Member Review A Stillness at Appomattox

[CivilWarTalk]

A Stillness at Appomattox
by Bruce Catton

★ Buy This Book on Amazon ★​

Recounting the final year of the Civil War, this classic volume by Bruce Catton won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for excellence in non-fiction.

In this final volume of the Army of the Potomac Trilogy, Catton, America's foremost Civil War historian, takes the reader through the battles of the Wilderness, the Bloody Angle, Cold Harbot, the Crater, and on through the horrible months to one moment at Appomattox. Grant, Meade, Sheridan, and Lee vividly come to life in all their failings and triumphs.

vote now

First and foremost, if you like the book or movie that a person has posted, upvote the suggestion.
If you want to participate in the discussion below, go for it, but don't forget to vote!

You can vote for a suggestion by clicking/tapping

on the grey arrow at the right of the first post:
(Or at the bottom of the first post on your phone!)

Once your vote has been recorded, the counter will

increase and it and the arrow will change colors:​

 

[Si Klegg]

Such a wonderful book. One of the things that struck me most about that Campaign was Catton's bleak descriptions of the sheer misery of the long-time volunteer veterans of the Army of the Potomac who were now stuck with the bottom-of-the-barrel scrapings of the Northern cities, the conscripts, substitutes, bounty-jumpers, criminals and ne'er-do-wells. For instance, it was impossible to let your haversack/breadbag out of your sight for fear of it being stolen by one of the Army's new class of soldier, also, all trust in the old low-number regiments was gone due to the number of desertions and poor discipline of the newcomers.

Well worth a read, such an eye-opener.

 

[Tony Z]

Bruce Catton's trilogy, of which this book is a major part, are some of the most readable books on the civil war. The three should be among the first to read, and may ignite a constant flame of interest in you, as they did for me. Canton has a number of other books, all deserving a read.

 

[donna]

I read this book several years ago. Need to re-read it. I always enjoyed Bruce Catton's books.

 

[jackt62]

I believe I've read all of Catton's CW books. They are highly readable and present a good overview of the military situation.

 

[sarladaise]

I think this is one of the best of Catton's books.

 

[unionblue]

Indeed, one of the best describing soldiers at war.

 

[rebed19th]

In 1986 my wife's mom moved to Fredericksburg and that began my interest in the CW. This was the 1st CW book I ever read, and I haven't stopped reading since