2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
First person look at the Atlanta Campaign, April 4, 2009
This review is from: Atlanta (Voices of the Civil War) (Hardcover)
Over a decade ago, Time-Life books published a series, "Voices of the Civil War." There are analytic essays, maps, order of battle, and other traditional material. What sets the series apart, though, is its first person look at various episodes of the Civil War. This volume examines the Atlanta Campaign, in which Sherman's armies (Armies of the Cumberland, Ohio, and Tennessee) struggles to take Atlanta, faced by the Confederate Army of Tennessee (commanded first by Joseph Johnston and, at the end of the campaign, by the (probably too) pugnacious John Bell Hood.
The book begins at the start of the campaign, with the Confederates located at Dalton. From there, the story takes us to a series of battles and maneuvers. And along the way, we read the words of troops--from general to private--and citizens. Sam Watkins, the author of a wonderful little book, is quoted here and there, in his unique and eloquent voice. Indeed, comments by him are on the same page as William Tecumseh Sherman's thoughts at the outset of the campaign.
On page 33, the outset of the campaign is described in an essay focusing on what happened after Sherman began moving his force against Johnston's army. Then, the saga is told, up to the time when Sherman's forces triumph over Hood's at Atlanta. The first person reflections by ordinary people to generals add a human element to the book, suggesting how average people saw and understood things. For those who might be interested in a first person perspective, this book will suffice nicely. If one wants a detailed history of the campaign, on the other hand, there are other, better resources available.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great book in a reat series!, July 20, 2000
This review is from: Atlanta (Voices of the Civil War) (Hardcover)
These books are some of the best that I've ever read! the books are full of eyewitness accounts of battle, camp life, campaigning, and camraderie with some humor thrown in. Each book gives accounts by the soldiers themselves, and that's what makes these books so great! The books also have battle maps are divided into sections. Each section tells about a part in the campaign. At the begining of each section there is an introduction to the campaign. Again, htese books are great and i highly recommend them!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great book in a reat series!, July 20, 2000
This review is from: Atlanta (Voices of the Civil War) (Hardcover)
These books are some of the best that I've ever read! the books are full of eyewitness accounts of battle, camp life, campaigning, and camraderie with some humor thrown in. Each book gives accounts by the soldiers themselves, and that's what makes these books so great! The books also have battle maps are divided into sections. Each section tells about a part in the campaign. At the begining of each section there is an introduction to the campaign. Again, htese books are great and i highly recommend them!
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