Civil War 101: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about the North, the South, the Leaders, the Battles, and the History

by Donald Cartmell

Whether you refer to it as the Late Unpleasantness, The War for Southern Freedom, or any of the other names that Civil War 101 lists for it, this mid-nineteenth -century conflict has spawned all manner of myth and facts you didn't learn in high school. With tantalizing trivia like "Nine Drinking Stories Involving General Ulysses S. Grant," "Five Famous Female Spies," and "Eleven Medical Complaints of Stonewall Jackson," plus historic photos and engravings, even the most diehard Civil War buff—from academic historian to modern-day reenactor—is sure to pick up some fresh new details about this terrible war.

Genres: History

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 6, 2004

Reviews

[Michael Laflamme]

One of the best brief treatments of the war I've ever read. Very clear, concise, and well ordered. The battles, the leaders, the finances there are sections on most topics a person might think of and sections only an expert could detail. The book even has coverage of the most common Civil War re-enactments and their annual events along with a listing of the more popular and ever-growing Civil War websites. A solid achievement in research and a great resource for the student and reader.

[Rob]

A great basic writeup of the unfolding of the war. Dealt well with events and situations leading up to the rift of north/south. Perfect for me - I didn't want to get into it so far as to have to read a multivolume series but I wanted a book that went into things thoroughly enough to convey a cursory understanding.

[Andy Anderson]

Short chapters, quick overview and lots of lists.