"Book Recommendations for the Civial War" Topic

Gentlemen,
All of the crazyness regarding the Confereate Battle flage has sparked an interest in the Civil War. Looking for book suggestions to learn more. The Gettysburgh Campaign I know the best, but would like to learn more. No next to nothing about the other theatres and campaigns. What are your suggestions?

No better place to die, stones river, great book, Nolan's the iron brigade. A new book re: valley campaign 1862 called " what fir it". 1862

IMHO, the best single volume history is
"Battle Cry of Freedom: The Era of the Civil War " by James M McPherson

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A good popular history with some interesting viewpoints is Shelby Foote's "The Civil War"

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Although you have asked for books I would also recommend watching the history The Civil War by Ken Burns This is a good way to start a Civil War study

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Gentlemen,
Thank you for the quick responses. I will start here. More ideas welcome. My knowledge of the war is just what learned in school (I know, I know…) and some additional reading every once in a while. Only books I have read is an old one from when a kid on the gettysburgh campiagn(you all know the series; they had art like maps of the battles showing the units as soldiers and explained the course of the battles) & a book on the 26th NC in the campaign. I really liked that one. Wish I could remember the titles.

Another vote for Battle Cry of Freedom, start with that.

Anything by Bruce Catton.

The Orphan Brigade by William C. Davis is an interesting read.

The Orphan brigade was formed in Kentucky as one of two opposing militia's in that state. They were commanded at one point by former VP Breckinridge and Benjamin Helm (killed at Chickamauga) who was Abraham Lincoln's brother in law.

My one criteria is to make sure any book on the ACW somehow distinguishes between sides (units and generals) in the text, e.g. with italics or something. My first attempted read of a general history died a quick death when I couldn't keep up with the Johnstons.

The orphan brigade was my dad's favorite CW book, may he rest in peace , G/3/7 marines 1953 Korea HC1st class.

I bet this thread goes on for a while

I hope so too.

"How the North won the Civil War" by Hattaway and Jones. It's an excellent military history with examinations of both strategic and operational decisions.

There are a couple of books by Stephen Sears that are good reads

Landscape Turned Red: The Battle of Antietam, Houghton Mifflin, 1983.

To the Gates of Richmond: The Peninsula Campaign, Ticknor & Fields, New York, New York, 1992.

Chancellorsville, Houghton Mifflin, 1996.

There is a great novel by Thomas Keneally called Confederates (1979) about a squad in the Stonewall Brigade that is a fantastic read

Anything by Sears, anything by Cozzens.

Wiley Sword too.

Any of Gordon Rhea's 4 book series on the Overland Campaign (Wilderness to Petersburg) that covers May-June 1864.

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I'm really liking Allen Guelzo's Gettysburg, the Last Invasion.

The two volume series on the Petersburg Campaign by Edwin Bearss and Bryce Suderow is another set I'd recommend.

What vtsaogames said.

I just finished Stephen Sears "Landscape Turned Red".
It was an excellent read with a good lead upto the battle and good maps.
I actually thought about starting a what if thread about Antietam?

If you want to know more about Antietam, you might want to read Harsh's Taken at the Flood.

Try the American Heritage book(s) on the Civil War to start. Go to the better books listed above after the basic information.

HIGH TIDE AT GETTYSBURG by glen tucker.

I've really enjoyed Bradley Gottfried's, et al, "The Maps of…" series of books. Lots of very nice, detailed, maps accompanied by a decent synopsis of the events depicted in the maps. There are books for Gettysburg, Antietam, Chickamauga, First Bull Run, the Wilderness, and Bristoe Station/Mine Run campaign.

There are a couple of books by Stephen Sears that are good reads

Landscape Turned Red: The Battle of Antietam, Houghton Mifflin, 1983.

To the Gates of Richmond: The Peninsula Campaign, Ticknor & Fields, New York, New York, 1992.

Chancellorsville, Houghton Mifflin, 1996.

I thought those were all great.

Looks like anything I would have suggested has been covered. Foote, Cozzens, Rhea, Sears, Catton, Battle Cry of Freedom.

Terrament wanted me to smuggle this out to you in a cake.

Fiction but accurate and a Pulitzer prise read:

The Killer Angels – Michael Sharra

JJ (in the DH)

I agree with him – it's a good read, and gives you insight into Longstreet's opinion, as it draws heavily from his (rather defensive) memoirs.

Thank goodness for the library.

"Army of the Heartland" and "Autumn of Glory" are good on the West.

I have to say Peter Cozzens works are among the most frequently read books in my collection, specifically; No better place to die (Stones River), This terrible sound (Chickamauga), The shipwreck of their hopes (Chattanooga) and the Darkest days of the war (Iuka and Corinth). Well written, full of information readily usable by wargamers, excellent!