Its an excellent account of the Army of the Potomac, and very informative. As a result, it has progressed for over ten years. And everything in between in this easy to read history of the Civil War. The Civil War, by Bruce Catton, has helped one understand the political motivations as well as the military plans and actions during the U.S. civil war. It was published by Random House Value Publishing and has a total of 341 pages in the book. I was wrong, but it was beneficial to read the latter work before the former in order to have the background. Chapter Sixteen: Unless the citizens were forced to suffer, the war would continue indefinitely. Stephen Douglass chief political goal was to stop the long argument about slavery so the country could go on with other business, like the western expansion between the Missouri River and California. 3. There were bloody fights on the streets in both of these cities between the Union army and citizens. 1. At the beginning of the war, both the North and the South called for people to help fight the war but did not have enough guns, same colored uniforms, or disciplined generals. 1. Grant had forced the Conferderates to retreat after he captured 15,000 of Johnstons men. I hope you are enjoying the book. Lincoln just eventually decided to surround the Southern coast. Braggs army was still in between the Army of the Cumberland and Chattanooga, the place where Rosecran was trying to go. His works, although well-researched, were generally not presented in a rigorous academic style, supported by footnotes. Excellent and succinct overview of the entire Civil War by one of America's leading historians on the subject. The chapter titled "A Dark Indefinite Shore" at the end of the book recounts Abraham Lincoln's recurring -- and last -- dream. He had to make Sheridans orders so explicit that he couldnt send it in a written communcation. Though Davis was surrounded by good men, such as Judah P. Benjamin and Stephen Mallory. What steps did England take to prepare for war? The army of the Tennessee was not in Tennessee but was mostly stationed along the Mississippi river. Lee was later stopped at the Battle of Antietam from taking PA, when some of his orders were lost and taken byt the Union. The result of that decision was the obliteration of crops that would have helped the Confederacy and the eventual destruction of Earlys army. Chapter 16 Why was Maryland more important than others? This book is an easy readable book with overview of the Civil War. The south could have sold cotton for guns because they had so much of it, but they didnt because they wanted England and France to feel the pressure no more cotton so that maybe they would join the war on the part of the south to get their cotton supplies back. Generals Lee and Jackson soundly defeated Pope in the second battle of Bull Run. The North completely destroyed most of the South and took away their slaves. For the Union, Fremont began building gunboats and he placed U.S. Grant in charge at Cairo. Ch. Ch. Where did McDowell launch the first major Union attack? A group of masked Montague's risk further conict by . 8 They bought me a subscription to the Time-Life series on The Civil War. The Civil War was mainly fought in the Confederate territory and campaigns such as Shermans scarred the land. How was he able to free his army and join the battle? After the loss at the Battle of Antietam, the British backed off a little. What were the political and military consequences of this battle? It serves as a great foundation of information for a topic that is as deep as it is wide. Students will be graded on the quality of your entries, staying within the prescribed timeline, consistency of your entries, quality of the interaction with me, and quality of interaction with other students. His army marched down near Atlanta and burned everything along the way. 4. I enjoyed this book. Catton has written many books on the war and this book is a simple, straightforward account. Add to Wish List Link to this Book Add to Bookbag Sell this Book Buy it at Amazon Compare Prices. But Vicksburg- which was, in my opinion, the most significant battle- cut the Confederacy in half and gave the Union the Mississippi Valley- a wound that would eventually prove fatal. What were the provisions of the Emancipaton Proclamation? 