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Voices of the Civil War
Charleston
An unforgettable new look at the Civil War from eyewitness accounts by people who were there. Diaries, letters, journals, media reports and more. Beautifully and dramatically illustrated.
168 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 13, 2021
Learned lots of stuff I had no idea about. Will come in handy on our visit to Charleston
July 31, 2009
Time-Life once created a series, "Voices of the Civil War." The focus was on civilians and military figures, as they registered their impressions and experiences in various battles or venues. This volume considers the city of Charleston, a hotbed in South Carolina for the beginning of the Civil War.
The volume begins with an artist's rendering of Charleston and the surrounding area, including Fort Sumter, Morris Island (where Battery Wagner was located), Secessionville, Sullivan's Island, and so on. It provides useful visual perspective. There are several essays discussing aspects of the Civil War as these featured Charleston. The first, entitled "A City under the Gun," describes the early stages of the war. A nice chronology appears on page 14.
The heart of the book is the reflections of soldiers, officers, and civilians. For instance, recall the movie "Glory." The attack on Battery Wagner, led by the 54th Massachusetts, an African-American regiment, has become well know. This portion of the book begins with an essay on the doomed attack on Battery Wagner. Following that is the recollections of participants on both sides--Confederate and Union. Between July 10 and 18, 1863, the Northern forces experienced 2,033 casualties and the Confederates 442--quite a disproportionate figure. We read the words of Private John Malloy, a North Carolina soldier, months before the fight, in which he describes the position. From the 54th Massachusetts, we see the words of Lt. Garth James as his troops begin their failed assault on Battery Wagner, as we also see the words of Captain John Appleton, Sgt. William Carney, , and Sgt. Stephen Swails. And comments from Confederate troops at the bastion. Powerful indeed.
The book ends with the evacuation by Confederate troops from Charleston.
If you are interested in great detail on Charleston's role in the Civil War, this may not work well for you. If you are intrigued by participants' views, then this can be satisfying.
The volume begins with an artist's rendering of Charleston and the surrounding area, including Fort Sumter, Morris Island (where Battery Wagner was located), Secessionville, Sullivan's Island, and so on. It provides useful visual perspective. There are several essays discussing aspects of the Civil War as these featured Charleston. The first, entitled "A City under the Gun," describes the early stages of the war. A nice chronology appears on page 14.
The heart of the book is the reflections of soldiers, officers, and civilians. For instance, recall the movie "Glory." The attack on Battery Wagner, led by the 54th Massachusetts, an African-American regiment, has become well know. This portion of the book begins with an essay on the doomed attack on Battery Wagner. Following that is the recollections of participants on both sides--Confederate and Union. Between July 10 and 18, 1863, the Northern forces experienced 2,033 casualties and the Confederates 442--quite a disproportionate figure. We read the words of Private John Malloy, a North Carolina soldier, months before the fight, in which he describes the position. From the 54th Massachusetts, we see the words of Lt. Garth James as his troops begin their failed assault on Battery Wagner, as we also see the words of Captain John Appleton, Sgt. William Carney, , and Sgt. Stephen Swails. And comments from Confederate troops at the bastion. Powerful indeed.
The book ends with the evacuation by Confederate troops from Charleston.
If you are interested in great detail on Charleston's role in the Civil War, this may not work well for you. If you are intrigued by participants' views, then this can be satisfying.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews