Essential Reading/Viewing (Full Version)

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vonSchnitter -> Essential Reading/Viewing (12/9/2006 6:33:19 PM)

Salute Chaps !

I am an ACW "ignoramus". Since I am European, it may be excusable [sm=00000924.gif]
Blame it on the school curriculum across the big lake. We miss out on more than one essential issue ...

Since somebody on this board suggested S. Foote, Civil War, I ordered the thing and I managed the first 150 pages by now. I am very grateful to whoever suggested this. A great read.

Since I suppose there are more readers of this board than me in the same situation, both short of advice or hints and eager to learn, let me file my plead with the ACW pros to share your knowledge with underlings like me, with regard to:

Movies/DVDs
Internet Links
And books

Thank you !

Cheers




Great_Ajax -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/9/2006 7:02:21 PM)

I've been meaning to pick up "Battle Cry Freedom" which I hear is pretty good. Also, the DVD Collection on the Civil War by PBS is top notch. I have the entire Time-Life Civil War collection that I have had for ten years and still have not read. Too many books.

Trey




Jonathan Palfrey -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/9/2006 7:10:16 PM)

Grant's memoirs are on line here: http://www.bartleby.com/1011/

For a Confederate view, I recommend Edward Alexander Porter's Fighting for the Confederacy. His Military Memoirs of a Confederate is a cleaned-up version of the same text, but I think the original is more interesting for the general reader, as it has more anecdotes.

P.S. I'm another European.




Jonathan Palfrey -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/9/2006 7:12:04 PM)

Yes, I also have James M. McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom, which is good.




vonSchnitter -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/9/2006 8:06:07 PM)

Thx Gentlemen !

I am thankful for your responses. Before the powers that may be take charge, let me be allowed to be the "accountand" of this collection of knowledge - consolidating yours posts under headlines for easy access for others.

Section A: Internet
Heading 1:Top level internet sites for War Gamers:

The Wargamer: http://www.wargamer.com/Default.asp
A rather good and useful wargamer site these days. Even though a couple things start missing.
Very little in the articles of history or genuine content. Used to be different.

Heading 2: Top level War/History sites:

The War Times Journal: http://www.wtj.com/index_flash.htm
A very good site. Anything military from the early ages till present. Quite a lot of genuine content and a rather useful links section. Links are not maintained very well.


Heading 3: Contemporary reading on the web:

a) Top Level Commanders and Politicians
ULYSSES S. GRANT: PERSONAL MEMOIRS (in part); http://www.wtj.com/archives/grant/
complete: http://www.bartleby.com/1011/ (thx to Jonathan Palfrey)
JOHN BELL HOOD: ADVANCE AND RETREAT (in part); http://www.wtj.com/archives/hood/
James Longstreet: FROM MANASSAS TO APPOMATTOX (in part); http://www.wtj.com/archives/longstreet/
John B. Gordon: REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR (in part); http://www.wtj.com/archives/gordon/
Philip Henry Sheridan: PERSONAL MEMOIRES (complete - Project Gutenberg): http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/5854
Abraham Lincoln: Selection of writings (Collection - Project Gutenberg - links): http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/3253

b) Official Records

Official navy records of the American Civil War (in part): http://www.wtj.com/archives/acwnavies/

c) Personal recollections:

d) Theory of War - Practical Guides (of the time)

e) Other Contemporary Writings or older works on the ACW

F. Colburn Adams, Siege of Washington (complete - Project Gutenberg); http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/4668
Louisa May Alcott, Hospital Sketches (complete - Project Gutenberg); http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/3837
Joseph A. Altsheler, The Scouts of Stonewall // The Story of the Great Valley Campaign (complete - Project Gutenberg); http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/6094
Joseph A. Altsheler, The Star of Gettysburg // A Story of Southern High Tide (complete - Project Gutenberg); http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/3811
Ambrose Bierce, AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE (complete - Project Gutenberg); http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/375
Henry M. Cist, The Army of the Cumberland (complete - Project Gutenberg); http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/3686
G.A. Henty, With Lee in Virginia (complete - Project Gutenberg), http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2805
Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Army Life in a Black Regiment (complete - Project Gutenberg); http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/6764


To be Contiued

Cheers














Johnus -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/9/2006 8:58:22 PM)

For the history of the entire civil war "The Civil War A Narrative" by Shelby Foote can't be beat. Bruce Catton is great. There are also many nice studies of single campaigns and battles. There are also fine one-volume general histories of the war.

But for a fine history in the grand old story-telling tradition, Shelby Foote is without equal. It runs for thousands of pages, yet you wish it was twice as long. Narrative history at its best. I think I'm on my 3rd (possibly 4th) reading.