2. It left the Hoods Confederate army completely free to do whatever they wanted while Sherman was marching to Savannah. Chapter 13: A period of two weeks was used to take Lincolns body to his home in Illinois and to show to Americans. BP. Chapter eight dictates of three armies. Had people just not worried bout the South nothing would of ever happened. Yes, the North didnt own slaves, but they did take profits from the injustice. In time, they rebuilt much of the ship and made it one of three metal ships. Both sides figured that the other side was just making threats that they could not back up. He tried to trapLee. Oliver Jensen, who succeeded him as editor of American Heritage magazine, wrote: "There is a near-magic power of imagination in Catton's work that seemed to project him physically into the battlefields, along the dusty roads and to the campfires of another age. The Civil War by Bruce Catton - Non Fiction Bruce heard about the civil war when he was still a young boy and these stories gave him the urge to want to know more about the civil war. I think this was albsolute GENIUS by Seward. Introduced by the critically acclaimed Civil War historian James M. McPherson, The Civil War vividly traces one of the most moving chapters in American history, from the early division between the North and the South to the final surrender of Confederate troops. is one of the most widely read general histories of the war available in a single volume. I agree with Catton that without the issue of slavery the war most likely would have been avoided. 3. This strategy was used with Kentucky. Chapter five talks about naval ships. It kept the south rural so that when war came around, the south was very limited on what they could get to their soldiers because slavery had prevented the rise of industrialism. Chapter 15 deals with three key victories in the summer and fall of 1864 that possibly saved the war for the Union. With 80,000 men, Grant was to secure the western third of TN, take Vicksburg, and link up forces in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Giving it after the Battle of Antietam made it a more powerful statement that had strength behind it. The three armies under the command of Sherman were the Army of the Tennessee, the army of the Cumberland and the Army of the Ohio. The transition was made as it became obvious that only Grant and Sherman could bring a quick end to the war. Booth was very boastful of his plans, bringing in a lot of attention. Sherman, negotiating with Johnston, accidentally allowed the Confederates much more than they were originally suppose to have. 17 Grant would not do a frontal attack on Lee. How was this a crucial mistake? Good stuff. His camps were laid out in formal military pattern; food, munitions, and equipment were evenly distributed; he even inspected new divisions himself. Davis cabinet was little help to him. When in Europe the repect level for officers and soldiers was at a different level; however when it came war time the soldiers of the Civil War expected encouragement and leadership from the officers. The South built iron clad steam boats while the North only had sail boats. Catton was known as a narrative historian who specialized in popular histories that emphasized the colorful characters and vignettes of history, in addition to the simple dates, facts, and analysis. On the outset of the war the American army had 500,000 small guns. 18 10 The armies were different from European armies of course. Early again tried to attack Sheridan on October 19 near Winchester, but Sheridan drove the army off and removed the threat of attack from the Shenandoah Valley. My father had the Science Series, which I absolutely adored, and my grandparents thought that I would fall similarly in love with the Civil War series. 5. Why didnt the Confederates follow up their victory with an attack on Washington? It's a well written book and if your a Civil War nut like myself it should be in your library. Ch. 4. The first way was cutting a canal across the hairpin turn in the Mississippi River but the Mississippi just would not flow through the canal. There was also the Copperhead wing of the Democratic party, which was completely anti-war and called to end fighting immediately. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in Civil War history. Why was this controversial? The men were not trained and their movements were not structured. Admiral Farragut was able to win at Mobile Bay and close another Southern port. Beauregard and Johnston combined their armies because of the conflict they were in. Chapter 19: Excellent job Chessa. If he won the war would continue but the Democrats wanted to end the war which would allow the South secede. He says that the North and South would adjust themselves to the rapid growth of the industrial age so this wasnt a major problem. These forts gave the Union control of the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. In the West, both sides made very innovative moves. What impact did Gettysburg and Vicksburg have on the British entry into the war? The Union army broke the rebels streched lines and forced the Confederates to evacuate Petersburg. During the battle, McDowells and Beauregards strategies were the same- flank his opponents left side, but Beauregards plan did not go through so he ended up fighting in the ideal spot for a brand-new army, on the defensive. Chapter 4: His works, although well-researched, were generally not presented in a rigorous academic style, supported by footnotes. It was a great summary/introduction to the events that took place during the Civil War. There were power struggles sometimes, but the power of Lincolns Cabinet strengthened the administration. This