I had a chance to shop at a great Barnes & Noble book store in Baltimore, MD, and bought the following three books on the Civil War.
The very first to catch my eye was, "Lincoln's Constitution" by Daniel Farber, published by The University of Chicago Press, 2003.
The book is a comprehensive evaluation of Lincoln's legal legacy and tries to lead the reader to understand exactly what Lincoln did, what arguments he made in defense of his actions, and how his words and deeds fit into the context of the times. Farber sets the constitutional problems that arose during Lincoln's term within their historical moment and investigates how well Lincoln's views hold up today. Daniel Farber is the Sho Sato Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.
The book is a great read and definately worth your while if you are arguing secession, the Constitution, law, etc.
"All That Makes A Man, Love And Ambition in the Civil War South" by Stephen W. Berry II, published by Oxford University Press, 2003, was the second book I bought. Drawing upon diaries and personal letters, Berry looks at six very different men, detailing the roles that love and ambition played in each man's life. Berry contends that these men's writings reveal a male-dominated Southern culture that exalted women as "repositories of divine grace" and treasured romantic love as the platform from which men launched their bids for greatness. The exhilarating onset of (civil) war seemed to these, and most Southern men, a grand opportunity to fulfill their ambition for glory and to prove their love for women on the same field of battle.
I bought this book mainly because my friend and erstwhile debater, Thea, has always told me that almost all the letters of Southern soldiers contain almost or no references to fighting for slavery, so what did they fight for? This book has some interesting points to make on that question.
"Allegiance, Fort Sumter, Charleston, And The Beginning Of The Civil War" by David Detzer, Copyright 2001, a Harvest Book, Harcourt, Inc., is a portrait of the sx-month series of events that led up to the firing on Fort Sumter. Major Robert Anderson is portrayed a almost single-handedly forestalled the beginning of the war until he finally had no choice but to fight. The book is absolutely fantastic with it's detailed historical background and sources and makes a great read.
Well, there they are and I hope you can check one out or pick one up at the bookstore as they are all great source material on the Civil War.
Until that time...
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
To one and all, I wish to alert you to the fact that I have ordered a new book called, 'Sacred and Secret, The diaries of James Henry Hammond.'
I cannot wait to get my hands on this book because it contains a letter written in 1860 by Hammond trying to talk South Carolina out of seceeding from the Union. The letter was so upsetting to those who wished the State to secede, it was suppressed and never released to the citizens of South Carolina.
One cannot help but think, 'what if' over such an act and if it had not happened. As soon as I read it, I will post my thoughts here on the subject and elsewhere on this board.
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
I have just purchased Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois, 1903. I'm trying to get all sides of the story here. The beginning of the book is dealing with how the ex slave perceived the decades after the war. So far its very interesting. Dubois comes right out and says its the color line. He holds no punches back.
Keep me posted on that one, would you, as I am very interested. I just got the book, 'Secret and Sacred' the diaries of James Henry Hammond, and as soon as I read it, I will let you all know what I think.
Until that time,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
I never liked Dubois. Granted he was gifted intellect as well as an impassioned man with a cause. That I can respect. Yet I can't help but feel he hurt rather than helped the race relations in this country.
Also, it has always puzzled me just why he hated and attacked Booker T Washington so often. I know a friend of his verbally attacked Washington at a speech once and was arrested. From then on it was almost as if Dubois went out of his way to undermine Washington's efforts.
Like M.L. King I agree you have to aknowledge Dubois but I think Washington and King's path was the right one.
BTW.....Washington had a quote once, refering to how he predicted there would be section of blacks who would do all they could to never let relations be healed for they profitted from agitation. Anyone know the quote? Where it came from?
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
I'm truly sorry, I can't help you but I would say given that it is published by the University Press of Kansas at Lawrence and written by Willian C. Davis, it'd be mighty surprising to be anything but pretty derogatory towards the south. After you read it be sure to let us know what you yourself think. I have only read one book he wrote. (if it is the same guy) It was about Crockett, Travis and Bowie. It was ok, I was glad that there had been a book done about them but I was a bit disappointed with his. He is a pretty good researcher though.
Good Luck with it.....
YMOS
tommy
Neil, after posting this I knew it was going to bug me til I looked it up. I was right in who I thought he was. He certainly has the credentials. (Although his television movie credits are ****ing with faint praise lol)
You can find out more about him at this site. Which also has an online civil war collection.
you can also contact him via this site
Looks like you were right. I got to the web site you listed and thats when I recognized the name (duh!). Prof. Davis looks like he might know what he is talking about, having won the Jeff Davis award three times! I am going to buy this book and I'll give a review once I am done with it. Thanks for your help.
Unionblue
PS Remember, you are supposed to give me some background on all those books you got through the mail, yeah?
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
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