New Book on Gettysburg

[Jamieva]

The Cannons Roar: Fort Sumter and the Start of the Civi…

The first-ever oral history of the attack that started …

www.goodreads.com

Mediocre reviews.

 

[Library Lady]

The Cannons Roar: Fort Sumter and the Start of the Civi…

The first-ever oral history of the attack that started …

www.goodreads.com

Mediocre reviews.

I found it as an audiobook on Hoopla, so I may give it a shot anyway, although it appears to have only one reader. Erik Larson's book got me interested, so I'm up for another author's take on the situation.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

From the description on the Sumter book:
"Using letters, newspaper articles, diaries, journals, and other written sources..."

The author and/or publisher apparently doesn't know the meaning of the term "oral history."

Looking at his other books the reviews seem to be consistently middling.

 

[Jamieva]

Here's an Amazon review. This sounds almost Phillip thomas tucker like!

Basic and Repetitive
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2023

Purchase this based on the Wall Street Journal review. It is an interesting concept, but all the author appears to have done is pull a selection of quotes from secondary sources. The book is repetitive even using some of the same quotes twice. It is also heavily padded to reach its 300 page length. If someone is truly interested in learning what people thought at the time I would suggest starting with Mary Chestnut's diary. There is so much great work on the period leading up to the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and almost all of that is a better place to start than this book.

 

[RedRover]

My daughter bought me the large companion book to the Ken Burns Civil War film.

Opened last night to page one, where it states the only casualty from Ft. Sumter was one confederate horse killed.

Thinking I read one or two were killed when a cannon exploded- firing a salute to the lowering of the colors?

Bothers me…..

Indeed. The battle was not bloodless. There were a four US Army casualties during the battle. Besides those killed and wounded after its conclusion and before the garrison departed.

 

[gc45]

To me, the prelude up to, and the battle of Antietam is just as interesting but gets less attention. Of late, have been facinated reading about the battles fought,along, plus Admral Porter's flotilla up the Red River. Quite an undertaking really.

 

[Barbara Franco]

Why why why why why do we need more Gettysburg

As someone who is about to publish another book about Gettysburg from the perspective of the surgeons, I hope it will add something new to understanding the battle and its aftermath. Gettysburg Surgeons is scheduled for publication July 1, 2025 by Stackpole Books. Check out the website at www.gettysburgsurgeons.com for more information.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

As someone who is about to publish another book about Gettysburg from the perspective of the surgeons, I hope it will add something new to understanding the battle and its aftermath. Gettysburg Surgeons is scheduled for publication July 1, 2025 by Stackpole Books. Check out the website at www.gettysburgsurgeons.com for more information.

Now I have to find where I read about the drunk Confederate surgeon at Gettysburg, and see if he is identified in the book.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

As someone who is about to publish another book about Gettysburg from the perspective of the surgeons, I hope it will add something new to understanding the battle and its aftermath. Gettysburg Surgeons is scheduled for publication July 1, 2025 by Stackpole Books. Check out the website at www.gettysburgsurgeons.com for more information.

Congratulations on doing the book. I know it required LOTS of research and effort.

 

[Library Lady]

Chadwick's Gettysburg book was new in the library yesterday. It's already checked out. Quite a few libraries in the consortium either already have it or have it on order.

 

[gc45]

Currently, re-reading Eric's Retreat from Gettysburg and always found this to be an interesting piece of history that would make a great movie. Being a fan of General Imboden, Lee put great responsibility on him and although very young, his performance was outstanding.

 

[DrumBob]

I can't say I understand it either. There's got to be hundreds of options for lesser known battles and skirmishes to write on that would be fascinating. I went to the franklin show and most of the dealers told me that while it was a good show, the numbers are getting less and less. I worry/wonder about what will happen to all the historic items and who will be left to care for them. Does the market on this tank with the passing of the older collectors and learners or will there be a resurgence at the 175 or 200 year mark?

As a record collector who grew up in the 60's and prefers 60's rock, along with big band swing era music, a record dealer told me today that customers are simply not coming in looking for 60's rock, other than the usual stuff, like The Beatles, Stones, The Who, Dylan, etc. He also said nobody comes in looking for swing era big band records either. Of course, this dealer specializes in heavy metal and punk rock.

I think it has to do with the passing of generations. The WWII swing era generation is practically all gone, the 50's doowopers are dying rapidly, and now, the Baby Boomers who liked 60's rock are starting to go. It's inevitable, the circle of life.

Gettysburg will always have a fascination for people as the largest battle and the turning point of the war. Interest is bound to ebb and flow. Those of us here are hardcore CW people, but the average Joe & Jane are not, and most young people couldn't be bothered, in all honesty. That's troubling, but I hope Gen X-ers and Millennials will gain an appreciation as they get older. I didn't care much about CW history until later in life, when I became obsessed with it.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

As a record collector who grew up in the 60's and prefers 60's rock, along with big band swing era music, a record dealer told me today that customers are simply not coming in looking for 60's rock, other than the usual stuff, like The Beatles, Stones, The Who, Dylan, etc. He also said nobody comes in looking for swing era big band records either. Of course, this dealer specializes in heavy metal and punk rock.

I think it has to do with the passing of generations. The WWII swing era generation is practically all gone, the 50's doowopers are dying rapidly, and now, the Baby Boomers who liked 60's rock are starting to go. It's inevitable, the circle of life.

Gettysburg will always have a fascination for people as the largest battle and the turning point of the war. Interest is bound to ebb and flow. Those of us here are hardcore CW people, but the average Joe & Jane are not, and most young people couldn't be bothered, in all honesty. That's troubling, but I hope Gen X-ers and Millennials will gain an appreciation as they get older. I didn't care much about CW history until later in life, when I became obsessed with it.

Well said, @DrumBob.

 

[gc45]

History and collecting is in fine shape today. Their may be fewer buyers for some items true, but have you priced early civil war rifles and pistols in very good condition? how about a WWI-WWII Colt pistol? - As a long time collector and seller of early Americana, I feel the original items in high condition will always find a buyer. Younger Americans are generally smarter, make more money than my generation and they like the "good stuff". Collecting will go on, how long it lasts depends on how they vote, our freedom, free enterprise and our right to own many such items. Education of true history is in danger but the truth and a moral society helps preserve our rights, we won't give them up easily. True education helps fuel our desires, be it a cannon ball or an old civil war musket, maybe a photo, all of which make that connection to someplace called Gettysburg or other historical moments in time and, "our treasure".

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

History and collecting is in fine shape today. Their may be fewer buyers for some items true, but have you priced early civil war rifles and pistols in very good condition? how about a WWI-WWII Colt pistol? - As a long time collector and seller of early Americana, I feel the original items in high condition will always find a buyer. Younger Americans are generally smarter, make more money than my generation and they like the "good stuff". Collecting will go on, how long it lasts depends on how they vote, our freedom, free enterprise and our right to own many such items. Education of true history is in danger but the truth and a moral society helps preserve our rights, we won't give them up easily. True education helps fuel our desires, be it a cannon ball or an old civil war musket, maybe a photo, all of which make that connection to someplace called Gettysburg or other historical moments in time and, "our treasure".

Well said, @gc45.