chapter explains what happened after the war. The Trust also promotes educational programs and heritage tourism initiatives to inform the public of the war's history and the fundamental conflicts that sparked it. He knew that Hood would come straight to the fight. Less than 1% of our population is affected negatively by the war. The Civil War Preservation Trust is America's largest non-profit organization devoted to the preservation of our nation's endangered Civil War battlefields. Chapter 6: The Union lost about 13,000 men while the Confederates lost only about 10,000. The 1860's was a time of deceit and corruption. Then, all state governments would be considered lawful once their members took an oath to support the Constitution. The Army of the Patomic in Virginia was led by Major General Anbrose E. Burnside. Many times there was friendly fire among the Confederates and Union armes. In the late 18th century, most people were beginning to see that slavery was not as effective as it once was, and many were willing to do away with it. How did British support for the Confederate navy almost bring them into the Civil War? Together this is a great set for the history buff! The other victory was of the Shenandoah Valley. Ch. Jackson went first, running into Popes army. He forced Bragg and his men to retreat. Some were caught and others were not. In the summer of 1863, Rosecrans and Bragg engaged in battle near Chattanooga. The title of this book is Civil War and it was written by Bruce Catton. What was their objective in attacking Grant at Pittsburg Landing (Battle of Shiloh)? I enjoyed reading this book. What changes were made? I think things looked pretty good for the Union in late 1862 to 63. Learn about the Civil War through mint state commemorative United States Postage Stamps. He did this with three main armies, the army of the Tennessee, the army of the Cumberland and the army of the Ohio. Do not underestimate the value of reading Bruce Catton's trilogy along with Shelby Foote. The union and the confederacy were both side by side, and thus no real need for naval war. Reflections On The Civil War, by Bruce Catton, edited by John Leekley As someone who grew up greatly appreciating Bruce Catton's historiography on the Civil War, I consider it a shame that he died before I had the chance to get to know him at all personally and write him fan mail as a child The late Bruce Catton won the 1954 Pulitzer Prize for his Civil War book A Stillness at Appomattox and I was very pleased to find in this book all that you could want in a Civil War primer/summary. Chapter 18 discusses signficant post war events that would impact the reconstruction of the South following the war including Lincolns assassination. Covers all aspects of the Civil War from pre-war to post-war. He thought this would force Sherman to follow him and he knew he had a much better chance of victory in the forests of Georgia. Please try again. Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! How did William Tecumseh Sherman amend Union military strategy by leading his army on the march from Atlanta to Savannah? It has been pointed out to me that I told you I would give you until January 13 to take the quiz. Chapter 8 addresses the fact that the three major Union armies had stopped Confederate offensives during the fall, but were now stalled during the winter of 1862-63. One group stayed at Fredericksburg to defend against Hookers men. Also in the West Johnston and Beauregard united their force at Corinth, MS. Catton thought it was absurd because it was focused on areas where the United States authority was not effective. The Souths navy received help from the British, but it did not result well from in the end. ISBN-10: 0844669377. ch15 this chapter explains the battle of atlanted when sherman finally defeated hood. In the long line of Civil War historians, Catton is arguably the most prolific and popular of all, with Shelby Foote his only conceivable rival. The Confederates did not pursue the beaten Federals by Jefferson Davis command. This failed, and shortly Hoods Army of the TN was nothing more than a ghost of a memory. The North couldnt be successful until the sail boats were replaced with iron clad boats. The Confederate soldiers would deposit all weapons at their state capitals and sign a pledge not to take up arms again. ; Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1961-65) or novelist Shelby Foote's lyrical three-volume study, The Civil War: A Narrative (New York: Random House, 1958-1974). This will allow those of you who want to work ahead tocomplete your reading before Christmas break and leave only follow-up questions and review for the week after we return. Because of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, proslavery and abolitionist factions swarmed into Kansas to make sure that Kansas was what they wanted it to be, slave or free. Free shipping for many products! Sherman put together three armies: Army of the Tennessee under Major General McPherson, the Army of the Cumberland under Thomas, and the Army of the Ohio under Schofield. Have a great break and Merry Christmas!!! The demand for farm-grown products like foodstuffs and cotton was astronomical. Bruce Catton, Lewis Gannett (Editor) 4.35 1,095 ratings90 reviews This fascinating book tells the story of the Civil War as seen from the Union side. Ch. Johnston had been playing a waiting game and Sherman was getting nowhere, but now that Hood was in control the confederate army planned to attack. The vast majority were non-slave owning yeoman farmers. Neither of the armies were prepared enough for battle. 