Who, in your opinion, is the foremost living historian of the American Civil War, and why?

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I will split that enormous question in half:

1. Who is the foremost military historian of the American Civil War?

And,

2. Who is the foremost historian of the American Civil War period?

Your answers to both questions could conceivably be the same, but they needn't be.

Choose your own definition of "foremost": most influential; most insightful; most knowledgeable, etc. Please give your reasons for your choice.

I look forward to reading the opinions.
 
This is a difficult one to address because, in my humble estimation, a lot of the better historians have passed away.

That-said, Dr. James I. "Bud" Robertson, Jr., was among the best and easily my favorite. His research was thorough and exhaustive which resulted in his providing accurate and relevant accounts.

Thanks for your response. I am not familiar with Mr. Robertson.
 
I'm going to cast my vote for Ed Bearrs. He's written about a dozen books, appeared in the Ken Burns PBS series on the Civil War, and is a Historian Emeritus for the National Park Service. And at 93, he's still plugging along.

edbearss_0081c.jpg
 
Military historian = Bob Krick
No one individual is more knowledgeable of the ANV than Bob. He has the unique ability to express himself with both erudition and humor.

Historian of the period as a whole = Gary Gallagher
Hands down. Gary has a complete grasp of all aspects - politics, military strategy and tactics, the major and minor actors both at the front and at home. His research is impeccable and his writing style draws the reader into the story.
 
I'm going to cast my vote for Ed Bearrs. He's written about a dozen books, appeared in the Ken Burns PBS series on the Civil War, and is a Historian Emeritus for the National Park Service. And at 93, he's still plugging along.

That's an easy one ME:D Just kidding. I'm going to have to go with Ed as well. I have talked to him on several occasion over the years and he is a walking data base of CW knowledge.
 
I'm biased. Being a former student of his, my vote HAS to go to Professor James I. Robertson, Jr. He's a terrific scholar and teacher.

There are other contenders:

Gary Gallagher of UVa, who has produced so many Ph.D. graduates that his influence on the field will remain for decades.
Brooks Simpson of ASU, who is a top scholar not only of the military side of the war but also the political side and Reconstruction.
Carol Reardon of Penn State, who is a top-notch military historian.
Richard Sommers, who is a military historian par excellence, and if you read the acknowledgements of every major military study in the last thirty years, you'll see the author thanking Dr. Sommers for his invaluable assistance.
 
Military historian = Bob Krick
No one individual is more knowledgeable of the ANV than Bob. He has the unique ability to express himself with both erudition and humor.

Historian of the period as a whole = Gary Gallagher
Hands down. Gary has a complete grasp of all aspects - politics, military strategy and tactics, the major and minor actors both at the front and at home. His research is impeccable and his writing style draws the reader into the story.
There is more to the civil war then the ANV.
 
The original post is who is the best for the civil war not for just part of it.again people think that the war was only fought between Washington and Richmond.

Exactly the reason why the answer to the OP question, could not be a single name...

For example, if someone is interested in CS (full) General Edmund Kirby Smith and his Trans-Mississippi Department that was ran pretty much as an independent country after the fall of Vicksburg (really fascinating story,) good luck finding a living Historian who is an expert on the subject.
 
I am going to have to think about this for a while.

But it has been my impression for several years now that James McPherson is considered the pre-eminent Civil War historian in America today.

Any agreement out there?
 
1. Ed Bearss, who is in a class by himself. I hope he makes it to 150! A walking living library of the Civil War, he is peerless. I helped wish him a happy birthday at Gettysburg College in 1998. He thanked the large crowd, then said, in his wonderful comedic style and with his powerful voice, "There are very few Sons of B*&^%es here." Hartwig is second. His Antietam Campaign work will never be equaled, even though he works at Gettysburg.
2. Shelby Foote, whose folksy writing and speaking style invites the public at large to study and think about the war. There are a lot of good writers out there today, but Foote was a people's historian without equal, not just a historian's historian.
 
1. Ed Bearss, who is in a class by himself. I hope he makes it to 150! A walking living library of the Civil War, he is peerless. I helped wish him a happy birthday at Gettysburg College in 1998. He thanked the large crowd, then said, in his wonderful comedic style and with his powerful voice, "There are very few Sons of B*&^%es here." Hartwig is second. His Antietam Campaign work will never be equaled, even though he works at Gettysburg.
2. Shelby Foote, whose folksy writing and speaking style invites the public at large to study and think about the war. There are a lot of good writers out there today, but Foote was a people's historian without equal, not just a historian's historian.

Shelby Foote's been dead for about ten years. The question asked about those who are alive...
 
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