An American Iliad: The Story of the Civil War" An updated edition of this concise yet comprehensive history of the Civil War, written by a distinguished historian of the conflict. Charles Roland skillfully interweaves the story of battles and campaigns with accounts of the major political, diplomatic, social, and cultural events of the epoch and insightful sketches of the leading actors. Of prime interest are the contrasts he draws between the opposing presidents and generals. What traits, he asks, made Lincoln superior to Davis as a war leader? How were Union military leaders able to forge a more effective fighting force, a more comprehensive strategy than their opponents? Roland's thoughtful anwers and his recognition of the contadictions of human nature and the interpaly of intention and chance raise this book above a mere recounting of military events. The story of the Civil War is the epic of the American people. Never has it been told more movingly. |
Contents
A PARTING OF THE WAYS | 1 |
THE RESORT TO ARMS | 25 |
PHOTOGRAPHS | 28 |
Copyright | |
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A. P. Hill action administration American arms Army of Northern assault Atlanta attack battle Beauregard blacks blockade Bragg Brigadier Burnside campaign capture casualties cavalry Cemetery Hill Chancellorsville Charleston Chattanooga Civil Confed Confeder Confederacy Confederate army Confederate forces Confederate government Confederate line Congress conscription Corinth Creek Culp's Hill Davis Davis's decision defeat defensive Democrats early effort emancipation erate Ewell federacy Federal fighting Fort Sumter Fredericksburg Frémont Georgia Gettysburg Grant Halleck Hill Hood Hooker hoped Jackson Jefferson Davis Johnston Kentucky Kirby Smith later Lee's army Lincoln Longstreet Louisiana Major McClellan Meade miles military Mississippi move Nashville North Northern Virginia political population position Potomac president Railroad reinforcements Republican Richmond Ridge right flank River Rosecrans secession Secretary seize Seward Sherman slavery slaves soldiers South Carolina southern strategy supply tactical Tennessee tion troops turn Union army Union forces Union line United Vicksburg Washington West women wrote