2. How did General Rosecrans and his Army of the Cumberland force Bragg and the Confederate Army of Tennessee to retreat south of Chattanooga. He speaks about the events which lead up to the war, and his analyses of them. Unit 4 - Professor Catton, Progressive Era 1900-1917; Unit 3 - Professor Catton, Immigration and Race; Unit 5 - Professor Catton, The Great Depression; Unit 6.1 - Professor Catton, Origin of The Second World War; Unit 6.2 - Professor Catton, World War Two Military Events; Unit 7 - Professor Catton, Postwar American Society 1945-1960 Ch. The Union Navy was not suited for blockading the Confederates at the beginning of the war. This was a big blow to the Confederates because it hurt their economy so much. What strategic mistakes did Halleck make in the West which cost the Union armies the momentum? This was an important place to hold because of the railroad. Slavery activists and Abolitionist literally and physically fought over Kansas. Chapter 5: To see our price, add these items to your cart. The last hammer stroke came with Sheridans victory in the Shenandoah Valley against Early. River and the fighting was on the east side. Cavalry provided the South with a fast-paced war, moving from place to place much faster than the infantry could. Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, Mariner Books; Reprint edition (December 14, 2004). Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. The army of the Cumberland was mostly in Tennessee and was led by William S. Rosecrans. The South was definitely impacted in a more negative way than the North was. Describe the intimate relationship between the leaders on both sides. The americans were more prone to use guerrilla warfare, as well as they were not as trained as there european enemies. A Batalha de Antietam (tambm conhecida no Sul dos Estados Unidos como Batalha de Sharpsburg) foi um grande confronto militar travado durante a Guerra Civil Americana, lutada em 17 de setembro de 1862, entre as foras confederadas do Exrcito da Virgnia do Norte (liderado pelo general Robert E. Lee) e o Exrcito do Potomac da Unio (liderado pelo general George B. McClellan), Sharpsburg . Chapter 6 Bruce Catton is one of a handful of definitive historians on the Civil War. The purpose is to pull out the major points of each chapter. Pres. Combining their armies Beauregard and Johnston had 50,000 men facing 70,000 men if everything ran exactly as it was suppose to for Halleck. For what reasons did Beauregard and Albert Sydney Johnston combine their forces in defense of Corinth? It lacks the detail and complexity of Shelby Foote's history or even Bruce Catton's second trilogy. On the battlefield they were very disorganized and often times actually shot their own men. Chapter 7: Chapter 6 in detail discusses the second battle of Bull Run. In this case, if they were to be too hard on their soldiers, they might lose future voters. What disadvantages did the South face regarding guns at the outset of the war? What were the consequences? No one was to be punished and the weapons used by the Confederacy would remain in the South. The goal of general Sherman was to capture Atlanta or rout Johnstons army. (LogOut/ What was Cattons view of the Booth conspiracy? What were the results? (I will read Shelby Foote's trilogy for the full account.) The war was basically men in uniforms shooting men without uniforms. In 1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe threw more fuel on the fire with Uncle Toms Cabin. 16 Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. William Sherman revised Union military strategy by marching his army from Atlanta to Savannah to capture territory. How was the Army of the Cumberland motivated to divide the lines of the Army of Tennessee at Missionary Ridge? One of which were led by Ambrose Burnside. All together, Sherman had over 100,000 soldiers. I also believe they had probably grown very familiar with the late Henry Clay (died 1852) solving the nations disagreements with another compromise. They couldnt beat them without Grant. Ch. This eventually turned out to be a bad thing for them and the Union Army as they got in the way of the Union Armys retreat to Washington. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. This book is the first book written in a trilogy called: The Army of the Potomac. