One good Civil War Battles Book.

[Maindron1]

I can’t help but wonder why many people will not get a history book and read instead of a thriller, romance, horror and such. I was one of those people too but one afternoon, I was having my “me” time when this whole human division kept turning around my head. So I decided to start reading about the American civil war which from what I know was about the south wanting to keep slavery alive but the opposite side was trying to defend freedom for all.

I am not from the US, I am rather from Haiti which was the first black republic in the world, the only country – as small and so very poor as it may be – who actually fought their way from slavery to freedom with nothing but the strong will to be free or die and they’ve done it with machetes.

So, to go back to my story, I was browsing through and I came up to this book “Civil War Battles in Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia, 1861-1865” and this book was put together by the County Civil War Commission. As I was reading it, It has come to my attention that this was one of the fiercest battle in history and one of the most selfless battle as well, people risking their lives for something they believe in, whether it was that you believe that all man should be free, or black should stay slaves and have no right to freedom. I am not judging here, but It is so interesting to see that back in the 1860s, even though the world was so divided and cruel, some harts could not help but to wonder about life, to see the cruelty at home and abroad and some take a stand and do something about it and doing so, put their lives at risk and eventually die for their beliefs.

It tells me that we have had good people from the beginning of times but what I can’t help but wonder is whether our harts are improving toward love or are we stuck there and here, I know that we are not getting worse but are we getting better at helping other people?

I think that we are, but some people will say that we are not and that we will only help if in the process we do not inconvenience ourselves, or we get something back in return, and that is not really helping; I say it is, and there is nothing wrong with it and if more people were doing it, the world will be better off.

To go back to the book, it has a very detailed information about the importance of a strategic location to a war like the civil war, and how Winchester was the route to Washington and that they have to protect it at all cost, both Army were fighting to get control, but at the end, the Union army prevail. You can read the entire book at history book corner, they have some great books there and you can just add a "dot com" at the end of their name to get to their website.

The point that I am trying to make is that history help us remember, we’ve been through a lot, and we are where we are because of the sacrifices strangers make because that they believe in something, and we too should make sacrifices for what we believe in, and that is the way the world will see a better tomorrow.

Our actions as big or small, good or bad can have a worldwide effect.
Rodriguez Maindron.

[hellboy30]

Interesting post & welcome aboard!

[History fan]

I always thought Shelby Footes trilogy was so good and easily readable.

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by History fan

I always thought Shelby Footes trilogy was so good and easily readable.

Just remember that Mr. Foote was a novelist and not a historian. Still he's very readable and knowledgeable.

[Charger]

Yeah except that most soldiers weren't fighting for such a lofty ideal. But when are they ever?

[FTCS]

Just started reading "The Man Who Saved The Union" . Basically it is Grant's story, starting when he was young. So far has covered, briefly, his time a West Point, a very good history of the Mexican war. His time in San Francisco, Oregon, and Norther Calif at Fort Humboldt, where his abuse of alcohol caused him to resign from the Army. From there it has progressed to just before the Civil War and I'm just about a 1/4 into the book. It mentions Lee, Sherman, Lincoln and many others and gives a very good overview of what was going on during the period just before the war starts. Excellent overview of the political situation during this time. Highly recommended reading for those interested in the time period before the Civil War and of course Grants presidency.

[MadDrMark]

I'm midway through Foote's first book. While it is a great read, the three volumes make an intimidating stack when piled up. I'm not sure I would recommend it for someone new to the period. I might start with Goodheart's 1861. While it is more about the beginnings of the war than the execution of it, it begs the question "What next?"

[D1J1]

An American Iliad by Charles Rowland is an excellent single volume work on the Civil War and is considerably shorter than the works already discussed here. Of course it does not contain the same amount of detail on each engagement as some of the longer books, but it is a worthy overview of the war.

