The histories, peoples, cultures, and differences that resulted in the splintering of the USA into a North/South war that eventually came to be called the American Civil War (1860‐1865) has filled many volumes that document both the pre‐history of the war, the war itself, and the aftermath of frustration and negativity that lingered well into the twentieth century and is still somewhat pervasive today. There are so many stories of individuals, battles, speeches, and tangents that have been researched and documented due to the fact that the war was so well documented and recorded, both in words and in the new art of the photograph.
This book provides a unique, chronological perspective of every day in the War between the North and the South. The author is uniquely qualified to compile this tome: his other publications include Forts of the United States (Hannings, 2006); The Korean War (Hannings, 2007); Chronology of the American Revolution (Hannings, 2008); and American Revolutionary War Leaders (Hannings, 2009) (RR 2010/192). It is obvious that the author is an expert and scholar of the USA and its major historical wars.
With that, the Preface provides some background related to the contents of the book. The chronology is written in the present tense, as if to give the reader an almost contemporary reality to what happened. Individuals, battles, and over 600 vessels both Confederate and Union are followed and documented. Every year from 1850 to 1866 is chronicled, to provide both perspective and depth. Within each year, as much documented information related to each day is given, as well as what happened in each state, on both Confederate and Union sides, and in naval activity. There are many black‐and‐white reproductions of maps, individuals, battle scenes, activities, and officers liberally included throughout the volume. Finally, there are seven major appendices: Total Casualties, Roster of Union Generals, Prominent Union Brigadier Generals Who Received the Rank Only of Brevet, Roster of Confederate Generals, Prominent Union Naval Officers, Prominent Naval Actions, and Medal of Honor Recipients 1863‐1865. A short bibliography is followed by an index that encompasses 50 pages of very small print, very detailed and exceedingly rich for any researcher or scholar.
In examining the chronology itself, which takes up the bulk of the tome, there could be a much better presentation of the information for the user of the book. For instance, the print size that indicates all news items is the same throughout; it would be much easier for perusal and research if the days would be either bolded or in a larger font in order to make that information stand out. Otherwise, I have personally never seen such a detailed account of the American Civil War. The author indicates a number of reference resources that he had access to: the United States Naval Historical Division, the Naval Academy, West Point, the Marine Corps Historical Division, the United States Army Historical Center, the National Archives, the Department of the Interior, and the many volumes of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion. The author also mentions visits to battle sites and other Civil War locations to talk with experts and observe the terrain. These books are obviously a labour of love for the author, and his expertise and knowledge of the American Civil War clearly shine through in this book. This is an essential research volume for anyone examining this topic.
