What do you think?
Rate this book
The Civil War: A Narrative, 40th Anniversary Edition #3
The Civil War: A Narrative: Vol. 3: Yorktown to Cedar Mountain
Foote's comprehensive history of the Civil War includes three compelling volumes: Fort Sumter to Perryville, Fredericksburg to Meridian, and Red River to Appomattox.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1999
About the author
Shelby Foote
107 books687 followersShelby Dade Foote, Jr. was an American novelist and a noted historian of the American Civil War, writing a massive, three-volume history of the war entitled The Civil War: A Narrative. With geographic and cultural roots in the Mississippi Delta, Foote's life and writing paralleled the radical shift from the agrarian planter system of the Old South to the Civil Rights era of the New South. Foote was relatively unknown to the general public for most of his career until his appearance in Ken Burns's PBS documentary The Civil War in 1990, where he introduced a generation of Americans to a war that he believed was "central to all our lives."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 15, 2026
Once again, Shelby Foote’s narrative style makes such delightful reading of events which were certainly anything but delightful to have lived through (or died in).
Briefly, the big takeaway from this volume:
I had been long aware that the 1862 Peninsular Campaign represented a huge wasted opportunity on McClellan’s part (apparently thanks in large degree to faulty intelligence and overinflation of Confederate numbers and strength), but had not appreciated the degree to which there were many lost opportunities on the Confederate side to end the thing conclusively as well. Lee gets much historical credit (with justification) for boldly, and with great risk, taking the offensive against McClellan when the latter was at the very gates of Richmond, and pushing him back – and eventually off the York-James Peninsula entirely in a humiliating withdrawal – during the course of the Seven Days battles in the summer of 1862. But a detailed examination of the events shows painfully that, for hardly the last time in that awful conflict, the war really should have ended, one way or another, with this campaign. And yet, as we all know, it drug on for nearly three more years. It was especially surprising to learn the extent of Stonewall Jackson’s pivotal and uncharacteristic role, following as it did right on the heels of (and quite likely due, at least in part, to the sheer exhaustion from) his spectacular successes in the Shenandoah Valley, in blowing so many of those opportunities on the Confederate side. Equally puzzling is the fact that he seemingly avoided virtually any censure for what were really some egregious failures and flagrant disregard for orders, while others (especially “Prince John” Magruder) received seemingly unearned and unjustified rebuke from Lee. (And it seems clear that Jackson was guilty of further mismanagement and other questionable behavior at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, covered at the very end of this volume.)
The movements of the armies in the western theatre between the Battles of Shiloh and Murfreesboro/Stones River (including the Perryville campaign) had never been well understood by me prior to reading this volume, since they received but slight treatment in other sources with which I was familiar, so it was refreshing to gain a clearer understanding of all of that here.
The way in which Foote presents the transformation (“deformation” would perhaps be more appropriate) which Lincoln underwent in the summer of ’62 is quite illuminating. In summary: McClellan’s letter to Lincoln insisting that the war be waged “on Christian principles,” apparently prodded Lincoln toward the conclusion “. . . that [McClellan] was not the kind of man to fight the kind of war Lincoln was rapidly coming to believe the country was going to have to fight if it was going to win.” In other words, Lincoln by this point was clearly hardening in his resolve to preserve the Union (even be it in a form unrecognizable to its founders) by adopting a win-by-virtually-any-means-necessary-and-at-virtually-any-cost strategy. And interestingly, this is in conjunction with several episodes sprinkled throughout this volume underscoring the Union’s gradually increasing willingness to make overt war on the civilian population of the South.
As in each volume, anecdotes and observations both poignant and humorous abound. Just to highlight a few:
It continues to astound how closely intertwined were the lives of so many of these men on opposite sides of the conflict: Union General George Sykes and Confederate General D.H. Hill had been roommates at West Point and fought directly against one another during this campaign; Confederate General Longstreet and Union General McCall, whom Longstreet took prisoner at the Battle of Frayser’s Farm, were old army acquaintances; Confederate General A.P. Hill and Union General George McClellan had courted the same girl prior to the war.
An especially humorous episode on that latter note (related on pp123–124):
Foote relates how, before the War, George McClellan won Ellen Marcy’s hand after her father (who subsequently became McClellan's Chief of Staff) had rejected the suit of A.P Hill, judging him to be insufficiently prosperous for his daughter. “. . . in time, McClellan's soldiers, familiar with the history of the tandem courtships, became convinced that the Virginian’s combativeness was a highly personal matter, provoked by a burning determination to square a grudge. Once at least, as Hill’s graybacks came swarming over the landscape at them, giving that high-throated fiendish yell, one of McClellan’s veterans, who had been through this sort of thing before, shook his head fervently and groaned in disgust: ‘God’s sake, Nelly — why didn’t you marry him?’”
