Sunday, January 17, 2021

Civil War Book Recommendations

 

For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War by James M. McPherson

https://smile.amazon.com/Cause-Comrades-Why-Fought-Civil/dp/0195124995/ref=sr_1_1?crid=YHW7LTZ9UUC7&dchild=1&keywords=for+cause+and+comrades+james+mcpherson&qid=1610927748&s=books&sprefix=For+Cause+and+Comrades%2Caps%2C186&sr=1-1

As a history buff, I am an admirer of McPherson’s work on the Civil War, so I requested this book for Christmas from my wife. It didn’t disappoint. The author draws on the letters and diaries of common soldiers, not published memoirs which tend to spin the truth to show the writer in a favorable light. It is a valuable addition to Civil War literature that I highly recommend. My great, great grandfather, Sergeant Oliver Vernal, fought through the war, and was one of the three-year men who reenlisted. He had a 30 day leave from that, married my great, great grandmother, and returned to battle. He was badly wounded twice, once at Deep Bottom when the Sixth broke and fled. There he was shot through his tin cup into his hip. I assume it was on his belt behind him and he was running with the rest. Good thing too, because he had no children at the time. The Sixth had good days. They went into Battery Wagner next to the famous 54th Massachusetts, but didn’t get a mention in the movie Glory. My one disagreement with McPherson is when he says the Civil War soldiers were volunteers, unlike those who fought in Vietnam, who were draftees or career regulars. I wrote to McPherson and said that two-thirds of those who fought in Vietnam were, like me, volunteers who did not make careers of the military, while two-thirds of the soldiers in WWII were draftees. He wrote back and said he would fix that if there was another addition. This book offers great insight into human motivation, and I highly recommend it.

 

Marching Through Georgia: The Story of Soldiers and Civilians During Sherman's Campaign by Lee B. Kennett 

https://www.amazon.com/Marching-Through-Georgia-Soldiers-Civilians/dp/0060927453/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=marching+through+Georgia&qid=1610928644&s=books&sr=1-2

The book focuses not so much on generals and strategy (except where necessary to illustrate events) but on how Sherman’s campaign to “Make Georgia howl” effected the average person, the soldiers both blue and gray, and the black and white citizens of Georgia, who suffered this terrible tragedy. I am not a sympathizer with the “lost cause.” My great, great grandfather, Sergeant Oliver Vernal, fought through the war, and was one of the three-year men who reenlisted. He had a 30 day leave from that, married my great, great grandmother, and returned to battle. He was badly wounded twice, once at Deep Bottom when the Sixth broke and fled. There he was shot through his tin cup into his hip. I assume it was on his belt behind him and he was running with the rest. Good thing too, because he had no children at the time. The Sixth had good days. They went into Battery Wagner next to the famous 54th Massachusetts, but didn’t get a mention in the movie Glory. So I have been a unionist all my life, and thing the March to the sea was justified and needed. That doesn’t stop me for feeling pity for those who suffered during it. I learned many things I didn’t know from this book and highly recommend it.

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