Foote is deceased, but you can see him in spots in Ken Burns' "Civil War."




Alan_Bernardo -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/9/2006 9:40:40 PM)

Brent Nosworthy's The Bloody Crucible of Courage is excellent.

Alanb




Ironclad -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/9/2006 10:47:33 PM)

Bruce Catton and Shelby Foote's trilogies on the Civil War are both excellent reads. The latter is far more detailed and covers the military side in much greater depth. In his opening volume Catton gives an evocative account of why the conflict happened and of the people and politics involved.

Highly recommended also is Albert Castel's superb study "Decision in the West; the Atlanta campaign of 1864."

An enjoyable but radical look at Confederate leadership and strategy is Steven Woodworth's "Jefferson Davis and his Generals; The failure of Confederate Command in the West".






captskillet -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/9/2006 11:25:12 PM)

For an excellent account of the Army of Northern Virginia during the War you got to read "Lee's Lieutenants : A Study in Command" by Douglas Freeman..........it was written in the 30's but is still considered a standard on the ANV's exploits from Bull Run and Joe Johnston (or what became the ANV) thru Appomattox. It even includes a good account of Stonewalls Valley Campaign. Another good read would be "First With the Most" by Robert Selph Henry about my man Nathan Bedford Forrest (who else [;)])!




Warfare1 -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/9/2006 11:25:55 PM)

For DvDs I highly recommend:

1) Gettysburg http://tinyurl.com/ya9uoe

2) Gods and Generals http://tinyurl.com/y9tnec

3) Glory http://tinyurl.com/yfslsr

4) PBS Ken Burn's Civil War
http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/




Gil R. -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/9/2006 11:34:30 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alan_Bernardo

Brent Nosworthy's The Bloody Crucible of Courage is excellent.

Alanb



Yes! As I've written elsewhere, this was one of our primary sources in putting FOF together. Lots of rules in detailed battle come straight from stuff we read in there.




Crimguy -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/10/2006 1:00:01 AM)

I put my vote in for Battle Cry of Freedom for what I think is the best one-volume account.  Gets into the battles, the politics, and the economics of the war. 

I am into Vol. 1 of Foote's Civil War.  He is a great story-teller, and I'm forced to wonder where he got all of his material from - there are no footnotes in my copy.

For video, I think Gettysberg and Gods and Generals are pretty hokey.  Glory is flat, but a good movie nonetheless.  I'll take Ken Burn's Civil War over all of the movies. 

And, of course, the Red Badge of Courage is a classic read.




marecone -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/10/2006 1:12:09 AM)

Very good idea for thread [&o]. For all us Europeans and other non Americans, could you provide more links for reading and such.
This is my favorite link. About military history. Ofcourse you will find ACW there as well.
Enjoy

http://www.cc.gatech.edu/fac/Thomas.Pilsch/history.html




Drex -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/10/2006 2:37:10 AM)

Well I am an American and I only have Shelby Foote's Narrative which is outstanding for a general view of the war. But I'm sure the others as I do, will want more specific reading matter. What about a book of battle maps? This would be essential. What is available? What about reads on individual battles? I saw the name of Sears on several books about battles. Is Sears any good?




Director -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/10/2006 6:20:42 AM)

"The Official Military Atlas of the Civil War", Major George B Davis, Leslie J Perry and Joseph W Kirkley.

Includes ordinance survey maps of everything south of the Mason Dixon and west through Texas as well as detailed maps of battlefields and campaigns. interestingly, numerous maps of the same site from different sources are often put side-by-side, allowing you to see what was there and what the commanders [I]thought[/I] was there, which is not the same thing.

It is a gargantuan book, easily two feet tall and hundreds of pages thick. It's occasionally on sale for as little as $30 (STEAL!) and is absolutely invaluable.




Drex -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/10/2006 6:38:32 AM)

Not exactly a coffee table book is it. I wonder if Amazon has it.




Crimguy -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/10/2006 7:05:36 AM)

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&endeca=1&isbn=0760750440&itm=6




Drex -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/10/2006 7:24:45 AM)

Thanks Crimguy. I have a B&N in Chico and hopefully its in stock.:)




Hertston -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/10/2006 2:55:08 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Crimguy

I put my vote in for Battle Cry of Freedom for what I think is the best one-volume account.


Agreed, although as a primer in the purely military history I would suggest Hattaway's Shades of Blue and Grey , not least because it has excellent reading lists on each topic.

quote:

For video, I think Gettysberg and Gods and Generals are pretty hokey.  Glory is flat, but a good movie nonetheless.  I'll take Ken Burn's Civil War over all of the movies. 