There is a humorous episode (pp150–151) involving Confederate General Holmes, who was mostly deaf. In the midst of a violent artillery bombardment “Holmes emerged from the roadside house, suspiciously cupping one ear. ‘I thought I heard firing,’ he said.”
There is also a particularly humorous anecdote (pp15–16) regarding Jeff Davis' growing sense of frustration and even impotence, symbolized by his inability even to broker a peace between two rival neighborhood gangs of Richmond schoolboy ruffians. “After one particularly severe battle, in which his oldest son was involved, Davis walked down the hill to try his hand at arbitration. He made them a speech, referring to the Butcher Cats as future leaders of the nation. One of them replied: ‘President, we like you. We don’t want to hurt any of your boys. But we ain’t never going to be friends with them Hill Cats.’ Davis came backup the hill.”
And I had heard this anecdote previously regarding General Pope, but it always evokes a chuckle:
“Reports that this new spread-eagle opponent [Gen. Pope] was heading his dispatches ‘Headquarters in the Saddle’ prompted a revival of the old army jibe that he had his headquarters where his hindquarters ought to be.”
Briefly, the big takeaway from this volume:
I had been long aware that the 1862 Peninsular Campaign represented a huge wasted opportunity on McClellan’s part (apparently thanks in large degree to faulty intelligence and overinflation of Confederate numbers and strength), but had not appreciated the degree to which there were many lost opportunities on the Confederate side to end the thing conclusively as well. Lee gets much historical credit (with justification) for boldly, and with great risk, taking the offensive against McClellan when the latter was at the very gates of Richmond, and pushing him back – and eventually off the York-James Peninsula entirely in a humiliating withdrawal – during the course of the Seven Days battles in the summer of 1862. But a detailed examination of the events shows painfully that, for hardly the last time in that awful conflict, the war really should have ended, one way or another, with this campaign. And yet, as we all know, it drug on for nearly three more years. It was especially surprising to learn the extent of Stonewall Jackson’s pivotal and uncharacteristic role, following as it did right on the heels of (and quite likely due, at least in part, to the sheer exhaustion from) his spectacular successes in the Shenandoah Valley, in blowing so many of those opportunities on the Confederate side. Equally puzzling is the fact that he seemingly avoided virtually any censure for what were really some egregious failures and flagrant disregard for orders, while others (especially “Prince John” Magruder) received seemingly unearned and unjustified rebuke from Lee. (And it seems clear that Jackson was guilty of further mismanagement and other questionable behavior at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, covered at the very end of this volume.)
The movements of the armies in the western theatre between the Battles of Shiloh and Murfreesboro/Stones River (including the Perryville campaign) had never been well understood by me prior to reading this volume, since they received but slight treatment in other sources with which I was familiar, so it was refreshing to gain a clearer understanding of all of that here.
The way in which Foote presents the transformation (“deformation” would perhaps be more appropriate) which Lincoln underwent in the summer of ’62 is quite illuminating. In summary: McClellan’s letter to Lincoln insisting that the war be waged “on Christian principles,” apparently prodded Lincoln toward the conclusion “. . . that [McClellan] was not the kind of man to fight the kind of war Lincoln was rapidly coming to believe the country was going to have to fight if it was going to win.” In other words, Lincoln by this point was clearly hardening in his resolve to preserve the Union (even be it in a form unrecognizable to its founders) by adopting a win-by-virtually-any-means-necessary-and-at-virtually-any-cost strategy. And interestingly, this is in conjunction with several episodes sprinkled throughout this volume underscoring the Union’s gradually increasing willingness to make overt war on the civilian population of the South.
As in each volume, anecdotes and observations both poignant and humorous abound. Just to highlight a few:
It continues to astound how closely intertwined were the lives of so many of these men on opposite sides of the conflict: Union General George Sykes and Confederate General D.H. Hill had been roommates at West Point and fought directly against one another during this campaign; Confederate General Longstreet and Union General McCall, whom Longstreet took prisoner at the Battle of Frayser’s Farm, were old army acquaintances; Confederate General A.P. Hill and Union General George McClellan had courted the same girl prior to the war.
An especially humorous episode on that latter note (related on pp123–124):
Foote relates how, before the War, George McClellan won Ellen Marcy’s hand after her father (who subsequently became McClellan's Chief of Staff) had rejected the suit of A.P Hill, judging him to be insufficiently prosperous for his daughter. “. . . in time, McClellan's soldiers, familiar with the history of the tandem courtships, became convinced that the Virginian’s combativeness was a highly personal matter, provoked by a burning determination to square a grudge. Once at least, as Hill’s graybacks came swarming over the landscape at them, giving that high-throated fiendish yell, one of McClellan’s veterans, who had been through this sort of thing before, shook his head fervently and groaned in disgust: ‘God’s sake, Nelly — why didn’t you marry him?’”