Regards,
Dennis

[Nickuru]

Originally Posted by Maindron1

I can’t help but wonder why many people will not get a history book and read instead of a thriller, romance, horror and such. I was one of those people too but one afternoon, I was having my “me” time when this whole human division kept turning around my head. So I decided to start reading about the American civil war which from what I know was about the south wanting to keep slavery alive but the opposite side was trying to defend freedom for all.

I am not from the US, I am rather from Haiti which was the first black republic in the world, the only country – as small and so very poor as it may be – who actually fought their way from slavery to freedom with nothing but the strong will to be free or die and they’ve done it with machetes.

So, to go back to my story, I was browsing through and I came up to this book “Civil War Battles in Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia, 1861-1865” and this book was put together by the County Civil War Commission. As I was reading it, It has come to my attention that this was one of the fiercest battle in history and one of the most selfless battle as well, people risking their lives for something they believe in, whether it was that you believe that all man should be free, or black should stay slaves and have no right to freedom. I am not judging here, but It is so interesting to see that back in the 1860s, even though the world was so divided and cruel, some harts could not help but to wonder about life, to see the cruelty at home and abroad and some take a stand and do something about it and doing so, put their lives at risk and eventually die for their beliefs.

It tells me that we have had good people from the beginning of times but what I can’t help but wonder is whether our harts are improving toward love or are we stuck there and here, I know that we are not getting worse but are we getting better at helping other people?

I think that we are, but some people will say that we are not and that we will only help if in the process we do not inconvenience ourselves, or we get something back in return, and that is not really helping; I say it is, and there is nothing wrong with it and if more people were doing it, the world will be better off.

To go back to the book, it has a very detailed information about the importance of a strategic location to a war like the civil war, and how Winchester was the route to Washington and that they have to protect it at all cost, both Army were fighting to get control, but at the end, the Union army prevail. You can read the entire book at history book corner, they have some great books there and you can just add a "dot com" at the end of their name to get to their website.

The point that I am trying to make is that history help us remember, we’ve been through a lot, and we are where we are because of the sacrifices strangers make because that they believe in something, and we too should make sacrifices for what we believe in, and that is the way the world will see a better tomorrow.

Our actions as big or small, good or bad can have a worldwide effect.
Rodriguez Maindron.

An account of the Battle of Fredricksburg is pretty sharp entertainment. Shelby Foote and Bruce Catton give an account of it, and others go into more detail. General Lee took command of the heights to the south/southwest of the town. The Union Army attempted to cross the river. They got shelled. They made it with casualties. Then the Union Army attempted to storm the heights and were decimated. Questions arose as to the strategy in the Union Army at this time.

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by Nickuru

Then the Union Army attempted to storm the heights and were decimated.

The Union Army took more than 10% casualties. Decimated is a very, very specific term. It's misuse is one of my pet peeves.

[Nickuru]

Originally Posted by RichardS

The Union Army took more than 10% casualties. Decimated is a very, very specific term. It's misuse is one of my pet peeves.

This is true, decimated means losing a tenth of your force. The use of decimated has wandered into meaning catastrophic casualties. And yours truely wandered along with the illiterates. It sems though that close to 10% of Union casualties or even more were deaths from frontally assaulting the heights manned by dug in infantry, supported by guns. This from Bruce Catton and Shelby Foote.

[guthrieba]

Originally Posted by Nickuru

This is true, decimated means losing a tenth of your force. The use of decimated has wandered into meaning catastrophic casualties.

I believe that decimation was originally a punishment imposed on Roman cohorts which had behaved badly in battle. Lots were drawn to select one in ten members of the unit. The remaining nine would then cudgel the unfortunate to death.

[Nickuru]

Originally Posted by guthrieba

I believe that decimation was originally a punishment imposed on Roman cohorts which had behaved badly in battle. Lots were drawn to select one in ten members of the unit. The remaining nine would then cudgel the unfortunate to death.

Hmm, nice observation, makes you want to sign up for being a galley slave in a trireme, as a safer life.