American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

So, I've been through a plethora of Civil War titles, but I'm in the mood for something new and different. I like reading about the Western Campaign in general because I feel it gets much less attention than the East. Does anyone have anything off the top of their heads they've recently read about the West and have enjoyed? Thanks!!

Decision in the West. A very fine study of the Atlanta Campaign!

Where the South Lost the War. A look at the overall consequences of the failure of the Confederacy to hold forts Henry and Donelson in 1861 - 1862.

Both are great reads and available on Amazon.

(you know we mention Amazon enough to where they should pay us a cut of their profits for endorsing them)

Really, they should Hahaha .....Thank you Mr. President!

Grant Moves South and Grant Takes Command, both by Bruce Catton. Excellent reads.

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Lt. Gen. Don Centers
6/1/V/AotP

You could start with the series by Peter Cozzens that follows the Western Theater. I believe first one is on Corinth/Iuka.

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General Mark Nelms

3/2/XX/AoC "Blackhawk Brigade"

Union Military Academy Instructor

Peter Cozzins' "The Shipwreck of Their Hopes" about the Chattanooga campaign is excellent. He does a good job getting the reader into the middle of the battles. I recomend anything from him.

Thanks for the christmas gift idea for myself

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Brigadier General Kevin Koch
2/2/VI
AotS

Decision in the West is fantastic. I recently read Cozzen's book on Chickamagua and found it to be the most detailed, regiment level account I have ever read.

Nelms is correct. Peter Cozzens is a wonderful author and his series of books such as Corinth, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and Chattanooga are great. Does he have any others on the Western Theater I am missing or that have been released lately?

I wonder if he has any of his titles (Cozzens) on Amazon's Kindle? Anyone know?

They have "The Darkest Days of the War: The Battles of Iuka and Corith" plus his new one on the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862.

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General Mark Nelms

3/2/XX/AoC "Blackhawk Brigade"

Union Military Academy Instructor

Cozzens' "This Terrible Sound" is an excellent book on Chickamauga and a fine example of how historical writters should write battle histories. He does an excellent job of both descrbing and attaching useful maps of the action. Many writters give excellent descriptions of the movements and actions but then drop the ball by not giving you a map that allows you to orient yourself with what is going on and why it is important. I have found it very fustrating to read well written books describing how some regiment marched through this field turned right at that farm house and crossed some fence to deliver their attack without ever giving you a hint as to where those locations were and if they were even on the battlefield.

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General Kennon Whitehead
Chatham Grays
AoT II/1/3 (CSA)

Thanks guys just downloaded his new one on the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862. and will look into "This Terrible Sound." as well


Happy Turkey Day Everybody Blue and Butternuts alike

God Bless all of you!!

I'll be at the Firehouse until tomorrow morning!!

Hi,

If you are interested in reading about the war in the west, I would recommend Vicksburg 1863 by Winston Groom. Groom is the guy who wrote "Forrest Gump". It has some minor errors, but does about as good a job as I have seen of making sense of the first two years of the war on the Mississippi front.

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MG Mike Mihalik
Forrest's Cavalry Corps
AoWest/CSA

Ken, you can be on the battlefield of Chickamauga and still be confused as to what happened there! The maps are great to have. I used to live nearby there and it took me about 10 visits to finally feel like I could hike the battlefield without a map.