"Favorite ACW Authors?" Topic

Just curious if others have favorite authors/writers for the ACW period? Bruce Catton has always been a favorite and early on I collected all of Edward J. Stackpole's books. Of more modern day writers I would say Stephen Sears has written several books that were enjoyable. I'm reading Peter Cozzens's book on Iuka and Corinth right now and have his other books on order. I've read Gordon Rhea's first book on the Overland Campaign and may make that my next series to collect and read. Earl Hess has quite a number of books but I'd be interested in other's thoughts on his work. There are bunches of other authors out there who have written 2+ American Civil War books. Who are your favorites?

Always enjoyed Wiley Sword and James McPherson

Gordon Rhea for me.

After Catton, Stephen Sears, McPherson.

I have enjoyed, and own, books by all the authors mentioned. In my opinion Earl Hess has done excellent work across a wide spectrum of military subjects. His detailed analysis of the battle around Atlanta is as good as it gets. He has covered logistics, field fortifications weapons and weapon systems. Nuts and bolts, sirs, nuts and bolts. Also wrote a book with his wife on my favorite movie musical, "Singing in the Rain". Lets see any other Civil War writer top that last one. H

All of the above, plus Harry Pfanz and Shelby Foote.

Robert O'Neill, Gordon Rhea, Bradley Gottfried, Robert Trout, Eric Wittenberg.

Tom

Sears.

Peter Cozzins.

McPherson and Catton are classics. I've enjoyed the recent work of Allan Guelzo

Stephen Sears

myself, of course

Shelby Foote, then Bruce Catton.

Larry J. Daniel, David Powell, Wiley Sword, Peter Cozzens, and Earl Hess

I have to add Thomas L. Connelly to this list. I read his Autumn of Glory: The Army of Tennessee, 1862-1865 in my first year of university and then hunted down his earlier written Army of the Heartland: The Army of Tennessee, 1861-1862. These two volumes got me interested in the Western Theater and Connelly's later book, co-authored with Archer Jones, The Politics of Command, Factions and Ideas in Confederate Strategy, only served to reinforce my lasting interest in the subject.

Catton. Powell, Rhea, Gottfried

James McPherson, Allen C. Guelzo, Shelby Foote and Bruce Catton.

Fletcher Pratt, Edwin Coddington, Kenneth P. Williams, A. L. Conger, U. S. Grant, W. T. Sherman, T. Harry Williams, Jack Coggins, Mark M. Boatner III, Douglas Southall Freeman, David A. Powell, and, of course, Bruce Catton -- in no particular order.

Henry Pfanz, David Powell, Tim Smith, Gordon Rhea, Gary Ecelbarger.

Bruce Catton, Stephen Sears, Gary Gallagher, James MacPherson, John Michael Priest, David Potter

Russ,

Buy the rest of Rhea's Overland Campaign series. You wont regret it!

Trajanus,

I just ordered the rest! lol

Thanks guys for the input! My "to buy" list has grown a lot!

Russ

Gary Ecelbarger wrote a masterful book on First Kernstown, entitled "We are in for it". The definitive work on the first major clash of Jackson's valley campaign.