hello everyone, I am an avid bookreader, and I really want too read some good civil war books that cover the whole war, and I am also looking for some books that talk about the life, and tactics of the union and confederacy. Does anyone have any good reccomendations? I know that Shelby Foote wrote a good series of books on the civil war, and I want too get them and read them.
In many circles, Shelby Foote is considered a must read. As for books that cover the whole war, there are many, but they always paint a big picture to me. My recommendation would be to try out Foote, and read some of the many books on individual battles and campaigns to get a real good picture. Two books I'd recommend right off on the books covering individual campaigns and battles would be "
Fields of Blood: The Prairie Grove Campaign" by William Shea and "
Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg" by Timothy B. Smith, both are very good, informative books on actions during the war that are for the most part forgotten by most.
As for books on tactics and daily life, there are many, but for me I find memoirs and soldier's diary's to be the best reads, giving you their time in the war firsthand, with tactics and life covered well most of the time. Two I'd recommend at the drop of a hat would be "
Footprints of a Regiment: A recollection of the 1st Georgia Regulars 1861-1865" by W.H. Andrews, 2st Sgt. Company M, and the other
Rebel Private: Front and Rear" by William A. Fletcher. But those are personal favorites, one last one I'd say is an awesome read that is a must for seeing the war first hand is "
Three Months in the Southern States" by Arthur Fremantle.
But of course the best direction I can point you is toward the "Standard Civil War Reference Works" thread, best place to find the titles on any book you would want to read-
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/standard-civil-war-reference-works.84521/
Good luck on your search!