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. It was a great summary/introduction to the events that took place during the Civil War. The Union retreated, having lost 17,000 men. Now that most of you are engaged, I would like to make a suggestion. Let's start with that. Chapter 19-Why do you believe that the Civil War has had a more lasting impact on the culture of the South than the North? BP. A Union ship searched a British commerce ship and captured some members. The author does a very good job telling this armies story. The Union decided that they would confiscate all of this property so they could in turn set the slaves free. This however changed. Describe Grants role in the Battles of Fort Donnelson and Fort Henry? - Consolidate understanding of practical work, methodology, mathematical and other skills out of the laboratory with exam tips and knowledge check questions, with answers in the back of the book. The armies needed things, too. Though, their backing was dependent on the Confederates success. Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2017. i've read countless books on the civil war era of american history, and bruce catton is simply the best. Bruce Catton 9 book mixed lot, History, Civil War, Glory Road, Coming . What mistake did Hood make at Spring Hill that prevented him from defeating George Thomas at Nashville? The Northerners were from rural areas and not use to the backwoods ways of a Southern soldier, such as handling horses; therefore, allowing the Southerners an advantage on that part of the war. Sherman wanted to ignore the Union military strategy and show that the Confederacy was too weak to protect its citizens and their property. During the election of 1864, the Republicans and the Union party combined to nominate Lincoln and Johnson. Never was a great army so poorly served by its officers. Very good. With these victoriesit gave Yankees hope that the war could be won. How did General Braxton Bragg capitalize on this? The Confederates had won the battle and Lee was gaining respect as a top tier general. It was a was a fiasco. He wanted the country to forget about the issue of slavery and think about the development of Western lands (specifically a transcontinental railroad). This books publish date is Aug 27, 1986 and it has a suggested retail price of $5.99. Why were the British built commerce raiders such as the CSS Alabama and CSS Shenandoah not as signficant to the outcome of the war as the blockade runners? Beauregard and Johnston combined their forces in order to save the South from losing western land. Ch 1 I also see a bit of irony in their peaca of mind. Shelby Foote couldnt have put it better himself. Why were the British built commerce raiders such as the CSS Alabama and CSS Shenandoah not as signficant to the outcome of the war as the blockade runners? The Democratic party was opposed to the way of thinking in the Union party they wanted a softer war or no war at all. The Confederacy did not have any ships yet. He kills Lincoln and then flees to the South thinking he would be alright, however, the Radical Republicans were now in charge of the South allowing his flee to be a mistake. Another issue was the time it took to train Northern soldiers in the cavalry; soldiers from the South needed little to no training. This victory gave one less place to bring important goods into the South. books, articles, PDF free E-Books Library find related books. May show general wear. 1. What had to be the objective Union army in fighting an unlimited war? Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. Entertaining, vivid, and shallow. The last army was the Army of Tennessee led by Grant. Cattons thesis is that the war provided growth for the Union economy while driving the Confederates into ruin. Your interpretation of the events of the Civil War were right on target. I was hoping that you might be enjoying the book, especially with your interest in the military I was most impressed with your final paragraph on the impact of the war on the South. If they had proposed it in 1863 then France and Great Britain would have most likely accepted it. What was the primary objective of military training on both sides? Mr. Lincoln's Army Chapter Summary. Describe the incident that almost brought England into the war in 1861? They were only commerce destroyer ships. The Union was forced to retreat. Other countries knew that a civil war weakens a country significantly, and debated intense involvement. Next, Hood looked to once again pull out Sherman or beat Thomas and retake TN. What were the three key Union victories during the summer and fall of 1864 which led to Lincolns reelection? So, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that this good, solid overview of the conflict does not go much into the details of the numerous battles - even Gettysburg. Union soldiers were not backwoods and were not tough lie the COnfederate soldiers. Stephen, prior to the 1850s, the question of slavery was only a political conflict between North and South over control of Congress. However, the summary was exactly what I wanted. After