Gunfreak  | 06 Jun 2015 11:19 a.m. PST |
I'm looking for a book that gives a good inlook in the whole of the western theater, preferaly with some desciptions of actual battles(like each major battle gets 20+ pages.) Would prefer it to continue with Shermans march eastward, but if it ends with before that it's ok to. |
| Extrabio1947 | 06 Jun 2015 2:02 p.m. PST |
Not sure what you are looking for, but check out Decision in the West by Albert Castle. It's pretty much the sourcebook for the Atlanta campaign. Also check out books by Peter Cozzens, Wiley Sword, and Larry Daniels. |
| Grelber | 06 Jun 2015 2:16 p.m. PST |
I thought about this, then went and looked at my own book collection, and I don't have any good suggestions. This raises the interesting question: why should that be? Setting aside the possibility that I'm a highly erratic collector (well, yeah), the Western Theatre is huge, some 2900 kilometers from Pittsburg in Pennsylvania out to Phoenix, Arizona to give you a rough idea. The Union armies pursued two main lines of advance, one through central Tennessee and on into Georgia, the other along the line of the Mississippi River. In addition, you have an "Other" section for Eastern Tennessee/Kentucky, the Texas coast, Kansas, Missouri, and what's now Oklahoma, the New Mexico campaign, and odd fights elsewhere, including Arizona. Maybe I'm just dense this afternoon, and somebody else will come up with some brilliant titles. If not, is there one particular area that strikes your fancy? Grelber |
 Extra Crispy  | 06 Jun 2015 3:10 p.m. PST |
Yeah this is a really big topic. That said I thought "Decision In the West" was excellent. The Army of Tennesee and The Army of the Heartland were also outstanding…. |
| 138SquadronRAF | 06 Jun 2015 3:16 p.m. PST |
Army of the Heartland
Autumn of Glory both by T.L. Connelly are probably your best bet. May not have quite the level you're looking for but there isn't really anything out there like what you're looking for. Little less detail on battles than 20 pages. |
| Ammianus | 07 Jun 2015 7:39 a.m. PST |
Here's my Army of Tennessee listing….. link |
| GoodOldRebel | 07 Jun 2015 4:43 p.m. PST |
What an excellent list Ammianus! I have many of them and have added the others to my wish list!! |
 enfant perdus | 07 Jun 2015 5:15 p.m. PST |
I recommend Cozzens to anyone interested in the Western Theater. Besides his well-known original trilogy, do not over overlook "The Darkest Days Of the War: The Battles of Iuka and Corinth" link I keep hoping someday he'll do a book on Shiloh. Cunningham is great, but Cozzens has a style I find second to none. I also recommend "Nothing but Victory: The Army of the Tennessee, 1861-1865". link |
| GoodOldRebel | 08 Jun 2015 4:57 a.m. PST |
I have 'The Darkest Days of the War', a masterful study and a must have on any acw students bookshelf! And I would second your request Mr Cozzens pens a book on Shiloh placed within its proper context of the fall of the Mississippi river valley. |
| Battle Cry Bill | 09 Jun 2015 1:53 p.m. PST |
In a single volume, you will be hard pressed to find what you are looking for. The suggestions above that cover whole armies are your best bet in 1 volume. Some new names to check out would be Earl Hess and Timothy B. Smith. Smith has a new Shiloh book and Hess is a detail guy, getting into weapons and entrenchment specifics. Bill |
