - Birney's Zouaves!) I can't recommend this series enough for accuracy and detail! Enjoy

Another Interesting Addition to the Starbuck Chronicles.......2005-03-17

Battle Flag is the third installment of Cornwell's Starbuck Chronicles. This book covers a battle that always springs up in Civil War history but is often overlooked, Second Manasas. I found this story interesting and fun to read, but if anyone has read Sharpe before there are many similarities to it. Stupid commanding officers to concerned with their authority, evil soldiers who believe war is an excuse to rape, pillage and plunder. Starbuck is the commander of the Legion, but his authority is tenuous. The battle itself is well written and I enjoyed it. I found the introduction of Starbuck's father intriguing considering in many ways he is the catalyst in the series. Once again I don;t really care for the Adam Falcouner story, although at least he is showing more guts instead of the previous books. One issue I had with this story is that Cornwell does seem to be unfair to Longstreet. Longstreet was held up before Manassas by Union cavalry under Buford, the same man who would later hold the high ground at Gettysburg. Most historians concur that the exact moment that Longstreet struck the Union flank was the most crucial moment to attack so I believe that Cornwell gives him a bit of a short shaft.

Entertaining historical fiction.......2004-12-23

The 3rd installment of the Starbuck Chronicles continues to follow the experiences of Nathaniel Starbuck and in my opinion is an entertaining read.

I love to read fictional history and I love to read Bernard Cornwell. His stories contain excellent battle descriptions and loveable (and dislikeable) characters.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, I wholeheartedly recommend most-anything by Cornwell. Battle Flag probably could have been better, but it kept my attention, it entertained me, and even taught me.

Commanding the Army of the Potomac (Modern War Studies)

Average customer rating:

Travails of a politicized army
Winning ugly is still winning.
A different angle on a familiar narrative...
Needed History

Commanding the Army of the Potomac (Modern War Studies)
Stephen R. Taaffe
Manufacturer: University Press of Kansas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0700614516

Book Description

During the Civil War, thirty-six officers in the Army of the Potomac were assigned corps commands of up to 30,000 men. Collectively charged with leading the Union's most significant field army, these leaders proved their courage in countless battlefields from Gettysburg to Antietam to Cold Harbor. Unfortunately, courage alone was not enough. Their often dismal performances played a major role in producing this army's tragic record, one that included more defeats than victories despite its numerical and materiel superiority.

Stephen Taaffe takes a close look at this command cadre, examining who was appointed to these positions, why they were appointed, and why so many of them ultimately failed to fulfill their responsibilities. He demonstrates that ambitious officers such as Gouverneur Warren, John Reynolds, and Winfield Scott Hancock employed all the weapons at their disposal, from personal connections to exaggerated accounts of prowess in combat, to claw their way into these important posts.

Once there, however, as Taaffe reveals, many of these officers failed to navigate the tricky and ever-changing political currents that swirled around the Army of the Potomac. As a result, only three of them managed to retain their commands for more than a year, and their machinations caused considerable turmoil in the army's high command structure. Taaffe also shows that their ability or inability to get along with generals such as George McClellan, Ambrose Burnside, Joseph Hooker, George Meade, and Ulysses Grant played a big role in their professional destinies.

In analyzing the Army of the Potomac's corps commanders as a group, Taaffe provides a new way of detailing this army's chronic difficulties-one that, until now, has been largely neglected in the literature of the Civil War.

This book is part of the Modern War Studies series.

Customer Reviews:

Travails of a politicized army.......2007-03-02

"Running a war seems to consist in making plans and then ensuring that all those destined to carry it out don't quarrel with each other instead of the enemy." - Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1941-46)

Though Lord Alanbrooke's observation specifically concerned relations between the Western Allies fighting Germany in WWII, it could just as validly apply to the infighting that plagued the Army of the Potomac (AoP) otherwise battling for the Union in the eastern theater of the American Civil War. Before fulfilling its mission by defeating Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia in April, 1865, the AoP lost more confrontations than it won and sustained more casualties than it inflicted. No wonder, after the Battle of Cold Harbor, that the general commanding all Union armies, Ulysses Grant, asked, perhaps rhetorically, division commander Brigadier General James Wilson:

"Wilson, what is the matter with this army?"

Wilson's answer reportedly implicated a flawed organizational structure, defective communications, a confused chain of command, and an inferiority complex among the officers relative to Bobbie Lee. In any case, Stephen Taaffe's COMMANDING THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC is an engrossing and fascinating examination of the AoP's command structure, from McClellans's assumption of overall command in July 1861 to April 1865, as exemplified by those generals that held either corps and/or army command. Against a background of the AoP's major engagements, which are each summarized very briefly, Taaffe describes each general's ascent to power, whether it was through political connections, opportunism, merit, or ideological agreement with the current Army Commander - categories which, in some cases, overlapped. Conversely, the author also explains why each lost his position: killed or seriously wounded in battle, promotion, battlefield fatigue, alienation of superiors and/or bickering with peers, or quitting out of simple disgust. Indeed, only three of the AoP's thirty-six corps commanders lasted for more than a year.