There is a humorous episode (pp150–151) involving Confederate General Holmes, who was mostly deaf. In the midst of a violent artillery bombardment “Holmes emerged from the roadside house, suspiciously cupping one ear. ‘I thought I heard firing,’ he said.”
There is also a particularly humorous anecdote (pp15–16) regarding Jeff Davis' growing sense of frustration and even impotence, symbolized by his inability even to broker a peace between two rival neighborhood gangs of Richmond schoolboy ruffians. “After one particularly severe battle, in which his oldest son was involved, Davis walked down the hill to try his hand at arbitration. He made them a speech, referring to the Butcher Cats as future leaders of the nation. One of them replied: ‘President, we like you. We don’t want to hurt any of your boys. But we ain’t never going to be friends with them Hill Cats.’ Davis came backup the hill.”
And I had heard this anecdote previously regarding General Pope, but it always evokes a chuckle:
“Reports that this new spread-eagle opponent [Gen. Pope] was heading his dispatches ‘Headquarters in the Saddle’ prompted a revival of the old army jibe that he had his headquarters where his hindquarters ought to be.”
June 2, 2011
I really enjoyed reading this book. Shelby Foote has a great way of mixing the narrative with the facts to keep the material alive and fresh.
I have a better grasp of the war in the West and along the Mississippi, the Growth of Grant and Sherman; the boasts of both sides, and the rise of Ole Bobby Lee.
Also the defeat of McClellan on the Peninsula.
Highly recommended read for understanding the Civil War overall.
I have a better grasp of the war in the West and along the Mississippi, the Growth of Grant and Sherman; the boasts of both sides, and the rise of Ole Bobby Lee.
Also the defeat of McClellan on the Peninsula.
Highly recommended read for understanding the Civil War overall.
April 10, 2019
These represent about half of the series. It is both excellent reading and very readable of around 270 pages . The well written narrative alternates between the Eastern and Western fronts providing lots of specifics.
May 15, 2021
Excellent! Battle for the Miss. River (CSS Arkansas); West Theater repositioning; Murfreesboro; Baton Rouge; Valley Campaign; Peninsula Campaign; Cedar Mountain
March 24, 2025
brilliant word choices
January 6, 2011
9/14/2003 - 10/10
The Civil War is a very long (14 volumes, 4064 pages) but very detailed and rewarding look at the Civil War. There's not as much analysis of the social and political issues as there is in McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom . It is pretty noticably lacking on slavery and the causes of the war. Instead, Foote's style is a much more personal narrative (no footnotes) strewn with lots of interesting little tidbits and tons of detail! The narrative was very readable (although the prose got a little too long and fancy at times), but made it sometimes difficult to keep track of the chronology. The Time Life version had lots of historic photos and maps (could always use more though!) which add a lot to the experience. Foote's style reminded me a lot of Stephen Ambrose in trying to relate history on a personal level. The participants are vividly drawn, Lincoln especially. He was portrayed as an interesting, complex individual. Self-made, humorous (very reminiscent of Mark Twain), intelligent and tenacious; yet at the same time, underhanded, meddling and involved in lots of political shenanigans (bribery, suspension of habeus corpus, and locking up political opponents). These personal details just scratch the surface and have whetted my appetite. I look forward to reading more about many of these fascinating individuals - Lincoln, Davis, Grant, Lee, Sherman, Jackson, Sheridan, Forrest, Longstreet, and Cleburne.
For more info, check out:
Civil War site
Another Civil War site
Civil War Photographs
The Civil War is a very long (14 volumes, 4064 pages) but very detailed and rewarding look at the Civil War. There's not as much analysis of the social and political issues as there is in McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom . It is pretty noticably lacking on slavery and the causes of the war. Instead, Foote's style is a much more personal narrative (no footnotes) strewn with lots of interesting little tidbits and tons of detail! The narrative was very readable (although the prose got a little too long and fancy at times), but made it sometimes difficult to keep track of the chronology. The Time Life version had lots of historic photos and maps (could always use more though!) which add a lot to the experience. Foote's style reminded me a lot of Stephen Ambrose in trying to relate history on a personal level. The participants are vividly drawn, Lincoln especially. He was portrayed as an interesting, complex individual. Self-made, humorous (very reminiscent of Mark Twain), intelligent and tenacious; yet at the same time, underhanded, meddling and involved in lots of political shenanigans (bribery, suspension of habeus corpus, and locking up political opponents). These personal details just scratch the surface and have whetted my appetite. I look forward to reading more about many of these fascinating individuals - Lincoln, Davis, Grant, Lee, Sherman, Jackson, Sheridan, Forrest, Longstreet, and Cleburne.
For more info, check out:
Civil War site
Another Civil War site
Civil War Photographs
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews