NF Newbies books?

[veritasbulldog82]

I love the Civil War but I am SO lacking in details about the simplest things about it. I asked about a few other things on here and was basically overwhelmed with the responses because I know so little about the subject. Is there a good place to start for someone who is just beginning this journey? I need an idiot's guide kind of book or something to get the overall view and then dig in a little deeper once I've got some basic information down. Any recommendations?

If it helps, my knowledge of the Civil War is limited to:

1. The movie Gettysburg, Gods & Generals, and Glory
2. Visiting Gettysburg and Springfield battlefields about 20 plus years ago
3. Visiting Ford's Theatre (not Civil War but just after)

That's about it. I know nothing. Where do I start? Preferably something in the form of a Complete Idiot's Guide or something to where I can learn terms, weapons, important figures etc.

 

[JAGwinn]

@veritasbulldog82 What part of the Union are you in?

 

[veritasbulldog82]

Oklahoma.

 

[Drew]

Get James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom and read it.

Then get Shelby Foote's trilogy and read it. You've got your work cut out for you, but it's worth it.

And Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

 

[mofederal]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1615640789/?tag=civilwartalkc-20
https://www.amazon.com/Civil-War-Dummies-Keith-Dickson

They do make these guides still. I left you a link. I would recommend John Billings' Hardtack and Coffee for soldier's life. The Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson among others.

 

[John Winn]

I think you might like this classic and used copies can be found pretty easily for not much money:

Catton, Bruce and Richard M. Ketchum, ed. (1960). The American Heritage Picture History of The Civil War (American Heritage/Bonanza Books, New York).

It's got great maps and illustrations and is easy to read (and Bruce Catton is himself now a classic author and historian).

Moving up, if you are willing to tackle something longer and more academic - but not too dry - the currently-accepted best single volume work is:

McPherson, James (1988). Battle Cry Of Freedom: The Civil War Era (Oxford University Press, New York).

I'm thinking, though, from your post that maybe you'd be happier to start with the American Heritage work; lots of folks who became CW addicts did. The only downsides are that it is an overview and so lacks depth and it is now dated in some aspects (two possible reasons to read McPherson instead).

I haven't looked at the "dummy" books so can't comment on those but I'd guess they don't have a lot of depth either so think I'd go with the Heritage book which you can get for cheap used if you're not up for 862 pages with almost no illustrations if you choose McPherson.

As to weapons, which you mentioned, I think the best place to start would be:

Coggins, Jack (1990). Arms And Equipment Of The Civil War (Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York).

This is a relatively short paperback (160 pages) with pen and ink drawings by the author. Good used copies are easily found for almost nothing. Although short, the book is packed with info and the illustrations are quite good. It's also considered a classic and is great for the beginner.

I could recommend a number of what I consider to be classics on particular subjects but, as you are just getting started and desire a basic overview, I won't bombard you with a long list. I really think if you just get used copies of the two I noted (try Amazon) your needs will be met and you won't be disappointed. If you then find that particular aspects of the war interest you then you can come back and folks here will be more than happy to indulge you with suggestions.

Hope that helps.

 

[AndyHall]

Welcome to CWT, @veritasbulldog82 .

To paraphrase a famous quote, "all history is local." I'd encourage you to dig into the CW history of Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas, and of the Trans-Mississippi more broadly. That will lend itself to visiting more museums and battlefields, and seeing where things actually happened. You'll find your own interests in time.

 

[Jimklag]

I love the Civil War but I am SO lacking in details about the simplest things about it. I asked about a few other things on here and was basically overwhelmed with the responses because I know so little about the subject. Is there a good place to start for someone who is just beginning this journey? I need an idiot's guide kind of book or something to get the overall view and then dig in a little deeper once I've got some basic information down. Any recommendations?

If it helps, my knowledge of the Civil War is limited to:

1. The movie Gettysburg, Gods & Generals, and Glory
2. Visiting Gettysburg and Springfield battlefields about 20 plus years ago
3. Visiting Ford's Theatre (not Civil War but just after)

That's about it. I know nothing. Where do I start? Preferably something in the form of a Complete Idiot's Guide or something to where I can learn terms, weapons, important figures etc.

Welcome to CivilWarTalk. First, James McPherson's Battle Cry Of Freedom. David Eicher - The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War is another good 1-volume whole-war study. A good study of the western theater from the Union perspective is Steven Woodworth's Nothing But Victory. Joseph Glathaar's General Lee's Army is excellent. The classics - Lee's Lieutenants by Douglas Southall Freeman; Army of The Potomac Trilogy by Bruce Catton and The Civil War: A Narrative by Shelby Foote. These half dozen or so works should be the foundation of any Civil War library.

 

[rebed19th]

My first book was A Stillness at Appomattox By Bruce Catton

 

[Jimklag]

Welcome to CivilWarTalk. First, James McPherson's Battle Cry Of Freedom. David Eicher - The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War is another good 1-volume whole-war study. A good study of the western theater from the Union perspective is Steven Woodworth's Nothing But Victory. Joseph Glathaar's General Lee's Army is excellent. The classics - Lee's Lieutenants by Douglas Southall Freeman; Army of The Potomac Trilogy by Bruce Catton and The Civil War: A Narrative by Shelby Foote. These half dozen or so works should be the foundation of any Civil War library.