The book includes a section of generals' formal photo portraits, which includes those of McDowell, Sumner, Heintzelman, Keyes, Burnside, Hooker, Meade, Porter, Franklin, Smith, Warren, Butterfield, Sickles, Birney, Pleasonton, Howard, Couch, Sedgwick, Slocum, Stoneman, Gibbon, Hancock, Humphreys, and Wright. Oddly, because I can't imagine that such don't exist, there are no photos of Wilcox, Williams, Sheridan, Sikes, Newton, Reynolds, French, Mansfield, Reno, Griffin, Cox, Hays, Pope, or Parke. Because of these omissions, I'm knocking off a star simply for the resultant lack of completeness to an otherwise excellent volume. The characters of the generals herein described comprise the core of the narrative, and this reader wanted to look them in the eye, so to speak.

As a bonus, or perhaps a distraction, the command structure of General Butler's Army of the James is also included from the time of the AoP's siege of Petersburg when the former force moved into close contact with the latter.

I heartily recommend COMMANDING THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC to any serious or casual student of the Civil War since it examines the dysfunctional AoP from a perspective different from the norm. Taaffe's main conclusion seems to be that the Army of the Potomac suffered from having to operate in such close proximity to the seat of Federal political power and authority in Washington, D.C., a handicap not borne by the more successful western armies, e.g. the consistently victorious Army of the Tennessee.

Winning ugly is still winning........2006-12-11

I liked this book by Taaffe. As the other reviewers have said, this is not original material. But heck, this is a 150 year old war. Taaffe thesis is that with all the manpower, materials, and numerical superiority, why did the Army of the Potamac take four years to destroy the Army of Northern Virginia. The issue was poor leadership. Taaffe looks at the army leaders, as well as the Corps commanders, and details their leadership pattern. Their early experience was awful. They wasted lives with poor strategy. The political generals were far worse. Yet they were needed too. Poltical interference clouded the judgement of some decisions. With time, the Army of the Potamac became more professional and competently led. That is when they started winning. An ugly win is still a win, and the Army of the Potamac beat Lee's Army.

This is a nice read for those interested in the Civil War. The book is divided into the chapters on each General commanding the Army of the Potomac.

A different angle on a familiar narrative..........2006-03-28

Taaffe has not exactly broken a great deal of new scholarly ground with this book. However he has taken a well worn narrative path and made it seem new to me. Taaffe's analysis of the much analyzed command problems of the Army of the Potomac gives readers a new insight into the role of the Corps commanders in the intra-Army politics and tactical and strategic decision making process for the Army. Taaffe also shows their impact the political establishment in Washington and its continual search for a commander of the "Sword and Shield of Washington."
As expected McClellan gets his share of blame and also praise for the officers that were nurtured along during his tenure. Indeed many of them did not blossom at Divisional or Corps command until he was two years removed from the AoP.
And it is also not surprising that Grant's decision to accompany the Army helps its generals fight the bloody battles of 1864 and 1865 by providing a political buffer between the political leadership in Washington and the field army.
The narrative is crisp and well written and made this book an enjoyable read. While not the newest material under the sun, it certainly is a needed synthesis of the volumes of biographical and historical information about the leaders of the AoP.

Needed History.......2006-03-12

This is a history not of a war or of an army but of a group of men that commanded an army and in doing so determined the course of a war. The 36 men who commanded a corps in the Army of the Potomac were a diverse lot who reached the summit of the most important Union army in the Civil War. Many people find it almost impossible to understand the hows and whys of their promotion to corps command or the impact these men had on the battles they fought. Mr. Taaffe simplifies a very complex subject while not shorting changing his readers. The book is organized not by people or by campaigns but by phases. Each phase, is a major step in the development of not the army but the group of men that commanded its' corps. This logical division helps the reader move through a very complex developing process with an immediate understanding of the overall process. The second contribution to the reader's understanding of the subject is the assignment of these men into the competing groups that fought for political control. The groupings are constant through the changing phases of the war and the shifts in power and prestige of a group make an interesting sub story.

As the war enters each phase and changing power of the groups, produces the current crop of candidates for promotion. This interaction and the resulting corps commanders are presented in a logical manner that might be Monday QB but is impressive and very understandable. Each man is given a short afterward, keeping them flesh and blood not just a blue suit with stars. I'm very fond of a short afterward and the author delivers a concise summary.

The strongest points of the book are the interaction of the commanders, the jockeying for command and the relief of General Warren. Each is well handled with the reasons for and effect on the army fully presented. This is a short book but packed with information and very readable. I think it is an important book that needs to be read by anyone wishing to understand the East.

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