"Please can you recommend a decent "starter"" Topic

After much thought, I have decided that the American Civil War will be my new period. Of course I'll be using 6mm :)

What I'm looking for is a decent book that gives a general overview of the war with decent maps. To give you a good idea regarding what I know about the period – It was a war in America. There you go! (ok not quite that bad but not far off)

Is there an Osprey? Or something better that will suit my needs.

Cheers for you help folks…

Military or Social History?

Quick read or "Meat"?

Given that this was a war fought by a literate society, ther wre "just a few" books on the subject.

Have you asked a Librarian?

Military History really.. and a bit meaty..

A Librarian? nah those places are full of odd people..!

Just wondered if you folks thought any one particular book would be good for someone whose knowledge of the ACW was a bit limited.

I would recommend you start with Shelby Footes, 'The Civil War: a narrative' a 3 book set that covers the whole shebang.

The 4 volume Battles and Leaders is another good start.

One thing to remember is the scale of the US, another is the degree of development (or lack) at the time. Outside of a couple major cities (NY, Boston) the Army of the Potomac was the largest concentration of manpower.

"Echoes of Glory" is a nice three volume set with lots of nice color pictures. It is an easier read and more digestible than the two works mentioned above.

"Battle Cry of Freedom" by James McPherson is an excellent one volume history of the war.

Hello Phil,

From a wargamer's point of view you can't go wrong by getting your hands on the West Point Atlas of the Civil War AKA The West Point Atlas of American Wars. Be aware, however, that it comes in two versions.

The one below includes both the maps and their commentary:

link

The atlas has also been reprinted with more colourful maps, but in this edition the maps and commentary are in separate volumes.

link

link

The maps from this later edition are also online at:

link

I think the first version is better as it also includes material on the AWI and the war with Mexico, but the latter may be easier to find in the UK.

Ryan Toews

One of the best single volume history of the civil War, that I have read is "Battle Cry of Freedom" by James McPherson. Both Battles and Leaders and Shelby Footes the Civil War are excellent books, but they maybe a little too much detail, if you're starting out, and looking for a general overview of the subject.

Regards,

Rick

Shelby Foot is the way to go. It is available from Audible too so you can listen to it while you paint.

Herman Hattaway and Archer Jones "How the North Won The Civil War: A Military History"

I would also recommend Ken Burns' excellent documentary series simply titled "The Civil War." Worth the money to purchase.

The collected maps from the "Time-Life ACW Series" is my basic source of maps. Quality of maps lies between that of the West Point Atlas and Scott Mingus:

link

And individual titles from the series, going into more detail about a campaign, can still be found cheap. Great stuff for the layman- for example:

link

"The Civil War Source Book" by Philip Katcher.

link

Another vote for McPherson

Thanks guys… lots of stuff to look up :)

I appreciate the help.

Ignore books – go watch North & South with Patrick Swayze!

The Longest Night by Eicher is by far the best wargamer's overview.

link

At 50 cents, certainly won't break the bank!

mjc

Well you people – a guy asks for a decnet starter, like an Osprey perhaps, and two suggest Shelby Foote and one 'Battles and Leaders…'

"Hello, and welcome to my restaurant. Drinks? Ok. Now a Starter. May I suggest a whole camel, stuffed with 600 different fowl and small reptiles, served on a steel platter heaped with tropical fruit and couscous, with a fillet of whale on the side? No? Just an Onion Baji then…"

Pat

Dunno but the latest Wargames Illustrated (261) has a nice ACW 6mm article in it.

It also has a wonderful article on artillery were almost every sentance has a spellung or granma error of the 'edit with spellcheck' variety.

The first word of the article is 'Gettysbury' – I you not, and every gun was renowned for "it's power" or "it's tendency to burst at the beach"

If someone had posted it on here we would have laughed them to scorn. In the wonderful new High Production Value WI its a miracle the publishers didn't hang themselves in shame.

Pat

When I was a kid during the ACW Centennial, I got a book The American Heritage Pictoral History of the Civil War. I had the Junior version and the 2 volume, clothbound slipcased set. (I still have them.) They have maps in them that, while not completely accurate, give a real neat, wargaming type look to the battlefields. I more recently got a book about American Heritage Civil War maps which has many maps including those special ones that look like watercolor paintings of the battlefield with the soldiers painted in.

It was great when I was a kid and as an adult a long time now, I still enjoy looking at them.

Craig

It's not a history of the ACW but I found this book very useful as a wargamers guide:

link

When I was a kid during the ACW Centennial, I got a book The American Heritage Pictoral History of the Civil War. I had the Junior version and the 2 volume, clothbound slipcased set. (I still have them.)

I really liked the book as a kid. Great maps. Haven't seen it in a long time.