Henry Commager's "The Blue and The Grey"

gary

Captain
Joined
Feb 20, 2005
Bought it cheap on EBay. Didn't read it all the way. Didn't have to. Why? Most of it I read already. Here's the scoop.

In narrating the story of the late great unpleasantry, Commager has combed numerous first hand sources from both sides. He culls from them the relevant section to describe the strategy, battles, aftermath, affects on both sides. It's well worth reading.

Now, I didn't read much of it because it's the stuff I've read before. You'll meet "Warhorse" Pete Longstreet, William Owens (Washington Artillery of New Orleans), noted writer John Esten Cooke, Artilleryman E. Porter Alexander, Prussian turned cavalryman under J.E.B. Stuart Heroes von Borcke, the irrepressive John B. Gordon and for the Yankees, there's Abe Lincoln, Thomas Higginson (55th Mass), Robert Gould Shaw (54th Mass), Sherman, Grant, Walt Whitman, Beast Butler, etc.

Check it out, even if it's from your Library.
 
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