The good thing about all these books I listed is that they are all available in e-book (Kindle) editions as well as print editions in hardback and paperback formats. Most are also available as audio books if that's your cup of tea. Just remember, no footnotes or index or bibliography in audiobooks.

 

[MaryDee]

Warning that those movies are fictional (including Gettysburg) and contain a number of historical errors. Even Ken Burns' The Civil War series has some problems. However, I do recommend viewing the Ken Burns series as an introduction (it may be available at your local library), plus reading McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom. The Burns series gets you into the "feel" of the Civil War with its period photographs and excerpts from letters and diaries of individuals. McPherson gives you the broad overall picture, although it stops short at Appomattox.

 

[USS ALASKA]

I need an idiot's guide kind of book or something to get the overall view and then dig in a little deeper once I've got some basic information down.

Welcome sir. No one that knows what they don't know can be self-described as an idiot. What interests you the most? Units / tactics / battles? Weapons / manufacturing / logistics? Pre-war determining factors / politics / international relations? Or the coolest thing - Naval...and Railroads [my weaknesses exposed...(not 1 water-centric book listed above...dirt, dirt, dirt...)]

Anywho - @AndyHall 's post was excellent. Another way to go about this is where do your most passionate historical interests begin? Start with the thing that you can relate to the most and slowly expand from there.

Cheers and good luck!
USS ALASKA

 

[Jimklag]

McPherson gives you the broad overall picture, although it stops short at Appomattox.

McPherson's book is but one volume of the Oxford History of the United States series and deliberately ends at Appomattox. The Republic For Which It Stands by Richard White is the next sequential volume in the series and begins at Appomattox.

 

[John Winn]

Mention of the Burns series made me think of another option: buy a copy of Gary Gallagher's 2000 DVD course entitled The American Civil War and sold by The Teaching Company/The Great Courses. He's my favorite CW historian and did a great job. It's an overview lecture course in 48 sessions filmed before a studio audience. Sometimes it's nice to just watch instead of reading.

If you decide to buy a copy be aware that the company routinely discounts its products in periodic sales so you shouldn't pay full catalogue price (just wait a bit). You might be able to find a used copy, too, which would be ideal. The only down side is that once you by something from The Great Courses catalogue you'll be forever bombarded with catalogues and other junk mail. I haven't bought anything from them in years but still get maybe four catalogues a year. Of course, maybe some of their other stuff will also interest you so who knows.

 

[Jimklag]

Mention of the Burns series made me think of another option: buy a copy of Gary Gallagher's 2000 DVD course entitled The American Civil War and sold by The Teaching Company/The Great Courses. He's my favorite CW historian and did a great job. It's an overview lecture course in 48 sessions filmed before a studio audience. Sometimes it's nice to just watch instead of reading.

Outstanding suggestion. The Great Courses also has a multi-disk video of The History Of The United States. Allen Guelzo does the section on early American history and Professor Gallagher does the section on the Civil War. Gallagher is an outstanding lecturer as is Guelzo.

 

[veritasbulldog82]

What I need is a book that gives an idiot's overview so to speak. I want to learn terms like flank, breastworks, regiment, division, corp etc and see maps of the battles so I can learn. Why were the battles fought there? What was at stake at each? Who fought there? Stuff like that.

 

[USS ALASKA]

What I need is a book that gives an idiot's overview so to speak. I want to learn terms like flank, breastworks, regiment, division, corp etc and see maps of the battles so I can learn. Why were the battles fought there? What was at stake at each? Who fought there? Stuff like that.

Just go to Google Images and type in 'breastworks' an see what pics it presents you...no...wait...bad idea...just kidding.

So perhaps an excellent Atlas of the ACW might be a good place to start?

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Jamieva]

Battle Cry of Freedom is always the place I recommend anyone start.

 

[Jamieva]

What I need is a book that gives an idiot's overview so to speak. I want to learn terms like flank, breastworks, regiment, division, corp etc and see maps of the battles so I can learn. Why were the battles fought there? What was at stake at each? Who fought there? Stuff like that.

Earl Hess wrote a book on infantry tactics, check that out

 

[WJC]

First, I admire your openness and admission that you are just starting.
Second, most of us- including me- are rank amateurs. Only a very few here are experts who we are privileged to have among us. Don't hesitate to ask questions.
You already have my book recommendations from your other, earlier thread. Let me add some other things to consider:
There is so much available on the internet: video lectures from some top historians, original documents, books and magazine articles- all available for free. Make use of them.
Visits to battle sites are very helpful. And as @AndyHall suggested, learning about the actions west of the Mississippi and possibly visiting sites close to home is a great place to start. In addition, contact your local historical society. They are often overlooked treasure troves of lore and artifacts.