Rosecrans and the Army of the Cumberland took Chattanooga, they continued to pursue Bragg. After the Union loss at the battle of Bull Run, McClellan replaced McDowell as the leader of the Union armies. Both writers are compelling. Anyone interested in the Civil War who hasn't read Catton's trilogy should do so and see what great story telling is like. Although an honest debate can be had on how good different parts of the Union army were, there is little doubt among honest historians that the Confederacy was the bad side. ${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}. What action did he take? Yesssssssssssssss!!!!! Another reason is that most of the fighting- especially in the last stages of the war- was done in the South and as most people know war creates a path of disaster in its wake. When he was defeated by Lee at the battle of Fredericksburg, he was removed from his position. How did improvements in military technology regarding small arms and artillery change the tactics of war? The Battle of Fort Sumter was not really a battle but more like General Beauregard bombarding Major Anderson, who was holding Fort Sumter, into submission without killing anybody; but that still did not hamper the fact that the Battle of Fort Sumter allowed the South to get much needed weapons and solidified the fact that war had come to the states. Chapter 5: The split between the southern and northern side of the U.S. was very well illustrated through the causes and different opinions regarding slavery in the civil war. I ordered this by mistake, I thought it was a DVD collection not a CD set, I have only listened to a little of it so far and it seems well done but I am not sure if I will ever listen to the whole thing. Ch. Burnside tried again to cross the river and attack Lee, but three days of icy rain turned roads into mud and bogged his army down. Excellent overview of The Civil War. How did Bragg use topographic features to trap the Union army? "The American people in 1860 believed that they were the happiest and luckiest people in all the world, and in a way they were right." Feedback? Bruce Catton is one of a handful of definitive historians on the Civil War. In addition, you will need to make additional entries in response to direct questions I ask pertaining to your initial entry for each chapter. Since Southerners grew up shooting guns and hunting they were basically a perfect soldier. I believe that part of the reason they were so different is because the south did not need to be industrial because of the existence of slavery. Ch. Sku. The Radical Republicans used Lincolns funeral for their advantage. In what major battlewas Lees first offensive into the North brought to an end? The Republicans (Lincoln) would continue the war, while the Democrats would end the war and allow the South to secede or try to stop it with diplomacy. he comes up with some little known facts that literally no other author, (that i've read), ever has. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The war seemed to be favoring the South at that time, but, by 1865, things had been going downhill for the Confederacy for a while. Chapter 7 discusses the Emancipation Proclamation and how Lincoln didnt want to issue it until the North had one the battle of Antietam. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. The Union Army also controlled the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers at this point. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Bruce Catton AMERICA GOES TO WAR 2nd Edition at the best online prices at eBay! The battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg were both extremely significant. McClellan was very organized and cautious with his troops. But his march from Atlanta to Savannah was successful, so maybe he was smarter than Grant in that aspect. Abraham Lincoln And Civil War America Summary 721 Words | 3 Pages. An excellent introduction to the history of the Army of the Potomac which includes lots of interesting background, particularly of the politics involved. He beat them to it and fortified Columbus. Keep up the great work! Though Lincolns Cabinet consisted of powerful men, this does not mean they always got along. Slavery was the issue that made men so mad they did not want to compromise. Douglas came in at the wrong time. First, Shermans agreement included all Confederate armed forces (not just Johnstons). He left one group at Fredericksburg to make sure Hookers group that he left there wouldnt do anything. Both armies had issues and mistakes during the battle, but the Confederates found that it was easier to fight defensively than offensively in the case of untrained troops. How was Lees assessment of the two commanding generals of these Union armies and his timing a key to victory? Union Cap. Ch 1. Bruce Catton was the go to Civil War author prior to Shelby Foote. Because of the canal at Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, the North could get an unlimited supply of iron ore from the Lake Superior ranges.