And, of course, the Red Badge of Courage is a classic read.


All three movies are very good, albeit in different ways. Quite how Glory is 'flat', I'm not sure. Gods and Generals is the weakest IMHO, despite a strong performance from Robert Duvall and a superb one from Stephen Lang as Jackson (he was just as good in Gettysburg, as Pickett). It just tries to cover too much ground, while managing to make some of the battle scenes rather longer than was really necessary.

I'd add the book of the film and film of the book, respectively. Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels (on which the Gettysburg movie was based) is a first class docu-novel, while the movie version of The Red Badge of Courage is brilliant if you can get your hands on it. It's virtually a word-for-word adaption (RBoC being a very short book) and definitely Audie Murphy's finest hour IMHO. They couldn't have picked anyone better, you can tell he both fully understands the character while recognising a certain irony that it's him (Murphy) who is playing him.




Airborne82nd -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/10/2006 3:24:18 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Drex

What about a book of battle maps? This would be essential. What is available? What about reads on individual battles? I saw the name of Sears on several books about battles. Is Sears any good?



Sears is quite good. My favorite probably. I've read most of his and highly recommend "A Landscape Turned Red" (Antietam), "To the Gates of Richmond" (Seven Days) and "Chancellorsville". Pretty of detailed battle maps. Excellent, narrative text. His books read like a novel (just started Footes first volume and I see similarities).

For indepth studies of individual campaigns, you can't go wrong here.




Titanwarrior89 -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/10/2006 3:43:32 PM)

Finally got around to reading the first volume now. Owned copies for years. So much to do, so little time.[:)]
quote:

ORIGINAL: captskillet

For an excellent account of the Army of Northern Virginia during the War you got to read "Lee's Lieutenants : A Study in Command" by Douglas Freeman..........it was written in the 30's but is still considered a standard on the ANV's exploits from Bull Run and Joe Johnston (or what became the ANV) thru Appomattox. It even includes a good account of Stonewalls Valley Campaign. Another good read would be "First With the Most" by Robert Selph Henry about my man Nathan Bedford Forrest (who else [;)])!





Drex -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/10/2006 6:08:24 PM)

I think I've got a good basis to start my CW library. Thanks to all.




Conhugeco -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/10/2006 7:27:34 PM)

Have to add Edwin Coddington's Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command if you are interested in Gettysburg.

DickH




Crimguy -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/10/2006 8:05:20 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Hertston


All three movies are very good, albeit in different ways. Quite how Glory is 'flat', I'm not sure. Gods and Generals is the weakest IMHO, despite a strong performance from Robert Duvall and a superb one from Stephen Lang as Jackson (he was just as good in Gettysburg, as Pickett). It just tries to cover too much ground, while managing to make some of the battle scenes rather longer than was really necessary.


Re: Glory. I thought the writing for most of the officers was pretty dry (seems to be a pattern for civil war era movies except Dances with Wolves, which is a bit off-topic). I found Matthew Broderick's accent to be a bit annoying too. Thought Cary Elwes did a good job overall. The acting of Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman really carried it, IMHO.

I saw Red Badge of Courage about 10-15 years ago on TV. Audey Murphy was one helluva actor - I was trying to remember who was in it.

BTW, I think a vote should go in for the HBO movie Andersonville. Pretty good account.




Adam Parker -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/11/2006 1:42:43 AM)

The first book my wife ever bought me was:

"The American Heritage New History of the Civil War" by Bruce Catton and James McPherson. I think it is an update of the 1960's book that Firaxis Games refered to in its Gettysburg as being the inspiration for the look of its graphics.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Heritage-New-History-Civil/dp/0670868043/sr=1-1/qid=1165793812/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8545454-3891065?ie=UTF8&s=books

It seems that there's a 2005 MP3 version too. Something for the iPod... hmmm.




dude -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/11/2006 7:15:01 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Director

"The Official Military Atlas of the Civil War", Major George B Davis, Leslie J Perry and Joseph W Kirkley.

Includes ordinance survey maps of everything south of the Mason Dixon and west through Texas as well as detailed maps of battlefields and campaigns. interestingly, numerous maps of the same site from different sources are often put side-by-side, allowing you to see what was there and what the commanders [I]thought[/I] was there, which is not the same thing.

It is a gargantuan book, easily two feet tall and hundreds of pages thick. It's occasionally on sale for as little as $30 (STEAL!) and is absolutely invaluable.



I found it on the discount table at Borders a few years ago for $19. [:)] It's been real handy when reading texts on the battles to refer to it for looking up the actual maps.




