American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

Which book is considered the single best book on the Civil War? If a library could have only one book on this subject, which one should it have? Note to rebs: the number of pictures doesn't make it the best.

MG D. Groce
AoP
V Corps
2nd Division
"Into the breach"

McPherson's "Battly Cry of Freedom" would do the trick for me.

Gen. Walter, USA
<i>The Blue Blitz</i>
3/2/VIII AoS

West Point Class of '01

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="3" face="book antiqua" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by D.S. Walter</i>
<br />McPherson's "Battly Cry of Freedom" would do the trick for me.

Gen. Walter, USA
<i>The Blue Blitz</i>
3/2/VIII AoS

West Point Class of '01


<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Yup, that would be the one for me as well.[:D]

Lt. Gen. Ed Blackburn
I/I/VI/AoS

"Forward Bucktails"

I favor "This Hallowed Ground" by Bruce Catton. If you had not limited it to a single volume, probably Shelby Foote's trilogy, although Catton also wrote a couple of trilogies. I like Catton's style better than McPherson's.

MG Mike Mihalik
1/III/AoMiss/CSA

Civil War for Dummies...I forget the author...[:D]


General Jeff Laub
Union Chief of the Army
ACWGC Cabinet Member
http://www.geocities.com/laubster22/UnionHQ/

I read the Catton books back in the early 70's and they were excellent. One book, that looks at one day of the war, is "Gettysburg July 1" by David G. Martin. The most in-depth look at the meeting engagement that led to the most famous battle of the war in my opinion.

Jeff Mathes
Lieutenant
Sharpshooter Brigade
1st Division
III Corps, AoA

Shelby Foote's three volume narrative history: <u>The Civil War</u>.

Capt. Neal Carney
6/2/IX/AoO

Thanks to all, will be adding a couple to my amazon wish list for Santa to look at.

MG D. Groce
AoP
V Corps
2nd Division
"Into the breach"

Shelby Foote's trilogy would be mine, in this case. Very well written overall, with good outlines of the personalities involved.

Col P. Kenney
3rd Division
Cavalry Corps
Army of the Mississippi, CSA

Just read Freeman's "Lee's Lieutenants" in the single volume edition by Sears. An excellent read and my first choice. I would imagine that the scholars out there would prefer the original 3 volume work with its many annotations. but for us with tired eyes or pushed for time, the single volume is the way to go. Foote's trilogy was my introduction to CW and is my second pick.

Col. Drex Ringbloom,
1/3/VIII
Army of the Shenandoah

Will have to look for that one....am in need of new literature at the minute

Col P. Kenney
3rd Division
Cavalry Corps
Army of the Mississippi, CSA

David ,

I like James Longstreet's Manassas to Appomattox second would be Shelby Foote's triliogy

The local library is a excellent place to get CW books. They will order the book you are looking for if it isn't there. My local library has the 1st and 3rd Shelby Foote books. I read the 1st and just finished the 1,000+ pages 3rd volume, I think it is the longest book I have ever read! And darn worth the time also.
Someone I play against recommended "Autumn of Glory". I just ordered that last week, hopefully it will be in this week.
Great thread, thanks for sharing everyone.

Col. Seger
4/3/VIII, AoS

I cut my teeth on Bruce Catton in the 50's. His books are the standard I judge others by. If I had to choose one, it would be "Grant Takes Command".
Jim Gleason LG 4-2-I AoP

Shelby Foote's trilogy has too many errors and inaccuracies to be the single best, sorry. [:(]

Regards,

Lt. Gen. Alan Lynn
CSA Chief of Staff
3rd Bgde, 3rd Cav Div, II Corps, AoA

God Bless <><