Slick91 -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/11/2006 8:46:13 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Crimguy

I am into Vol. 1 of Foote's Civil War.  He is a great story-teller, and I'm forced to wonder where he got all of his material from - there are no footnotes in my copy.



Here is a transcript of an interview with Shelby Foote about this: http://www.booknotes.org/Transcript/?ProgramID=1216

quote:

LAMB: There are no footnotes and no bibliography.
FOOTE: The subject, after 100 years, is well enough known not to need footnotes, the Civil War. Footnotes are extremely useful to other historians, and I was writing for historians' enjoyment and, I hope, instruction, but mainly I did not want to interrupt this narrative with this bunch of footnotes down at the bottom of the page where your eye leaves the story every now and then to glance down at the footnote. I thought that the footnotes would cost me more artistically than they would gain me in academic respect.


quote:

LAMB: The reason I bring it up is that you also mention in one of your books in your comments at the end that he came out with a bibliography that meant you didn't have to do it.
FOOTE: Right. He and his friend Pete Long published a separate bibliography that covers everything, and I said if you want to know where I got my books, go to Newman's bibliography. That's where I got them.
LAMB: Three hundred and fifty books on the Civil War?
FOOTE: About that number was the working library I had near my desk at all times. I worked from printed sources entirely. I did not get into the archives and dig around among manuscripts.
LAMB: Have you read all those books?
FOOTE: Yes, I had. I read them and read them with pleasure, most of them.


Please, go and read the whole interview, it is well worth your time!

By the way, he wrote all of his books with a dip pen, and then typed them out on a typewritter for the publisher.




Crimguy -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/11/2006 8:59:57 PM)

That is a great find, thanks. He does make the assumption that all of it is known, or well known. I never have taken issue with the details of battle, etc. It's more of the personal anecdotes of Davis et. al. that leave me curious.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Slick91

quote:

ORIGINAL: Crimguy

I am into Vol. 1 of Foote's Civil War. He is a great story-teller, and I'm forced to wonder where he got all of his material from - there are no footnotes in my copy.



Here is a transcript of an interview with Shelby Foote about this: http://www.booknotes.org/Transcript/?ProgramID=1216

quote:

LAMB: There are no footnotes and no bibliography.
FOOTE: The subject, after 100 years, is well enough known not to need footnotes, the Civil War. Footnotes are extremely useful to other historians, and I was writing for historians' enjoyment and, I hope, instruction, but mainly I did not want to interrupt this narrative with this bunch of footnotes down at the bottom of the page where your eye leaves the story every now and then to glance down at the footnote. I thought that the footnotes would cost me more artistically than they would gain me in academic respect.


quote:

LAMB: The reason I bring it up is that you also mention in one of your books in your comments at the end that he came out with a bibliography that meant you didn't have to do it.
FOOTE: Right. He and his friend Pete Long published a separate bibliography that covers everything, and I said if you want to know where I got my books, go to Newman's bibliography. That's where I got them.
LAMB: Three hundred and fifty books on the Civil War?
FOOTE: About that number was the working library I had near my desk at all times. I worked from printed sources entirely. I did not get into the archives and dig around among manuscripts.
LAMB: Have you read all those books?
FOOTE: Yes, I had. I read them and read them with pleasure, most of them.


Please, go and read the whole interview, it is well worth your time!

By the way, he wrote all of his books with a dip pen, and then typed them out on a typewritter for the publisher.





Slick91 -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/11/2006 9:10:57 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Crimguy

That is a great find, thanks. He does make the assumption that all of it is known, or well known. I never have taken issue with the details of battle, etc. It's more of the personal anecdotes of Davis et. al. that leave me curious.



I would assume that since he used all printed sources that the anecdotes are mentioned in those books. Most were probably memoirs of various Civil War leaders, politicians, and veterans. Many veterans wrote their memoirs during the later part of the 19th century and early 20th, but most of these books are now very hard to find with the exception of a few still in print.




Sarkus -> RE: Essential Reading/Viewing (12/12/2006 12:20:36 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: captskillet

For an excellent account of the Army of Northern Virginia during the War you got to read "Lee's Lieutenants : A Study in Command" by Douglas Freeman..........it was written in the 30's but is still considered a standard on the ANV's exploits from Bull Run and Joe Johnston (or what became the ANV) thru Appomattox. It even includes a good account of Stonewalls Valley Campaign.


"Lee's Lieutenants" is a must-read, for sure. I've read a lot of Civil War history over the years but only recently read an abridged one-volume version (if you want to call 900+ pages abridged) of this book and learned a ton of things I didn't know. It made me really wish there were equivalent books on each major army of the war.




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